02.27.10 | A Letter To Our Fans
Dear Friends,
Highlanda Sound System wants to take time out to thank everyone who has been listening to our shows, Dancehall Now and Reggae Vault Classics, streaming live on www.daflavaradio.com on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. (EST) respectively. The response and feedback has been great. We sincerely appreciate your support and will continue on our mission to keep you entertained while promoting reggae worldwide.
Both Dancehall Now and Reggae Vault Classics shows are supported by podcasts. This series of episodically released digital audio files allows you to automatically receive the latest episode of the programs as soon as it is available. You may subscribe to receive the podcast much like subscribing to a magazine and have it delivered each week via email. All podcasts are free of cost and listeners can stop receiving the files at any time. If they would rather not subscribe, you can download episodes of the podcast series individually from www.highlanda.net and www.daflavaradio.com on demand. Between March 2009 and February 2010 the Dancehall Now Podcast has been downloaded one hundred thousand (100,000) times. The Reggae Vault Classics Podcast has been downloaded seventy thousand (70,000) times over the same time period.
Thank you once again for your overwhelming support.
Reggae to the World!!!
Sincerely,
Highlanda Sound
TELEPHONE: (770) 374-1476
WEBSITE: http://www.highlanda.net
PODCAST PAGE: http://www.highlanda.net/rss/podcast.php
MORE PODCASTS: http://highlanda.podomatic.com/
BLOG: http://highlanda.wordpress.com/
MYSPACE PAGE: http://www.myspace.com/kahlilwonda
FACEBOOK GROUP: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21680539811
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Highlanda-Sound-System/65741859566
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/highlanda
05.07.09 | Dancehall Juggling Center debuts with First Friday Atlanta Audio
Dancehall Juggling Center brings you audio highlights from live concerts, parties, and dances. The term “juggling” refers to a type of dancehall performance that consists of a sound system selector weaving together a number of tunes on the same rhythm to create a continuous dance groove. This type of selecting is often referred to as “mixing.”
Highlanda and other top rated sound systems adopt different creative styles of juggling to provide interactive, action-packed performances in front of live audiences at an energy level much higher than that which can be accomplished through mixtapes or radio. Listen to the hardcore and nightclub dancehall vibes here and keep coming back for updates. Remember, this audio footage is ALL THE WAY LIVE so parental advisory is strongly recommended!
Idris Elba with SuperPEC of Highlanda
Idris Elba with SuperPEC of Highlanda
This featured audio is from the Caribbean Room at the brand new W Hotel in Downtown Atlanta for the return of the elite monthly event, First Friday Atlanta. Master of Ceremonies for the event, Hollywood actor Idris Elba says a few words as Highlanda provides the musical vibes.
CLICK THIS LINK TO LISTEN
RIGHT CLICK THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD MP3
Playlist
1 No No No - Dawn Penn
2 Baby Can I Hold You Tonight (Sorry) - Foxy Brown
3 I’m Still In Love - Sean Paul and Sasha
4 Saddest Day - Wayne Wonder
5 I Don’t Know Why (Movie Star) - Wayne Wonder and Buju Banton
6 Who Say - Beres Hammond and Buju Banton
7 Trying To Get To You - Richie Stephens
8 Tempted To Touch - Beres Hammond
9 Modern Girl - Courtney Melody
10 A Gal A Watch You - Alton Black
11 Substitute Lover - Barrington Levy
12 Browning - Buju Banton
13 Love Black Woman - Buju Banton
14 Just One Of Those Days - Sizzla
15 Come Over - Estelle and Sean Paul
16 Miss Independent - Ne-Yo
17 Ramping Shop - Vybz Kartel and Spice
18 Who Am I - Beenie Man
19 Goodas - Tony Matterhorn
20 Dem Nuh Ready For The Video - Elephant Man
