New York - Toronto - Florida - Colombia Playlist

L3 Radio Playlist – For the Week Ending July 13^th, 2013

Our show is officially broadcast from 10am to 1pm EST on:  1430 AM  / Vybz 103.9 FM / 95.3 FM / 99.3 FM / 91.7 FM / and Online via:  www.radioregent.com – Toronto / www.irievibesradiodetroit.com – Detroit / www.daflavaradio.com – Atlanta / www.TonySoul.com - Ft. Lauderdale / www.NoyzRadio.com - New York / www.Reggae4Us.com - The UK / www.reggaeradiovibes.co.uk - The UK / www.siixteen.com - The UK / www.basslinemuzik.com – Tampa / www.buyakaradio.com - Colombia

www.datzhitsradio.com – Boston

Lover’s Rock Segment

Da’Ville – All You Need in a Friend

Richie Stephens – Murdah

Anthony Que – Rastaman House

Dalton Harris – You Will Know

Tony Uptown – Live Your Dreams

Kes – Can’t Wait

Gentleman – In My Arms

Kaylie Sea – Love is the Feeling

Beres Hammond ft. Shaggy – Fight this Feeling

Freddie McGregor – Let Him Try

Romain Virgo – Fantasize

Randy Valentine – Someone Else’s Girl

Ras Demo – Kiss Me

Lutan Fyah – Save Room for My Love

Romain Virgo – Beautiful

Sizzla – Lover’s Paradise

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?rdei0tcqt79ia34

Dancehall Segment

CK – Love Design

Jahnill – Give Me You

L’Unique – Girl You Got Me Open

Vanessa Lee – Soul Waits (If I Try)

Stephen Souza – Sensi Smoker

Jah Bami – Slow It Down

Al Third – Feeling in my Life

Tarrus Riley – To the Limit

Craig – Forgiveness

MasSicker aka King Mas – Ms. Vanity

Exco Levi – Talk Talk

Jahranimo – Ras in U Life

Stephen Marley ft. Spragga Benz & Damian Marley – Bongo Nyah

Jah Cure – Save Yourself

Duane Stephenson – Think Twice

Kaisha Lee – Light Shall Rise

CSharp – You

Maxwell – Na Profit

Miriam Simone – Dem ah Chat

Gappy ranks ft. Exco Levi – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Keithy Ranks – Truths and Rights

Tommy B – Life is Getting Better

King Ali Baba – Herbalist

Chezidek Album Review

3.  Faya Pon Dem

7.  Tumbling Down

9.  Plant a Tree

11.  Hail Up the Roots

Alaine ft. Octane – Lighters Up

Busy Signal – Wickedest Position

Frassman – Dat Nuh Hard

Konshens – Gyal Ah Bubble (Bro Safari & ETC! ETC! Remix)

Demarco – Continue Wine

Hawkeye – Bad Man Carnival

Kutlass – Noise Up [Dubplate]

Delly Ranx – Nah Maggle

Charly Black – Yuh Touch Sweet

Karian Sang – Hot Girl Ting

Red Foxx – Hot Like Fiya

Kiprich ft. Keisha – My Heart is a Jail

Beenie Man – Bad Til Yuh Buck

Noah Powa – Twerk It

Sentenal ft. Angel Eyes – Rise to the Top

DJ Suss One – Freaks Remix ft. DJ J Buttah and Edley Shine

Sean Paul – Do Dih Ting

Sha – Sunny Day

Red Foxx – Show Me Dih Wine

Jahmiel – Never Give Up

Khago – Road Dawg [Dubplate]

Konshens – Mawning ah Come

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?325cnd9h3gs9pdl

Best of the Best 2013

South Florida's biggest Memorial Weekend concert, Best Of The Best, will be held at Bayfront Park (301 Biscayne Blvd.) on Sunday, May 26th. The long-running Caribbean music, arts and culinary festival will once again bring the top acts in Reggae, Dancehall & Soca to the Miami stage.

Produced by Rockers Island Entertainment, in conjunction with Massive B, the Best Of The Best franchise remains the country's largest, multicultural, family-oriented festival, consistently welcoming thousands of visitors from urban centers around the United States, including New York, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, as well as from the Caribbean, South America and Europe.

The blockbuster lineup for Best Of The Best 2013 includes Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, Beenie Man, Sanchez, Cocoa Tea, Elephant Man, Mad Cobra, Singer J,Mega Banton, Chronixx, Konshens, Patrice Roberts, Lyrikal, Skinny Fabolous, J.W. & Blaze, and The Bahamas Rat Pack. More superstar additions to the lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

This year, in honor of Military Appreciation Month (May 1 - 31), the promoters of Best Of The Best are offering general admission tickets at a 30% discount to US Military with a valid ID. Special 50% off bonus to the first 300 tickets sold online. Visit: www.BestOfTheBestConcert.com/Military.

