Reggae Global Radio

I-Stitch and Empress Nas

In Jamaican parlance, ‘nah switch’ means never forgetting one’s roots even if you have come into good fortune. That is the message behind I-Stitch’s song of the same name.

Produced by Toronto, Canada-based Empress Nas, the track was released in August. Although its roots are steeped in Jamaican lore, the singjay says ‘Nah Switch’ has a universal message.

“The song goes beyond Jamaica or music alone. It is a universal message for people around the world who are being pressured to adopt a lifestyle that does not represent their culture, principles, or true selves,” I-Stitch stated. “For me, it is about cultural identity, self-respect, perseverance, and knowing who you are.”

‘Nah Switch’ was released shortly after I-Stitch went to Canada for a series of shows. Most of those gigs were organized by Cut & Clear Music Productions Inc, and took place at clubs in Scarborough, Hamilton and the Niagara region. 

I-Stitch, who is from east Kingston in Jamaica, also performed at the Welland Afro Caribbean Festival in Welland, Ontario. He also did slots on dancehall-reggae stations like Soul Kitchen Radio.

His first trip to Canada in seven years has been fruitful.

“Working with Empress Nas and the Cut & Clear Music Productions team has been a positive experience. What I appreciate is the opportunity to work with people who understand that music is not just about making a recording — it is about bringing a message to life,” I-Stitch reasoned. “Returning to Canada after seven years and being able to perform for the people again has been a meaningful experience for me.”

Whenever Jahmark hears a ska song, it takes him back to his youth in Jamaica. It was the 1960s and that sound was everywhere — in the dancehalls, clubs and on the radio.

As the Independence period in Jamaica approached last August, he and his band The Soulshakers recorded ‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’, a ska track produced by Mike Irwin. It has a classic ska sound which recaptures what the roots singer considers Jamaica’s golden age of music.

“I knew the tune would be released around Jamaica’s Festival time, so I wanted to partake in the festiveness! I have been working with Mike for a minute and recorded a total of three albums with him,” said Jahmark.

‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’ is the veteran band’s first song for 2025. In October, Jahmark released two songs — ‘Golden Days’ with Ras Dave, and ‘My Revolutionary Friend’, which he did with Jeff Harris.

Jahmark and The Soulshakers have been a fixture on the Southern California reggae scene for over 30 years. They play mainly clubs and festivals, and are known for their relationship with Irwin, the principal of Roughsounds Studio in Redondo Beach, California.

Irwin has produced three albums — ‘Life’, ‘Book Of Redemption’ and ‘Happiness’ — by the band. The latter’s title song, released in 2019, is Jahmark and The Soulshakers’ biggest hit.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

It’s common to see wayward youth roaming the streets in Jamaica. Many of them are unemployed; some end up in a life of crime.

Singer-songwriter Jahbradez has noticed this disturbing trend. He addresses it with ‘Signs And The Times’, his latest song.

The track, co-produced by Oliver Thompson and Nnamdi Robinson, was released on September 25.

“I am concerned about youth unemployment. Young people need opportunities to use their talents, develop their skills and build productive lives. When those opportunities are limited, it can have a serious impact on individuals, families and communities,” said Jahbradez.

While these concerns are global, he focused on his homeland where youth unemployment is at a staggering 11.7 per cent.

“I have noticed these challenges particularly in Jamaica and within communities where young people are struggling to find meaningful employment and opportunities. It is also an issue that can be seen in other parts of the world,” Jahbradez noted.

‘Signs And The Times’ is his follow-up to ‘Together’, a roots-reggae song produced by Sheldon Townsend. 

Like Jahbradez, Thompson and Robinson are graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston. Thompson played drums on ‘Signs And The Times’, while Robinson played guitar and bass.

Jahbradez started his career over 15 years ago as a drummer for the Pentateuch band that also emerged from the Edna Manley College.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

‘Essence of God’, the second album by gospel artiste Minister Jean Fray, has been re-released four years after it first hit the market. The remastered project came out in September.

The album is co-produced by Sidney Mills and Brotha George Wright. The latter is also Minister Jean Fray’s manager.

Recorded at Mills’ SPI Music Inc. studio in New York, ‘Essence of God’ contains songs such as ‘He Touched Me’ and ‘Unconditional Love’. It was done three years after the release of ‘Glory’, her first album, which also involved Mills and Wright. That project marked Minister Jean Fray’s debut as an artist.