21 No Games - Serani
22 Guide And Protect - Assassin
23 Water Boot - Buju Banton
24 So Special - Mavado
25 Uh Oh (Remix) - Lumidee, Busta Rhymes, and Fabulous
26 Dem Nuh Want No Gal - Assassin
27 Nuh Linga - Elephant Man
28 Sweep - Elephant Man
29 Click Me Fingers/Bust The Windows (Remix) - Erupt and Jasmine Sullivan
30 Gimme The Light (Remix) - Sean Paul and Busta Rhymes
31 Pon The River - Elephant Man
32 Chi Chi Man - T.O.K
33 Badman Forward - Ding Dong
34 Stookie - QQ
35 So Blessed - Mavado
36 Ramping Shop (Soca Remix) - Vybz Kartel and Spice
37 Buddy Buddy - Charley Blacks
38 Dutty Wine - Tony Matterhorn
39 Turn It Around - Square One
40 Heavy T - Faye-Ann Lyons
41 Banana - Bunji Garlin
42 Wukking Up - Fayann Lyons
43 Turn Me On - Kevin Little
44 Mamacita - Collie Budz
45 Hot Wuk - Mr. Vegas
46 Backshot - Spagga Benz and Lady Saw
47 Man A The Least - Lady Saw
48 Its Raining - Lady Saw
49 Ting A Ling - Shabba Ranks
50 Wife - Reggie Stepper
51 Dickie Dickie - Buju Banton and Nadine Sutherland
52 No Funny Guy Ting - Spragga Benz
53 Girls Way - Beenie Man
54 Blackboard - Beenie Man
55 Love How The Girls Flex - Buju Banton
56 Sex For Pleasure - Spragga Benz
57 Too Bad - Buju Banton
58 Flex - Mad Cobra
59 Boom Bye Bye - Buju Banton
60 If Love So Nice - Junior Kelly
61 Walk Away From Love - Bitty McClean
62 She’s Royal - Tarrus Riley
63 I Feel Good - Beres Hammond
64 Friends For Life - Dennis Brown
65 Cover Me - Tinga Stewart and Ninjaman
66 Sweetness - Beres Hammond
67 Always On My Mind (Remix) - Daville and Sean Paul
68 Hot Sexy Pookie - Sean Paul
05.07.09 | Highlanda Added To Rum Punch Fridays Lineup
Join the Soul Rebel Movement every 3rd Friday as we end the work week in style and start the weekend off right. Minglez is definitely the place to be on Friday May 15th if you plan to enjoy yourself dancing, drinking, listening to good music, socializing with friends, and mingling with new faces. If you missed the last one, its here again!!!
May will be even more unpredictable and exciting than the previous month. We will continue to make the Rum Punch special with spontaneous giveaways and other surprises. Atlanta Carnival will be the following weekend and we plan to party hard the weekend before to bring it in RIGHT.
Atlanta’s newest Caribbean radio station Xclusive Radio will be our official hosts for the evening.
rumpunchfriday_flyer-may-front
Need additional information or directions?
Redbull: (770)846-3581
Dre-Money: (678)468-5734
Check out the pictures from the last Rum Punch Fridays
05.01.09 | Idris Elba to host First Friday Atlanta At The New W Hotel Downtown
On Friday, May 1st, 2009
The Southeast’s Leading Monthly Social Mixer Returns…
FIRST FRIDAY ATLANTA is the premiere, monthly urban social mixer in the Southeast. Over the last two years, a cadre of distinguished business professionals have emerged from Atlanta’s social landscape to celebrate the unique appeal of the city. First Friday Atlanta serves as the conduit for the collaboration of these minority professionals who personify personal vision, economic significance, and social responsibility.
FIRST FRIDAY ATLANTA partners with EXCLUSIVE venues that augment rare aesthetic principles with modern functionality and style. This May, the event will take place at the newest and most exclusive jewel of the W Hotel chain: The W Hotel Downtown. For the first time ever, this celebration will be spread over 3,430 square feet, encompassing all 8 meeting spaces of the 4th floor event level. There will be 3 main music environments: New School, Old School, and Caribbean vibes.
This month’s edition of FIRST FRIDAY ATLANTA features famed Hollywood actor IDRIS ELBA, who has starred in many projects including HBO’s ground-breaking drama The Wire (2002), Rob Hardy’s The Gospel (2005), and Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls (2007). Elba currently stars opposite Beyonce Knowles in the upcoming thriller Obsessed (2009).
