:: Jamaican Soul::

:: Indonesian reggae Band ::

Personelnya siapa aja sih?
1. joeJah (Vocal)
2. IanJS (Bass)
3. AdiJS (Drum)
4. Okky (Guitar)
5. DimassamiD (K'board)

Apakah ada filosofi di balik nama band kamu?
Ada, karna kita memainkan jenis2 musik dari jamaica makanya kita kasih nama Jamaican Soul

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat milih genre ini?
REGGAE itu musik damai dan sentosa, musiknya nge-low.
1. karna kita suka musik reggae
2. Karna musik reggae membuat kita damai dan tentram.

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
Bob marley, UB40,Matisyahu, Reggae Rock seperti 311 dan Sublime serta indonesia Reggae kayak Tony Q, Steven and coconout treez, dan shaggy dog.

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?
08-07-06 hampir mau setahun

Pernah ikut musik competition atau Reggae Festival?

Musik competition blum tapi reggae festival sudah, seperti di :
1. Sahid Universitas Pondok Cabe,14-07-2006
2. Kreasi musik kita Balai Rakyat
Depok II Tengah ( Featuring ), 27-12-2006
3. Malam Tahun Baru Depok Town Square ( Guest Star ). 31-12-2006
4. Anyer Music Corner ( Guest Star ), 01-01-2007
5. Rengas Acoustic ( guest star ), 06-01-07
6. P+ Acoustic ( performance ), 16-01-2007
7. Tebet Reuni Musik-GOR TEBET ( Featuring ), 26-01-2007
8. Green Peace, TIM Cikini ( Guest Star ), 03-02-2007
9. ULTAH SMUN 5 Depok, 24-02-2007 ( guest star )
10. P+ acoustic, 24-02-2007 ( Performance )
11.Pagelaran Musik MUSAFIR Depok II Tengah, 10-03-2007 ( guest star )
12.reggae Party with modern dance mall depok 24 maret 2007 ( guest star )
13. Holiday Reggae Party and ska taman topi Bogor 15-04-07 ( Featuring )
14. Civil UI depok, 13-04-2007
15. ULTAH kota Depok Sakatak Depok Timur, 29-05-2007
16. TALASETA FAIR II,kampus universitas pancasila, 23 mei 2007 ( GUEST STAR)
17. Pelepasan kelas III SMUN 4 Depok, Hotel Bumiwiyata, 26 mei 2007 ( GUEST STAR )

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?
TPTP (Tebar Pesona Tebar Pesona), hehehehe....uye.......

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana?
Temple, Jl. Musi Raya No.48 Depok Timur Dalam

Alamat Management dimana?
JSC ( Jamaican Soul Company ), Jl. Musi Raya No.48 Depok Timur Dalam

Harapan untuk perkembangan musik reggae?
Bisa memberikan inspirasi kepada semua pecinta musik reggae dari yang muda sampai yang tua selalu cinta damai
UUUUUYYYYEAHHHHHHHHHHH

More information:
Telp : (021) 99580040, 021-99747720 AdiJS
email : jamaicansoul@yahoo.com

:: The Babylonians ::

:: Indonesian reggae Band ::

Personelnya siapa aja sih?
-Words & rythm : Che
-Lead guitar : Acho
-Rythm guitar : Danco
-Bass : Mr. Boy
-Keyboard : Richard
-Drumbeat : Jr. Chandra
-Percussion : Q-tink
-Backup singer : Utty.

Apakah ada filosofi di balik nama band ini?
filosofinya dari sebuah kerajaan kuno di belahan timur dunia (Irak) yang sangat maju di zamannya (Babylonia). Babylonians adalah orang-orang Babylon yang mau maju dalam berkarya buat komunitasnya, reggae..

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat milih genre ini?
Pertama karena personil Babylon memang disatukan karena suka musik reggae. Kita juga banyak terinfluence dari filosofi rastafarian dan natty dreadlock yang kita rasa cocok dan sama perjuangan orang indonesia sekarang...

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
Inspirasi lagu lebih dari kehidupan sehari-hari yang terjadi dari "love song" sampai berita-berita politik. Misalnya ada lagu kita yang judulnya "dem war" inspirasinya dari tayangan siaran TV perang hezbollah-israel. Influence reggae klasik: Hon. Rebel. B.Marley, P.Tosh, Max Romeo, Lee "Scratch" Perry. Influence Modern reggae : Big Mountain, Matisyahu, Damian "JR Gong" Marley, Warrior King & kita juga terinspirasi oleh Tony Q....

Kalo album belum punya, tapi kita lagi buat demo 8 lagu yang insyaAllah rencana akan didistribusikn secara Indie.

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?
masih baru di reggae, dibentuknya 9 maret 2007 tapi personil2nya udah lama juga sih di komunitas reggae...

Pernah ikut musik Reggae Festival?
kita belum pernah ikut festival musik reggae..

Bisa sebutkan sering manggung dimana saja?
sekarang ini kita lebih sering manggung di pensi-pensi sekolah atau kampus, paling juga jamming-jamming seperti di BB's tapi kita tidak pilih-pilih, kita sering juga main di kawinan atau ulang tahun..

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?
kalo tidak lagi latihan, maen bola pasir di senayan...

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana?
Kita biasanya nongkrong di studio kita di daerah kemang, wapres sama BB's...

Alamat Management dimana?
Jl. Bangka XI no. 21 B, Jakarta Selatan (deket intro).

Sania : 081382461620, 02194431929, Vina : 081932222377.

:: Flobaja ::

:: Indonesian reggae Band ::

Personelnya siapa aja sih?
Jack : Vocal
Mieske & Maria : Backing Vocal
Balack : Guitar Lead
Dommy : Drummer
Rolex : Keyboard
Be-Bew : Perkusi
Elias : Bassist
Okky : Guitar Rythim

Apakah ada filosofi di balik nama band ini?
Ada sih, Flobaja singkatan dari Flores Batak Jawa..

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat milih genre ini?
Lyric lagunya & Easy Listening.

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
Bob Marley & Tony Q.

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?
sekitar tahun 2002, tepatnya tanggal 26 oktober 2002.

Pernah ikut musik Reggae Festival?
Pernah ikut Gospel Band Festival tapi kita bawain genre Reggae, juara harapan 1 :)

Bisa sebutkan sering manggung dimana saja?
Banyak juga seh seperti di kampus-kampus, pensi-pensi, cafe-cafe di jakarta..

Kalo punya album sudah berapa album yang dikeluarkan?
Belum ada, tapi kita memang ada rencana buat album, masa manggung terus seh :)

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?
Gamelan & melukis...

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana?
di daerah Pulo pondok labu...

Alamat Management dimana?
Jl. Tri Darma 4 No. 37, Kampung Pulo, Jakarta Selatan
CP: 081310900428 (Jack), 081398009343 (Rolex)
FS/email : flowbaja@yahoo.com

:: Cozy Republic ::

:: Indonesia reggae Band ::

Personel Cozy Republic:
- Ujie (Vocal&Guitar)
- Renold (Guitar)
- Edmond (Keyboard)
- Gannes (Drums)
- Adi ( Perkusi&Flute)
- Fanny (Bass)

Cozy Republic adalah sebuah tempat yang sangat nyaman dimana sangat cocok musik reggae untuk dimainkan. Yaitu Indonesia.

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat milih genre ini sebagai wujud nyata dalam bermusik?
Reggae adalah pilihan kami dalam bermusik, karena memang dari awalnya kami sudah akrab dengan genre musik ini..

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
Dari lingkungan sosial sekitar, wanita, lingkungan alam dll. Musik kami dipengaruhi oleh artist seperti : Gombloh, Santana, Bob Marley dll.

Kalo punya album sudah berapa album yang dikeluarkan?
Satu single dari album kompilasi yang di rilis oleh Music Factory (KFC), Satu full album Cozy Republic dengan judul “Republik Uye”.

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?
Musik reggae bukanlah hal yang awam bagi Cozy Republic, bisa dilihat dari perjalanan beberapa personelnya yang pernah tergabung dengan Imanez & Otto Jam.

Pernah ikut Reggae Festival?
Festival Reggae memang belum pernah kami ikuti, tapi kami tertarik untuk bisa ikut serta di International Reggae Festival di manapun.

Bisa sebutkan sering manggung dimana saja?
Kami sering main di TV , ANTV, O Channel, Global TV, SCTV, di Kampus-kampus Jakarta, Malang, Medan, Palembang, Ultah Slank ke-24 di Ancol, Slankers Day, Acara Import di Makassar dan banyak lagi.

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?
Selain bermusik kami juga punya masing-masing seperti : bersepeda, futsal, merakit dan hand made guitar dan lain-lain.

Harapan & tujuan yang diinginkan terhadap perkembangan musik Reggae di Indonesia?
Semoga musik regaae bisa ikut andil terhadap terjadinya perubahan Negara Indonesia ke arah yang lebih baik. Uyeee.

