2015 is about to start, so here’s a little recap of what happened in 2014
Rumors of war
2014 started with Rumors of war… After the unexpected win of Black Ryno at Sting in 2013, dethroned king of Sting Kiprich didn’t waste no time to retaliate. Mad Cobra joined in and didn’t hesitate to speak his mind and diss him as well as Ninja Man. The 2014 Dancehall warfare, intensified with the annual clashes of Sting, was just about to start. Meanwhile, Reggae Dancehall singjay Wayne Marshall released “Tru Colors”, his first album since “Marshall Law” in 2003.
The year begins with grieving
January is over, it’s time to pack up Christmas decoration. Unfortunately, everything good things come to an end. A couple of days before celebrating his 66th birthday, Third World lead singer Bunny Rugs passed away. The same month, iconic Dancehall pioneer Wayne “Sleng Teng” Smith died at the age of 48 and the world Reggae Dancehall music mourns the death of 27 year-old CEO of Irie FM Chad Young.
Winter music releases
On February 4th, Tarrus Riley released “Love Situation”, which topped the Reggae charts the week following its release. On Valentine’s day international Dancehall superstar Sean Paul released his 6th studio album “Full Frequency”, which has been nominated for the Best Reggae Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards.
The days become brighter by the end of the winter. In March, the traditional annual carnival of Trinidad was held in joy and good humour. Bunji Garlin, who scored a massive hit with the single and EP “Differentology”, brought that carnival vibe to annual festival SXSW in the UK. Then, I Octane dropped his sophomore album “My Journey”. Mad Professor and Luciano teamed up to deliver a brand-new dub album titled “Deliverance”.
Spring music releases
This spring, the Reggae industry was very flourishing. In April, Chronixx released his debut album “Dread & Terrible”. Then, Pressure, Ziggy Marley and Perfect respectively dropped “The Sound”, “Better Off Dread” and “Fly Rasta”, which has been nominated for the Grammy Awards, followed by Sizzla who released “Radical”.
The month of May was as fruitful as April, with the release of “Anointed”, the highly expected debut album of Bugle, “Born A King” by Sizzla, “Back On Controls” by Lee “Scratch” Perry, also nominated for the Grammy, “Greater Than Great” by Skarra Mucci, “Therapeutic” by Ziggi Recado and “The Kings Book” by Suga Roy & Conrad Crystal.
Summer music releases
In June, Gaza protégé Popcorn released his highly anticipated debut album “Where We Come From”. 41 year-old Reggae band Third World unveiled a new album titled “Under The Magic Sun”. Then, Lutan Fyah dropped “Get Rid A Di Wicked”.
After a very hot summer
Holidays were over… It was slowly getting colder as the summer was ending. September starts off the grieving of Reggae singer Hopeton Lewis who had just passed away. Then, things got better as Pressure dropped a second album for 2014 titled “Africa Redemption”, Mr Vegas released “Reggae Euphoria”, Duane Stephenson “Dangerously Roots”, and “The Reggae Power” by Sly & Robbie, nominated for the Best Reggae Album at the Grammy.
Rise & fall…
As the fall started… the horizon darkened even more. The world of Reggae was grieving again. The drummer of the Roots Radics, Lincoln “Style” Scott passed away, as well as John Holt, former lead singer of the band The Paragons. Luckily, it didn’t go on that way. Etana issued her 4th album “I Rise” and became the first female artist to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Album Reggae Chart in twenty years since Lady Patra & Diana King in the mid-90’s.
Winter’s back again
In November, we started getting ready for Christmas time. Overall, it seemed to be quiet. Female Dancehall deejay Lady Saw released a new album titled “Alter Ego”. Then, all of sudden, a homeless man created the buzz with a freestyle video posted on Youtube.
In December, Alia Atkinson became the first Jamaican to ever ties a world record in 100m breaststroke at the FINA World Short Course Championships and won gold medal. “Strictly the Best #50 & #51” hit first and second on the Billboard Album Reggae Chart within the first week after the series was released. Ron Muschette left Irie FM. The day following Christmas, Gully Bop aka The Country Man took Sting. He also changed management team as he was dropped by Claim Records.
A new year already begins
And now, Jamworld876 wishes you a Happy New Year! If you enjoyed my recap of 2014, do not hesitate to share and comment. I couldn’t cover everything in one article. In case I missed a relevant event or release, let me know. Leave a comment below.
Sources:
http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=29
http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/6099109/jamaicas-tarrus-riley-takes-control-independently-on-new-rocksteady-album
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Drummer–Style–Scott-KILLED_17735543
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Alia-Atkinson-ties-world-record-in-100m-breaststroke
http://www.trinijunglejuice.com/tnt_carnival_2014.html
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Singer-Hopeton-Lewis-is-dead
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Wayne–Sleng-Teng–Smith-is-dead
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140311/ent/ent2.html