Tickets for this event can ONLY be purchased online. You WILL NOT be able to purchase tickets at the door. RSVP NOW via this event invitation to receive additional info on how you can secure tickets for this exclusive event.
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5.1.09
5.1.09
First Fridays Returns to Atlanta!
May 1st, 2009
Master of Ceremonies: IDRIS ELBA
Actor & International DJ
For the 1st Time Ever
3 Ballrooms + 6 Event Spaces
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CARIBBEAN ROOM:
Featuring
HIGHLANDA + Special Guest DJ
Sponsored by Atlantareggae.com
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NEW SCHOOL ROOM:
Featuring ELLE DUNCAN On the Mic
And DJ Mars
Playing Every Hit Record 2002 - Today!
Sponsored by v-103 & Hot 107.9
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OLD SCHOOL ROOM: Featuring DEREK HARPER On the Mic
And DJ Big Sexy
Celebrating His Birthday
By Playing Every Hit from 1980-2000!
Sponsored by Magic 107.5
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A portion of the proceeds from this month’s event will benefit Atlanta’s Young & Powerful, a subsidiary of The Young & Powerful Group.
The mission of the Young & Powerful Group shall be to involve its members as an organization dedicated to civic engagement, to encourage the highest and noblest form of professionalism, and aid the community in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual status by continuing the change message through action.
These aims will be achieved by promoting civic involvement among politically minded adults, by building grassroots support for civic engagement opportunities, by supporting the advancement of future political leaders, and by providing social, leadership and professional development opportunities, all in an effort to institute a network of trained leaders dedicated to strengthening the bonds between grassroots efforts and young people locally and nationally.
RSVP NOW
02.10.09 | An Intimate Review
Perhaps it’s because I started sneaking into clubs in the 10th grade.
Perhaps it’s because I avoided the dreaded “freshman fifteen” by religiously bussin’ a serious sweat –finals be damned– every Thursday through Sunday during my Black college experience days.
Perhaps it’s because I grew tired of the same faces and their too-cute-to-dance personas complete with companions donning touch-a-button faces and rude bwoy stances that rival the lean of The Tower of Pisa.
Can’t quite point it out, but for some reason, the past few years have found me not feeling the ATL party scene at all. But when I found out that my long-time homeboy was celebrating his birthday on a night when the hubs and I actually had a sitter, temptation got the better of me, so I dusted off my hot-girl shoes, backed out my super-fancy eye shadow (that I don’t put on for any and any occasion), cleared my throat to create my sweetest tone and said, “uhm, Baaaby, let’s drop by Kahlil’s birthday party tonight, okay?”
I expected to have a decent time both because I was celebrating an important Earthstrong, and because I’m familiar with Highlanda’s vibe-inducing powers on the ones and twos. What I wasn’t prepared for was an experience that far surpassed my expectations, and left me with a sense of hope on behalf of the sacred few Atlanta party-goers who are looking for a break from the same ole’ show!
Let me give you a straight-no-chaser L.V.V. (Location, Venue, Vibes) breakdown of the Earthstrong Par-tay!
Location: More time, the drive into the city from an Atlanta suburb is not, I repeat NOT, worth the gas money, because truthfully, I can get the same vibes from Youtube or my iPod without the fuss! Not to mention the fact that too many deejays spend too much time bussin’ new tunes, and bad-mouthing other deejays, and not enough time genuinely enjoying themselves and linking their energy with that of their crowd’s. The Bentley’s, a quick 20-minute commute from our northern Atlanta suburb was already a great selling point for me! And since all of us looking to release some stress and catch a vibe don’t live in Atlanta proper, it’s great to know that there’s an option that doesn’t involve excessive highway time.
Venue: After a quick ride to Chamblee, we pulled into the unassuming parking lot, not knowing quite what to expect. It looked so small on the outside, I thought, “Aha! That’s why they went with the whole ‘Intimate’ theme.” When I got in though, I was surprised to see that the space was much larger than I expected. Boasting a sexy deep-red theme throughout, the swanky set-up included plush seating (that offered great views of the dance floor and the deejay booth), seemingly Asian-inspired low circular tables, plenty of candles, a clean bathroom (hallelujah!) and a diverse and well-stocked bar! Very “Neo-soul meets Caribbean Flair”; I was definitely feelin’ it. The camera crew, consisting of The Fyah Sisters and ATL Kings, had the paparazzi feel in full effect as they scouted out the shy faces, while still making sure to showcase the video light seekers and their latest dance demonstrations; pure niceness! Indeed, my good eye shadow had not gone to waste.