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana dan alamat Management dimana?
Green Labs & Ent.
Jalan Kramat Raya No.33, Jakarta Pusat
Tel: +622171648633; +628121051052
E-mail : management@cozyrepulic.com

:: Gangstarasta ::

:: Indonesian reggae Band ::

Personel Gangstarasta :

Emilio: vocal
Kenro: bass
Gayo: guitar
Bayu: guitar
Cuwox: keyboard
Boim: drum
Uncle Bud: percussion

Apakah ada filosofi di balik nama Gangstarasta ?
kalau filosofinya sih ngga ada nama gangstarasta berarti kumpulan anak2 rasta.

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat memilih genre ini?

kita pilih reggae karena mewakili jiwa dan rasa, yang kita jalani setiap hari. banyak hal yang membuat kita pilih musik reggae antara lain spirit dari reggae itu sendiri yang menebarkan rasa cinta dan perdamaian kepada seluruh umat di dunia tanpa memandang perbedaan agama, ras,suku dan sosial..

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
Bob Marley, Alpha Blondy, Bad Brain, Jimmie Cliff, Ken Bothe, UB 40,dan banyak lagi.

Kalo punya album sudah berapa album yang dikeluarkan?

Full album mungkin bln july ini kita release album gangstarasta dgn tittle album 'UNITE'.sblmnya kita ikutan di kompilasi indonesian reggae revolution keluaran 267 record..

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?

Kalau konsen dari gue SD kali ya he..he..he..tapi kalau gangstarasta terbentuk 19 desember 2001.

Pernah ikut Reggae Festival?

Kalau di indonesia belum ada Reggae Fest, tapi kalau event reggae sudah banyak kita ikuti..

Bisa sebutkan sering manggung dimana saja?

Paling sering di acara pensi anak SMU di jabotabek, tapi manggung yang paling berkesan buat gangsta di papua 29 des 2006 dengan tema republik rasta bersama taffgong dari jakarta yang ditonton lebih dari 25.000 orang dan semuanya sing a long together..thats amazing..

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?

Kita suka main futsal, nongkrong yang ngasilin sesuatu hal yang positif.

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana?

kalau tempat ngumpul sih biasanya di rumah Emilio sekalian tempat management.

Management :
Taman Ubud TimurI no.26 Lippo Karawaci.
(021) 99140088, 08170741231
E-mail : emilio.gangstarasta@gmail.com

:: Souljah::

:: Indoensian reggae Band ::



Personel Souljah :

Danar - Vocal
Sa'id – toasting
Renhat - Bass
Bayu – Guitar
David – keyboard
Vino – saxophone

Apakah ada filosofi di balik nama Souljah ?
Souljah, adalah pelafalan slang dari Soldier, dibaca dengan logat Jamaican jadi Souljah. Kita sih ngerasakita pejuang, pejuang karya kita, pejuang indie, dan juga pejuang jamaican music..

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat memilih genre ini?

Sebenernya kita nggak milih reggae sih, reggae adalah salah satu pilihan dalam musik kita, soalnya kita mainin semua genre Jamaican Music, mulai dari SKA, Rocksteady, reggae, dub dancehall juga. Yang ngebuat kita milih musik ini, hmmmm yah kita mainin genre Jamaican music dari tahun 98, waktu itu kita cuma mainin ska, tapi sekarang kita lebih lebar lagi. Dan emang semua personil Souljah kalo gabung cocok soulnya yah cuma mainin musik kayak gini. Kita pernah coba mainin jazz, pop atau rock, gak kena kalo smua anak-anak ini ngumpul...hehehehehehe.

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
Aduuuhh banyak banget, hampir semua musisi yang masukin unsur jamaican music kita jadiin referensi. Mulai dari yang oldskool Skatalites, Desmond dekker, The Wailers, sampe nu skool No Doubt, 311, Long Beach Dub Allstars, dan masih banyak lagi. Nah kalo inspirasi, kita sesuaiin sama konsep album dulu. Kalo album yang pertama emang karena konsepnya kolaborasi kita lebih bebas cari inspirasinya. Bisa dari kehidupan sehari-hari. Tapi kalo yang album kedua karena konsepnya emang audio novel, jadi kita bentuk liriknya bukan berdasarkan pengalaman tapi emang kita ciptain cerita.

Kalo punya album sudah berapa album yang dikeluarkan?

Album udah dua :
(2005) BREAKING THE ROOTS
(2007) BERSAMAMU

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?

Reggae udah kita mainin juga kok dari tahun 1998. Walopun waktu itu kita lebih konsen ke ska-nya..

Pernah ikut musik competition atau Reggae Festival?

Musik competition, hmmmmmm dulu mungkin pas awal ngeband, tahun 1998 kita ada ikutan audisi buat ikutan acara-acara.

Bisa sebutkan sering manggung dimana saja?

Manggung seringnya dimana aja yah, yeahhh di pensi sekolah, kampus atau acara komunitas.

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?

Hobi lain....wahhhh banyak bangetttt anak-anak Souljah paling suka makaaannnnn, wahahhahaha makanya pada cabi-cabi kan.

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana?

Kalo latian sih kita seringnya di studio 12 rawamangun, nongkrong, hmmmm dimana yah, di tebet paling.

Management :
Jl. Swadaya Jatibening, Kalimalang, kalo mau dateng en udah sampe di Caman Kalimalang, telfon aja ke 86903125, heheheheh, atau kalo mau ngubungin manajer Souljah telfon aja ke 0813 1919 0441, atau kalo mau liat souljah ada di :
- www.braddasouljah.com
- www.myspace.com/braddasouljah
- atau mau add souljah di friendster, ke braddasouljah@yahoo.com
- atau ke amp.channelv.com/braddasouljah

:: Tony Q Rastafara ::

Hal-hal apa saja yang membuat memilih genre Reggae ?
Sebenarnya berdasarkan pengalaman batin aja sich, banyak alasan yang mebuat memilih genre reggae.

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre reggae?
Belum lama sich sekitar 1989

Apakah harus Dreadlock bagi pecinta maupun praktisi musik reggae?
Pencinta musik reggae tidak harus gimbal, sebenarnya juga kembali pada filosofi itu sendiri bagaimana pendengar dan perilaku dalam menyikapi lirik atau musik reggae itu seperti apa.

Inspirasi lagu dari mana (influencenya)?
Tentu saja Bob Marley, dia seorang yang fenomenal secara musical, penulisan liriknya bagus.

Sudah berapa album? Bisa sebutkan?
- 1996 Rambut Gimbal
- 1997 Gue Falling In Love
- 2000 Damai dengan cinta
- 2003 Kronologi
- 2005 Salam damai

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain?
Ada, sebenarnya banyak sih...tapi saya suka melukis...

Harapan Mas terhadap perkembagan musik reggae di Indonesia?
Ditekankan pada para pelaku musik reggae, bagaimana esensi musik reggae di perjuangkan bukan sekedar gimbal atau ganja. Dan yang paling penting esensi perdamaian, kemerdekaan arti sebuah musik, dan lebih pada edukasi agar tidak menjadi salah mengartikan musik reggae itu sendiri.

Pengalaman yang paling berkesan selama bermusik ?
Salah satu lagu saya yaitu Pat Gulipat masuk dalam kompilasi World Reggae berjudul Reggae Playground bersama musisi reggae dunia yang diproduksi oleh Putu Mayo World Record.

Salam Damai..

Management :
Jl.Puloasem I C no. 57 Rawamangun, Jakarta Timur

Phone: (021) 4895326 - Fax :(021) 4757005

Ibnu ( Manager) at 08129217757Nino (Album Management)
E-mail : indonesia_rasta@yahoo.com

Reggae Culture Salute celebrates 40 years of the Mighty Diamonds

The Mighty Diamonds, the only Jamaican group to boast the same members after forty years, will be honoured at Reggae Culture Salute 2009, scheduled for the Performance Centre at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday, November 1.

The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music will use the platform to have a twin celebration - the 40th anniversary of the Mighty Diamonds and the 79th anniversary of the coronation of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen of Ethiopia.

Performances will come from Warrior King, Everton Blender, the Mighty Diamonds, the Ethiopian World Federation Nyahbinghi Drummers along with Dub Poet Infinity and roots singer, Ossie Dellimore.

The Mighty Diamonds ranks high among the pioneers in the pantheon of reggae music. Their name is synonymous with Rastafari and Roots Reggae and the trio has been entertaining and educating the world for years with their sweet harmonies, conscious lyrics and polished performances.

The annual Reggae Cultural Salute is a multimedia presentation which highlights the unique relationship between Reggae, Rasta, Selassie, and Jamaica and is also a benefit concert for the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) Community Conversation Series.

Reggae Culture Salute is a family-friendly, first-class showcase of the best of Roots Reggae suited for reggae aficionados as well as newcomers.

The New York Times called the 2006 staging of Reggae Culture Salute "a celebration of reggae's old -fashioned family values". The fifth annual Reggae Culture Salute will continue the tradition of presenting diverse stages of the genre's evolution.

