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...

Member of the Damian and Stephen Marley-led Ghetto Youths International, Christopher Ellis headlines London's famous Jazz Café for the second time this Saturday (28th September) following a sell-out last year on the birthday of his late great, father, rocksteady icon Alton Ellis . Sidenote: Jazz Café is the last venue his father performed. Marvin Sparks caught up with south Londoner, Christopher Ellis ( @EllisMuzicChild ), in a west London hotel lobby to talk challenges making a name as a singer in his own right, choosing authentic reggae despite its lack of pop chart presence in UK, disappointing reaction to last single and learning from the other Ghetto Youths members. Marvin Sparks: Was music something you always wanted to do? Christopher Ellis: I always imagined myself as a singer from ever since I could remember. I used to tell my school teachers that I don't have to do the work because I'm going to be a singer [laughs]. I was always a clever boy in class, b...

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...

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 ...

If the name doesn't ring a bell, "Wah gwaan Popcaan?!" from the tune of the summer Clarks by Vybz Kartel should. Marvin Sparks speaks to Jamaican artist Popcaan for The Wrap Up about his troubled upbringing in the ‘Gangsta City,’ avoiding temptation to enter a life of crime and tells us what makes Clarks an essential purchase for the summer... and the winter! The Wrap Up: Where did the name Popcaan come from? Popcaan: Me and you can reason about that name at a different location one day [laughs], but it was from a friend who passed on. TWU: How would you describe yourself? Popcaan: Hot skull, fry yiy [eye], boil brainz! [laughs]. Where my families concerned, I'm a loving person, where the ladies are concerned I'm a very loving person and I'm full of hype. TWU: What have you learnt from being around Vybz Kartel? Popcaan: I've learnt countless things from Kartel. You see di Teacha, he is the real teacher. He's taught me loads of things outside of mu...

Marvin Sparks caught up with Gappy Ranks to discuss how recent commercial success by home grown urban artists affects him as a UK reggae artist, whether he’ll change his sound for the pop market, exclusive information about collaborating with Beenie Man and if he ever thought of getting the now famous gaps in his teeth closed... http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/230349-gappy-ranks-the-interview Check it out and let the I know what you thought. Got a whole bunch of other big ones in the cannon ready to be deployed... www.mtv.co.uk/thewrapup is about to step on a whole bunch of other sites with their reggae and dancehall content. That them fi know (said in poshest English accent). Shouts to JP Check out a whole host of interviews I've done previously with the biggest names from Beres Hammond, Gyptian, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, Morgan Heritage to Chino & Laden, and Busy Signal. here

[INTERVIEW REMOVED] Hold tight for updated link Marvin Sparks caught up with Gappy Ranks to discuss how recent commercial success by home grown urban artists affects him as a UK reggae artist, whether he’ll change his sound for the pop market, exclusive information about collaborating with Beenie Man and if he ever thought of getting the now famous gaps in his teeth closed... http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/230349-gappy-ranks-the-interview For more info on Gappy Ranks , check his MySpace: www.myspace.com/gappyranks You may also be interested in: Peetah and Mojo Morgan (Morgan Heritate) interview Tarrus Riley interview Big Ship's Laden and Chino interview Shane "JukeBoxx" Brown interview Jah Cure interview Anthony B interview Beres Hammond interview Gyptian interview Busy Signal interview Etana interview

For Black History Month last year I wanted to forget about worshipping black icons of the past and chose to focus on current. No disrespect to them, but people always complain there aren't enough about black role models about nowadays, so I thought I'd appreciate current one. I went on a mission to find a black person who is doing something positive for themselves. Instead of an obscure politician or financial investment banker no one really knows, I thought I'd keep it contemporary, going with comedian and businessman Kojo. Everyone sees him as just a comedian but either don't realise or forget that he is more than that and has achieved a lot, namely his 5 years and (started) counting (again the other day) Comedy Club in West End's Corks Wine Bar. Hate or love him personally or his jokes, one thing is undeniable; the man is doing a lot for himself and the whole urban comedy circuit FULL STOP! He has given a platform to most of our favourite comedians directly or in...

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....

Well, this has another story; was meant to be on Monday night but got cancelled. So I'm at work the next day when I get a message saying they are available to be interviewed in 10 minutes!!! Once again, I'm not turning down the opportunity. Luckily I could organise my lunch break around the time so did that. Halfway through the conversation, after much dodgy reception, the phone cuts out. Ring back... voicemail. Tried again... voicemail. Times running and my stomach is hollarin like "Yo bredrin, I runnin kinda low down here fam". Low and behold they called back and we finished it. Much respect to Gramps Morgan and the rest of the fam Morgan Heritage 8/April/08 Described as one of music’s most influential reggae acts around today, the "Royal Family of Reggae" Morgan Heritage have been a blessing to Reggae since they first graced the scene in the late 90's. With an array of influences ranging from Bob Marley and Peter Tosh to Green Day and Whitney Houston,...

This right here is the first interview I'd ever done. Never even interviewed an artist from down the road or anything, straight in with one of my favourite artists at the time (and to this day). It was the night of Chris Rock's show that I had booked after missing out on the first 5 dates, so there wasn't anyway I could be late (missed the opening act though) nor could I turn the interview down as it could have been my only chance. To make matters worse, the number I had to ring was missing a digit. You know what that calls (pun intended) for? Try every digit at the end! Coincidentally, when I got the phone call from PR, the number I tried was actually the correct number. But anyway, here it is: Tarrus Riley Interview 22/1/08 The title track, 'Parables', written by Tarrus on Max Romeo’s Three Blind Mice rhythm, cautions us to "read between the lines". Tarrus’s first cover song of John Legend’s, 'Stay With You”, will prove to be one of the perpetual cla...