Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 7:00PM
Brooklyn-raised Rayvon has garnered success while affectionately being dubbed the “ambassador of Hip-Hop Reggae.” Having shared the stage with icons like The Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson, his pop-infused Caribbean flavor has paved the way for the next generation of Barbadian recording artists such as Rihanna. Although he might be best known for his work with multi-platinum selling vocalist Shaggy, Rayvon has had a bright and accomplished career as a solo singer. His Hip-Hop Reggae hit “No Guns, No Murder” is a chart success, ranking on Billboard‘s Hot 100, Rap Singles, and R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Rayvon’s released a self-titled album in 2011 and the single “Back It Up,” has garnered him an International Association of Independent Recording Artists (IAIRA) award with the song ranked at #1 on Indie-Music.com’s top 25 for 2011.
It is not by self-imposed accolades that Morgan Heritage are referred to as Reggae royalty, but rather from music lovers around the world who recognize their rich Reggae heritage and gift to Reggae music. From playing to hundreds of thousands of people in sold-out concerts throughout Europe, Africa and the Caribbean Islands, to numerous #1 hits internationally, Morgan Heritage have long ago cemented their name and stake in this industry. Their album, Here Come The Kings is will be released on June 4th.
Wayne Wonder broke into the Reggae mainstream with his cover of British heartthrob Rick Astley’s hit single “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Wonder’s career exploded globally in 2003 when his album No Holding Back and the single “No Letting Go” were released. The smooth single dominated Urban and Pop radio, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart in America and the album received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Reggae Album among other accolades. Wayne also anchored the hit track “Anything Goes” (w/ CNN: Capone & N.O.R.E and Lexxus) for the Def Jamaica compilation which received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Reggae Album.
Gareth Shelton a.k.a Red Fox was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica. While attending school, Red Fox honed his lyrical skills by performing at numerous concerts and parties held at different schools, impressing audiences with his flawless and creative lyrical delivery. At a tender age, Red Fox was laying the blueprint for the foundation of future and current Dancehall and Reggae artists. His latest single, “No Other Like You” is a collaboration with Barbados-born Rayvon.
Emerging from the gritty streets of Far Rockaway, NY, by way of Jamaica, RSNY was born when four friends combined their individual talents into one musical mega-force. Deeply rooted in their Jamaican culture, the group wanted to create music that was a reflection of who they are and where they’re from. RSNY’s mash-up of Reggae, Hip-Hop and R&B is far from a generic replica of Dancehall and Hip-Hop thrown together. In addition to their music, RSNY has also captivated audiences with their web based reality show, “Welcome to the Society” which chronicles the journey of these young artists on the rise.
Shaggy, the Jamaican-American pop singer and rapper is equipped with a commanding presence and a distinctive voice that is recognizable throughout the world because of his hit songs, “Angel” and “It Wasn’t Me.” With titles such as artist, businessman, philanthropist and GRAMMY Award winner, Shaggy has become an integral part of the music industry.
Part of SummerStage’s “This is __ Hip-Hop” series. (Source: SummerStage)