The event also features a full screening of Stephanie Black's film, Africa Unite, about the 2005 Marley family concert held in Ethiopia in honour of Bob's 60th birthday. It was premiered at Reggae Culture Salute 2007.

Julian Marley spreading message of 'oneness and unity'

It's obvious that Julian Marley has been in town. He has been doing all the right "pee-arrey" stuff - morning television, lots of radio and some print in which he has been enthusiastically talking about his latest CD, Arise and his upcoming US tour of the same name with his 7Uprising band.
MARLEY... Marley sees his music, above all else, as the medium through which he spreads his message of 'oneness and unity to the world'

The tour was scheduled to kick off last night in Jacksonville, Florida, and Julian told Splash last Friday that he has been doing rigorous preparation for the six-week journey. "It has been four weeks of solid rehearsals everyday, getting the voice and everything up to date," he said.

Having accomplished that, he says he is ready for the real challenge of the road. He so far has 34 US dates confirmed and will see him moving through cities including New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque, Pozo, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Eureka, Durango, Aspen, Boulder, Minneapolis, CHarlote and Atlanta.

Marley sees his music, above all else, as the medium through which he spreads his message of "oneness and unity to the world".

"Me is a man play music from me lickle," he explains. "Me think 'bout music 24/7 . it always in me brain," Julian shared.

And although the six-year gap between Arise and his last been six CD (A Time And Place, 03) leads one to ask pertinent questions, Julian is still all smiles. "The six-year gap," he pondered. "Well it was a period of growth and maturity," he reflects.

"Ah not saying I did like it . but give thanks for those six years. But no more six years like that," he assures.

Arise, he says is a fusion of roots reggae with more modern beats. "The title is what it is. Every song give you that upfull vibe," is Julian's take on the CD, on which his band, Uprising, is heavily featured.

The aggregation has been with Marley since 1991 and the synergy is unmatched. "The band started with the bass players Owen 'JB' Reid and then we bring in other people and get the thing just right. Uprising played on almost all the tracks for the CD, so they know it," he said, pleased.

Not surprisingly, Arise is one of 39 albums submitted for what is called 'consideration' to the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the Reggae category. Those album which given the most favourable consideration will be shortlisted and placed in the official Reggae Grammy category.

However, while Julian is quite thankful at being considered, he says his main focus is making good music. And should he be short-listed for the Grammy and subsequently join the ranks of his musical siblings and father, all of whom are in possession of the coveted gamophone statuette, Julian "woulda just give thanks for that too".

Reggae artist says NYC man slashed him with sword

NEW YORK

Jamaican reggae artist Major Mackerel was slashed Sunday on the head, arm and hand by a neighbor wielding a two-foot-long sword, the musician and police said.
Major Mackerel, who attracted some recognition in the 1980s and 1990s as a dancehall reggae artist, was seen hours after the attack returning to his Brooklyn home. He had white bandages crowning his dreadlocks and wrapped around one hand, a wrist and elbow.

"I had a fight and I got cut," Major Mackerel told the Daily News.

The reggae artist, whose real name is Garfield Dixon, said he got into a fight earlier in the day with a neighbor, identified by police as Oscar Joseph, outside a two-story brick house on East 91st Street where they live on separate floors.

World Reggae "Various Artists"

::World Reggae ::

"If music is the universal language, then reggae is its most widely spoken dialect." As the liner notes to this latest Putumayo release assert, reggae has unprecedented global commercial appeal. It is fascinating that the music of a marginalized group from a tiny island in the Caribbean has entered the mainstream enough to warrant a reliable slot on any index of genres. That easy to feel, up-beat groove has been manipulated to varying aesthetic results and for various political agendas. World Reggae, along the same lines as an earlier Putumayo release entitled Reggae Around the World, certainly illustrates these varying aesthetic results.

The CD gets off to a slow start with "Pas de Problèmes," by the French band Kana. The listener is urged to "just be yourself." I would not say that anything about this track resembles the Toots and the Maytals, as the liner notes profess, however the groove is pleasant enough. It was the whiney singing and accompanying cheese that thwarted this reviewer's attempt to just be himself. Digging the hole deeper is Apache Indian with "Om Numah Shivaya." Sung in fake patois, "the lyrics are inspired by Apache Indian's personal quest to define his identity in a multicultural world where traditional definitions of religion and culture have to be reevaluated." Good luck with that one, Apache.

Majek Fashek steps in to save the day with something almost skank-worthy. The talking drum's presence in "African Unity" counters the specter of those ubiquitous synthesizer lines that so often taint otherwise enjoyable compositions. Maria de Barros follows with "Riberonzinha," a Cape Verdean reggae excursion done with the smoothness often cited as characteristic of the island's music. Alpha Blondy, a reliable exponent of "world reggae," gets a deserved slot to do his thing. A track from Chis Combette of French Guyana is an interesting addition. Combette's "Babylone Buildings" features the sitar, played by Mungal Patasar (a Trinidadian), an amusing addition to the reggae ensemble given the history of East Indian indentured labor in the Caribbean. Combette's voice sounds a little like a Francophone Sting, assign your own connotations there.

The real standout of this compilation is the Algerian collective Gwana Diffusion. "Ya Laymi" finds a happy medium between the worlds of raï and reggae. The bass line is sufficiently phat and the singing executed with intention. One can hear conversation among the instruments and the Algerian flavor comes across without overstatement.

Of the countless reggae compilations out there, World Reggae is but a drop in the proverbial bucket. The strength of this particular release lies in its promotion of lesser known reggae fusions. There is no lack of interesting reggae outside of Jamaica, and maybe World Reggae will give some leads on where to find it. As for the general ideological thrust this collection, I suppose one could feel some warm and fuzzy sense of international empowerment by listening to this rather diluted, if well intentioned sampling of reggae's "world" manifestations. After all, it's "Guaranteed to make you feel good!" If you would like to board this "global musical journey from the Caribbean to Africa and beyond," go ahead, chirp down Babylon.

Isaac Haile Selassie

:: Los Angeles ::

In the annals of reggae music and its devotion to Emperor Haile Selassie, one thing becomes
striking by its absence: the lack of Ethiopian voices giving thanks and praise to the Almighty
God through the teachings of His Majesty. Now, from Addis Ababa, by way of Southern California, comes a striking new voice whose direct links to the King of Kings are stronger than any other singer and player of instruments this century has known.

If that seems hyperbole, consider the fact that Isaac Haile Selassie not only carries the
Imperial name, but was, in fact, raised under the supervision of His Majesty. "I have been blessed," recalls the singer from his cozy hillside cottage in Los Angeles, "to have been raised in the care of His Imperial Majesty personally, at his boarding school a few miles from
the palace. I used to see him at least once a week throughout my childhood."

When Selassie was deposed, Isaac recalls sadly, "I felt like I was cut into halves and I had no place in my own land. War and destruction surrounded me. So I decided to walk out of my country through the desert of Eritrea, all the way to the Sudan. My companions and I slept in the daytime and walked in the night, hiding like hyenas. I eventually found my way to Khartoum, Sudan, and one day I encountered a group of Ethiopians who were lying in the 120 degree heat under a fan in a small room, listening to Bob Marley on the radio."

This initial encounter with Jah music came as a visceral revelation. "His voice sounded like truth, although none of us could understand what he was saying. I'd never heard of dreadlocks or Jamaica or Rasta. I never knew there were these people abroad who loved Selassie I. But the spirit of this man just hit me like he hit the rest of the world."

Isaac eventually arrived in the United States in 1980 and by 1983 he had reached Los Angeles where he began performing publicly, starting in an Ethiopian restaurant, singing Ethiopian songs and reggae both in English and Amharic.

Isaac's message of unity, love and peace took off and he began playing at many of the local universities, popular clubs and venues like the African Marketplace, Beach Fest, Coconut Teaser, Kingston 12 and the Music Machine.

More recently, Isaac has performed at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (Marysville, CA) Roots Mountain Reggae (Tonasket, WA), Northwest Reggae Fest (Seattle, WA and Portland, OR), Roots Revolution Festival(Montana), Lake Casitas World Music Festival (Ojai, CA), One Root World Music Festival (Sacramento, CA) and was a headliner on the 2000 Annual Bob Marley Exodus Festival, traveling and performing throughout Texas and Arizona. He has played shows in Toronto, Canada, Boston and Cambridge, MA, Virginia, Boulder and Denver, CO and continues to tour and perform.

His debut CD, "UNITE" was chosen as one of the Top Ten reggae releases of 1999 and 2000. Ethiopia's history has been a struggle toward unity during the past millennium. I contribute this music for Ethiopians at home and abroad who starve for peace and unity and for Africans and the rest of the world who pray for happier times to come for all of us."

Japanese Reggae, Dancehall, Ragga

:: Japanese Reggae ::

For those who have asked, there IS a Japanese Reggae/Dancehall/Ragga/Bashment scene in Japan. The scene like in most countries has progressed from Reggae to Dancehall/Ragga.

Dancehall is as much about dancing as it is about the music. Besides getting tanned and braided, the dance moves from the women include some serious erotic hip shaking movements. Japan held 3 events earlier this year, the Reggae Japansplash, the first-ever Avex sponsored Black Summit and Japan’s premier dancehall festival, the annual Yokohama Reggae Sai.