Vibes: When I tell you that there were no shoes-to-floor commitments that night, I mean ev-er-y-body was dancing all over the place! The music was a sweet elixir of dancehall, hip hop, conscious reggae and of course, soca. The high-energy tag team included DJ Lion Chef of Apocalypse, Philip 5 of Cartel Sound, and Kahlil Wonda and PEC of Highlanda Sound. Each deejay brought us their unique energy without interrupting the flow of whatever vibe their predecessor had taken care to create. Even my hubs, who usually reserves his dancing skills for the football field, had to give in to the energy of the music that night! Beads of sweat, bottles and glasses raised high, and party patron singing out their favorite tunes, permeated the air and resulted in a true example of people who decided to heed Mr. Vegas’ advise and Tek Weh Demself!
Promoters Mixx Promotions and Highlanda.net have clearly found a Friday night niche with Intimate at The Bentley’s. Located in the Clairmont Center Plaza one block from Dreamz ATL, this venue is sure to continue to hit a sweet spot with Atlanta partygoers for some time to come.
If you missed it, no worries; it’s a [weekly] ting!
Log on to www.highlanda.net and www.highlanda.wordpress.com to stay in the know, and email RSVP@highlanda.net or mixxpromotions@gmail.com to get your V.I.P. on and get Intimate pon a Friday night!
Words by Akilah S. Richards aka Execumama
01.15.09 | Intimate Review - “Everybody Was Dancing…!”
Intimate @ The Bentley's is going down every Friday night...
The crowd was there early as expected for Intimate last Friday night and they stayed late. I’d say things shut down at around 4:30am. The music was good all night, provided by Lion Chef of King Apocalypse (King AP) with Kahlil Wonda of Highlanda Sound also getting in a couple of sets. There was also great crowd motivation over the mic (not overdone) by Madd Twitch of Cartel Sound, Mikey Montana from Uprizing Sounds and the birthday boy/host, Super PEC of Highlanda.
The truly refreshing aspect of this event is the vibe and energy that carries throughout the venue. EVERYBODY was dancing!!
Everyone in attendance participated, sang along with the music, and danced as though they all had not been out in years. I, for one, am tired of venturing out, only to stand around witnessing others do the same. I’m also tired of the current trend in which 95% of the people stand up posing and watching the “dancers.”
The Bentley’s, is not a large venue, it is definitely cozy, but the design and layout couldn’t be better. The sound system there is tuned up and turned up - perfect for showing your skills on the dance floor. The promoters of Intimate have succeeded be catering to the ladies in particular by providing a safe, pretty, smoke-free, climate controlled environment that compliments them all the way. I saw a great gender ratio with more women than men, and the crowd seemed to be mostly young Caribbean professionals so the bottles of Vodka, Champagne, and even, Patron, flowed out from the bar all night.
Another item of note about Intimate was the media coverage of the event. Video camera crews were present from Element Studios, as well as Fyah Sistahs Entertainment, and Ghetto Life photography, plus several still cameras were seen circulating and snapping portraits. I have never seen that many cameras inside a party before, so kudos to Super PEC and the Highlanda.net promo team for a job well done. I can’t wait to see the footage. I have heard other very positive feedback from Intimate at The Bentley’s and even found a useful review on Yelp.com. Also check out pictures from Intimate at Highlanda.net, Myspace.com/mixxpromotions, and on Facebook.
The verdict - Finally! Yes, if you have been opting not to party because the clubs, DJs, and promoters were not catering to you, then worry not. Intimate is for you. If you enjoy all types of old and new Caribbean music with a touch of the hottest old and new Hip Hop and R&B, and even some Billboard top 40 pop hits in the mix, Intimate is for you. If you are 21 or older (the term grown and sexy is so over used) and want to get dressed up and step out into a quality establishment, with a quality atmosphere, and be surrounded by similar like-minded individuals that came to PARTY their butts off, then Intimate is most definitely for you. This is a well needed addition to the the weekend options for Caribbean entertainment in Atlanta.