The committed Christian credits being around the Grammy-nominated Mills — who has worked with Steel Pulse, Dennis Brown and Worl-A-Girl — for her overall improvement.

“Since the production of my first album, I have grown immensely. This has elevated me artistically and has given me more confidence in myself,” she said. “Because of this confidence, I was able to continue the journey on the pathway to release my second album.”

Born in Trelawny parish, western Jamaica, Minister Jean Fray is based in New York.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Singjay E-Dee’s ‘Young Legend’ is one of 119 albums/EPs being considered for the Best Reggae Album category at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The singjay believes this validates the quality of his productions.

His fourth album, ‘Young Legend’ was released in July by Clarendon Records, a company the Los Angeles-based artist started in early 2025. 

“It says Clarendon Records is releasing records that can be measured at that level while we keep ownership. The label comes out of a Clarendon/Hollywood story,” said E-Dee. “I run it as an independent, and the masters stay with us. Writers stay credited. ‘Young Legend’ is the flagship, but the same standard is on the rhythms and the collabs around it.”

The label is named for Clarendon, a rural parish in central Jamaica where he was born.

‘Young Legend’ has 14 songs produced by E-Dee, Qmillion and Jahsee. Peaking at number 9 on the iTunes Reggae chart, it contains tracks like ‘Water Run’, ‘Zum Zum Zum’, ‘She’s Loyal’ and ‘Beautiful Woman’, a collaboration with Ginjah. 

It is E-Dee’s third Grammy-considered album. The Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammy Awards, will announce nominations for the annual ceremony on November 16.

“Coming back into Grammy consideration means the Recording Academy still sees a complete reggae and dancehall project worth reviewing, not a record that peaked and disappeared,” he said.

Several previous winners of the Best Reggae Album category are being considered. They include Ziggy Marley, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Nuju Banton and Burning Spear.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

After nearly 30 years in the music business, Singer Dee can point to a handful of well-received songs that he has released. But ‘Treat Mama Good’, his latest effort, is the most successful.

Featuring Richie Spice, it was released in May. The self-produced song is a tribute to hardworking mothers, including his own, who died in Jamaica last May. 

‘Treat Mama Good’ has done well in Canada, where Singer Dee lives, and Jamaica.

“To be honest, it’s not surprising (that the song has done well), because the words are very personal. It speaks about life an’ death — when Mama lived an’ when she passed,” he said.

Singer Dee is the last of his mother’s eight children. He did a rendition of ‘Treat Mama Good’ at her thanksgiving service, just days before the single was officially released.

He shares writing credits for the track with Richie Spice, the veteran roots artist known for songs like ‘Brown Skin’ and ‘Earth A Run Red’. 

“Working with such an experienced artist was an incredible experience, and I learned a lot from him both musically and professionally,” said Singer Dee.   

‘Treat Mama Good’ is currently in the Jamaica Music Countdown Chart and the Reggae North Canadian Top 20 Chart. 

From Portland parish in eastern Jamaica, Singer Dee’s earlier songs include ‘Ten Toes’ and ‘Stay Strong’.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Glen Washington

The latest edition of Tad’s International Record’s ‘Reggae Jammin’ compilation album was released on October 9. ‘Vol 6’ contains 17 songs, mainly by veteran artists.

Tad Dawkins, head of the label, co-produced the project with Tad Dawkins Jr., said the series has been well-received since it was first released in 2008. He and his team took a different approach for ‘Vol 6’.

“We wanted to make this one have the feel of real classic reggae music with a touch of the new stuff, hence the selection of Dennis Brown, Ranking Dread, Sugar Minott, Brigadier Jerry,  Larry & The Mento Boys, Norris Man, Glen Washington, Richie Spice and Icho Candy,” he explained.

Brown and Ranking Dread, who died in 1999 and 1996, respectively, collaborated on ‘Unite Brotherman’. Sugar Minott and Brigadier Jerry share the mic on ‘Vanty/Ram Dance Master’.

An interesting inclusion is ‘Captain Selassie I’ by roots singer Icho Candy. First released in 1983, the song is a staple at Jamaican dances and has made him a cult figure.