Currently, Japan’s most famous dancehall music group is Mighty Crown. Other artists to check out are Ryo the Skywalker, Pushim, Fireball, Homegrown, Mighty Jam Rock, Pang, Munehiro, Megaryu and Lecca and the Ichi Bang Boshi Crew.

Reggae Indonesia Vibration

:: Indoensia Reggae society ::

Sebait lirik lagu dari single Jamaica’s Away (Souljah), yang belakangan sedang sering diputar di radio-radio, sangat menggambarkan musik reggae. Jamaica sendiri memang enggak bisa kita lupakan saat kita berbicara tentang musik ini. Beberapa sumber mengatakan, musik ini gara- gara orang Jamaika mengadopsi variasi sinkopisasi rhythm gitar dari new orleans R&B yang mereka dengar dari radio di tahun 60-an. Lalu, sedikit up tempo, terciptalah musik ska yang menjadi cikal bakal reggae. Ada lagi sumber yang mengatakan bahwa ska berawal dari musik asli Jamaika yang bernama mento, yang berkembang sejak tahun 40-an.

Akhirnya saat musim panas, orang terlalu malas untuk berdansa up tempo. Sedikit mengendurkan tempo musik, irama lebih mengayun dan terkesan bermalas-malasan, itu yang sekarang kita kenal dengan reggae. Beberapa nama "pahlawan" reggae bermunculan, dari Jimmi Cliff, Horace Andy, sampai akhirnya melahirkan seorang legenda bernama Bob Marley.

Bob Marley
Bob Marley memang paling berpengaruh di dunia reggae. "Reggae mulai makin dikenal luas setelah Bob Marley meninggal," begitu pendapat Tony Q, yang identik dengan reggae di Twelve Blues Bar, Menteng, Jakarta, setiap Rabu dan Jumat. Lagu-lagu Bob Marley yang meninggal di tahun 1981 ini sering terdengar di songlist- nya. Bersaing dengan lagu-lagu karyanya sendiri yang sudah terkumpul dalam dua Album.

Di Bali, lagu-lagu Bob Marley juga menguasai panggung-panggung musik reggae. Apache, sebuah bar yang identik dengan reggae di kawasan Legian, hampir tiap hari mengumandangkan lagu-lagu Bob Marley. "Senin khusus membawakan lagu-lagu Bob Marley. Selasa lagu lain, diselingi lagu-lagu Bob Marley. Lha, Bob Marley thok?" protes seorang pemerhati kesenian bermusik di Bali, Rudolph Dethu. "Reggae enggak cuma paman Bob (Bob Marley), tapi juga ada Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, dan sebagainya. Dan Reggae itu secara tidak langsung menembus kawasan elektronika, yaitu Drum N’ Bass," tambah Dethu lagi. "Kami sempat mau bawain selain Bob Marley, tapi pasti ada yang minta lagu-lagu Bob Marley," komentar Joni Agung musisi Reggae yang mengisi acara setiap Senin di Apache.

Reggae "vibration"
Seperti kata Dethu, reggae sebenarnya memang sudah beranak pinak. Bahkan, sejak awal kemunculan reggae, ada Alton Ellis dengan rocksteady (sekarang kayak No Doubt gitu deh). Dan Lee "scratch" Perry memulai memakai sampling- sampling suara, yang membuat musiknya disebut dub. Dan bermunculanlah rock and folk base ala Bob Marley sampai yang sangat pop oriented seperti yang dilakukan oleh UB 40.

Di Yogyakarta tidak ada bar yang identik dengan reggae. Tapi, lewat acara kampus yang ada hampir tiap minggu, band-band reggae unjuk gigi. Berbicara reggae di Yogyakarta tak bisa memalingkan muka dari sebuah grup ska yang masih konsisten hingga sekarang, Shaggy Dog. Sejak berdirinya di tahun 1995, band ini memang mematok ska reggae sebagai aliran hidup mereka. "Kowena," ujar Heru, sang vokalis Shaggy Dog, saat diminta menyebut nama band reggae Yogya favoritnya. Sayang, Kowena sepertinya tidak terlalu berminat hidup. Sempat muncul sekali di Citos, lalu menghilang lagi. "Tapi, sekarang banyak banget band reggae di Yogya dan variatif," tambah Heru.
Heru sendiri memuaskan jiwa reggaenya lewat Dub Youth. "Kalau ini reggae campur elektronika," jelasnya tentang proyek Dub Youth yang dimulai sejak dia memiliki sebuah groove box.

Reggae "got soul"
Belakangan mungkin orang tidak merasakan kehadiran reggae secara jelas. Tapi, begitu banyak band yang terpengaruh oleh reggae. Dari yang ngepunk (Rancid), rocksteady (No Doubt), ragga (Shaggy & Sean Paul), Dancehall (Outkast), sampai yang rock ’n folk (John Buttler Trio). Di dalam negeri, setelah era keemasan Anak Pantai-nya almarhum Imanez, Tony Q tidak berjuang sendirian. Ada Steven & Coconuttreez yang punya single Welcome To My Paradise. Sekilas band ini mengingatkan kita kepada Big Mountain yang ngetop lewat Baby, I Love Your Way beberapa tahun lalu. Joni Agung di Bali juga melepas album Reggae Mebasa Bali (reggae berbahasa Bali).

Yang paling anyar adalah band asal Bekasi yang baru saja merilis album Breaking The Roots, Souljah. Reggae yang dimainkan Souljah lebih cenderung memasuki daerah elektronika. Banyak nuansa ragga lewat toasting (semacam ngerap dengan gaya Jamaika), dan beat dancehall untuk lagu-lagu berirama riang mereka. Bahkan, belakangan band-band papan atas mencoba memainkan reggae. Seperti Dewa yang mencoba berdansa lewat lagu Matahari, Bulan, Bintang. "“Setiap orang boleh saja main reggae. Yang penting ada soul-nya," ujar Gung Jon mengomentari soal ini. "Lagu itu bagus, tapi kurang bagus untuk dibilang reggae," kata Heru. Ia lebih memilih lagunya Nugie, Bisa Lebih Bahagia. Terlepas dari siapa dan bagaimana memainkannya, semua pentolan reggae itu setuju kalau fenomena itu cukup membantu mengenalkan reggae ke tingkat yang lebih luas.

Reggae "jammin"
Perluasan reggae di Indonesia ini begitu terbuka. Setiap pemusik ini punya jalan masing-masing untuk menyebarkan musik reggae. Tony Q dengan senang hati berbagi panggung dengan band-band reggae baru. "Tadi ada band Bekasi, namanya Peron One. Minggu depan ada lagi, namanya The Dread," ujar Tony sambil tersenyum seusai pertunjukannya pada Rabu malam di Blues Bar.
Steven & Coconuttreez adalah salah satu yang dulu rajin "mengganggu" panggung Tony Q. Sekarang Steven sudah merilis debut album The Other Side. Steven juga sedang giat mengumpulkan band-band reggae untuk diajak bikin proyek album kompilasi.

Joni Agung di Bali tak pernah berhenti bermain reggae. Senin dia akan berada di Apache Bar. Selasa dan Jumat dia manggung di Soda Bar, Sanur. Lalu, Minggu dan Rabu pesta reggaenya di gelar di Putra Bar, Ubud.

Heru "Shaggy Dog" tidak hanya aktif menyebarkan reggae lewat panggung. Tapi juga lewat siaran radio. Bersama sang manajer Dread Met, mereka punya program Simmerdown di Star FM Yogya. Geronimo FM, Yogya, juga punya acara Rabu Reggae yang usianya sudah cukup lama.

Jika ingin menikmati reggae di Jakarta, kita juga bisa datang ke Parc, yang menawarkan DJ-DJ yang memainkan lagu-lagu dub & reggae setiap Selasa. Drum N’ Bass yang cenderung elektronika sekarang ini juga mulai sering jadi musik tema di tempat-tempat klubing yang biasanya di dominasi hip-hop dan R&B.

Ternyata Indonesia memang cukup berpotensi untuk reggae. Ada dua band yang jaringannya sudah internasional. Tony Q dan New Rastafara terdaftar sebagai headliners di acara Legend Of Rasta Reggae Festival (www.legendsofrastareggaefestival.com). Dan Shaggy Dog yang rencananya pertengahan tahun ini berangkat ke Festival Mundial, Belanda, untuk yang kedua kalinya. Dan bukan tidak mungkin akan makin banyak band-band pop/rock lain yang menyelipkan reggae dalam musik mereka.

Bali Reggae Performance - Indonesia

:: JONI AGUNG & DOUBLE T ::

Was formed in '90s, they have been in reggae gig in all well known
reggae club and pub as well as outdoor concert in Bali.
JONI agung as the dreadlock sweet fat balinese guy as leader and
the vocalist of double T reggae band.
Has won several reggae competition in Bali and always perform in any
beach festival in the paradise.

