Reggae Global Radio

Anslom Nakikus, a reggae singer from Papua New Guinea, was in Jamaica in September recording songs for a project tentatively scheduled for release in early 2027. The songs were done at K-Chief Studios in Montego Bay.

The veteran artist was recently appointed his country’s national cultural ambassador. The visit to Jamaica, his first major assignment since accepting that post, is endorsed by the Papua New Guinea National Cultural Commission, which donated $2,200 to the initiative.

K-Chief Studios opened last December in the Barnett Street area of Montego Bay. One of its senior partners is Michael “Mister Sam” Samuels, who spoke about the importance of Anslom Nakikus recording at the facility.

“Having a reggae artist from the South Pacific recording an album for K-Chief in Jamaica speaks volumes; opportunities are now open for expansion in that market. Artists from the United Kingdom, United States and locally have recorded with us so far,” he said.

Samuels led production for the Anslom Nakikus songs. Christopher Stewart, Delroy Green and Antonio Spence, senior members at K-Chief Studio, were also involved in the recording sessions.

Anslom Nakikus has been a leading figure in Pacific reggae for many years. His songs include ‘Bush Doctor’ and ‘Waiting For You ’, which earned him thousands of fans in that region.

He has also collaborated with Aston Barrett Jr., bass player of The Wailers, and Quino of Big Mountain.

K-Chief Studios’ objectives include giving more recording opportunities to acts from Montego Bay. The tourist mecca has produced many top dancehall artists in recent years, including Tommy Lee Sparta, Teejay and Shuga.

The ‘Memories’ rhythm, which features songs by Anslom Nakikus, A J Brown, Clive Emmanuel, Ian Sweetness and Steve Santana, has been its only release to date.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

The boundless reach of social media brought Jamaican deejay Max Wayne and Bahamian singer, Starr Trilli together for ‘What A Gwan’, an unlikely collaboration that was recently released by Virgin Music Group, a division of Universal Music.

Max Wayne’s solo cut was released in 2025, but the New York-based artist believed a remix with a guest artist would take it further. He sought that person on TikTok and found Starr Trilli, who is from Grand Bahama.

After watching an impromptu performance by her, he was sold on the vocalist who has been recording music since 2018.

“I saw her on TikTok Live doing a freestyle, and I contacted her, and she loved the song. Then she put her verse, and the ‘What A Gwan’ dance went viral and Virgin Music Group came through,” Max Wayne explained.

The song is produced by King Barka Productions, with Johnny Wonder handling promotion for Virgin Music Group.

“The message of What A Gwan is all about inspiring ghetto youth to uplift their lifestyle to own houses and other achievements,” said Max Wayne, who is from Spanish Town, Jamaica’s first capital.

Starr Trilli was raised in Freeport on diverse genres. Her influences include Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Nicki Minaj, Spice and Buju Banton.

She is thrilled to be part of a dancehall project.

After I spoke with Max Wayne and got all the details of the song and where I’d come in on the remix, I then listened to the song a few more times, just so I’d feel the vibe, get the concept and write the best lyrics to match his energy,” said Starr Trilli.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Leba Hibbert has been busy in 2026. In May, she toured the United Kingdom with The Maytals Featuring Leba Hibbert, but also put the finishing touches on her second album.

‘Leba Abel’ is the name of that eight-song project which was released on August 25. The singer wrote or co-wrote all songs on the album. She also produced six of them.

On ‘Extreme’, Leba shares co-production credit with her father, the legendary Toots Hibbert, who died in September, 2020 at age 77. Guitar maestro Stephen “Cat” Coore of Third World, who died in January, played on that song.

‘Bless Me’, another song from ‘Leba Abel’, is a collaboration with her brother, Junior Toots.

Although she has been around music all her life, Leba says there is always something new to learn. That is one of the things she learned from her father.

Having multiple roles on ‘Leba Abel’ makes the album, “A major turning point in my life.”

Leba Hibbert’s music career started in the 1980s as a member of 54-46, Toots’ harmony trio. After his death, she made the decision to keep The Maytals — which Toots started in Jamaica during the early 1960s — on the road.

Since 2023, Leba has toured the UK and the United States as leader of The Maytals Featuring Leba Hibbert. In May, she did 19 shows throughout the UK to mark the 50th anniversary of her father’s album, ‘Reggae Got Soul’.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Anticipation for Capleton’s first show in Canada in 11 years was fever-pitch leading to his September 12 performance at the Soul Food Caribbean Festival’s Fire In The Park in Vaughn, Ontario.

