"Hammer" - Rootz Underground's newest music video

Realvibez.com is the first place anyone can check out the newest music video from Rootz Underground - Hammer.






Click to watch the bigger version

Rootz Underground is an up-and-coming band from Jamaica that formed in 2000. Learn more about them by checking out their official website.

VP Records to acquire Greensleeves Records

The music industry has seen a wave of consolidations over the last few years as the industry has seen declining sales. The genre of Reggae seems to be a candidate for a major acquisition, one that would create a virtual monopoly.

Today VP Records, which describes itself as "the world’s leading reggae record company", announced that it has made an offer to purchase Greensleeves Records, which is owned by Zest Plc.

Zest Plc acquired Greensleeves Records in March 2006 for £3.25 million. It has traditionally been VP's largest competitor and the acquisition would drastically reduce the number of options for Reggae artists.

Based on an article in the Jamaica Observer today, Music industry players fear looming monopoly, members of the music industry in Jamaica are not too thrilled by this news.

Chris Chin and Randy Chin, respectively Chief Executive Officer and President of VP Records, further added: “Although Greensleeves has historically been our competitor, we have always had the utmost respect for what Greensleeves stood for. The label and its founders had a long term commitment to Reggae music and no one is better positioned than VP Records to understand the need to respect this legacy. We will ensure that Greensleeves remains alive as a brand synonymous with excellence in Reggae and Dancehall music.”

The offer must be approved by the Shareholders of Zest Plc.

VP Records press release

Marley Brothers First Ever Jamaican Performance at Africa Unite

A reformulated Smile Jamaica partners with the first ever Caribbean staging of Africa Unite at the landmark James Bond Beach for a signature concert featuring Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian Marley performing together for the first time on a Jamaican stage.

The dreams of The Legend Bob Marley are realised in momentous staging of Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite at James Bond Beach on Saturday, February 23. To underscore the significance of this pairing, the Marley Brothers will assemble together for their first ever combined performance in Jamaica.

Never before on Jamaica soil, have Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian Marley appeared together on a single stage, on a single night. The sheer magnitude of the combined concert event is further enhanced by their participation.

In the five years since his last stage appearance in Jamaica Ziggy has released two critically acclaimed albums. He shook the industry with a Target stores only album release (at the time an unprecedented distribution deal for an independent) and then supported the re-release of Love Is My Religion with a coast to coast US tour.

No stranger to the Grammys, Stephen was recently nominated for his first solo project, Mind Control. Arguably the longest anticipated album in reggae history, the indefinable roots reggae hip hop infused project catapulted Stephen into the limelight as an artiste.

Brother Stephen helped produce Julian’s sophomore set, A Time and Place. Echoing the voice of his father, Julian’s music is reminiscent of a reggae style not easily found on store shelves, but loved the world over.

Highly regarded as an actor, with a number of film projects under his belt, Ky-mani focused on his music in 2007. His first album in five years, Radio, and the lead single One Time, returned Ky-Mani to the Billboard charts.

A junior giant, Damian rocked the industry with back to back Grammy Award winning albums (Half Wyay Tree and Welcome to Jamrock) and a slew of hardcore hits. Honing his performance skill with frequent collaborator “Ragga”, Damian trod in the footsteps of his father, touring the world.

Initially founded by Ziggy and Stephen Marley along with the Melody Makers, Ghetto Youths has been expanded to incorporate brothers Julian, Ky-mani and Damian. Now headed by Stephen, Ghetto Youths International is driving force behind the re-emergence of Smile Jamaica.

Collaborating for the Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite stage is truly symbolic considering the significance of Smile Jamaica. In December 1976, Bob Marley, headlined the show at the National Heroes Park in Kingston. Despite being attacked the night before, he bravely and defiantly stepped out and said he would only do one song, but ended up working the stage for ninety minutes. Persons described the atmosphere of that show as “buoyant and positive”.

It was a similar atmosphere in Ethiopia at the first ever Africa Unite concert in 2005. Realising the vision of Bob for a united continent, the Africa Unite concert was the culmination of symposiums, exhibitions and activities before an audience of 300,000. The Rita Marley Foundation, directed by Bob’s widow, was instrumental in making this dream on Bob a reality.

A combination of two remarkable concert events, Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite is the magnificent result of Ghetto Youths International in collaboration with the Rita Marley Foundation.

Other performers sharing in the moment include: The Melody Makers (the Marley sisters Cedella and Sharon), the seminal The I Three (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt), Black Uhuru, Rasta talents Capleton, Taurrus Riley, Richie Spice, Spragga Benz, Lutan Fyah, Coco Tea and Alborosie, African Queens Etana and Queen Ifrica, musicians Dean Fraser and Ernie Ranglin, new comer Javaughn and sound systems Stone Love and Gully Bank.

Adding diversity to programme are Mutabaruka, who can only be described as Mutabaruka, and the West Indian pop songstress, Rihanna.

Thanks to the strong support of sponsors; reggae radio IRIE FM, the national station Television Jamaica, the afro centric Peoples Telecom, the Jamaica Tourist Board and The Gleaner, the Smile Jamaica-Africa Unite concert is offered to the public at $1,500.00 per person.

Beyond the calendar, historians will record in their date book Saturday, February 23, James Bond Beach, Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite.

For more info visit: www.Africa-Unite.org

Mr. Vegas working on 'Tek Weh Yuhself' remix with Lil' Kim and Kat Deluna

Realvibez got word today about Mr. Vegas' upcoming remix for his hit song 'Tek Weh Yuself' that has been a powerhouse on the charts (watch the video).

The remix will feature Lil' Kim and Kat Deluna. "The remix will be way catchier than the original and will be coming with a whole heap of vibes," Vegas explained. The three-way combination will see the remix with a hip-hop flavour and a Spanish vibe combined with a Caribbean touch…as he says, "it's the perfect blend.

Early February should see the shooting of the video for the remix as, according to Vegas, they are "dotting every i and crossing every t'" regarding the paper work.

Last week Thursday saw Mr. Vegas making an appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York when Lil Mama called him on stage to do 'Hot Wuk'. Mr. Vegas performed to loud screams of appreciation before making his exit.

Damian Marley on Mariah Carey's next album?

My wife is a big Mariah Carey fan (after going to a concert with her I can understand why) and she recently pointed me to an interesting post over at MariahDaily.com which clearly said that Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is on her upcoming album tentatively titled "That Chick".

The site claims that the name of the track is Cruise Control.

Read it here.

Sean Paul toured with Mariah Carey in 2006 and did an excellent job of representing the music and the Caribbean well. We have no doubt that Jr. Gong's collaboration with Mariah will continue to keep our music in the spotlight.

Big Up.

Did Billboard get the top Reggae artistes list wrong?

Billboard Top 10 Reggae Artistes

1 Matisyahu
2 Bob Marley
3 Stephen Marley
4 Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley
5 Sean Paul
6 Bob Marley & The Wailers
7 Collie Buddz
8 Buju Banton
9 Notch
10 Beenie Man

Some will question why Notch is on the list - but he did release an album, more reggaeton than reggae though.

Other will question Beenie Man being so low and why Bob Marley gets two mentions - but then the list is mostly based on sales figures.

Still others will ask about Mavado and the new artistes - but then what mainstream popularity have any of those garnered?

I am just glad they did not have Sean Kingston on the list.