Hip Hops’s famous DJ Kool Herc is Jamaican-born Clive Campbell who teased the audience at Coalition for the Preservation of Reggae Music’s (CPR) www.cprreggae.org forum entitled, “Impact of Reggae on Urban Music in USA” earlier tonight in Manhattan. The forum was ably hosted by Sharon Gordon and Carlyle McKetty.

Joining me at this forum is a new writer to the Jamaicans.com website, Kali.

Kali:
DJ Kool Herc was joined in harmony by DJ Hard Hittin Harry and Producer, Jon Fx. Although the central theme of the evening was “The Impact of Reggae on Urban Music in the USA”, the reoccuring question was “who is following who?” Is the urban music scene in the US
holding heavy influence over the youth of Jamaica when it comes to music and style or vise versa? Jon FX shared his sentiment that Jamaican youths are following hip hop influence hrough music, style and swag and Harry added that the youth is very impressionable and susceptible to the visuals seen on BET, MTV and the internet. You can’t discuss reggae influence on urban music (hip hop) without including the legendary DJ Kool Herc, also known as the “Father of Hip Hop.” Herc who migrated to the US from Jamaica in the 70′s created the first hip hop sound using influence from the dancehalls of Jamaica and the heavy baselines of the sound systems. He stated all he wanted to hear from his fellow Jamaicans was “It’s not a reggae set, but it play good.” After the discussions there was an entertainment showcase with performers, Major Daps, Dub poet, Infinity and artist Kentext the God of Quam. Also, called upon for an impromptu appearance was Ed Robinson of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” fame.

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Our Independence Float Parade can arguably be compared to carnival but pretty much that’s where it ends.

The palpable excitement of our children could be felt by everyone especially the adults at Ranny Williams Center.  That’s what our Independence Foat Parade is all about.  The children!  What a treat for these youngsters to rehearse for so many weeks and to finally participate on the big day of our Independence Celebrations.  Memories that can never be replicated or duplicated of walking from Mas Ran Center and to later enter our National Stadium amongst the glitz and glamour of our black, green and yellow backdrop!!!!

On leaving Mas Ran Center we drove over to Half-Way-Tree Road as the float wend its way paststhe JIS office.  Fittingly, songs booming into the early afternoon sunny day was Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock” and followed by Buju Banton’s driven and popular, “Driver, Don’t Stop At All”!!

Yesterday morning it was fitting too for us to have stopped by National Heroes Park to see workers toiling on the final resting place for the wife of National Hero, Rt. Hon. Alexander Bustamante, Lady Bustamante.  Her funeral will take place on Saturday, right after our Independence celebrations.

After walking through our Heroes Circle and stopping by the monuments of former Prime Ministers of Nethersole, Manley and Shearer, it was time to head on to Liberty Hall first opened by our first National Hero, The Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, in 1923.  On arrival at the gates was the happy sounds of children at play.  The summer school session of young boys were at the gate playing football while a group of young ladies sat in a circle under a tree with just a little breeze blowing in the sunny mid summer morning.

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I would like to see Usher again in far more comfortable circumstances oder dan de mudfes which Sumfest turned out to be. My gosh I remember de muds at Sunsplash at Jarrett Park back in de days but a tink dis took de cake.. de mudcake first prize dat is….plus becz I was going to VIP – yeah I didn’t do media acc this year… I was not in sneakers and boots….but was prepared to fork out de money fi Usher and by den de rains was on and de outfit set up inna my mind as to what to wear….. but even wid dat… as my ole boss of Video Music Box, Ralph McDaniels used to say – it’s all good – mud n all!

Ooooh My God, what a performance?!!!

De young people dem went craaaaazeeee! Girls aaaand boys. I heard men – I mean grownass-men singing word fi word! My little cousin well not so little…all of 25 n her friend went with me… she says Usher is her future babyfather …. my girl tall n find her way to the top a de VIP ‘gainst de fence…. mi give her props for behaving like me

Usher performed for 1 /12 hours nonstop – dancing, gyrating, simulating de humping movements face-to-face wid de stage floor hips and buttocks moving in unison wid de beats ….singing, WOW, singing — every precise dance move and twist of head and shoulders carried a swish and a Dunns River Falls of sweat —by the time he got to My Beau…. I too, old as I am was Caught UP!!! My Beau, teaching Fellows/Jackie Rob H/way driving de border of Queens into Bklyn was all in my head as in 2004 I used to play it every morning on my way to school and in the evenings again. He brought on DJ’s Movado, Elephant Man and Chris Brown – not my fave… de place was palpable wid de excitement. A matronly-looking female tourist said to me, “I’m an old lady and this is great”. I saw her with two younger girls and asked if they were her children. She said one and the other her niece. Many parents had brought their teenage youngsters with them for Usher. One little young lady said to me, ” you don’t understand, you don’t understand I looooove him, I know everything about him”. I was very happy for them and they will not be forgetting this Usher performance for the rest of their lives.