12.30.08 | Highlanda.net Introduces First Event of 2009 - INTIMATE
Event: Intimate - Birthday, New Year’s, Holiday Celebration
Location: The Bentley’s at 3665A Clairmont Road, Chamblee, GA 30341
When: Friday, January 2, 10:00PM
3665A Clairmont Road Chamblee, GA 30341 US
Highlanda.net is ringing in the New Year on the 2nd of January, 2009! Celebrate the arrival of 2009 and party with the birthday boy himself, Highlanda co-founder Super PEC and all his sexiest friends. Special birthday shouts go out to all Capricorns and holiday season babies.
The Bentley’s, with its quality sound and lighting, along with ample dancefloor space, provides the perfect intimate setting for mingling, drinking, and dancing the night away. The location is one block down from Dreamz ATL Night Club on Clairmont Road so its near to downtown Atlanta, and also close to the northeast and northwest greater Atlanta suburbs.
“This will not be your typical Atlanta Friday night party.”
The dress code is stylish and sexy with no athletic wear allowed and this will be enforced. To ensure that each guest has a pleasurable experience, Highlanda.net respectfully reserves the right to refuse entry to those whose appearance and demeanor does not meet our standards.
Musically, they’re bringing back the winning musical formula of 70% Reggae/Dancehall, 20% Soca, and 10% Hip-Hop/R&B so you already know what to expect. Due to the sheer hype and exclusive nature of this event, early arrival is strongly recommended!
07.23.08 | Launch of Highlanda.net
July 23, 2008 (Atlanta, GA) -- Highlanda Sound announced
today the launch of www.highlanda.net, its new web portal, which serves to provide top quality musical entertainment and to create innovative forms of expression, while maintaining a deep Caribbean foundation.
"By enabling our customers to choose from an extensive catalog of reggae music online available for free download or streaming over the web, www.highlanda.net strengthens our strategic position in the reggae music entertainment and sound system markets," according to Crisis Don, Co-Founder of Highlanda. "WWW.HIGHLANDA.NET also follows our demonstrated plan for entertaining the masses, while spreading the culture we love to the world."
Websites like www.highlanda.net are an important part of the
growing market for reggae and dancehall. More and more consumers are using the internet to access their favorite artists and musical genres as opposed to buying CDs and Highlanda plans to be a major player in this arena.
Already, Highlanda has earned a reputation for crowd thrilling performances at hundreds of venues. Now online, the new Highlanda web portal WWW.HIGHLANDA.NET consists of News, Pictures, Mixes/Mixtapes, Live Shows, and more, and will cost $000 to the users.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Highlanda's Guyanese bred members have carved out their niche, and as a world leader in reggae music entertainment encourage you to visit www.highlanda.net often.
Contacts: Kahlil Wonda, kahlil@highlanda.net07.22.08 | Spotlight on Guyana
As most of you who follow Highlanda Sound System already know, we are a sound that treats our heritage with much respect and admiration. We alone are not the ones who have a say in our destinies. We believe that because of those that have passed before us, we are blessed with endless examples of excellence. Therefore I will give you a synopsis, so to speak, of our country Guyana.
The word Guyana is of Amerindian descent, meaning "land of many waters". The country was termed this because of it's many rivers, creeks, and other bodies of water. The three main rivers in Guyana are the Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice Rivers. Furthermore, the area is below sea level at high tide. In order to fight off the Atlantic Ocean, sea walls and sluices are used to holt the great body of water.
Guyana is about 83,000 sq. miles which is roughly the size of the United Kingdom. Speaking of which, Guyana (formerly British Guiana) is the only English-speaking country in South America. The countries surrounding it are Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana). The country is also considered the largest country in the West Indies (note that the rest of the countries in the West Indies are island states).
Guyana was first populated by the Amerindians which consisted of Caribs, Arawaks, Warraus, Wapisianas, Arecunas, Akawaios, Macusis, Patamonas, and Wai-wais. Modern Guyana has six distinct ethnic groups that comprise it's population; African (40%), East Indian (51%), Chinese, Portuguese, European, and Amerindian. This diversity of ethnicities was caused by the vast history of the country.
