Marvin Sparks

I caught up with reggae and dancehall artist Wayne Marshall to discuss prevalent issues within the world of dancehall and the (controversial term alert) "Reggae revival". We spoke about: growing up in the business with the Bounty Killer-led Alliance to now moving with the Damian & Stephen Marley-led Ghetto Youths International,  revival of both reggae and the '80s revival within that,  whether he regrets partaking in the much criticised Island Pop era,  Jamaican media's focus on Jamaican reggae's lack of commercial success in America to  will he'll judge his forthcoming album, True Colors, success on sales. Wobbly video, but ah so it go more time uzeet? Couple songs for you to check which were mentioned in the video: Latest single, "I Know". Can grab that on iTunes and others. Wayne Marshall "My Heart" cover by Danish artist Klumben "Mit Hjerte" Original video for Wayne Marshall's "My He...

Pre-carnival on Monday I ventured down to legendary radio station Rinse FM. The Heatwave crew ran up in the station armed with record boxes ( Serato loaded on MacBook) and took control of the breakfast show. Essential carnival warm-up tunes, carnival top ten and an interview with Jamaican group TOK's Bay-C (the dude with the deep voice). The latter is where I came in as the "dancehall expert" (their words not mine (but they're definitely true)). We spoke about T.O.K.'s (Touch of Klass) beginnings, appeal in their biggest market Japan, dancehall in Japan and Africa, importance of touring with declining record sales, why crossing over is not a priority, then similarities between UK and JA (chatting on sound system and crews). First time interviewing live on radio. Went alright still. Listen below. Furthermore, here are some TOK songs you will probably know: "Gal Yuh Ah Lead"  (this would have charted well if it wasn't for external campaigns) ...

This came about so mad. Like, a week after the debate on whether grime is a sub-genre of hip hop or a reflection of London influences including Jamaica, the opportunity to speak with grime's Godfather arose. More than just talking to a legend, it was an opportunity to speak in great detail about his love for dancehall and reggae - something I don't recall him ever doing before. I think he enjoyed the interview a lot. There's more to forward from the interview in different way so stay tuned. There are so many funny moments too. Big up Wiley and Large Up dot com. That is one of the best sites on the net for dancehall and reggae stuff, based in America. They are a channel on big American website Okayplayer. Check them out here Wiley is often called the Godfather of the UK’s vibrant grime scene. Having burst on the scene as a member of garage crew Pay As U Go Cartel, the prolific MC has been considered among the best UK wordsmiths for over ten years. He’s been involved in cou...

Big Ship sailing! If you don't know the name, you may have skanked to his riddims/songs. Kartel "Bicycle", "Come Breed Me", MR. Vegas "Gallis", Busy Signal "Stamma", Mavado "Hope & Pray", "House Cleaning" , "Weh Dem A Do", "Stulla" + "Peppa" and many more. This is the radio edit. Longer version soon The Wrap Up’s Marvin Sparks ventures down to the Big Ship studios in Kingston, Jamaica to speak with Stephen McGregor about kick-starting Mavado's international career whilst still in high school, working with Estelle, Ne-Yo and much more... Dubbed "Di Genius" for his understanding and ability to produce music from a young age, McGregor has been creating music for over a decade despite only being 21 years old. Although he is better known for producing hits, he started out in the booth recording songs like ‘School Done Rule’ at the tender age of 9. As the son of the legendary...

Marvin Sparks recently spoke with Mavado about his new direction, musically, how success has changed his life, dealing with negative press, his charity giving back to his community and working with Jay-Z, exclusively for The Wrap Up Pic courtesy of Neil Raja . SICK Photographer yeah. http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/253312-mavado-the-interview Catch a little review of the December show there too. As you know I caught up with the Gaza general Vybz Kartel in December also. There was a little confusion over who worked with Jay-Z for the Blueprint 3. I spoke with both artists to sort out who it really was. Vybz Kartel spoke about the Gully vs Gaza feud being blown out of proportion.

First things first, if you haven't read the two previous parts of the Kartel interview (one of the only interviews he has ever done outside of Jamaican press), check http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/249750-vybz-kartel-the-interview-part-1 . He talks success of Clarks, Major Lazer 'Pon Di Floor' collaboration, getting his work ethic from his father and writing for Bounty Killer. Part few (2) is about reinvention, I asked if he borrowed Mavado's style, about making x-rated songs when he has to make clean ones, he gives an exclusive about both his new album and the plans he has to work with Mavado http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/250984-vybz-kartel-the-interview-part-2 On Thursday I made this post about a podcast by HypeLife.tv comical take on the interview. Now this Anyone that has followed my blog or knows me personally will know I say Aidonia is one of the baddest deejay's in Jamaica. To quote this post "What I will say is Aidonia is currently top 3 dancehall...