His female dancers just added to his show — and when he got into his last song…Oh My Gosh/oh my God…whatever….de place thumped wid de screams for close to 5 mins…while he changed….people were just screaming de beat just happy knowing he was changing waiting to see what he would look like…..and Ooooh bwoy he did not disappoint when he came back on that last number – in a black outfit looking like a sexy black Zorro wid a patch across de eye….wid red accessories….and de lighting!!!

There’s something to be said about seeing a “fareen”/foreign act in Jamaica. I still cannot put my finger on it… but one thing I know when you see them in Jamaica it’s something quite special…. well except for Chaka Khan years ago who totally disappointed in Kingston and more recently Diana “Ras” another major disappointment at a recent Jamaica’s Jazz & Blues Festival a few years ago.

International night really would have been a totally enjoyable experience if it were not for the mud aaaaalllll around!!!!! Shaggy was good as always as Mr. Lover Lover – Mr. Bombastic set de stage. Tarrus gave another great performance and went up notches in my book when Dean on sax did one of Jamaica’s favourite Buju songs – you could go on and on, the full has never been told! Wid screams of free Buju I truly begun to miss my #1 DJ who is currently incarcerated in US jails for alledgedly buying de white powder for distribution, thinking when next am I going to see him on stage?

Beenieman too dedicated his performance to Buju to thunderous applause. Thank you Beenie! There was also a tribute to Sugar Minott.

But I’m quite sure Usher will be back for a solo performance in Jamaica – because Jamaicans love Usher now like how we love cook food and are Caught UP!

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100726/lead/lead2.html

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Usher—one-class-act_7828380

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100726/ent/ent2.html

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have been attending this event now for 5 years.  It was the Reebok Grand Prix and now named Adidas Grand Prix because Reebok was bought by Adidas.  Upon arrival on the media bus and disembarking at the entrance of Icahn Stadium a little after 2pm the usual excitement that I had gotten used to was MISSING!
People were just strolling in as if attending a Sunday evening event.

I saw quite a few folks trying to offload their tickets.

I got myself situated in the media tent and went for a stroll myself.  I saw quite a few persons I know from Alpha, Jampact, other media colleagues and even one of the teachers from my school.

I have learnt from another reliable source that Bolt will be appearing.

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Right after Penn Relays where the over 50,000 strong were apparently there just to see the fastest man on earth run the buzz was on for Adidas Grand Prix.  Bolt was confirmed!  Tickets on the homestretch finish line at Icahn Stadium were hard to come by.   The press launch was held in Manhattan and everything was set to go.

Then, we all got the sad news.  Bolt was injured the anouncement went.  He would not be able to make this IAAF Diamond League event in NYC, afterall.  The buzz disappeared, the temperature dropped and folks were no longer interested in getting tickets.  Many started offloading those they had purchased.

By now the event is sold out.  Sold out off the back of Bolt’s appearance.

Some reminded many of us that the last time the top Chinese hurdler, Liu Xiang, could not run he still came out on to the track and waved to the crowd.

Many of us are hoping that Bolt will do the same.  I understand up to last night from a reliable international sport media person that he is, in fact, in town.  Will he appear just to appease his adoring fans?

Does Adidas owe us that much?

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All drivers know that it is important to take care in rough weather conditions – heavy rain reduces most of us to a snail crawl…. mind you in Ja. — not all, but light rain/drizzle for the more experienced drivers know that that is actually potentially  worse than heavy rain is.  Visibility is usually good for the most part but that film of water and God Forbid add an oil slick and that a recipe for an accident…. or even a pool of water to cause hydroplaning.

So maybe now that one of our #1 citizens, Bolt has an acident on our Doomsday Highway – Road Safety will become a top priority.