When the Dutch were in control of the northern South America coastline, slaves were brought from West Africa to work on the cotton and sugar plantations. In 1831 when the British became a major player in the colony race, the three colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice were united and named British Guiana.
In 1834 slavery was abolished which led to the use of indentured servants. Immigrants also came from Europe, China, and India, causing the ethnic landscape we see today in the country.
British Guiana gained independence on May 26, 1966, which led to the country's title of Guyana. Guyana became a Republic within the British Commonwealth on February 23, 1970, the full name then became The Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Guyana's constitution also came about in 1980.
This is a very brief synopsis of the country of Guyana. Highlanda Inc. is dedicated to spreading not only our music world-wide, but we also find it necessary to spread our culture. Stay posted for more on this and other topics.
- Crisis Don12.17.07 | Afro Reggae
Africa - Incontestably the birthplace of it all. Home to the first know human skull, and the Matriarch for all people-- Africa is undoubtedly the Originator-- it is HOME.
Question; if humans came from Africa, did music originate from there as well? It’s the "chicken-or-the-egg" debate, Highlanda.net style. Well, we can’t attest to all genres of music, but what about our specialty, reggae?
Check the heavy-hitting bass and the syncopation of the sounds of dancehall and roots music alike. It is certainly somewhat akin to the Djembe and Kete drum sounds of the Motherland. Look more closely at the movements of Caribbean dances such as whining, and current dancehall crazes such as the Tall-up and the Platinum dance--see any similarities between them and the grace and rhythm of African dance? Den nuh mus! Take the Mapouka, also known as African dirty dancing, for example-- it began in the Ivory Coast and bears striking resemblance to moves performed by past and current dancehall queens--shout out to Carlene and Junko dem!
The lyrics of a popular Mapouka song chants:
I love the way you do the Mapouka like that!
The power that your body generates don't make me want to rap.
You making these Jamaican women look so wack! (HEY, cool nuh African yute!)
Pure African rhythm; the way you make the booty act!
"Cultural cross-fertilization" as it has been accurately described, accounts for the mass-integration of reggae into non-Caribbean culture.
Check the vibe:
Harare, 1980 - The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley is in concert, and the vibrations associated with Reggae music has found its way home and transcended any levels it had reached prior to this moment - and Reggae has now planted roots in Africa, paying homage to its grounds.
Fast-forward to 2007 - what, if any, reggae influence permeates the African sky?
South Africa was home to the man dubbed "Africa’s Reggae King," - Lucky Dube (1964-2007), who in 1985 recorded South Africa’s first know reggae album entitled 'Rastas Never Die.' In the spirit of good old anti-upliftment, the album was banned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The SABC knew that as they say "When music hits, you feel no pain." Attempts to squelch reggae movements were futile, the vibrations were spread, and the energy infused with the African breeze and became a constant from that point forward.
Today, music heavily influenced by reggae can be heard in Wolof, English, Jola, French, and many other African languages and dialects.
The influence of Ajegunle inspired Nigerian Dancehall Reggae artist Boy Blue, who keeps the heads moving with is African dancehall sound.
Other popular Nigerian dancehall reggae artists Spaco & Tasko (more popularly known as S&T) are said to continually nice up di place with their "ragga chanting" style.
Well Highlanda.net massive, we can still give maximum credit to Yaadie immigrant Clive Campbell, known to the masses as D.J. Cool Herc, for sprinkling Jamaica’s dancehall custom to the world by way of the Bronx. But let us keep in mind that way before Herc’s break beat, the Kete beat was ringing through the skies of Africa. Reggae touches souls in a non-biased way. It was inevitable that the world came to know reggae on a one-to-one basis. On that note, Highlanda.net urges you hit our guestbook or email to educate us about your favorite Afro-reggae artist(s). Just as we seek out the sounds of the Caribbean artists, so should we support and promote the effort and talent of our African reggae artists. This year, it’s all about "Supportin’ Di Music!"
- Words by Akilah S. Richards
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