Category: Misc.

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PRESS RELEASE: @MeNameKAT (Kat C.H.R.) Goes For Gold

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KAT CHR

Jamaican singer-songwriter, Kat C.H.R has come of age with her latest project – GOLD -written by Kat and co-produced with Andrew ‘Preggs’ Thompson who has toured the world with international recording artist Sean Paul, and whose drumming and production expertise has made him a household name throughout Jamaica’s alternative music scene.

After wrapping a music production partnership with New York based music mogul and former CEO of Roc A Fella Records, Damon Dash for his DD172 Media Collective, Kat returned to Jamaica to reconnect on her original stomping grounds and record the songs featured on GOLD.

“It’s like a coming of age project for me. My music has always been true to my life. These songs represent me to the fullest. I keep my thoughts golden, I keep my heart golden and inevitably, my art isgolden. People used to see me at shows and say oh I had no idea you were going to sound like that but they are always intrigued by my contradiction. There is a light inside me that wants to shine, GOLD is that light. It’s my labour of love,” says Kat.

The EP features four tracks – GOLD, MANGO, OVER MY HEAD and TURN AROUND – each delivering her paradoxical yet authentic musical style that has gained her fans all around the world. These songs showcase not only her versatility as an artist but also why she’s known as a lyrical heavyweight.

According to Kat, “this project represents growth for me as an artist, with each song I’m evoking that distinct connection between my hardcore, tomboy image, and my sensitive lyrics and smooth melodies… It all finally makes sense.”

Now armed with a wealth of experience, new management and an arsenal of new music she has signed a distribution deal for GOLD with international recording artist, Diana King’s US based record label ThinkLikeAgirL Music Inc.

“Kat C.H.R represents exactly what ThinkLikeAgirLMusic is about! Artists who have no boundaries, no limits and no fear to create across genres while being true to themselves. ThinkLikeAgirL is all about being unorthodox,” says King.

GOLD is now available on iTunes  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gold-ep/id796477614

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TECH: @F1rstNation Media Launch In Jamaica

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(Brought to you by Shana Reid and Jordie Davis)

It cannot be denied that there is much division amongst the Caribbean nations, many countries are rivals and it is not necessary as we all benefit from each other’s achievements, we all float in the same waters and when one country hurts we all feel it. However, it is unfortunate that while the same waters wash upon all of our shores, we still feel like we are standing alone; sometimes I forget that the Cayman Islands is just 235 miles away from Kingston and a short 45 minute flight (you could get to Cayman and check into a hotel before ONE of my classes are finished).

What is also surprising is many of us who were born and raised in Jamaica don’t even know about half the places in our very own parish, let alone in another Caribbean island. What the F1rst team has done is come up with a new way to bring us all together and keep us all connected while making us more aware of the places that are around us through just one mobile app and a website.

I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t know there was a Chinese Food Restaurant within walking distance of my home until I started exploring f1rstt.com.

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PICS: @PayAttentionJA – January 25, 2014 at @SouthBeachCafeJ

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1525382_549659631790282_1654291219_nJamaican Hip Hop saw a new year over the weekend thanks to the first staging of Pay Attention. Held at Club Indulge and hosted by The Sickest Drama, patrons were treated to the musical endeavors of The Rush, K John, Five Steez and Kabaka Pyramid. The night began with a mix of new and old school Hip Hop provided by Fatalic, Inztinkz and Deadline for the patrons followed by Break Dancers showing another element to the Hip Hop culture. First up to perform was The Rush. Accompanied by a guitarist for his introduction, Rush kicked off his set with verses from his songs along with feature verses from Sons of Liberty songs. Accompanied by his Sons of Liberty brethren later, they all showed that #DatGang was there to make noise and get the people moving. After raising the energry levels, The Rush made way for the next performer, K John of the Gamblino Money Gang. Starting off his set with the National Anthem, he dropped lyrics about Kingston life and what you can find in Jamaica. K John, who was accompanied by his GMG brother for a song, also dropped lyrics about his love for marijuana and requesting its legalization, and the Gamblino life all while having the patrons paying full attention and following every command.

Starting his performance in the crowd was the next performer, Five Steez. Steez ran through a couple of his singles from his “War For Peace” album including a remix of “Slaving On The Plantation“. In respect to those who’ve followed his music for years, Steez also performed one of his songs off his “Momentum Vol. 1” mixtape to much delight from the audience. Before closing his set, Five Steez performed a song that will be featured on his upcoming project, “These Kingston Times“. The final performance of the night came from Bebble Rock founder, Kabaka Pyramid. With an arsenal of lyrics, Kabaka ran through many of his songs before letting the people know that he grew up on Hip Hop music and respected lyricism. Acknowledging Canibus, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and Spragga Benz as influences, Kabaka continued his set with some of his songs over old school hip hop instrumentals which had the crowd in a frenzy. With appearances by Koro Fyah and Shanique Marie, Kabaka had the audience’s attention until the final minute where he recited a very lyrical verse and demanded someone to challenge it. Challengers included The Sickest Drama who performed an unknown amount of bars (Let’s say 200 bars), King Biggs from Sons Of Liberty, Femcee Ice Creame, and Rseenal who have all impressed with their lyrical prowess. Highlights of the night? The Sickest Drama’s performances between sets, Rseenal’s performances, SOL bringing energy to the stage, Breakdancers, Five Steez’s “5 4 3 2 1”, and Kabaka throwing up the Wu-Tang Clan “W” before performing over old school Hip Hop beats and reciting some of the original lyrics to the beats. Check out pics and videos from the event below and share your thoughts in the comments section.

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PICS: @PayAttentionJA – October 5, 2013 at @SouthBeachCafeJ

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On Saturday October 5, 2013 another set of players took their talents to “South Beach“. #PayAttention, the premier Hip Hop event, gave patrons another opportunity to see and hear what the island has to offer. Held at Club Indulge (upstairs South Beach Cafe) and hosted by T.S.D. (The Sickest Drama) who also was a performer, the line up of Slo Mo, B.P.M. (SOS Dynamikz, Lady Livi and Traverse), and Mario Evon were given their time to shine. With Inztinkz and DJ Fatalic providing the tunes before, during and after PayAttention,  the night started off with Slo Mo showing us that while he has the slow flow, he had a gang of lyrics and extra special flow just in case. His set, which featured some lyrical songs and something for the ladies in attendance, he managed to have the audience listening to his lyrics which were well received. After finishing his set with a freestyle over Drake’s “Pound Cake”, it was singer Mario Evon’s turn. Mario, who was accompanied with a guitarist, belted out a couple cover songs which included Bob Marley & Lauryn Hill’s “Lights Down Low” before unleashing some originals. The highlight of his performance came when he brought his lady on stage and sang to her to much enjoyment from the crowd. Showing he had what it takes, he managed to wow the crowd with his singing abilities.

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TECH: @dwaynesamuels x @Xormis – @Grikly

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In the ever changing world of Technology, many people find ways to get rid of the traditional ways of handling things to make life easier. One of those things is handling business cards. While there are many apps that do the job, Jamaican software developers Dwayne Samuels and Shawn Mclean or Xormis aim to make this app the one stop shop for all business card related matters. Named “Grikly, this is used to manage contact information distribution, and keeping your connections up to date and easily accessible. Currently available for Windows phones and tablets, check out the launch video below and share your thoughts in the comments section.


Check out the app here.

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PRESS RELEASE: @PayAttentionJA: August 17, 2013 @SouthBeachCafeJ

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PA August 17th Front

Jamaican Hip Hop commanding attention

Kingston, Jamaica: Hip Hop does not readily come to mind when one thinks of music in Jamaica despite the father of the culture being Jamaican-born Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc – a Jamaican immigrant to the Bronx who took the local sound system culture to New York. Jamaicans and their children in the United States have contributed greatly to Hip Hop music as artistes and producers, making it a true product of our diaspora and ‘blood relative’ to Dancehall and Reggae.

While Jamaica has never been known to have its own home-grown Hip Hop artistes, that is slowly changing, and the island’s premier Hip Hop event, Pay Attention, is leading the way. Started in April 2012, Pay Attention has provided a regular party and showcase atmosphere for local Hip Hop practitioners and fans alike. Held almost monthly since its start as a free event, Pay Attention has brought hundreds to its past venues, and now, as a paid event, has a loyal following of scores of people. The event, currently held inside Club Indulge at South Beach Café, was started by a close-knit group of
like-minded individuals, who all wanted to see a space for the local Hip Hop community, which was previously scattered and fragmented. The event’s Public Relations Manager, Raquel Allen, says, “Pay Attention is where people may come and get familiar with what Jamaica has to offer in terms of genuine Hip Hop music. It is also about community-building for us as it serves as a hub for the scene.”

Pay Attention’s Musical Director and Resident DJ, Inztinkz – also one of the scene’s respected producers – points out that one may hear locally-produced Hip Hop in the mix with international Hip Hop, ranging from the ‘old school’ to the ‘underground’ to current hits. Host of the event and local artiste, The Sickest Drama, says “We definitely have seen some of Jamaica’s Hip Hop artistes getting more exposure over the past few years, although the movement has yet to penetrate the mainstream. People like Five Steez and Nomad Carlos have been releasing material and growing their audiences, particularly online and  internationally, and they are also an integral part of this event and movement.”

Past performers include Sly Rankin; Hip Hop-fusion band, Acmatic; Reggae-fusion lyricist, Kabaka Pyramid; and upcoming dancehall diva, J Capri. While the event seeks to showcase local Hip Hop acts, it also embraces other local artistes who fuse elements of Hip Hop in their music.

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