Thursday, July 30, 2009

It all leads to this - The 2009 Red Wine Label International Dancehall Queen Competition THIS Saturday!!

Big up Detroit’s own Empress (winner of the Detroit Dancehall Queen Contest), Chicago’s Brat (winner of the Midwest Dancehall Queen Contest) and Bay City’s Acacia as they represent in the 2009 Red Label Wine International Dancehall Queen Competition THIS Saturday in Montego Bay, Jamaica. (Much love to DHQ Selebrity in the place for moral support!) Good luck ladies!



Picture it – it was 1997 when this small little known competition, set in the small community of Flanker’s Montego Bay began fast forward 10 + years to its current incarnation as an internationally known event held annually at Pier One in Montego Bay.

The Red Label Wine International Dancehall Queen Competition has become an event with far-reaching appeal while creating a global fan base. Long before the event gained some recognition with Junko as the first foreign winner of the competition there has been some degree of overseas participation in the event. Junko’s win has created a huge following from the Japanese as they have become the most prominent groups in recent years at the Competition.




To read more, click here...



Sunday, July 26, 2009

Rain Rain go away.....

TODAY!!!
Soccer at the park!
(Voted 2008 Criss List BEST Family Friendly Event!)
This week's matches:


6:30pm Garfield-vs-CiMiGiMi


AND


7:30pm Village-vs-XXX!!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt...Yellowman INVADES Cleveland TOMORROW night! (okay, we HAD to say it....)


Jamaica's first dancehall superstar, Yellowman ushered in a new era in Reggae music following Bob Marley's death. His early-'80s success brought the popularity of toasting (dancehall inspired rapping) to a whole new level, and helped establish dancehall as the wave of the future. Yellowman was one of the most verbally nimble toasters of his time, with a loose, easy flow, a talent for improvisation, and a definite wit in his wordplay. Plus, all the boasting about his prowess on the mic or in the bedroom had to be over the top to be convincing: true to his stage name, Yellowman was an albino, which carries a tremendous social stigma in Jamaica. Bouts with cancer pushed him into more thoughtful, socially conscious territory in the '90s, but his initial style remains the most influential, paving the way for countless dancehall toasters to follow.


Yellowman was born Winston Foster in Negril, Jamaica, in 1959 (or 1956). An early target for abuse because of his albinism, he grew up in an institution in Kingston, with little to keep him company besides music. Influenced by early toasting DJs like U-Roy, he practiced rhyming and got a job with the Gemini Sound System as a substitute DJ. Christening himself Yellowman and dressing in a bright yellow suit, he peppered his lyrics with jokes about his skin color and outlandish tales of his sexual conquests. In 1979, he won a landslide victory at the well-known Tastee Talent Contest, and within months he had become one of Jamaica's top concert draws, thanks to a dynamic, humorous stage show in which he often used the microphone to mimic his anatomical gifts.


Yellowman recorded prolifically in the early '80s, at one point flooding the Jamaican market with more than 40 singles. His first full-length album, ‘Them a Mad Over Me’, was recorded for Channel One in 1981 and featured the hit title track and the single "Me Kill Barnie," an answer record to Lone Ranger's hit "Barnabas Collins." He also scored with singles like "Operation Eradication" and "Shorties," (the tume which Peter Tosh condemned as degrading to women).


Despite this success, Yellowman didn't truly hit his stride on record until he hooked up with groundbreaking dancehall producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes. The 1982 LP Mister Yellowman kicked off their collaboration; released internationally by Greensleeves, it started to break him in the U.K. and U.S., and is still often acclaimed as his best album. It also launched a series of Jamaican hit singles over the next few years that included including "Yellowman Getting Married" (a rewrite of the My Fair Lady number "I'm Getting Married in the Morning"), "Mr. Chin," "Who Can Make the Dance Ram" (a rewrite of "The Candy Man"), "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng" (sampled by several hip-hop acts), "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," "Soldier Take Over," "Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt," and "Wreck a Pum Pum".
After 1983's Zungguzungguguzungguzeng album, Yellowman signed a major-label deal with CBS Records, which encouraged him to maintain the stylistic versatility of his previous work. However, his lone album for the label, 1984's King Yellowman, sported mixed results, attempting everything from slack toasts to R&B and pop-tinged crossover tracks, including covers of "Sea Cruise" and "Take Me Home Country Roads," and the much-maligned fusion attempt "Disco Reggae."


