Industry Prepares for the Launch of Mi6 LLC!

The Reggae, Dancehall and Soca industries prepare to collectively shift in preparation of the launch of Mi6 LLC, the Marketing and Branding design agency focused on Caribbean-Urban clientele.

The all female boutique agency, lead by Natasha Von Castle and Wendy Morgan, is a multi-disciplined boutique marketing agency that provides strategic solutions for today's brand sensitive artist and clients. Specializing in radio, public relations, brand strategy, marketing, promotions and event planning, Mi6 LLC connects the artist and clients with a vast network of relevant influencers and strategic partners which leads to their brands exposure commercially.

Operating on a joint basis from offices in Miami, Toronto, The UK and Jamaica, Mi6 LLC, in addition to being an agency specializing in marketing and promotions, will also act as a booking agent for several artists with a core focus in the Canadian, European, Caribbean and American market.

Specializing in publicity, Natasha’s experience and knowledge have allowed her to work with Canada’s leading Reggae Festivals, as well as the largest North American festival of Carnival culture, Caribana™.  In addition to publicity, Natasha’s wealth of experience as Editor-in-Chief for L3 Magazine, the leading Caribbean-Urban publication as well as music distribution to a network of specialty DJ’s.

“I am excited to be a part of Mi6 LLC, working with Natasha and the other ladies involved we will be able to provide a unique and much need service in today's return on investment minded music and entertainment business.”

No stranger to marketing, Wendy functioned as the VP of Brand Marketing/and Marketing for Slip-n-Slide Records. She was responsible for overseeing contract negotiations with corporate clients, pr objectives, marketing strategies for artist including media relations, online media, and grassroots campaigns, corporate positioning of the label and artist signed to the label on a local, national and international level. She implemented event conceptualizations and executions of promotional programs which included: album launches, artist listening parties, product management, product integration and marketing for artist such as Trina, Rick Ross and Trick Daddy to name a few.

Mi6 LLC is a collective of a team of leading women who are specialists in their territory and field in Canada, The UK, Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S., and are seen as the ‘go to’ resources in additional areas such as website and graphic design, radio promotion, web development, social media networking and textile solutions.

Additional details on the launch of Mi6 LLC will follow shortly.  Inquiries can be sent to Mi6LLC@gmail.com

Urban Threshold's 10th Annual Underground Music Awards Was A Huge Success!

Urban Threshold's 10th Annual Underground Music Awards took place Sunday, August 19th, 2012.

The event was held at the famous BB King's Theater in the heart of NYC's Times Square. The award show was a star-studded mega musical extravaganza with performances by the nominees, Hip Hop legends and appearances by film and fashion celebrities. It was another sold out crowd with close to 1000 people in atttendance. The award show was hosted by the super sexy and talented Chia Schonberg, the Host of The Morning Influence on Da Matrix Studios Network. She did an amazing job as the hostess! And the DJ for the evening was DJ Swurv who was incredible.

The Underground Music Awards highlights the best unsigned and independent artists within the urban music scene. Moreover, the 10th Annual UMA's honored Hip Hop Legends Whodini. The Hip Hop Icons gave valuable advice to the aspiring artists in attendance and they put on a scorching performance.

In Bunny Rugs Time!

Bunny Rugs wants to make great Time for his fans. Time, the new solo album from the lead singer of international pop reggae band Third World is a Time for listening fun and reflection. Bursting at the seams with talent, Rugs’ 15-track album will in no Time at all be a sound track to affairs of the heart as well as soldiers of conscious reggae worldwide. Here, Bunny’s seductive soulful reggae melodies provide an anchor to jazzy vocal experimentation and cool bass, drum, sax and piano riffs. Time practically stands still as one after another of Jamaica’s most respected musical minds--Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie), Dean Fraser, Mikie Bennett, Dean Pond and Richard Bell (Star Trail), to name a few--contribute creative direction for Bunny Rugs’ artistic talents. Don’t waste any more Time, the album will be in stores September 11 on Rugs’ label imprint, Raw Edge Productions, and distributed exclusively by VPAL, a subsidiary of VP Records, the #1 international source for the best reggae music. 

Those familiar with the Third World band (“96 Degrees In The Shade”, “Reggae Ambassador”) will undoubtedly recognize the inspirational vocal style that Rugs helped to translate into a signature international pop sound. Songs on Bunny’s solo album including “Don’t Give It Up”, “Never Gonna Give Up” and all boast that quintessential roots rock reggae sound. Shining bright is the adult contemporary “Heaven Sent – Dat Feeling”, the soft reggae rock heard in the message music on “Bed Of Roses” and the easy pop listening evoked by “What Kind Of Man”. Bunny’s compelling plea for “Solutions” was recorded in the popular gospel tradition with Nyabinghi drumming, emotive background vocals and a delicate soulful guitar solo allowing Bunny to make it his own.

Caribbean Tales 2012 at Harbourfront

The 7th Caribbean Tales Toronto Showcase opens on Wednesday September 5, 2012, with a Gala Launch and the Canadian Premiere of the internationally celebrated Black British music documentary, The Story of Lover’s Rock.

The event kicks off with a reception at Harbourfront’s Lakeshore Terrace, sponsored by the Toronto Consulate of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, and featuring a live performance by Kobo Town a young "ole time kaiso" band led by Trinidadian Drew Gonzalez.

The Story of Lover’s Rock has already screened to sold out audiences in Great Britain, as well as to full houses at New York's African Diaspora International Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and earlier this year at the 3rd annual CaribbeanTales in Barbados.

The film's director, Barbadian-born Menelik Shabazz, was raised in London and began his film making career during the tumultuous 70's. His break-through first feature, "Burning An Illusion", now a classic of Black British cinema, traces the political awakening of a young Jamaican woman in the racially charged environment of Britain at the time. 

During the 90's and 2000's Shabazz founded and led an innovative glossy magazine and E-newzletter project profiling Black World cinema, called Black Filmmaker Magazine. He also founded and ran the BFM Film Festival for 8 years. 

The Story of Lover’s Rock marks his return to film making after a long hiatus.The film traces the evolution of a new genre of reggae music in the 1970's, created by West Indian immigrants in the British capital. It is about a generation  - the first to be raised and schooled in Britain -  coming to voice, and creating a vibrant sub-culture within, even as it struggled to come to grips with an increasingly oppressive and aggressive "mainstream" culture without.

Much like Motown before it, "Lover’s Rock" began as a small record label before its sound blossomed into the wider public’s consciousness as a genre unto itself. For years Lover’s Rock was played exclusively at London house parties by Jamaican immigrants who, according to Slant magazine reviewer Chuck Bowen, “were often banned from pubs".

As with most things West Indian, the new music was a fusion of elements: reggae bass lines provided the foundation for the soulful melodies which soared above, usually punctuated by sultry female vocals.

I'm A Trewlany Citizen - Charly Black Mixtape!

Proud ‘Country Bwoy’ and veteran Dancehall DJ Charly Black prepares to release his first mixtape for fans on Friday May 25^th, 2012.

Mixed by Easy Peasy Sound and DJ Unique, Black takes fans on a musical journey beginning with his inner lingua letting fans know that no matter what, he will keep pressing forward.  The next track, “Times Like These,” is set to a Reggae riddim with lyrics that warn us to ‘not be fools’ in times like this, and more importantly, have faith.

Dancehall classics spanning the last few years to present run the rest of the mixtape highlighting hits such as “Rich Dis Year,” “Too Blessed” and “Badman Nuh Bleach.”  It also features the ladies favourite and uptempo fun song “Cool and Deadly Wine” from the Caribbean Girls riddim produced by Bambino Muzik and F.R.E.E. Entertainment. 

Expanding his catalog and vocal versatility, Black includes the Dancehall ballad “Fall in Love Again,” a song dedicated to a special lady who has been hurt in the past and has finally met a man who wants to play a special role in her life.

Of the mixed tape, New York’s Nigel Angus says “We had a lot of fun putting this mix together.  Charly has a lot of hit records that his fans love, so we wanted to put those hits in one place for them!  The mixtape is madd – no trupidniss!” 

Coming from the Trelawny community, Charly makes sure to put his foundation on the map with the song “Anyweh We Deh” and “Party We Seh” which features Trelawny Citizens who adds additional flavor to the chunes. 

Fans can download the mixtape “I’m A Trelawny Citizen” here:  http://www.mediafire.com/?ivk88j8awexq9

Usher Joins Sway Calloway on SiriusXM Radio’s Town Hall

SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Usher” will air live on The Heat, channel 47, on Wednesday, May 16 at 6:30 pm ET. The special will be hosted by veteran music and entertainment news reporter and SiriusXM host Sway Calloway.

The event is part of SiriusXM’s “Town Hall” series, intimate gatherings with iconic musicians and studio audiences of SiriusXM listeners. Previous “SiriusXM Town Hall” specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Coldplay, Ringo Starr, Renee Fleming and the surviving members of Nirvana. 

“SiriusXM Town Hall with Usher” will feature the multi-platinum artist answering questions from the studio audience about his career, including his new album “Looking 4 Myself,” scheduled to be released Tuesday, June 12.

“I am looking forward to sitting down with my old friend Sway and interacting with my fans to hear what questions they have about my new album and creative process,” said Usher.
Sway hosts Sway in the Morning on Eminem’s Shade 45, channel 45, weekdays at 8:00 am ET.
The Heat plays today’s R&B hits featuring artists like Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Usher, Rihanna, Keri Hilson, Drake and Mary J. Blige.