On Friday, May 24th, the Official Best Of The Best 2013 Welcome Party will be held at Cafe Iguana Pines (8358 Pines Blvd.) in Pembroke Pines and feature music by Massive B, King Waggy T, D Life, House Arrest and Fergie & Springer. Following the big show on Sunday, all roads lead back to Cafe Iguana Pines for the Official Best Of The Best 2013 After Party featuring champion sounds by Stone Love, Massive B, Poison Dart, Platinum Kids, Encore, Steelie Bashment and more!

Miami's GG is Popular Demand!

Miami-based pop artist GG created a series of works for his solo exhibit “Popular Demand,“ featuring, well, paintings in his most popular and in demand style of iconic characters.

International collectors have been craving GG’s interpretations of icons and popular characters but until now the young artist has not had a chance to do the full series he had envisioned and wanted to do for a long time. 

GG turned Nac Gallery in Fort Lauderdale into the world of Fedo, a character he created in 2009. This signature character, that can also be seen on many walls in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, has been the center of many works by GG who describes Fedo as “curious, confused and always honest.”

For “Popular Demand” GG revisited his flat, saturated depictions of iconic figures and this new series surely did not disappoint. The exhibit brings together film, fashion, sports, music and art as well as a major influence and passion of the artist, computer games. The Super Mario Bros, Darth Vader, Batman and the Joker as well as Minnie and Mickey Mouse are easily recognizable favorites around the world and GG infused them with his distinct Fedo eyes and facial expression.

“Popular Demand” also featured Karl Lagerfeld and Muhammad Ali, two icons GG respects for their achievements in their respective fields and there was a Bob Marley, who was snapped up by a collector prior to the public opening reception. Some of GG’s biggest inspirations, the artist Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat can be seen in new versions in “Popular Demand.” Previously, GG incorporated more color and the art of the respective painter but for this new series he stripped his depictions to the basics, relying solely on the strength of the central character.

GG has undergone a maturation process and has started to gravitate towards explorations of more abstract concepts based on emotions, experiences and observations especially relating to Miami. He has started to incorporate scribbles and continuing narratives and has started to additionally use more muted color palettes.

About his solo exhibition GG says, “This show has been something I wanted to develop for a long time. I have been doing tributes to other artists and popular characters but never developed an entire series based on this one topic.” He adds, “It is a part of my work I really wanted to showcase and even though I might be working with iconic figures in the future I wanted to bring some closure to this chapter and start working on some more developed and intricate pieces.”

“Popular Demand” is GG’s most important show to date as the show will travel from Fort Lauderdale to New York and Los Angeles this year, establishing GG further as a young artist on the rise.

“Popular Demand” runs through April 15^th, 2013 at Nac Gallery, 3325 NE 32^nd Street, Fort Lauderdale 33308

Innocent v. Madd Squad Sound Clash!

Sound Clash has always been an integral role in Sound System culture where Reggae and Dancehall is concerned.  Usually between 2 sounds, the Clash is aimed at earning the respect and 'forward' of Clash fans who determine which sound won the Clash and thus hold the title of Sound Clash Winner!

On Saturday June 30th, two of Florida's largest sounds, Innocent and Madd Squad face off for an event called 'Duppi Affi Mek.'

If you're not from a Caribbean background, a 'duppi' is a ghost, and a ghost only appears when a person is dead.  To put that in the context of the Clash, one of the two sounds will die, thus becoming a duppi.

This event is significant for two reasons:  1.  It marks the re-emergence of the Clash industry which was kick started by Clash innovators and Aficionados Irish and Chin, and 2.  It marks Froggy Madd Squad Clashing which hasn't happened in years ... several years.

Clash fans are asking if Froggy has what it takes to defend his sound seeing that Striker has been the one to Clash in behalf of Madd Squad in the past.  Other fans are asking how deep into the dubbox does Froggy plan to go as his dubs are extensive (he's been selecting since his teens and has relationships with several artists).  Additional fans want to know if Innocent has the musical ammunition to counteract Froggy's piercing dubs.

The only way to find out is to attend the Clash.  See the flyers for details.  If you see a ghost, don't get frightened; 'duppi affi mek!'

ALPHA MUSIC MANUFACTURING PLANT IN FLORIDA EXPANDING…

Jeffrey Collins has arranged to expand ALPHA MUSIC into a worldwide operation to help bring back VINYL RECORDS. “With the installation of 6 more Record Presses at the Plantation Plant in FL, we will be able to increase our output by 200% of both 7” and 12” pressings.” Collins states… “We have also teamed up with and have an interest in 3 other Vinyl Pressing Plants (in the U.K., Italy and Australia) which will able us to offer a Worldwide Vinyl Service for Major & Independent Record labels. There is still a demand for Vinyl Records, which is the only true way to listen to good music and be able to listen to the way that it was recorded. Since the advent of the CD & then Digital Downloads, the true sound of music has deteriorated and our goal is to bring the real sound of music back to the people!”

  

Buju Banton Sentenced to 10 Years...

We were not in Florida this morning for the sentencing of Buju Banton, so have re-printed the article below from William R. Levesque.  Buju faced a possible 15 years in prison, however Judge James Moody sentenced him to 10 years for which we the community are thankful.  Our letter writing and campaigning did make a difference...