THE GUYS :
JONI AGUNG AS VOCALIST
CETU ON DRUMS
ALITS ON GUITAR
TILEM ON BASS
MAYUN ON KEYBOARD

Since 2004 this band launched 3 album independent here in Bali.
The Reggae with balinese language, very popular since their lyric
talk more about life in Bali, love and tradition
their music composition not too progressive , simple but very rich.

2004 ALBUM REGGAE MEBASA BALI
2005 ALBUM MELALUNG
2006 ALBUM PUL SI NO GE

music video :(tittle)
nyoman kelepon
pocol
jero gede
melalung
nuutin jaman
pu sinoge
sing sedeng tuutin

GIG/CONCERT
More than 100, big gig concert lombok and bali island

Their album in Bali nearly reach 20,000 copies sold. and every big
concert here in Bali always full of entertaining moment and cool
atmosphere.
Many Collaboration also they have made with some band here in Bali
such as funk and rock band.
at this moment this album still in finishing their tour here in Bali
with some band to make they exist .

At last their dream to perform in international music event still in
wait, they hope there gonna be sponsor, who wants to grab them to
perfom internationay.

Contact :
Bagus Mantra / Pregina Studio
Jl. Danau Buyan 46 Sanur – Bali 80228
Ph. 0812 381 1001 / pregina@balitamansari.com

Rum & Reggae's Rio de Janeiro

:: Rum & Reggae's Rio de Janeiro ::

Since the first edition of Rum & Reggae's Caribbean was published in 1988, all of our guides have developed an avid following. Rum & Reggae's newest release - Rum & Reggae's Rio de Janeiro - is a collaboration of Jonathan Runge and Sam Logan's combined 25 years of travel writing experience. This guide is a complete revision and major expansion of the Rio de Janeiro chapter found in Rum & Reggae's Brazil. Thus, it covers many more areas along Rio State's coast as well as its interior. Rio can be a confusing place for tourism, but this book will help the traveler easily navigate through Rio's city streets, beachside destinations, and mountain retreats. With opinionated and honest advice that's presented in an entertaining and personal tone, Rum & Reggae leads travelers not just to the most popular spots, but to the best spots (whether they are on or off the beaten path). Meanwhile, Rum & Reggae's Rio de Janeiro has maintained the creative flair found in features such as Rum & Reggae's Touristo Scale, the Superlatives section, and the stylish illustrations of Disney's Eric Orner.

Rum & Reggae's Rio de Janeiro will help you find and experience all the best of this land of samba and soccer. Beyond the complete information on hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, beaches, and activities, we'll tell you everything that's great (and, of course, what's not) about this unique and energetic destination. You'll learn the inside scoop on all of Rio's nightlife (both gay and straight) - from the chic neighborhoods of Leblon and Ipanema, to the thumping beat of the up-and-coming Lapa district. We'll also detail the tourist sites of Corcovado and Sugarloaf (among others), and the mountains of Petrópolis, Teresópolis, and Itatiaia, as well as the posh beach resort of Búzios, and the colonial town of Paraty. This guide will let you in on the secrets that many other guides will not. For example, all guidebooks will tell you how beautiful Búzios is, but only Rum & Reggae will let you know about the cops that create blockades along the route to Búzios supposedly in search of drugs (when they are really looking for bribe money from unsuspecting tourists). So if you're in search of the real Brazilian experience, Rum & Reggae's Rio de Janeiro is the trusted friend and indispensable guide you'll need.

“Honest opinions delivered straight from the hip and the heart…. A refreshing antidote to travel writing blandness” – Chicago Tribune

“An irreverent and highly personal guide with an emphasis on places to stay and places to party…” – Travel & Leisure
“Clearly, this book is not for the porch crowd.” – The New York Times

Rum & Reggae's Virgin Islands

:: Rum & Reggae's Virgin Islands ::

Rum & Reggae’s Virgin Islands is an in-depth guide to the necklace of idyllic (and not so idyllic) islands that span the British and U.S. Virgin Islands. With the same format and wit of Rum & Reggae’s Caribbean, this more affordable and compact book is all the savvy and sophisticated traveler needs to navigate the archipelago, which includes St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada, Peter Island and more. You’ll learn what we adore and despise in this latitude — from New Year’s Eve on Jost Van Dyke, the romance of Virgin Gorda, the easy sailing of the Drake Channel and the beauty of St. John, to the traffic jams of Charlotte Amalie, cruise ship gridlock and the brusqueness of certain island residents — it’s all here for the taking. All the traveler needs to know is in this book, from hotel and restaurant recommendations to the best snorkeling spots and yachty watering holes. Best of all, this book is an entertaining and fun read - even if you never leave your living room. No vacation (or vacation wannabe) to the VI’s should begin without Rum & Reggae’s Virgin Islands.

Rum & Reggae's Grenadines

:: Rum & Reggae's Grenadines ::

Rum & Reggae’s Grenadines (including St. Vincent & Grenada) is a thorough, handy and affordable guide and the only book you’ll need to the 75-mile-long chain of islands that stretches from St. Vincent to Grenada. Written with the sharp wit and critical eye that is Rum & Reggae and geared toward the savvy and sophisticated traveler, this book highlights what to see and discover at this remote end of the West Indies. We’ll take you to St. Vincent, a relatively undiscovered destination, complete with spectacular black-sand beaches and an active volcano. Then we’ll go to the islands which lie south, all the way to Grenada — Bequia, Mustique, Mayreau, Canouan, the Tobago Cays, Union, Palm, Petit St. Vincent, Petit Martinique and Carriacou. The Grenadines, as these islands are called, are a sailor’s dream, second only to the British Virgin Islands as the Caribbean’s prime sailing destination. They are also wonderful and untouristed destinations in their own right. And with more than 25 islands in the chain (most are uninhabited and can be explored on day-trips), there are ample opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving, beachcombing, and picnics. But you’ll need Rum & Reggae’s Grenadines to know where and how to go to these magical places. Then we visit Grenada, the Spice Isle. Sitting majestically at the southern end of the Grenadines chain, it is a wonderfully verdant, picturesque, lively and friendly destination. All the traveler needs to know is here, from hotel and restaurant recommendations to the best rum punch, waterfall hike and celebrity hangout. No vacation here should begin without Rum & Reggae’s Grenadines!

Rum & Reggae's Caribbean

:: Rum & Reggae's Caribbean ::

First published in 1988, this expansive guide to the Caribbean has developed an avid following. Under the watchful eye of 20-year travel writing veteran Jonathan Runge, and now in its fifth incarnation, this flagship production of Rum & Reggae Guidebooks is bigger and better than ever. This edition has undergone a complete revision, with improved maps and a new format that makes it easier for readers to find all the information they need to plan the perfect Caribbean vacation. Meanwhile, the creative flair found in features such as Rum & Reggae's Touristo Scale, Island Friendliness Climate, and Superlatives section, still remains.

While Rum & Reggae’s Caribbean includes all of the nuts and bolts found in other guidebooks, it goes above and beyond the ordinary travel guides. It’s opinionated, irreverent, informative, funny, and entertaining. Geared toward the more sophisticated and savvy traveler who generally avoids the tourist swarms, it is indispensable for those in search of the real island experience. For vacationers who want to go beyond the T-shirt stalls of Ochos Rios, the casinos in St. Maarten, the all-inclusive resorts of Jamaica, and the cruise ship traffic jams of St. Thomas, Rum & Reggae’s Caribbean is the ultimate travel companion.

"An irreverent and highly personal guide with and emphasis on places to stay and places to party..." - Travel & Leisure

"As guidebooks proliferate, those with a sharp point of view, whether or not one agrees with it, can seem as refreshing as a cold drink of water at midnight after a supper of salami....Rum & Reggae is perhaps an extreme example of the opinionated guidebook.... Clearly, this book is not for the porch crowd." - The New York Times

Rum & Reggae's Brazil

:: Rum & Reggae's Brazil ::

Rum & Reggae’s Brazil takes on the world’s hottest destination with its trademark critical, witty and cosmopolitan eye. It takes the reader not only to the renowned Rio de Janeiro and its famous Carnaval, but to areas virtually unknown to the English-speaking world — like Salvador, Pipa, Buzios, Minas Gerais and Paraty — with its “Travel with an Opinion®” motto as its m.o. Rum & Reggae’s Brazil is the only book the in-the-know and savvy traveler will need. Those who are a tad timid about journeying throughout this island of Portuguese and little English will find a welcome friend and guiding light in Rum & Reggae’s Brazil.

With time increasingly at a premium for the sophisticated, successful and adventurous person, Rum & Reggae’s Brazil does the work for the minute-challenged. It sifts through the Himalayan-like mountains of material and provides the reader with the right balance of info and recommendations — all in a style and tone that is fun and engaging. While traditional travel books work better than Valium for insomnia, Rum & Reggae’s Brazil will have the reader trying to samba, listening to Marisa Monte, mixing a caipirinha and saying “tudo bem” by the end of the first chapter. And what about those legendary and uninhibited Brazilian beauties and where to find them? Well, you’ll just have to buy Rum & Reggae’s Brazil to find out!