Another day, another Kartel post. I know "The sh*t is f**kin' ridicalus" (RZA voice) So if you've been following me on Twitter or read back previous posts you will know that I have been gassed since the day I interviewed Kartel early in December. I labeled it #LicenseToGas on Twitter because I knew I'd get gassed off the response. By the way, gassed doesn't mean I think I'm above it. I'm just overjoyed at the response by other fans. As I've said before, I'm a fan, so to get so much love from fans is great. No one else has done one like this and I feared it would get lost amongst all the Kartel vs Beenie talk + Kartel vs Laing, hence the delay in promotion. No other journalist in UK has ever managed to interview him. Just in case you never knew. Kartel doesn't do interviews with international press more time. Just throwing it out there for those that aren't familiar with dancehall. It's like tracking down Jay-Z in the dancehall world...

Well, it's a Paul Wall bar really (remember him? I actually interviewed him in about '08 for an album that never dropped lol). But this has nothing to do with him. Remember this post where I spoke to Kartel for a straight fan to artist conversation discussing other artists he has problems with? Well, it exploded yesterday. As I had a feeling it would. Hold tight @missjaylouise , told her about the amount I juice I got on the day. She knows. Also 'ang tight my social-net-less bredrins too (Yeah, can you believe they exist in 2011? Who'd have thought it? I remember talking about us flying cars by 2010 from back in 1997. Didn't quite happen, but yeah, people not on social-networks is weird). First off I'm gonna address the Kartel bleaching argument. Listen to Dancehall Hero (This tune is sick!) If you don't get why he bleaches, you don't understand who Kartel is. Listen to what he is saying in this tune. Kartel just wants people to discuss him. That'...

Well, if you've been following either myslef or Kartel on Twitter you would have seen the tweet (copied from Kartel's twitter) @iamthekartel: "#AWOAH RT @MarvinSparks @iamthekartel bless up king. People talking about your interview already. Wait til the rest drops. Oh!" [source] Tweet was after I read discussions about our interview on various dancehall forums. This is the rest... Hear him speak on: Why he hasn't fired a diss back in response to Aidonia's diss records ( Nuh Par Wid and Nuh Tek Chat ) and why there's a problem between them What he thinks of Busy Signal and whether they'll ever work together If we'll hear Vybz Kartel work with producer Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor (build the riddims for Come Breed Me , Bicycle / Mr Officer and many more) and what their problem is Does he have any hate for Bounty Killer His only regret as a dancehall artist Plans to exploit controversy of cake soap and why he uses it And some other stuff...

The second part of the Clarks trilogy is called 'Clarks Again' for a reason, doah? Awoah! Well in case you missed first part, the link is right here . We warmed up with the first part, speaking about the success of Clarks, insight into both his unique style when he broke onto the scene and the creation of Major Lazer 'Pon Di Floor', little background to the members of the ever-changing roster over at Portmore Empire, and he explained his work-ethic In this part we went a bit deeper. As I said, the first part was a warm up. In this we spoke in-depth about the controversy surrounding last year's Ramping Shop. The lawsuit, resulting censorship on radio and why he went on the riddim in the first place. Makes some valid points. Also why he makes raw uncensored tunes even though he has to make a version suitable for radio. For the real dancehall fans we spoke about reinvention and the now controversial Dancehall Hero . Let's be honest, Mavado kind've stole Kartel...

Huh? Whut? Yes, Vybz Kartel Vybz Kartel (@iamthekartel) drop for @MarvinSparks interview @MTVwrapup by MiNameMarvinSparks If you know how much I love dancehall, you can kinda guess how excited I was to do this and bring it to you. If you know how respected your work and avenue have to be + small amount of interviews Kartel (that's the abbreviation, not Vybz) does, you'll understand how special this interview is. I think this is his first ever UK interview (outside of DJ's Robbo Ranx and possibly Young Lion at 1Xtra). His PR said it's the first too, but I couldn't prove beyond reasonable doubt that the now defunct New Nation didn't interview him. Anyone else that did one didn't register on Google. Soz xxx. (So yeah, if you wanna cover dancehall and reggae interviews, holla at me for the BEST/unreachable reggae and dancehall artists: marvin.sparks220@gmail.com ) Vybz Kartel has been one of my favourite deejay's long before the Gully-Gaza feud. From...

