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By: Joseph Cunningham
He has been heralded as "the genius," but for what? That was the popular question two years ago when this kind of adoration was bestowed on a Jamaican teenager, who was new to the fraternity of music producers.
Many had reservations, but YardFlex interviewed Steven McGregor on Friday morning and cleared up all the misgivings. For starters, there is an obvious self-confidence that has propelled Steven McGregor ahead of his fellows in the new generation of Jamaican music producers.
He is also currently the most popular producer in the reggae industry,
delivering the kind of rhythms that make music students think of the
peculiar sounds of the likes of Swizz Beats. I asked the youth, age 17, turns 18 on Sunday; if he were to handpick artistes for a special rhythm, what would be his thought process?
Steven said, "While I take into consideration the type of artiste it is, no matter how famous the artiste, I always reserve the right to input my creativity in a significant way."
What is his source of confidence? He is a son of Freddie McGregor, and was exposed to music as a much younger boy. He virtually lives in the Big Ship studio, the McGregor's home studio where he has built over 500 rhythms.
By: Joseph Cunningham
Major accomplishments for the 24 year-old, Kimala Bennett, has already placed her among the most recognized music directors in the Reggae industry; an arena dominated by men. She brings freshness to your screens, a freshness brought about by her creativity. Recent videos such as Cherine Anderson's "Good Love" and her collaboration with Chuck Fenda, "Coming over tonight" are videos directed by Bennett.
The daughter to internationally renown music producer Mikey Bennett, Kimala has worked alongside famed video directors and was sent to the Czech Republic to do a documentary on the famed Hype Williams, while he directed Kanye West's "Diamonds are Forever" video.
Working on a documentary about Baby Cham at the request of Atlantic Records; and the making of his MTV2 featured video, "Ghetto Story," that was done with Alicia Keys, were also big achievements.
By: Olimatta Taal
A Tribute to Byron Lee was held at the Constant Spring Golf Course, Saturday, June 30th. Many of his musical contemporaries were present to give support and enjoy the moment.
Lee was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder in October. This news put his career on hold until he successfully completed surgery to removed his bladder. You would think that under this harsh medical reality, one would stop working and concentrate on healing.
However, according to Byron Lee, music is the healing remedy. In speaking with this great man who has really laid the foundation for music in the Caribbean, YardFlex noticed his physical self was weak in stature but his personal self was strong as we discussed his musical journey.
Photos By: Carlington Wilmot
ALL EYES ON: ISIS, HIT RIDDIM MAESTRO
Soundcheck, 1-2, 1-2. This Kingston-based beat meister has everyone trying to holla at him, as his dope riddims become the soundtrack to Jamaica's streets.
NAME: Adrian Marshall
Date of birth: 31/08/82
Schools: St. Mary High, and McGrath High in St. Catherine
RIDDIMS CREATED: Hail the I, Global, Applause, Cheerful, Crouch, Pitch Point
PAST HISTORY: "I always liked music, mi come a town after mi leave school inna 1998. Mi used to deejay, miu still deejay, ah so the interest come about. Is like a inborn ting, yu use vidi-controller and a computer, and mek the riddim. My first riddim was made in 1998, that's when decided that I wanted to make a riddim. But 'Applause' was the first riddim that mi release, and it go international. Mi feel blessed, coming from where me did a come form, it is a blessing. Mi work hard."
Yard producer Chester Walker's Very Huge Production is set to do things 'real big' this Summer. He is gearing up for the release of his latest rhythm, 'Bad Movie', an off-da-hook production that features a slamming single from dancehall's mega-seller, Sean Paul.
"I am still in the studios right now, but I am gunning for an August release, but so far, everybody hear it and love it, and the artistes are clamouring to go on it, so it's going to be real big when it
drops," producer/songwriter Chester V. Walker, head of Very Huge Productions, told YardFlex.Com.
Footballer Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner is set to launch his rhythm that was created by Sam Diggy and Carl Morrison, while Dean Fraser sang harmony on many of the songs.
"Right now, mi feel say the Sizzla sell off, and people really feeling the Emperor song," Bibi told YardFlex.Com while he hung out at the newly-opened Natural Bridge studios in St. Andrew.
The footballer will be in Jamaica until the end of August, and he is still on crutches, recovering from surgery. He is expected to return to Bolton Wanderers for the new season. He is a staunch supporter of
Argentina, and believes that "they cannot lose this World Cup, nobody caan beat dem, ah my team".
The singles will appear on a one-drop rhythm called 'Potential' which features singles like 'Makes No Sense' - Norris Man; 'Marijuana' - Tanto; 'Jus Caan Water We Down' - Richie Spice; 'Be Strong' - Sizzla;
'No More War' - Empress; 'Great' - Emperor; and several others. The singles have already been enjoying good rotation on local radio stations like IRIE, and ZIP.
Ainsworth 'Big A' Higgins has been a disc jockey with Jamaica's number one radio station, IRIE FM for 16 years since the inception of the all-reggae, all-the-time radio station. Now that he has made his name as a disc jock, he has begun to tackle new projects. Enter Footsteps, a production house set up with his good friend, Lyndon 'Laza' House. They have put out a number of musical rhythms that have done pretty well locally.
"I am just trying to follow in the footsteps of great producers like King Jammys and King Tubbys, and also leave my own footsteps in the sands of time, so that a few years from now, people can say Big A did it that way," he said, explaining the origins of the name, 'Footsteps'.
"We have a new project just drop called HWT (Half Way Tree), Anthony Cruz scored big, LUST has a song called 'You Got Me', Lady Saw has a song called 'What If' and Tanya's 'Rescue', all of these songs will be on the respective artiste's albums, so I am pleased with how things have gone. Sales were pretty decent, and we got good support across the board," he told YardFlex.Com.
Producer Albert 'Burru' Blackwood is gunning for another big hit rhythm for the Sumemr with the release of 'Top 100', a kinetic rehash of the Sly and Robbie smash hit rhythm, 'Top 10', a few years ago.
"The early buzz on the riddim is good so far, Sly played the drums on the riddim, and we played a fresh phrase in it, and a few of the songs like the New Kidz, the Tanto Metro/Devonte and the Kartel are getting good play in the clubs....it's going to be one of the Summer riddims to look out for," Burru told YardFlex.Com.
'Burru' , known for his drum-oriented rhythms, has produced such hits as 'Bad From' on the Casablanca, and Capleton's 'Twist and Turn' in the past.
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