He subsequently released several albums on Shanachie, including 1984's Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt, 1985's Galong Galong Galong, 1986's Going to the Chapel, and 1987's Don't Burn It Down. The latter found him delving more into social consciousness; the title cut was a pro-marijuana protest, while "Stop Beat Woman" condemned domestic violence, and "Free Africa" criticized apartheid. Around the same time, he suffered a bout with throat cancer, but fortunately recovered. He returned to action with the hit Fats Domino cover "Blueberry Hill," and moved to the Ras label to record the well-received Yellow Like Cheese album with producer Philip "Fatis" Burrell.


By 1985, his popularity decreased and after an early-'90s bout with skin cancer, Yellowman completely rethought his approach to music, and thereafter devoted himself almost exclusively to spiritual and social concerns. 1994's Prayer album (still on Ras) was the first effort in this new direction, and it was followed quickly by Message to the World in 1995. 1997's Freedom of Speech continued in a similar vein, after which Yellowman switched over to the Artists Only label. His first effort was 1999's Yellow Fever, which concentrated on conscious reggae but also featured some good-natured party tracks. New York followed in 2003, and Round 1 in 2005.


It all goes down THIS Friday, July 24th The Grog Shop presents dancehall icon, Yellowman. For more information, visit: www.grogshop.gs


Feeling Nostalgic,


Bashy

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Introducing The 2009 Ms. Jamaica Universe...

Carolyn Yapp, a stunning 25 year old Interior Designer was recently crowned Miss Jamaica Universe 2009 to loud cheers and prolonged applause from the small audience in attendance at The Refuge at Villa Ronai.


To read more, click here.
Feeling Royal,
Bashy

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Friday, July 17, 2009

It's that time of year again! Annual Caribbean Picnic - TOMORROW!!!

5th Annual Caribbean Picnic
(AKA 'Trini' Picnic)


Cleveland Metro Parks
5024 Valley Pkwy
Cleveland, OH 44126- 2875

10am - 8pm

Great family friendly event
Bring food (and some to share), games activities
T-Shirts on sale!

For more info: sweettnt@hotmail.com!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Cleveland - Detroit LINK UP! Charly Black in Detroit...

...pics in Chat 'Bout Cleveland Bashment Gallery!

To view now, click here.

Still catching up,



Bashy!

Monday, July 13, 2009

The 2009 Midwest Dancehall Queen Competition = pure MADNESS!!!

Congratulation to Brat Winner of 2009 Midwest Dancehall Queen Competition! Chi Town's Brat will compete next month in The International Dancehall Queen Competition in Montego Bay next month! For video of Brat's SHUT down performance, click here!

Stay tuned to CBC for review and pics!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Detroit - We (FINALLY) have a winner!

After 3 years, over 100 posts and countless reviews and articles, this BY far was the most challenging review to write. Many of you knew the drama surrounding Detroit’s 2009 Dancehall Queen Competition and as of Saturday, July 10th at about 3am, the saga as we know it (finally) came to an end as Detroit crowed it’s 2009 Dancehall Queen…

So it is only fitting that this article can finally be written, about 3 weeks later! Yes, many of you logged on to see what CBC had to say, but the story of the ‘longest dancehall queen contest in history’ has finally ended -

..Or with all the highs and lows, has it just begun?

To read review, click here.


Whew!

Bashy

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Dancehall Throwback: Mad danca John Hype in Cleveland (2007)

Here is a great video from DHQ Destiny's video vault. Although it was only a little over 2 years ago, you see a lot of faces and wonder, 'Awww, what happenened to her/him?' Big up Flava Unit for a sell off bash. It was great to see Dailey's rock that night....

To view now, click here.

To read the review from this event, click here.

Feeling Nostalgic,

Bashy

Monday, July 06, 2009

Who will (finally) wear the crown?

You decide!

Voting has begun for the much anticipated ROUND 2 of the Detroit Dancehall Queen Competition.


Hurry! Voting ends THIS WEDNESDAY and the 2nd place winner moves on to The 4th Annual Midwest Dancehall Queen Competition in Chicago THIS Saturday!


To check the videos and cast your vote, click here.
Still judging,
Bashy


The Countdown Begins...

...to the much anticipated 4th Annual Midwest Dancehall Queen Competition in Chicago THIS Saturday!

Why is Chat 'Bout Cleveland so excited?

To find out, click here.
For more information about THe 4th Annual Midwest Dancehall Queen Competition, visit, http://www.chicagoreggae.com/.
Getting Ready,
Bashy