Essene Activities of Church Members

:: Jamaica ::


Nazariah finds Juice Bar on Jamaican beach

Essene Activities of Church Members

:: Jamaica ::

Nazariah meditates in Jamaican paradise

Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins - Jamaica

:: Jamaica ::

Stay as the guest of Free-I at Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins. Free-I was born and raised in Holland where he learned horticulture and respect for the earth and all who reside upon it. He brought his love and skills to Jamaica where he applied them to Zion Country, transforming the land into a little piece of heaven which he so graciously shares with his guests.

Free-I will guide you with information about the community. He will sometimes arrange to transport travelers to the local attractions which are highlighted under touring. Free-I is superb host. He and his able staff, Owen and his cousin Tamar know how to make their guests welcome, comfortable and connected.

Rick's Cafe up in Negril's Cliffs

:: Jamaica's reggae Cafe ::


RICK'S CAFE is known world wide as THE PLACE TO GO when you're in Negril Jamaica because of its beautiful facility, its live reggae music, its great bar, its relaxing pool and its 10', 20' and 40' cliff diving spots for its more adventurous patrons.

Rick's has a resident diver present most times who's called the Birdman. He has a near perfect physique and he makes spectacular 60' dives just for tips from the audience.

Booze, music, food and a patron's pool to unwind in along with dare devil patron cliff jumping and 60' high diving by the Birdman and other locals makes for a great tourist hangout.

Stop in and enjoy yourself here anytime from noon on every day of the week.

A trip to Negril without a stop at RICK'S CAFE is something you will always regret. This is because anyone who hears about your trip there will automatically ask you if you went to Rick's and if you say no - they'll just shake their head at the unique fun they know you missed.

Most of negril's young tourists who like to grab a suntan, drink, flirt and party will spend some of their time at RICK'S CAFE up here in the cliffs or down at JIMMY BUFFET'S MARGARITAVILLE on Negril's 7 mile beach.

Bob Marley Museum

::Bob Marley Museum::

The Bob Marley Museum is a museum in Kingston, Jamaica, dedicated to the reggae musician Bob Marley. The museum is located at 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6, and is Bob Marley's former place of residence. It was home to the Tuff Gong record label which was founded by The Wailers in 1970. In 1976, it was the site of a failed assassination attempt on Bob Marley.[1]

One of the legend of reggae

::Peter Tosh::

Peter Tosh was born Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 9, 1944 in Grange Hill, Jamaica. Raised by his aunt, he left home in his early teens and headed for the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, known as Trenchtown. Like many of his fellow young aspiring musicians, he found his way to Joe Higgs, a local musician who offered free music lessons to youth. It was through Joe Higgs that Peter Tosh met his future fellow bandmates, Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.

Early Success With The Wailers:
Under the mentorship of Joe Higgs, the Wailing Wailers, as the three boys were known, began performing publicly and eventually headed into the studio. Their first track, "Simmer Down" (listen/download) became an island-wide ska hit.

Rasta and Rocksteady:
After creating several more ska hits, the Wailing Wailers reassembled as simply "The Wailers," and began recording music with a slower rocksteady beat and lyrics which were inspired by their newfound Rastafarian faith. Soon thereafter, the trio began working with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, and that collaboration saw the birth of reggae music.

Peter Tosh's Major Contributions to the Wailers:
Though Bob Marley's name later became synonymous with the Wailers, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer were definitely equals with Marley in the band. As a songwriter, Tosh contributed many of the band's hits, including "400 Years," "Get Up, Stand Up," "No Sympathy," and "Stop That Train." His skillful guitar playing and vocal skills were also central to the band's sound.

Peter Tosh's Final Years:
Peter Tosh continued to record international hit records for the rest of the 1970s and early 1980s, and never relaxed his intense message of revolution. After a live concert release in 1984, Peter Tosh took a few years off, and his 1987 comeback record No Nuclear War was nominated for a Grammy Award.

An Untimely Death:
On September 11, 1987, an acquaintance of Peter Tosh's, Dennis Lobban, entered Tosh's home with a small gang of friends and attempted to rob him. Claiming that he had no money on him at the time, Tosh stalled the gang, who stayed at his house for several hours as various friends dropped in. Eventually, they lost patience and shot Tosh and his houseguests in the head. Tosh died instantly, as did two of his friends, though three others somehow survived. Lobban was sentenced to death for his crime, though his sentence was later commuted and he remains in prison in Jamaica to this day.

Bob Marley - Biography

::Bob Marley - Biography::


Name : Bob Marley
Date of birth : 6 February 1945
Birthplace : Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica
Date of death : 11 May 1981
Place of death : Miami, Florida, USA. (brain cancer)
Birth name : Nesta Robert Marley

Bob Marley Trivia
* Father of Ziggy Marley.
* Marley was awarded the International Peace Medal by the African delegation to the United Nations in 1978. He was also an official guest at Zimbabwe's independence celebration two years later, an honor Marley was quoted as saying was the highest he'd ever received.
* Is father of Sharon, Cedella, Ziggy, Stephen, Stephanie, Julian, Makeda, Karen, Damian, Robbie, Ky-Mani and Rohan. Seven of his children are illegitimate, two are adopted.
* Survived an assassination attempt. [1976]
* His albums are in the process of digital remastering, and are being re-released with additional material, such as alternate verions and unused demos. [2001]
* His posthumously released anthology collection "Legend" is one of the highest selling "greatest hits" recordings by a solo artist.
* A vegetarian.
* Grandson, Zion David, born. [3 August 1997]
* Granddaughter, Selah Louise, born. [18 November 1998]
* Is buried with his favorite guitar, a cherry red Fender Stratocaster.
* His father was Welsh army officer Norval St. Clair Marley and his mother was black Jamaican grocer Cedella Malcolm.
* Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
* His song "One Love" has been used extensively for Jamaican tourism commercials.
* He was voted the 11th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Bob Marley Detailed Biography
Bob Marley was born 6 February 1945 in a small village called Nine Miles in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica. His father was a white British Naval Officer named Norval Marley. Bob had only a scant recollection of his father. This was largely due to the fact that the 'well to do' Marley family did not approve of the relationship Norval had formed with Bobs mother Cedella. His father therefore, despite marrying Cedella, was more an occasional visitor. He did not live to witness the success of his son Bob.

Bob cut his first record at the age of 16 in Kingston. A song called 'Judge Not'.

In 1963 the original Wailers were formed, the line-up being Bob Marley, Bunny Livingstone (who was later to take the name Wailer), and Peter Tosh. Their first song 'Simmer Down' was an instant number one in Jamaica.

In 1966 Haile Sellasie visited Jamaica and Bob and the other Wailers embraced the Rastafarian faith and began to grow their 'locks'. Also at around this time they teamed up with the producer Lee Perry for what was to become a very productive but ultimately soured relationship. The union ceased when Perry allegedly sold their material to another label without their knowledge.

In 1972 Chris Blackwell signed the Wailers to his 'Island' label, and gave them 8000 to produce a record. The result - 'Catch A Fire', released in 1973 - was a breakthrough album, triggering international recognition of the Wailers. In the UK they appeared on BBC television, and in New York they opened for Bruce Springsteen at Max's Kansas City Club. The touring schedule proved too much for Bunny and he announced his intention to quit the Wailers. Soon followed by Peter Tosh who left to concentrate on a solo career. And so a new line up emerged, with Bob being the front man of 'Bob Marley and the Wailers'. He retained the stalwart rhythm section of the Barrett brothers (Aston and Carlton) on bass and drums, and added a trio of female backing vocalists called the 'I-Threes', one of which was his wife Rita who had sung occasionally with the Wailers since the beginning.

The first album of the new line-up 'Natty Dread' was a major success. In 1975 Bob Marley and the Wailers played the Roxy in Los Angeles. Among the ectstatic audience (apparently some were dancing on the tables) were Beatles George and Ringo, Bob Dylan, and Jack Nicholson! Back home in Jamaica Bob was becoming revered as a mystic and prophet, his influence was noted by politicians. When Bob approached the then Prime Minister Michael Manley offering to stage a free concert he responded by fixing a date (5 December) that would conveniently coincide with the national elections, thus implying that he had the support of Bob Marley. This dangerous move resulted in an attempt on Bobs life.

On the evening of the 3 December a number of gunmen arrived at Bobs house on Hope Road and shot Bob, his wife Rita, and his manager. These gunmen were thought to be the henchmen of the opposition leader Edward Seaga. Fortunately, nobody was killed, and Bob went ahead with the planned concert defiantly appearing with his arm in a sling. The following year Bob cancelled the last few dates of a big European tour when doctors diagnosed melanoma cancer in the big toe of his right foot. This was the result of a neglected football injury (football being Bobs other major passion alongside music) which occured in Paris when the Wailers took on a team of French journalists some time earlier.