Remember I said MTV Wrap Up and I are gonna step pon bwoy with reggae/dancehall coverage? Well continuing in that vein, Busy Signal interview. Marvin Sparks caught up with Jamaican dancehall artist Busy Signal to discuss why he feels underrated, his reception in Europe compared with Jamaica, surviving without the lucrative USA market, substance in dancehall music, what inspires his content and musical infulences, and whether he'll work with foe, Aidionia. All exclusively for The Wrap Up... Check the full interview here In case you didn't know, this is the second time I've interviewed him. The first was in my top 5 best at one point (haven't done a top 5 in a while, hence not sure if it's still in there), so put a lot of pressure on myself with this one. Felt I got another good one. Hope you enjoy. Let me know if you do/don't. Love geting feedback You can check the first one here For all other dancehall reggae interviews including Beres Hammond, Popcaan, Morgan H...

You read the title correctly, part again. We don't test two what about you? Anyway, may have read the first part. May not have read the first part, I don't know. You may not even read this part, but I'm posting it anyway. ( First part ) Part 1, we spoke about how he managed to get Estelle on the remix for his single, why he chose the controversial Island pop sound for his single and his idol Bounty Killer. Pretty much a formal interview. In part again, I go a bit more dancehall. I did ask about his appearance with Sean Kingston & Nicki Minaj 'Dutty Love' + whether him and Drake are going to collaborate. Oh and about Toddla T's single 'Sky Surfing'. But yeah, more dancehall-oriented; Wayne Marshall and I spoke about his beef with former friend and collaborator Vybz Kartel, both why he never responded to blatant disses and whether they'll work together in the future now that they've made up. If you didn't know, Wayne Marshall was the big si...

Yeah, back with another installment. The dancehall takeover on MTV UK's urban site. Last one with Popcaan proved a big winner. Twitter was going crazy from the tweets I managed to see whilst on holiday in Jamaica (the grind doesn't stop). Seems like everybody wanted to know "Wah gwaan Popcaan?!" as it was posted on at least 14 other websites including many leading dancehall ones. Thanks for that. Appreciate it. (Yeah I typed "marvin sparks" & "popcaan" into Google. It was raining + I was bored) This time around, I interviewed Wayne Marshall. Yeah, interviewed him outside the studio of a popular hitmaker, but all in good time. Back to Wayne Marshall, some of you may know who he is, others may be wondering "Who?" or "The washed up G-Spot singer", but you'd be wrong. Not only is he a member of Bounty Killer's Alliance along with Busy Signal and Mavado, he has one of the hottest songs bubbling in dancehall circles right ...

Introducing to you, two of the hottest young talents in the Dancehall business; Laden, a finalist in Digicel's Rising Star (Jamaica's equivalent to American Idol/X-Factor) and Chino, son of reggae legend Freddie McGregor and brother to serial hitmaker Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor. With both artists popularity rapidly rising both on radio and in the dances from uptown to he ghettos, you'd be hard pushed to find two artists with clean songs making as much noise. Marvin Sparks caught up with the two Big Ship stars Laden and Chino whilst on a tour with Freddie McGregor to discuss the effect the radio ban in Jamaica has made on their careers, if it's harder to make it without controversy and Michael Jackson's passing. Chino speaks on working relationship with brother Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, the possible adverse affect of carrying the McGregor name and the beef with Munga. Laden explains why he took the reality show route, linking with the Big Ship camp and ...

Grandnephew of Treasure Isle record and Rocksteady pioneer Duke Reid, reggae has been in the family history from before the name Reggae was coined. Carrying on traditions, his first tutor in Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong studio was his father Errol Brown who was none other than Bob Marley’s sound engineer. Following in the footsteps of his Granduncle, he has his formed his own label dubbed Jukeboxx and is one of the most sought after producers in Reggae music. Following on the back of a successful 2008, Shane Brown has teamed up with VP/Greensleeves to release Silent River/Nylon riddim. Marvin Sparks caught up with Shane Brown to discuss Jukeboxx records, Demarco’s departure, his recipe for Busy Signal’s recent success and how a Reggae producer makes money in these tough economical times. Marvin Sparks: What techniques did you pick up from working in Tuff Gong as far as engineering? Shane Brown: Analogue; it was all analogue back in the days at Tuff Gong. That was one of the greatest lessons....