By William R. Levesque, Times Staff Writer

TAMPA — Lawyers for Buju Banton did everything they could to remind jurors and a judge that their client was an international reggae star and not a drug kingpin.

They displayed his album covers during Banton's February drug conspiracy trial. They called Bob Marley's son as a witness and told jurors Banton won a Grammy the day before his trial opened.

Lawyers even included a color photo of Banton performing on the first page of a sentencing memorandum seeking leniency that they filed with the court.

But it was convicted drug defendant Buju Banton that a federal judge sentenced to 10 years in prison today after his February conviction on drug conspiracy charges. Banton, who lived in South Florida, had faced 15 years to life in prison.

Ten years was the minimum sentence.

Dozens of letters were sent to the judge in support of Banton. Letters included one from actor Danny Glover, a friend of Banton's.  Glover said Banton's music "addresses every aspect of life and feeds the heart, mind, body and soul, bringing a message of hope."  Stephen Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, wrote, "Please consider the great things that he has done during his career as a musician."  NBA player Etan Thomas said, "His songs have guided and inspired me since I was in Middle School."

But in the end, it may have been the words of prosecutor James Preston, spoken to jurors at trial, that provided the epitaph on Banton's career.

"This is not about Buju Banton, the reggae singer," Preston said. "This is about Mark Myrie, the drug defendant."  Jurors deliberated for 11 hours when on Feb. 22 they found Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, guilty of three charges: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and using a telephone to commit a drug offense.

This was Banton's second trial. A jury deadlocked at the first in September 2010, causing a mistrial.  The singer's retrial opened Feb. 14, a day after he won a Grammy for best reggae album. Banton recorded the album, Before the Dawn, prior to his December 2009 arrest, though he worked on post-production from a jail phone.

Banton's troubles began on a flight from Spain to the United States in 2009. Banton had the ill fortune to sit next to a confidential informant who has earned $3.3 million in the last 14 years working for federal agents.

Prosecutors said Banton, a Miami-area resident, boasted to the snitch that he was involved in a cocaine ring. They said he talked about wanting to set up a drug deal together.  They presented audio tapes and videos of Banton they say proved his culpability in setting up the purchase of 11 pounds of cocaine for $135,000.

In one video, Banton could be seen tasting cocaine at a Sarasota warehouse on Dec. 8, 2009. But days later, he was not present as the deal was finalized, though prosecutors said he knew it was going down.  Banton testified that he was just a boastful talker trying to impress the informant because the man said he could help Banton's music career.  He said he never intended to buy the drugs and had ignored the informant's persistent calls.

  

An open letter to Judge James Moody on behalf of Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie

Sent via e-mail:  chambers_flmd_moody@flmd.uscourts.gov

And via airmail:

The Honourable James S. Moody Jr.

 United States District Judge

 Tampa Division

 801 North Florida Avenue

 Tampa, Florida 33602

Dear Judge Moody;
 
 
In your many years within the justice system as a lawyer and Judge, I am sure you have come across cases that have either touched you, or touched the community which you represent.  A touch could be a personal understanding of one or some of the components in a case, just as a touch can be pride in knowing that the justice system worked (the way it’s supposed to) in making sure the right people receive the right punishment according to their crime(s).
 
Your honor, I am writing this letter with the belief that I, on behalf of the community I represent, can appeal to you on a ‘touch’ level.
 
Before your court is the matter of Mr. Mark ‘Buju Banton’ Myrie who is due to be sentenced on June 23rd by you, for the conviction he received on the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.  I appeal to you to reduce Buju’s sentence from the recommended 15 years.
 
Buju is not like any man you will ever meet.  He is a friend, a father, a husband and one of the pillars in the Caribbean community; not just Jamaica, but every Caribbean community in every city around the world.
 
As one of our pillars, he has given the community songs which nourish the soul.  This nourishment has turned youths away from crime, has strengthened families and healed those who were not well.
 
How do we know this is true?  The testimony of countless of which I am one.  He spoke for me when he sang ‘I wanna go ahead without turning back / and now I see myself heading for the trap / I wanna break free but I feel trapped / a voice inside me saying don’t stop ….’  Those words were taken from the song “Optimistic Soul” which encouraged listeners to not give up, no matter how daunting the situation looks.  Those were Buju’s words from 2010.  If we go back 10 years before that, we have ‘there was good and evil / we chose good ….’
 
When an announcement is made that Buju will be performing, the show(s) sell out.  Tickets are purchased by people who want a live touch of Buju’s nourishing words.  Fans leave the concerts fulfilled and refocused on the right path.
 
We, the community, need Buju, and we need you to understand his importance to us.  Because of these needs, I ask you to not sentence Buju to 15 years in prison.  I ask that you consider his humanitarian works with the children of his homeland Jamaica and I ask that you consider his impact on the Caribbean community around the world.  Once you’ve considered these, I ask that you set a sentence that will not see Buju away from us for a lengthy period of time.
 
 
Thank you,
Natasha Von Castle
Chief Executive Officer and President
L3 Group of Companies
Toronto, ON  Canada