Singer Richie Flo was one of the Canada-based artists on the show. It was a big deal opening for The Prophet and other established acts such as Gyptian, D’Yani and Malie Donn.

“It was an incredible experience sharing the stage with reggae legends like Capleton and Gyptian, along with so many other talented acts. As an opening act, setting the right pace for the show is everything,” said Richie Flo. “You sometimes have to work twice as hard because the audience might not know every word to your songs, but I came prepared and delivered with my usual energy, clarity, and focus.”

During his set, he invited fellow Jamaican Cleon Beckford on stage to perform ‘Calling’, their collaboration which was recently released. It is the debut song for Beckford, who is one of the leading reggae drummers in Canada.

“It was actually his very first time performing on stage as a singer, and the energy was amazing,” Richie Flo reported. 

Performing at the Soul Food Caribbean Festival also presented him with an opportunity to showcase ‘St. Thomas Mi Born’, his album, which was released in late 2025.

Capleton gave a typically fiery performance that had a packed venue rocking throughout his set.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

The inhumane conditions in Jamaica’s prisons are the focus of ‘Jail House’, the latest song from singer Magran. Produced by MG Records, it was released on September 1.

Magran sings about the major challenges inmates face in Jamaica’s two maximum security prisons. These include solitary confinement and unsanitary accommodations.

“I was inspired to write this song upon learning about these confinement institutions, the poor conditions, insufficient food to feed prisoners, unsanitary conditions of restrooms and the list goes on,” said Magran. “My song and video not only highlights these atrocities but encourage others to stay out of trouble to prevent the experience others have been through.”

The General Penitentiary in Central Kingston and St. Catherine Adult District Adult Correctional Centre in Spanish Town, Jamaica’s first capital, are the country’s maximum security facilities.

They have been the subject of scrutiny for many years by human rights groups, who argue that the Jamaican government should take steps to improve overall conditions. 

Magran, who is from St. Catherine, is heavily influenced by dancehall lyricists such as Professor Nuts and General Degree. Like those artists, he takes a light-sided approach to most of his songs.

However, in 2020, he got serious by addressing the Covid-19 pandemic with ‘Stay Home’.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

Director James Williams filming scenes for Squatta in Port Royal, Jamaica.

James Williams was raised on R&B, hip hop and discovered Jamaican pop culture while attending college during the 1990s. He is not a big soca fan, but is preparing to release his movie, ‘Squatta’, at Miami Carnival in early October.

‘Squatta’ is a drama that stars several Jamaican actors, including Christopher Daley and Stokley Brown, as well as dancehall deejay Mr. Easy. American rapper Spliff Star also has a major role in the film.

Williams, who was born in Maryland, wrapped production in Jamaica three months ago. He is confident ‘Squatta’ will premiere at the 42nd staging of Miami Carnival.

“We are on track for the film to be completed before our goal to premiere in October. We’ve started speaking with distributors and we are exploring the best timing for distribution. However, we have post-production to get through before the path is clearly defined,” said Williams.

The Howard University graduate started production on his first movie in early 2025 in Warrenton, Georgia where he lives. In September, 2025, he and his Twilight Ebb crew visited Kingston, Jamaica for four days where they did additional filming.

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in radio, television, and film at Howard. He served 21 years in the United States military, and went straight into filmmaking after leaving the service.

He put up most of ‘Squatta’s $250,000 budget. 

Williams was raised on action-packed blaxploitation movies from the 1970s that starred African-American actors like Fred Williamson, Pam Grier and Jim Brown.

He also admired gritty Jamaican movies such as ‘Third World Cop’ and ‘Shottas’.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

P’damore is known in music circles for party songs like ‘Telephone Love’, but the Toronto-based singer tackles a serious issue on ‘Look But Don’t Touch’, his latest single which was released in July.

Produced by Enos Robinson, it discourages inappropriate behavior by men toward women.

‘Look But Don’t Touch’ was written by P’damore after an eye-opening conversation he had with a female colleague.

“She opened up to me about the constant unwanted physical advances and boundary crossing she and other women face from men in public spaces. P'damore believes women deserve respect,” he said.