Back home in Jamaica the gunmen leaders of the two warring political factions (The Jamaican Labour Party and the Peoples National Party) approached Bob and asked him to perform at a concert marking a truce between them. The concert titled the 'One Love' Concert took place on 22 April 1978. During the concert Bob persuaded the Prime Minister Manley and the opposition leader Seaga to join him on stage where they shook hands. An incredible event in Jamaica at that time. As a reult of this act Bob received the United Nations' Peace Medal in New York the following June.

During 1979 Bob introduced reggae music to the world, touring Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1980 he headlined the independence celebrations in Zimbabwe, one of the dignitaries present being non other than Prince Charles! In September of this same year Bob collapsed while jogging in Central Park, New York, just after commencing the American leg of a world tour with the 'Commodores' playing support. Doctors told him the shocking news that the cancer (previously considered to have been cleared) had returned and was present in his lungs and brain. Despite this he flew to Pittsburg where on the 23 September 1980 he performed his last concert at the Stanley Theatre.

Initially Bob was treated in New York but the doctors eventually said there was nothing more they could do for him. He flew to Bavaria where he was treated by the unconventional Dr Issels. First signs were encouraging and for a while it appeared that Bob was improving. However by the beginning of May Dr Issels had to tell him that there was no longer any hope. Bob intended to end his days back in Jamaica but was so ill that he had to check into a hospital in Miami en route.

Here he died on 11 May 1981.
His body was returned to Jamaica where it was placed in a specially constructed mausoleum at his birthplace, Nine Miles.

Story Of Rastafarian

::Story Of Rastafarian::

KINGSTON For almost 70 years Rastafari has had a love-hate relationship with Jamaican society. Now that acrimonious bond is analysed in "Chant Down Babylon", a novel which claims to give an unbiased view of the religion and raises questions about the movement's relevance going into the 21st century.
The book features essays from 21 writers who cover various facets of Rastafarianism. It is a variety that has reportedly made "Chant Down Babylon" a popular buy since its release last year.

"Chant Down Babylon" was published by the Temple University Press in Philadelphia, the same institution which released the historical "Reggae Routes" in early 1998.
Unlike "Reggae Routes" which delved into the background of Jamaican music, Rastafari - its roots, social relevance and complexities - is given a thorough looking over from Jamaican and foreign scholars in "Chant Down Babylon".
The book was conceived by Nathaniel Samuel Murrell, William David Spencer and Adrian Anthony McFarlane, three American scholars who collaborated on the project with Clinton Chisholm, a Jamaican theologian, over a four-year period.
Their research is complemented by equally intriguing pieces from University of the West Indies' intellectuals Rex Nettleford, Barry Chevannes and Rupert Lewis, each an authority on Rastafarian doctrine.
The result is a fascinating read, particularly the passages that survey the Rastafarian ideology and its influence on the black majority in colonial Jamaica.
Chevannes' contribution credits Rastafari with having a strong bearing in ridding Jamaica of its misconceptions about the black person while at the same time instilling racial pride and challenging the European concept of the bible.

"The Black Biblical Hermeneutics of Rastafari" tracks the black man's presence in the bible and is arguably the most intriguing chapter in "Chant Down Babylon". (For the Rastafarian, the term Babylon covers the western world, the church and government as agents of imperialism).
It reveals the Rastafarian's method of tracing former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie's (the Rastafarian god) lineage to a tryst between Israel's King Solomon and the Egyptian queen, Sheba.
But it is not all kudos. Some passages question the relevance of the dreadlocked sect in contemporary society even though Rastafarianism is said to be more vibrant than ever before, with more than one million followers worldwide.
One of those essays, "Rastawoman as Rebel," is especially compelling with the author presenting an intimate look at a male-dominated movement.
Imani M. Tafari-Ama, the author, touches on sensitive topics such as the role of women in Rastafari and how the male responds to their growing influence.

Tafari-Ama also discusses issues which have proven critical to the existence of the Rastafarian family, including the Rasta woman's growing sense of independence.
Lewis - whose contribution to "Chant Down Babylon", is an informative look at Marcus Garvey's relationship with the movement - believes that while Rastafarianism remains relevant to the Jamaican society going into the new millennium, it has lost ground in recent years. Much of the teachings of Rastafarianism is said to be based on the writings of Garvey.

"At the moment, Rasta is redefining itself, it's going through an inter-generational change," said Lewis who agreed with Tafari-Ama that it is the woman who has kept Rastafarianism relevant.
"The female Rastas are much more progressive, they're more pragmatic and less doctrinal," he pointed out. "On the other hand, the men have not been on the cutting edge; they have been disappointing."
It was the black conscious message of the Rasta man that attracted people like Chevannes and Lewis to the movement in the early 1960s when it was gathering momentum in Kingston.
Rastafari originated in the 1930s in west Kingston, then a sprawling fishing village comprised of shanties. It was also a haven for undesirables which is exactly what Rastafarianism was considered to be back then.
But the Rastafarian's fierce support for Selassie's embattled people against Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini's armies endeared them to militant youth in the late 1930s when firebrand figures like Leonard Howell and Claudius Henry began proclaiming Selassie as the black man's God, and championed talk of a return to Africa in mass numbers.

The contributions of Howell and Henry are documented in "Chant Down Babylon," so too are the efforts of Mortimo Planno arguably the most effective bearer of the Rastafarian message in Jamaica. Planno, who was part of a fact-finding mission to Africa in the early 1900s, had a strong influence on Bob Marley, the music icon who introduced reggae and Rastafarianism to an international following.
Reggae, as well as Marley's role in the spread of Rastafarianism on all continents, is covered in detail by contributors including Marley archivist Roger Steffens.
Rupert Lewis believes it is the absence of a strong patriarchal figure in the Planno/Marley mould that threatens the Rastafarian influence going into the 21st century.
"There's no doubt Rasta is going to be around, it's no longer just a black thing, it's worldwide," he said. "But I see the women carrying the movement in the 21st century."

(END/IPS/hc/cb/99)
Origin: Rome/CULTURE-JAMAICA/

:: Rastafarian ::

:: Rastafarian ::
Pada akhir abad ke-20, kaum perempuan telah memainkan peranan yang lebih penting di dalam gerakan Rastafari. Pada tahun-tahun awalnya, kaum perempuan yang sedang datang bulan harus takluk kepada suami mereka dan dikeluarkan dari upacara-upacara keagamaan dan sosial. Pada umumnya, kaum perempuan merasakan kebebasan yang lebih besar sekarang dalam mengungkapkan diri mereka. Dengan demikian mereka pun menyumbangkan peranan yang lebih besar pula kepada agama ini.
Rastafari bukanlah sebuah agama yang sangat terorganisasi. Malah, sebagian kaum Rasta mengatakan bahwa itu sama sekali bukan "agama", melainkan suatu "jalan Kehidupan". Kebanyakan kaum Rasta tidak mengidentifikasikan dirinya dengan sekte atau denominasi apapun, meskipun ada tiga istana Rastafari yang terkemuka: Nyahbinghi, Bobo Ashanti dan Keduabelas Suku Israel. Dengan mengklaim Yah sebagai Yesus yang datang kedua kalinya, Rastafari adalah sebuah gerakan agama baru yang muncul dari agama Kristen, seperti halnya agama Krsiten muncul dari Yudaisme.
Pada 1996, gerakan Rastafari di seluruh dunia mendapatkan status konsultatif dari Perserikatan Bangsa-bangsa.

Kaum Rastafari
Gerakan Rastafari percaya bahwa akhir zaman dimulai dengan penobatan Haile Selassie sebagai Kaisar Ethiopia pada 1930, dan bahwa ia akan segera menyatakan dirinya sebagai Allah. Kaum Rastafarian mempunyai suatu penafsiran yang unik tentang akhir zaman, yang didasarkan pada Perjanjian Lama dan Kitab Wahyu. Mereka percaya Kaisar Haile Selassie dari Ethiopia adalah Allah yang menjelma, Raja di atas segala raja dan Tuhan di atas segala tuhan yang disebutkan dalam Wahyu 5:5. Sementara di satu pihak penobatan Selassie dipandang sebagai kedatangan Kristus yang kedua kali, dan kejadian-kejadian seperti misalnya Perang Italia-Ethiopia Kedua dipandang sebagai penggenapan atas nubuat-nubuat Alkitab dan khususnya Wahyu, ada juga pengharapan bahwa Selassie akan menyerukan hari penghakiman, ketika ia membawa pulang anak-anak Israel yang telah hilang (kaum kulit hitam yang dibawa keluar dari Afrika pada masa perdagangan budak) untuk hidup bersamanya dalam perdamaian, cinta-kasih dan keserasian yang sempurna di Bukit Sion di Afrika. Bukit Sion bukanlah sebuah tempat, tetapi kaum Rasta percaya bahwa mereka akan hidup di sana bersama Selassie dalam pengertian fisik. Di sana mereka tidak akan pernah mati.