To launch the Road Safety program I suggest Branson fly in Lewis — now if it were to be held at Dover… all of us would get macka inna we foot like Bolt because I hear getting to Dover these days is quite a feat wid de boad roads up de…. now it could be at our multi-prpose stadium but it is probably not set up either for cars as it’s not set up for tprofession T&F……. so I guess it’s back on the Doomsday Highway.

Now if Puma was the sponsor it would be a nobrainer….but I don’t think you can get Lewis in a Ferrari with his Benz Mclaren contract…

And of course, the icing on that cake would be Buju starting of the race of safety…. by singing – Drivers, Stop at the Stop signs.

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When you live in northern climes one can feel as if you’re in a time warp.  Today is a quiet holiday in Jamaica.  Quiet too and probably a good portion of its citizens sleeping in Trinidad after its annual carnival.  Well the groundhog didn’t see its shadow so we should spring eternal come March 21st.

But even Fla is feeling a chill of its own and WOW! who really wants to be in the Capitol right now…..for the past 2 weeks its been whiter than white…. and closed down for government business for close to one week….superpower or what — not!… but white all around.. is that a sign to Obama bringing his Chicago chill and colour to the Washington, DC landscape?

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When you put into perspective that we are only 47 years old, not even half a century and we look at our high expectations for ourselves and in some very real important areas we fall short? – but then there are so many things to be thankful for, to be grateful for, to acknowledge how blessed indeed we are.

The invitation by the JTB to be a part of this Independence press trip has been fun, fortuituous, educational, with lots of awe, wonderment and reflections.  With our wonderful host Lyndon from the NY office and 5 fulltime journalists we have bonded and shared similiar experiences as each day goes by and nuff respect to our ever-attentive driver, Steve.

On Tuesday, we started off with a guided tour of the Spanish Court by Charlotte.  Something must be said about this hotel – it does indeed feel like  a home… the ever-smiling staff, my waiter in the morning is so good and attentive to all my tea, coffee, water and juice needs.’s

We then toured the Bob Marley Museum, Devon House and had the famous Devon Stout ice cream before moving onto the Tuff Gong Recording Studio and finished off with dinner at Cuddz’s.

On Wednesday, we toured Marcus Garvey’s Liberty Hall, a quick stop at the Crafts’ Market downtown Kingston, Fort Charles and Giddy House in Port Royal, followed by lunch at Morgan’s Harbour.

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Arrival and checking-in was smooth and easy, especially after a long and sooo hot morning of volunteering at the Edna Manley School of Dance for DACI , an international dance conference being hosted by de ‘Rock!

The front desk young lady remembered me calling in to check on the reservation and offered me a beautiful smile and had me set up with Leroy to take me to my room, a bottle of water and nice cool glass of champagne.  The buzz was on right there and then!  I was taken to the second floor and the room faces t.he carpark of the hotel and of course the John R. Wong supermarket, remember that and the gas station at the corner of St. Lucia Avenue.

A nice room with all the amenities that one would need – a plasma mounted tv and a huge king size bed to roll over quite a few times along with a small refrigerator that also came with 2 bottles of water.  I had met the lovely and rather young General Manager, Lee-Ann Godfrey.  Lee-Ann hosted us at dinner later in the evening on the terrace pool deck.  Dinner was fun and lively with all of us joining in conversation about various issues all on Jamaica, of course!

On the agenda today is a formal tour of the Spanish Court Hotel by the GM herself, Lee-Ann.  To see the Changing of the Guards at National Heroes Park.  OOOK, so when I read that on the earlier itinerary at home I asked my aunt if that was one everyday? Yes!  I had no idea that we changed guards?! – who would have thought?  Later we are to tour the famous Studio One and attend an Appleton Rum Blending Session…… and after that we expect to all return to the Spanish Court in high spirits!!!!!

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My webmaster asked me to take on the assignment of reflecting on our Independence celebrations in Kingston, Jamaica!!!

I have checked into the Spanish Court Hotel right in the heart of New Kingston.  Not sure hows many of us remember this little plaza…. well… back in de days it was hopping…. remember Epiphany Night Club….. well this was where it was…. remember Gino’s?  stopping by for an early morning snack after hitting the nightclubs in New Kgn…. such as Toppsi?  Who remembers Toppsi ?  ok…. so it is an age thing but…..remember  sitting outside the steps of Citibank hanging out talking to friends in the wee hours?  Move over Asylum!  Oh and for me my numero uno hairdresser Sandra King used to have her salon right here at the old Spanish Court.

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