Larry & The Mento Boys represent one of Jamaica’s oldest art forms with ‘Mento Boys Medley’.

Some of the musicians who played on ‘Reggae Jammin Vol 6’ are drummer Kirk Bennett, bassist Donald Dennis, guitarist Mitchum “Khan” Chin, saxophonist Dean Fraser and pianist/organist Franklyn “Bubbler” Waul.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Ardie "Cuban" Wallace (left) and Davies Chirwa.

Synonymous with reggae in Connecticut and New England, Ardie “Cuban” Wallace has promoted Jamaican culture throughout that region for over 50 years. He tells part of that story in ‘The Legendary Reggae Promoter: Ardie “Cuban” Wallace’.

The book was released on October 3 on Amazon through DC Productions Media Group, a company owned by Davies Chirwa, a Zambian businessman based in Washington. The 300-page tome revisits 1975 when the Jamaican made his debut as a show promoter in Hartford, Connecticut.

It is written by Wallace and his wife, Yevette Ann Wallace.

Cuban’s first show featured Bob Marley and The Wailers at the Bushnell Auditorium (now Theater) in Hartford. Although Marley was a rising star, the Montego Bay-born impresario says not much was known about reggae in the United States.

“The book had to focus on 1975 for many historic reasons. It’s a year of all big history with myself and reggae music building in America,” said Cuban. “In 1975, no one knew anything about reggae in America or what it is, so this was the start of it.”

Marley and The Wailers were promoting ‘Natty Dread’, his first solo album for Island Records which was released the previous year. 

Since that gig, Cuban has promoted the who’s who of dancehall-reggae, particularly in Hartford where he has lived since the early 1970s. Jimmy Cliff, Sly and Robbie, Yellowman, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott and Super Cat are some of the acts he has brought to that city.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Rivas (right) and Sangie Davis.

For many years, Rivas read about, and listened to the music of his Jamaican reggae heroes, from his home in Rochester, New York. Two years ago, he finally visited the country where the music was born.

During his second visit to Jamaica last May, Rivas recorded the song ‘Jah Praises’ with Sangie Davis, a close friend of Bob Marley, and a stalwart of the Twelve Tribes Of Israel organization.

Inspired by Psalm 24, it is produced by Rivas who shares writing credits with Davis. The single was recorded at the legendary Tuff Gong International studios in Kingston, which is owned by the Marley family.

“My first impression of Jamaica felt like home. I am a Puerto Rican and being in Jamaica felt similar in a sense of island beauty and nice vibes,” said Rivas. “The people of Jamaica were very nice and helpful. It felt amazing to be in the homeland of reggae music and Rastafari.”

‘Jah Praises’ features Nyahbinghi drummers from The Binghistra Movement.

Recording music in Jamaica was a dream come true for Rivas who grew up in a Puerto Rican home in Rochester. There was very little reggae activity in that city when he was a boy.

“I am a Puerto Rican and grew up in a culturally-diverse area of my town. I used to wake up to my Dad playing Merengue and Salsa music every Saturday morning,” Rivas recalled. “My Haitian  neighbours used to blast Bob Marley really loud.”

On his first trip to Jamaica, he befriended Davis, who co-wrote Marley’s ‘Wake Up And Live’ and ‘A Young One Like Me’ by Nadine Sutherland.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

With the first anniversary of Hurricane Melissa approaching, singer Don G has released a song paying tribute to the character shown by Jamaicans in the aftermath of that Category 5 monster.

‘We Will Rise’ is the name of the track which was recently released by Grippy Nation Records. Don G recorded the song at his studio in Luxembourg, where he has lived for nine years.

Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025. It  caused severe damage to the country’s south-west region, destroying hospitals, schools, businesses and leaving thousands of people homeless.

According to figures from the Jamaican government, 45 people were killed by Melissa’s deadly impact.

“None of my relatives were affected, but it was after several days of not communicating with my mother that I found out she and my Dad and brothers, aunts and cousins were okay,” said Don G. “It was just small infrastructure damage and water flooding. I just give God thanks that nothing serious happened to them.”

Don G is from Linstead, a market town in rural St. Catherine parish. That area suffered minor damage, nothing compared to the devastation experienced in the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and Trelawny.

In the aftermath of Melissa, Don G joined with many Jamaicans in Europe to donate relief items to the recovery effort in their country.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL