Citing a decline in dancehall music quality, Alfa Wraif conjured Island Romance, a new sound he believes will return the genre to global acceptance.
Island Romance is also the title of his pending EP which will introduce the sensuous beat which mainly targets women “who want to bask in the sensual and romantic vibe”.
Twilight, that project’s lead single, was recently released.
“I made the decision to create a new sound/genre in dancehall for two reasons. The first being, that we, the Jamaican artistes, were losing the creative variety that built our world-class audience,” said Alfa Wraif. “The trap sound became much too contagious as if we had nothing else to sing about as well as the vulgarity of the songs being produced about women. There wasn’t a middle ground,” he added.
The Westmoreland-born artiste also blames a perceived drop in standards for radio stations turning their backs on dancehall music. That is in contrast to the 1990s and early 2000s when several acts like Shabba Ranks, Mad Cobra, Sean Paul, and Shaggy made pop charts in the United States with a flurry of Top 10 songs.
Known for songs such as Money, Passion, and Summer Vybz, Alfa Wraif has been recording music for three years. He collaborated with Antropolita Beats, WLDN, Storm from Greenzlion Production, and Stillyet Productions to create Island Romance.
“The new direction is to balance the scale, avoiding the very oversight that caused the decline in dancehall music to never happen again. Adding the slower bedroom music for women who have been neglected in this area, I’d say is a more tentative and direct focus on what’s lacking in the genre.”
— Howard Campbell
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The documentary ‘Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story’ has been selected for the gala screening at the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival in September.
The film celebrates the life and legacy of Jamaican dancehall pioneer, Sister Nancy, whose 1982 hit ‘Bam Bam’ has become one of the most sampled reggae tracks of all time.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alison Duke, ‘Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story’ combines electrifying live performances with candid interviews featuring cultural icons such as Janelle Monáe, Young Guru, and Pete Rock.
The documentary also delves into rare archival footage of the early dancehall era, providing a powerful and comprehensive portrait of Sister Nancy’s influence in both reggae and hip hop.
Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, Mariel Brown, said the selection of ‘Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story’ for the gala was an easy choice.
“We want to celebrate the Caribbean in all its many forms and the song is such an anthem of the region. You play it anywhere in the Caribbean and people will know it, recognise it and feel it,” she said.
“The film helps us to know more about Sister Nancy, the creator – her life and her determination as a woman on the mike. It reveals what we have always known to be true, that Caribbean women have tenacity, strength and in the case of Sister Nancy, talent that transcends borders and time; we could not be happier to be showing, ‘Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story’,” she said.
Director Alison Duke expressed her excitement at the selection, saying it was an honour to bring ‘Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story’ to the Trinidad and Tobago film Festival.
Produced under the OYA Media Group banner by Duke and Ngardy Conteh George, the documentary has already made waves internationally, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. It continues to resonate with diverse audiences, from reggae and hip-hop fans to gamers and music lovers worldwide, underscoring the timeless appeal of Sister Nancy’s artistry.
Duke, a Canadian Screen Award-winning director, is celebrated for her distinctive storytelling in documentaries such as ‘Mr. Jane and Finch’ and ‘Cool Black North’. She has built a career championing under-represented voices and was recently honoured with the 2024 Hot Docs Don Haig Award.
Brown said that in addition to the screening, Duke will also be teaching a masterclass in making the documentary.
“We hope this masterclass will encourage our filmmakers to explore more stories of the musical genius and creative output of the Caribbean,” said Brown.
She said the gala screening promises to be one of the festival’s memorable events, pairing the inspirational story of a reggae icon with an afterparty that celebrates Caribbean music and culture.
The gala screening and afterparty will take place on Thursday, September 25, at IMAX in Woodbrook, Port of Spain. Tickets are now available via Island E-Tickets at islandetickets.com.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — International reggae artiste Marilana Ras Dumpling has tapped Khago’s 2 Time Riddim for the recording and release of Man of God.
Marilana's vocal delivery on the track is drawing widespread interest, leading to whispers that the song is being considered for a Grammy entry.
"This song is very close to my heart. It's about finding that true, positive masculine energy in the world, and I believe its message will resonate deeply,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
The official music video, which was shot in Jamaica, was released on August 6.
Marilana, who is originally from Long Island, New York USA says her return is rooted in giving back. She is a featured artiste at the recently held, inaugural Summer Break 2025 event in Portmore, Jamaica, specifically at the Watson Gold Youth Community.
This festival celebrates the youth and elderly, a cause deeply aligned with Clean Way Records Trademark’s ethos.
Since taking the helm of Clean Way Records, Marilana Ras Dumpling has carved out a significant niche as a startup indie label committed to supporting other artistes; fostering positive growth, and maintaining a respectable, legitimate brand within the challenging music industry. Her dedication to planting seeds of legitimate industry practice continues to inspire.
“The entire Clean Way Records family is optimistic for Man of God. The sheer strength of Marilana's artistry combined with the stellar production on the 2 Time Riddim makes it a contender for widespread recognition,” added a representative from her team.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Many aspiring dancehall artistes in the 1980s would point to the controversial Shabba Ranks or Ninjaman as their biggest influences, but Ricki Di Lova favoured fun-loving acts like Professor Nuts and Lieutenant Stitchie.
The Florida-based toaster pays homage to masters of the pun on Stand Pipe, his latest song. He produced it for his Turbulence Intl Productions.
Like his heroes, Ricki Di Lova revels in double entendre throughout the uptempo track. He said that with all the negatives associated with dancehall music, fans could do with a laugh.
“Too much dark songs inna di dancehall. We are already living in trying times. Stand Pipe brings a buzz! When di people hear it, dem get lively. It makes people feel good an’ stand up an’ rock!” he exclaimed.
Growing up in Kingston during the 1970s, Ricky Di Lova was used to hearing roots-reggae and hardcore dancehall songs on sound systems. Easy-listening singles by Carl Malcolm, Stanley Beckford or Ras Karbi got little attention.
That changed a decade later with songs like Inna di Bus by Professor Nuts and Wear yuh Size by Lieutenant Stitchie. They were not only popular in the dancehall, but gained steady radio rotation.
Ricky Di Lova believes Stand Pipe is just as versatile.
“This song is perfect for di summer and all-year long. Di riddim brings a get up an’ dance vibe an’ di lyrics are fun. I’m trying to bring some humour into dancehall so people can ‘fulljoy’ themselves,” he said.
— Howard Campbell
