Marvin Sparks

"What effect will afrobeats have on bashment?" Something I was asked recently. I've seen tweets like "bashment is dead now", "afrobeats  is  taking over", "I'm glad afrobeats has killed bashment" and "remember bashment?" So, I thought "Lemme weigh in on this". Haven't brought out the opinionated Marvin Sparks around here for a while so here he is... [please note: I said "the opinionated Marvin Sparks", meaning this is all my opinion based on my findings and observations. If you disagree, feel free to comment. I'll accept anything positive or negative. Tell me to suck any of my family members and it's a war ting though. Calm.] First and foremost, this is a stupid, premature debate, hence why I held back from entertaining it on Twitter. I've bitten the bait a couple of times to correct those who should know better, but kept quiet apart from that. Throughout this post I will demonstrate that...

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) ...

Previous post was about the effect of dancehall on the overground. I guess I could have worked it so we end on overground success, but I value underground over mainstream success. So in saving best 'til last, I'm talking about underground. Now if you've followed me for a bit, you'll know that people don't seem to understand the influence Jamaica has on the underground lineage. Obviously, those with sense know it, but I will explain it. Like the other genres I've written about, I'm not saying Jamaican music (or in this case, dancehall) is the only factor or they'd all sound exactly like dancehall. What has made UK excel at music over the generations has been mixing our various influences to create something unique. Many say our music isn't original because we just copy everything else, but I disagree. Our music is original, because we take influence from everything. Be it house, hip hop, r&b, soca or Jamaican music. I doubt there is anywhere i...

Today we talk Jamaica's influence on UK pop in the 21st century. Jamelia  roped in a little help from Beenie Man to get her first hit, a #5 in 2000 Shaggy - "It Wasn't Me" - best selling single in 2001. It still ranked #5 in the best-selling singles of this century in the chart released December 2011. That includes singles sold for 79p and benefit of reality TV shows. This along with fellow number 1 "Angel" were released on the diamond-certified (10 million albums worldwide)  Hotshot. American rock group No Doubt ventured to Jamaica to record their album Rocksteady . The well-received album spawned two dancehall-fused hits, Grammy award winning "Underneath It All" featuring Lady Saw and UK #2 "Hey Baby"featuring the unmistakable vocals of the poor people's governor, Bounty Killer . Australian actress/singer/siren Holly Valance climbed atop the UK charts in 2002 with the ultra sexy "Has she got on clothes? I'm...

So, I decided to take the day off yesterday. An opportunity to catch up. Omnibus type vibe. Saturday's post detailed Jamaica's pop invasion, so it's only right for me to talk about underground movements to mainstream success. Soul II Soul emerged during the eighties, seeing success right on the edge of the nineties (1989 to be precise), so I've put them here as it fits the theme of this post. Jazzie B-led production outfit sought session singers to vocal their reggae-infused soul and new jack swing riddims. One-time lovers rock singer, Caron Wheeler, featured on both of their big hits, "Keep On Movin'" and "Back to Life" which sky rocketed to the top of the pop charts. Both managed to cross the ocean too. Jazzie B credits his foundation in the sound systems and house party as a main inspiration for the whole Soul II Soul movement. Prominent bass line is a dead giveaway in "Back to Life". Soul II Soul's mission was to unite the...

Towards the latter stages of the 80s, a new movement occurring in Jamaica would later become the third and probably most influential generation of Jamaican music in the UK to this day. Not to discredit the previous two (ska and reggae), because there'd be no dancehall without them. Digital rhythms and re-licks of older riddims combined with the toasters of the day became sound of the youth. If ska is jovial, reggae is conscious Rasta, dancehall incorporated all those elements plus the rude boy.  A Jamaican rude boy is different to the UK rudies of the 80s. Generally speaking, a Jamaican rude boy comes from a harsh ghetto and generally braggadocios (Jamaicans say "boasty"). Be it the best lyrics, toughest guy, gets the most girls or bedroom prowess, these guys had it in abundance. The competitive element from previous generations sound clashes both before and after the DJ (toaster) "killed each other" lyrically speaking came out in songs a lot more. Dan...

Yesterday's post was about reggae's influence on punk rock. Post-punk genres in the late '70s/'80s still drew influences from Jamaican genres. I'll just take a bit of time out to post some examples. The Police  were another English rock band to successfully blend Jamaican elements with traditional rock music; be it a drum sequence, bassline and/or guitar stab with a lead guitar/keys and conventional rock arrangements. Lead vocalist and bassist  Sting  is quoted saying: "Bob Marley's singing had a great effect on me and I would cite Bob Marley as a major influence on The Police." [ source ] The white reggae band (or new wave) made explicit attempts like " So Lonely " [#6 in UK], " Can't Stand Losing You " [#2 in UK] or their first #1 " Walking on the Moon ". Ever wondered or thought Mary J. Blige ft. Common - " Dance For Me " sounds like reggae? Well, it's because it samples " The Bed's To...