Rasta, atau Gerakan Rastafari, adalah sebuah gerakan agama baru yang mengakui Haile Selassie I, bekas kaisar Ethiopia, sebagai Raja diraja, Tuan dari segala Tuan dan Singa Yehuda sebagai Yah (nama Rastafari untuk Allah, yang merupakan bentuk singkat dari Yehovah yang ditemukan dalam Mazmur 68:4 dalam Alkitab versi Raja James), dan bagian dari Tritunggal Kudus. Nama Rastafari berasal dari Ras Täfäri, nama Haile Selassie I sebelum ia dinobatkan menjadi kaisar. Gerakan ini muncul di Jamaika di antara kaum kulit hitam kelas pekerja dan petani pada awal tahun 1930-an, yang berasal dari suatu penafsiran terhadap nubuat Alkitab, aspirasi sosial dan politik kulit hitam, dan ajaran nabi mereka, seorang penerbit dan organisator Jamaika kulit hitam, Marcus Garvey, yang visi politik dan budayanya ikut menolong menciptakan suatu pandangan dunia yang baru.

Gerakan ini kadang-kadang disebut "Rastafarianisme"; namun hal ini dianggap tidak pantas dan menyinggung perasaan banyak kaum Rasta. Gerakan Rastafari telah menyebar di berbagai tempat did unia, terutama melalui imigrasi dan minatnya dilahirkan oleh musik Nyahbinghi dan reggae —khususnya musik Bob Marley, yang dibaptiskan dengan nama Berhane Selassie (Cahaya Tritunggal) oleh Gereja Ortodoks Ethiopia sebelum ia meninggal, sebuah langkah yang juga diambil belakangan oleh jandanya, Rita. Pada tahun 2000, ada lebih dari satu juta Rastafari di seluruh dunia. Sekitar 5-10% dari penduduk Jamaika mengidentifikasikan dirinya sebagai Rastafari. Kebanyakan kaum Rastafari vegetarian atau hanya memakan jenis-jenis daging tertentu. Di AS ada banyak sekali restoran vegetarian Hindia Barat, yang menyediakan makanan Jamaika.

Doktrin
Rastafari berkembang di antara penduduk yang sangat miskin, yang merasa bahwa masyarakat tidak mau menolong mereka kecuali membuat mereka menjadi lebih menderita. Kaum Rasta memandang diri mereka sebagai penggenap suatu visi tentang bagaimana orang Afrika harus hidup. Meerka merebut kembali apa yang mereka anggap sebagai kebudayaan yang telah dicuri dari mereka ketika dibawa di kapal-kapal budak ke Jamaika, tempat lahir gerakan ini.

Doktrin Rastafari sangat berbeda dengan norma-norma pikiran dunia barat modern. Hal ini disengaja oleh kaum Rasta sendiri. Berbeda dengan banyak kelompok keagamaan modern dan Kristen yang cenderung menekankan konformitas dengan "kekuasaan yang ada", Rastafari sebaliknya menekankan kesetiaan kepada konsep mereka tentang "Zion" dan penolakan masyarakat modern ("Babel"). "Babel" dalam hal ini dianggap memberontak terhadap "Penguasa Dunia Sejati" (YAH) sejak zaman Nimrod.

"Cara hidup ini" tidak sekadar diberikan makna intelektual, atau "keyakinan" seperti yang biasa diistilahkan. Ini adalah masalah mengetahui atau menemukan identitas sejati diri sendiri. Mengikut dan menyembah YAH Rastafari berarti menemukan, menyebarkan dan "menempuh" jalan di mana orang telah dilahirkan dengan sebenarnya.

Kepercayaan ini sulit dikategorikan, karena Rastafari bukanlah suatu organisasi yang tersentralisasi. Masing-masing Rastafari mencari kebenaran untuk dirinya sendiri, sehingga akibatnya terdapat berbagai keyakinan yang masuk ke bawah payung besar bernama Rastafari.

Afrosentrisme
Secara sosial, Rastafari adalah suatu tanggapan terhadap penyangkalan rasialis terhadap orang-orang kulit hitam sebagaimana yang dialami di Jamaika, ketika pada tahun 1930-an orang-orang kulit hitam berada pada tingkat tatanan sosial paling bawah, sementara orang-orang kulit putih dan agama mereka (umumnya Kristen) berada di paling atas. Anjuran Marcus Garvey agar orang-orang kulit hitam bangga akan diri mereka dan warnisan mereka mengilhami kaum Rasta untuk memeluk segala sesuatu yang bersifat Afrika. Mereka mengajarkan bahwa mereka dicuci otak ketika berada dalam tawanan untuk menyangkal segala sesuatu yang berkaitan dengan kulit hitam dan Afrika. Mereka membalikkan citra rasialis mereka dan menganggapnya primitif dan langsung dari hutan dan malah merangkulnya -- meskipun itu berlawanan -- dan menjadikan konsep-konsep ini sebagai bagian dari budaya Afrika yang mereka anggap telah dicuri dari mereka ketika mereka dibawa dari Afrika di kapal-kapal budak. Dekat dengan alam dan dengan savana Afrika serta singa-singanya, di dalam roh, kalau bukan secara badani, adalah gagasan sentral mereka tentang budaya Afrika.

Hidup dekat dengan alam dan menjadi bagian dari alam dianggap sebagai sifat Afrika. Pendekatan Afrika terhadap "hidup dekat alam" ini terlihat dalam rambut gimbal, ganja (marijuana), makanan ital, dan dalam segala aspek kehidupan Rasa. Mereka membenci pendekatan (atau, seperti yang mereka pahami, non-pendekatan) modern terhadap kehidupan karena dianggap tidak alamiah dan terlalu objektif dan menolak subjektivitas. Kaum Rasta mengatakan bahwa para ilmuawn berusaha menemukan bagaimana dunia kelihatan dari luar, sementara kaum Rasa mendekatinya dengan melihat kehidupan dari dalam ke luar. Individu mendapatkan kedudukan sangat penting dalam Rastafari, dan setiap Rasta harus mencari kebenaran untuk dirinya sendiri.

Identifikasi Afrosentris penting lainnya adalah warna merah, emas, dan hijau, dari warna bendera Ethiopia. Warna-warna ini adalah lambang gerakan Rastafari, dan kesetiaan kaum Rasa terhadap Haile Selassie, Ethiopia, dan Africa dan bukan kepada negara modern manapun di mana mereka kebetulan tinggal. Warna-warna ini seringkali terlihat dalam pakaian dan hiasan-hiasan lainnya. Merah melambangkan darah para martir, hijau melambangkan tetumbuhan Afrika, sementara emas melambangkan kekayaan dan kemakmuran yang ditawarkan Afrika. (Sebaliknya, sejumlah pakar Ethiopia menyatakan bahwa warna-warna ini berasal dari pepatah lama y ang mengatakan bahwa sabuk Perawan Maria adalah pelangi, dan bahwa warna merah, emas, dan hijau melambangkan semuanya ini.

Banyak dari pemeluk Rastafari berusaha mempelajari bahasa Amharik, yang mereka anggap sebagai bahasa aslinya, karena inilah bahasa yang dipergunakan Haile Selassie I, dan untuk mengidentifikasikan diri mereka sebagai orang Ethiopia—meskipun pada praktiknya kebanyakan pemeluk Rasta tetap berbahasa Inggris atau bahasa kelahiran mereka. Ada pula lagu-lagu reggae yang ditulis dalam bahasa Amharik.

:: Asian Roots ::

:: Asian Roots ::
Personel Asian Roots :

Grace & Anis : Vocal
Ade: Bass
Hensel: Gitar
Robby Maste; Keyboard
Iye: Perkusi
Dave: Drum
Hendro: Terompet

Apakah ada filosofi di balik nama band ini?
Asian Root diandaikan sebuah pohon besar, yang tumbuh dan besar dari benua Asia
yang merupakan simbol akar genre reggae dari Asia.

Kenapa milih aliran musik reggae? Hal-hal apa saja yg membuat milih genre ini?
Bagi kami reggae merupakan panggilan musik, karena reggae adalah musik yang mempunyai roh dan keistimewaan dalam memainkannya..

Kalau inspirasi lagu-lagunya dari mana? Influences?
The King of Reggae Bob Marley. UB 40, Aswad, 311, dll.

Kalo punya album sudah berapa album yang dikeluarkan?
Tahun 1990 ada album "Reggae Top Pop". Rencana tahun kami akan merilis album baru dengan sentuhan reggae soul sesuai era saat ini.

Sejak kapan mulai konsen di genre Reggae dan sdh berapa lama?
Tahun 1985 sampai sekarang.

Pernah ikut musik competition atau Reggae Festival?
Era tahun 1980-an belum ada reggae festival.

Bisa sebutkan sering manggung dimana saja?
Tahun 1989-194 sdh keliling Indonesia dan beberapa kali sempat performing di Singapore.

Selain bermusik ada hobi lain, misalnya main bola, dll?
Main Musik adalah segalanya.

Markas atau tempat ngumpul dimana?
deMost Cafe tiap malam jumat..

Alamat Management dimana?
Jl. RC. Veteran K-8, Tanah Kusir, Jakarta Selatan
Telp: (021) 7343856
cp: Seno.
e-mail: demostcafe@yahoo.com