The workplace was once a toxic environment for many women, who complained about unwanted sexual advances by men. Such a scenario has transformed considerably since the advent of #MeToo in 2006. 

That movement has resulted in the toppling of powerful men who were accused of sexually exploiting women. Among those exposed were film producer Harvey Weinstein and actor/comedian Bill Cosby.

‘Look But Don’t Touch’ was released four months after ‘Take Me There’, P’damore’s six-song EP. It contains ‘Telephone Love’, a collaboration with Sylvan Spark; ‘Think Out The Box’ and ‘Your Mistake’.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

When music producer Earl Messam suggested Doniki cover ‘The Last Thing on My Mind’, the singer was not interested. He said it went against his creative principles.

The roots artist relented and eventually put a reggae spin to the track with fellow vocalist Rosie B. Their version was released in 2025 as part of ‘Champions In Action’, a compilation album from Wildfire Records.

Messam is founder and principal of that Philadelphia-based company which recorded many songs by Doniki, who died in his native Jamaica in 2016.

“Doniki never wanted to do the song, because he said he is a culture singer. But him end up doing it an’ it came out good,” said Messam.

‘The Last Thing on My Mind’ is written by American singer Tom Paxton who first recorded it in 1964. It has been covered by many artists including Dolly Parton, who cut a country version three years later with Porter Wagoner.

Parton, who died on August 25, also did a solo version in 2023.

Messam and Doniki were associated personally and professionally since the early 1980s when they first met at Tuff Gong recording studios in Kingston, Jamaica. They went on to record a flurry of songs, many of them released by Wildfire Records.

‘Champions In Action’ contains 23 songs by artists such as Ken Boothe, Pat Kelly, Ian Sweetness and Glen Ricks.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

‘Wake The Town And Tell The People’, a dance celebrating the 84th birthday of pioneer deejay U Roy, is scheduled for September 19 in Kingston. The event features many artists who got their break on Stur Gav, U Roy’s legendary sound system.

Also known as Daddy Roy, he died on February 17, 2021 in Kingston at age 78.

Named for his most famous song, the show will be held at the Cling Cling Oval in Kingston. U Roy and Stur Gav played at that venue numerous times.

His daughter, Dionne Beckford, spoke about the importance of keeping her father’s legacy alive.

“I believe that we as his children should keep his legacy going, because in actuality our Dad is one of the first deejays in Jamaica,” she said.

Josey Wales, Little John, Little Twitch and Lone Ranger are some of the acts billed for ‘Wake The Town And Tell The People’. They were regulars on Stur Gav during its heyday in the 1980s.

U Roy was born Ewart Beckford in Manchester parish, central Jamaica. He made his name toasting on sound systems in the early 1960s, before becoming a recording artist late that decade.

His deejay spin Alton Ellis’ on Girl I’ve Got A Date featured his signature, ‘Wake The Town And Tell The People’. It set the pace for other hit singles such as ‘Wear You to The Ball’ and ‘Tom Drunk’ (with Hopeton Lewis).

Through Stur Gav, U Roy mentored many artists who became famous. They include Charlie Chaplin, Early B, Tenor Saw and Yami Bolo.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL

The Hill And Gully is arguably the hottest ‘riddim’ in the Jamaican dancehall for 2026. It is estimated that over 50 artists have done songs on the Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor-produced beat. One of them is Turban X.

The New York-based deejay’s contribution to the ‘riddim’ is ‘From The Gully to The Hills’ which was released in May. McGregor’s production is a dancehall take on a popular Jamaican folk song.

Having grown up in Jamaica listening to the original, Turban X was impressed by McGregor’s modifications.  

“His (McGregor) revisions gave it a modern feel and that appeals to the younger generation,” he said. Unlike most of the songs on the Hill And Gully, which are risque, ‘From The Gully To The Hills’ is straight-up positive.

“It’s telling people to praise God no matter the circumstance. Whether rich or poor, high or low, sick or healthy,” Turban X revealed.

In April, Masicka’s raunchy ‘Slip & Slide’ kicked off the Hill And Gully campaign. It was scorned by traditionalists in Jamaica who saw it as disrespectful to folk culture.

Anthony B, Chronic Law, Elephant Man, Devin Di Dakta, Govana and Hawkeye are some of the artists who have recorded songs on the ‘riddim’.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL