Tag: Mento

Govana "Itsy Bitsy" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Dancehall #Music #13thStreetPromotions #Govana #ItsyBitsy #DayO #FatBeef #TheTellers #HarryBelafonte #DiGenius #HillAndGullyRiddim #MusicVideo #Video #Youtube #Caribbean #NowOrNever #akaRuppi

Govana Takes On The “Hill & Gully Riddim” With “Itsy Bitsy” For The Fun-Loving Women

Posted on by swadedavillain

The “Hill & Gully Riddim” has become a monster! With Di Genius giving a number of singles the green light, there have been a slew of upcoming and established Artists creating their own music to the Riddim in hopes of gaining an official authorization. Valiant had his turn with “Woii“, and now Govana enters the chat with, “Itsy Bitsy“.

Govana has a thing for the Women who possess certain qualities, and know how to have fun in, “Itsy Bitsy”. The track borrows from “Day-O“, which was made famous by the late Harry Belafonte, and “Fat Beef” by The Tellers, and the “Strikeforce Boss” delivers slick lyrics throughout for the ladies who live on the “grippy” side of life. With a video directed by Ruppi for Now Or Never, we get a colourful visual filled with unique fashion (provided by Shampagnex for Seora Clothing), the Jamaican flag, and nuff vibes that you’ve come to know and love. Di Genius has his hands full with the “Hill & Gully Riddim”, and with Ayetian, Busy Signal, and Nigy Boy on the way, things are going to get even more interesting.

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Elephant Man "Hold Him Gyal" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Dancehall #Music #13thStreetPromotions #ElephantMan #HoldHimGyal #HoldHimJoe #EnergyGodProductions #DiGenius #HillAndGullyRiddim #MusicVideo #Video #Youtube #Caribbean #SimeonDiGreat

Elephant Man Brings The Energy To “Hill & Gully” With “Hold Him Gyal”

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Over the weekend, the legendary Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor premiered the first installment in his new “Hill & Gully Riddim” called, “Slip & Slide” by Masicka. The Riddim taps into Jamaica’s Folk Music and Mento culture, paying homage, while making something new at the same time. While we knew “Slip & Slide” was going to do some damage, we anticipated for Dancehall Icon Elephant Man, who hinted that he was working with Di Genius. Today, we get the premiere of, “Hold Him Gyal“.

Directed by King Simeon Di Great, Elephant Man takes it to the farmland in the video for, “Hold Him Gyal”. From Donkey riding, to overalls, to tending to the crops, we’re taken back to simpler times, but with that modern vibes, and the Women putting on their best moves, all powered by the “Energy God” and Di Genius. “Hold Him Gyal” shares inspiration from the popular Folk Song, “Hold Him Joe“, and it is fitting with the concept of the Riddim. We even got some duppy, Jonkunnu, and our traditional Plaid in the mix! The “Hill & Gully Riddim” is growing in presence, and with Valiant and Ayetian onboard, this compilation is gonna be another one for the books, and promote more of our rich culture. Ele is as busy as ever thanks to consistent bookings, and if you’re in Atlanta this May, you can catch him on the ReggaeFest Tour. Poco Man Skank to this one.

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Hubert Porter and The Jamaican Calypsonians "Rum & Coconut Water" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Calypso #Music #13thStreetPromotions #HubertPorter #TheJamaicanCalypsonians #rumandcoconutwater #CalypsoMusic #1953 #TimesRecord #Caribbean

OLDIES SUNDAY: Hubert Porter & The Jamaican Calypsonians – Rum & Coconut Water (1953)

Posted on by swadedavillain

Jamaica has a rich music history that sometimes slip our minds. While Reggae and Dancehall are on the frontline, we tend to not mention other genres like Calypso and Mento that made strides long before our Independence. That’s why there’s “Oldies Sunday” to highlight the content. Today’s selection comes from Hubert Porter and The Jamaican Calypsonians with the track, “Rum & Coconut Water“.

Released through Times Record in 1953, when one is missing a certain energy, Hubert Porter & The Jamaican Calypsonians suggest you get some “Rum & Coconut Water” in your system. Inspired by living overseas, the song speaks of a Man who is homesick and is relaying the information to his Woman as he is lacking the drive to do a lot of things. To him, there’s nothing like being home and being fed the right things. Rum and Coconut was a drink of choice to keep one on his toes, and remains a drink for many today, especially those who are coming home from Overseas. “Rum & Coconut Water” was a popular track, and was a part of the setlist when Hubert Porter & The Jamaican Calypsonians perform at various Hotels and events. The Instrumentation throughout had the people dancing, and kept the vibe going all night. Times Record was one of the platforms that helped the Artists with their releases, and was a subsidiary of the Times Store, one of Jamaica’s then largest Department stores. “Rum & Coconut Water” would later be covered by Mento Band, The Jolly Boys, and Cayman Islands-based performer, The Barefoot Man.

