H IDEO th PolyGramVideo SrParty BMG Video IOOTIN' FOR 4GC« Has reggae finally got the financial clout that wili create long-term, big-selling artists? lan McCann reports 12 YEARS OF BRITISH REGGAE INDUSTRY AWARDS - the first time a major had undertaken suchIn Britain, a task reggae's since Island recent in the runaway Seventies. suc- Barely a year later, club movers Andy OrganisedThe British byReggae former Industry Radio LondonA/VNK Awards is the DJ longest Tony runningWilliams event and sponsored of ils type in by the Kiss UK. FM, Island cess can be attributed to a combinatior Weatherall and Paul Oakenfold - wit- Records, The Voice and Eehoes, this year'sceremony.attheBrixton Academy on June 11. of Sony's commitment and rap and :Hall PolyGramVideo nessing the slowing down of Aciieeeed! Chakafeatures Demus an impressive & Pliera andline-up Radio of artists. One FM's DJs, The sound Man Systems Ezeke. and présentera such as Tippa Irie. quenlly,rave's search as the for poppier roots credibility.end of rave Conse- music wouldsedate be - reggae, guessed Now that it's 19911993 'sof coursesound who"The have aim yet is to to give receive reggae the respecta sense they of purpose deserve." and says help Williams. raise the profile of those British artists hasfinallyfoundlhespaihas grown increasingly slale" so ragga isand and at haslast "winedthe world and knows grined" who lo ShabbaShaggy indudeNot surprisingly Best Single, The Best BRI Album,Best Awards are Male/Femaleheavily weighted Singer, towards Best BritishDJ/MC, acts. Best The Sound 21 catégories System tive fun hits this year than Shaggy's 'Oh Walk PolyGram Video Levyand Best and Radiothe ubiquitous Sation. Fjome Shaggy grown are among talent like those Janet tipped Lee to Davis. pick up Peter a prize Hunnigale, in 1993. .General Carolina'. Snow has provided another irrésistibleBut how is soundit that such has anmanaged apparently to acceptablemusic sells inface British of reggae reggae - shopsallhough about his remainThe reggae so resistible business until no now? longer talks in lets.as much And aswhile Vanilla Louchie Ice's Lousells and in rap Michie out- whenterms ofproducer ragga or dancehall. Prince Jammy Since 1985, un- outlawSomething music, about invariably this thrilling, releé risque, Sugar'Good Mi Thing Going' for RCA in 1981. deadOne's ringerfor current 'Oh'Shout' Carolina', single it's may also be an a instantly-recognisableleashed 'Sleng Teng', based electronic round oneriff, from another planet as far as ShabbaRecognising Ranks thatreleased too many too much artists prod- like iatre popisatlastonitswayout record, partraggamuffin ofit. Until has then.blackkids been reggae, in not Britain just the majors were concerned. Greensleeves," Even ' uct on too many différent labels, Sony ofcurrent the ghetto. burst ofWhether popularity It can may sustain dépend ils musichad been that slowly couldn't drifting compete away with from the a establishedFashion, Charm and and well-known, Montana were they well- still shoolings,on how much sex theand bad the racialpublicity préjudice - fhe noisetough, of wild rap. and Aller thoroughly 'Sleng Teng', mechanical ragga labelfailed A&R to attracl departments. the attention of major i prospect'/thefirsttimeintheir of financial which blightrecord national company press attitudes reports to the - wasRagga the on/yblackushered in Brilish wild attitudes, youth music. bizarre whichIt was decided Sony Music'sto grasp theColumbia ragga nettle. label thelives, Wailing Shabba, Soûls Supercat, were only Mad too Cobra willing and I landscapeo. But andreggae has is the now financial part of themuscle pop dances, increasinglysn great groovesrevealing accompa- fashions, rapNoling in the the US, popularity it set up ofa reggaereggae-styled départ- aput position pen to to paper. start building Suddenly reggae Sony ca was in behindmight sell it torecords créa for years. of stars that SOUND CHECK - BUYERS' GUIDE TO REGGAE IN THE NINETIES BritishLOYERS youth -Aso culture. known At ilsas best, lovera lovera rock, is this a home-grown is the great tragedy mix of of reggae and soul that should really be outselling the likes of ) UNITE: immediately recognisable by an oflen hyperactive all-electronic rhythm Irack, often with a ska followingLuther Vandross among thoseand En who Vogue. go for Lovera romance still andretains the asort strong of i samplelalking eilher or a Tamla about Molown-stylehis girlfriend's drum bottom fill whenthrown she in. dancesInvariably or frontedhow he's by going a reggae-rapper lo deal with a(DJ) Smootheriale-night groove and far just less made roughneck for winding than ragga,up your the waist. best lovera | HIES AND educatedsound boy and (a rival), works a in ragga a posh record hi-fi shop.may also while involve his girtfriend a singer. is almostThe typical certainly ragga the fan one is well who buys Keyrecords arlisls feature such deceptively as Maxi Priest attacking (pictured and righl), alluring Gamett basslines. Silk, BUSINESS ail those "slack" records with the obscene lyncs, for slackness is aimed at a (emale audience. gagesPam Hall or smooth,and Gregory early-SOs Isaacs guys will who appeal find to soul lemales too American. with mort- ROOTS, NEW DUB, DUB - Basically the reggae that the punk REVIVE - The oldies market is supported by those reliving their youth, sound System opera- fansbeen championed updated with m 1977,electronic roots instruments reggae in the that Nineties don't sound has tors, or white coliedors paying huge prices for records that only sokf 35 copies when released OME: particularlythumping basslines electronic. and But mesmeric the emphasis echoing is still mixes. on heavy Among somein 1968. line US revive label onCDbulthe Heartbeat and staples France's are Essoldun Bob Martey, are Leeamong Perty those and who anything have onunearthed Studio One. the key artists are Augustus Pablo, very earty Aswad, Jah SENTIMENTAUMELLOW - This is reggae MOR for the old-al-heart. Soul-oriented, it has a .FUTURE? ■ alsoShaka, boasts Disciples, a good Dreadfanzine, & BoomshakalackaFred and Alpha & Oméga,(081543 Roots loyal following among Caribbean over-45s. Tim Chandell was the pioneer, while Owen Grey DJs0148), who support and many the independentmusic. black-aimed radio stations have Gardiner'sand Joyce Bond'I Want are To lavourites. Wake Up WithIt has You' also and delivered Judy Boucheris a few unlikely 'Can't crossover Be With hitsYou like Tonighr. Boris RM DANCEUPDATE9 PLEASE I 071 921 5939 liusic week 17 .