Visual Culture: Artist Lennox Coke on His Controversial Jamaican Yellow Pages Cover
The phone directory has caused quite an uproar in Jamaica with its depiction of dancehall culture.
Toppa Top 10: The Best Caribbean Carnivals
Words by Steve Bennett, Erin MacLeod, Jesse Serwer and Jillionaire—
It's officially, unequivocally carnival season. Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Dominica, Martinique and Rio de Janeiro are just a few ... Read More...
Check it Deeply: Michael Bolton, Jazz and Blues, and Easy Listening in Jamaica
Words and Photo by Erin MacLeod—
People tend to have a pile of preconceptions about Jamaica. Whether it’s a dreadlocked, Bob-Marley soundtracked Rastafari image or an all-inclusive beachfront package vac... Read More...
LargeUp Interview: A Q+A with 2013 ‘Artist To Watch’ Chronixx
Words by Erin MacLeod, Photos by Martei Korley—
After a 2012 that ended with a Major Lazer-backed mixtape and very positive reviews for his performance at Sting, we named Jamar “Chronixx” McNaughton a... Read More...
Toppa Top 10: Ten Artists To Watch in 2013
Words by Jesse Serwer and Erin MacLeod, Chronixx Photo by Martei Korley—
We’ve got a strong feeling that 2013 will be a changing-of-the-guards type year for Caribbean music. With that in mind, we’ve se... Read More...
Impressions: Astro Saulter’s Rising Star
Words by Erin MacLeod, Photos by Martei Korley—
"I have no voice but I am not silent. I use tools beyond my physical body to communicate. Across the years my voice has been expressed mostly through the wri... Read More...
Selector Seaga: Jamaica’s Former PM Curates A Music Compilation
Words By Erin MacLeod—
You may have heard that Jamaica just celebrated a big birthday. VP Records is keeping the 50th anniversary celebrations going by releasing Reggae Golden Jubilee - Origins of Jamaican M... Read More...
Retro Rules the Area: Face-T x Mikey Dangerous x Poirier
Words by Erin MacLeod —
From the bass drop at the beginning of "We Rule the Area" with Face-T featuring Mikey Dangerous, it's clear that this Poirier production is playing with the sound of sleng teng. K... Read More...
Fashion Fridays: YB Afraid
Words by Erin MacLeod--
Yohan Blake is not only a multi-medal winner at the London Olympics, but he's also the founder of a foundation that bears his name. The YB Afraid Foundation began in 2011 with the... Read More...
Throwback Thursdays: Messenjah “Crazy” and “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love”
Words By Erin MacLeod--
Sure, Kitchener, Ontario wouldn't exactly seem like the ground zero for great reggae, but one of Canada's most acclaimed reggae bands, Messenjah, was born there way back in 1981. ... Read More...
Le Quartier Francais: Shake Your BB From the Left to the Right
Words by Erin MacLeod—
The Caribbean is a full-on Blackberry zone. Whether it's because the phones are durable or BBM simply irresistable, the Blackberry is a must have here in the tropics. Underlining this ... Read More...
Keeping it Simple: Dominica’s Symplz
Words by Erin MacLeod—
Dominica is one of the Caribbean's best-kept-secrets. The "Nature Island", as it's been called, may not have miles of while sand beaches, but it has one of the most spectacular coa... Read More...