Since the release of “Rum & Coconut Water”, Hubert Porter and The Jamaican Calypsonians would go on to release more music together. The Jamaican Calypsonians would collaborate with The Mighty Panther, Lord Flea, Lord Tickler, and others over the years. “Rum & Coconut Water” would be remembered, and covered by many over the years.

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Lord Composer "Hill And Gully/Mandeville Road" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Mento #Calypso #Music #13thStreetPromotions #LordComposer #HillAndGullyRide #MandevilleRoad #OldiesSunday #Oldies #OldSchool #1954 #MRS #MottasRecordingStudio #Caribbean

OLDIES SUNDAY: Lord Composer – Hill And Gully Ride (1954)

Posted on by swadedavillain

It’s another Oldies Sunday, no matter where you are in the world. When you talk about hits, Jamaica has a ton of them spanning decades. This time around, we go back to the 1950’s to check out Lord Composer’s “Hill And Gully Ride/Mandeville Road“.

Released through Motta’s Recording Studio (Fun Fact: This was Jamaica’s 1st privately owned Recording Studio, and was owned by Stanley Motta) in 1954, “Hill And Gully Ride/Mandeville Road” was a medley Mento single recorded by Lord Composer and his Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra. “Hill And Gully Ride” was a dancing tune that had a few instructions while “Mandeville Road” was about people going to Manchester to break stones, a profession that many did in those days before the advancements in Technology. Both songs were done over percussion, strings, and a Fife solo, with Composer being lead Vocalist with backing vocals. “Hill And Gully Ride/Mandeville Road” were Folks Songs, belonging in a department called “Digging Songs“. They were included with another medley single on a Record, and sounded nothing like what was out in those times. The medley was covered by a number of Folk Singers, and two versions of it would later become the theme music for the popular “Hill An’ Gully Ride” TV series in Jamaica. The lyrics and cadence of “Hill And Gully Ride” were sampled by a number of Artists including YellowMan and Busy Signal, while “Mandeville Road” was sampled by Dancehall group T.O.K.

Lord Composer never released many songs when he was active, and only had an LP’s worth of singles since the release of “Hill And Gully Ride/Mandeville Road”. Composer passed away in 1990, and his music is celebrated to this day in parts of the world.

Thank You Lord Composer For Your ClassicS!

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The Jolly Boys x Nexus "Day-O" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Mento #Music #13thStreetPromotions #TheJollyBoys #DaleVirgo #JonBaker #DayO #HarryBelafonte #Caribbean #NexusPerformingArtsCompany

.@JollyBoysMusic Covers The Classic “Day-O” In New Video

Posted on by swadedavillain

Jamaica has a vast collection of sounds that have contributed to many of your favourite pieces of music around the world. With genres like Dancehall, Reggae, Ska, and Mento, Jamaica has influenced many. Speaking of Mento, the world-renowned The Jolly Boys Mento band tapped into a classic for the newest release called, “Day-O“.

Produced by Dale Virgo and Jon Baker, The Jolly Boys teamed up with the Nexus Performing Arts Company to cover the classic Jamaican Folk Song, which was also known around the world as the “Banana Boat Song“. The song gained worldwide recognition through Trinidadian Singer Edric Connor, Jamaican Folklorist Louise Bennett-Coverley, and Jamaican-American Singer/Actor Harry Belafonte, who made the best known version. The Rick Elgood-directed music video that accompanies “Day-O” pays tribute to Belafonte along with Albert Minott, Joseph “Powda” Bennett, and Derrick “Jonny” Henry, who were former members of The Jolly Boys.

A little bit of Jamaican Culture from the past here. Something to appreciate, something to share with others. Long live The Jolly Boys, and may those who are no longer with us find eternal rest.

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Jamaica Harlem Day-O Banana Boat Song Harry Belafonte 13thStreetPromotions 13thStreetPromo Caribbean Oldies Sunday

OLDIES SUNDAY: Happy Birthday @HarryBelafonte x Banana Boat Song (1956)

Posted on by swadedavillain

Today’s Oldies Sunday is dedicated to Singer, Actor and Activist, Harry Belafonte who celebrates his 88th birthday. His most famous song, “Banana Boat Song (Day O)” is the featured selection. Released in 1956 by RCA and written by Irving Burgie and William Attaway, this was adapted from the song Jamaican Banana Workers would sing while they toiled on the docks. The song was also featured on Belafonte’s million unit selling “Calypso” album. Harry achieved great success with this single as it peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts in 1957, made its debut performance on The Muppet Show, made an appearance in the 1988 film “Beetlejuice“, has over the years been covered by many artists, and sampled by Lil Wayne on the track “6 Foot 7 Foot“. Despite the previous version of the song and the covers, Harry Belafonte’s version stood out the most and has become one of his signature songs.

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