Moving 2 the Top

click to hear the new album

After a pre-launch in Kingston, Abijah's new album "Moving 2 the Top" is being cycled to the U.S. press  - with plans to hit Radio next - and lining up European & Pacific distribution. The album captures some of Abijah's top singles, as well as some of his newer compositions. The rest of 2008 will feature more roll-outs, including advertising in print media (including the Reggae Festival Guide) and online (via BigUp Radio, and other sites). The album follows a pre-release tour, and will be generating interest in return engagements. Scroll down for the full Press Release...

* = recommended, best picks for Radio play (the rest are excellent as well, but are also good sit-back & chill tunes)

* 1. Moving 2 the Top is a flemenco-tinged dancehall rhythm, enjoining: “they can do it, we can too, let’s get together cause it’s alright, world!”
* 2. Where has the Love Gone (featuring Smoke Bulga) - a pumping beat with a guest hip hop artist - a peppering call to conscience.
*  3. Tribute is based on Marvin Gaye’s “Abraham, Martin, and John,” and likewise laments the too-soon departure of Reggae heroes Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, and Joe Higgs.
* 4. Lovin’ Girl - a true Lover’s Rock anthem akin to the best of the 70’s & early 80’s.
    5. Heaven Knows, another love song with an original feel arranged by Dalton Browne and Abijah.
    6. Be Happy is a lounge tune offering serious advice about cheer in the face of hardship.
* 7. Overcome (featuring Tevin Campbell) invokes MLK’s message: “we shall overcome,” with R&B crooner in a duet that works particularly well in the song’s music video on YouTube.
* 8. State of Emergency is akin to the best modern roots anthems, calling attention what we’re living in today.

* 9. Nah Give Up - a message to the youths: keep the faith, on Calibud’s classic remake of the “Forever Loving Jah” rhythm.
* 10. Swept Away was the title of this album's pre-release title, it  hails from the Lustre Kings camp, and is a call to awe before the natural wonders of God's majesty.
    11. Music & Me - adapted from a classic remade by the young Michael Jackson, it explores the life-long friendship which develops between an artist and his music.
* 12. Be My Love - is a sexy reminiscence of Sade with a driving, but romantic lilt.
   13. Bad Boyz, an ode to gangsters, has all the immediacy of a car chase or bar room brawl.
* 14. Rasta Love came out through Lustre Kings as well, on their Red Razor rhythm, which advises we “seek Rastafari Love…no more fussing nor fighting…”
* 15. Sun is Shining - this remake of Bob Marley’s soothing, feel-good tune underscores the vocal similarity between Abijah and his relative, the King of Reggae (it reached the European charts in its own right).
    16. I Surrender is a traditional gospel anthem delivered with the church-based Positive Entertainment Choir, and as powerful as any such reverence song.
    17. My Best laments that sometimes our own standards might not be good enough, and in his humility, Abijah asks: “forgive me.”
*   18. Revelation remix (featuring Beenie Man) reinvents the original, which went straight to #1 in Jamaica, and has new life with the dancehall legend’s duet. See the original video on YouTube.
    19. No More War captures some of Abijah’s energetic stage power (from Island Fest), recorded with his touring band Dub Station. This ending track is only a hint of what’s to come “to a dance hall near you,” and through future releases.

Official Press Release by Fly On The Wall Media

ABIJAH: Marvin meets Martin Luther in Kingston, “Overcome” Boundaries with Music

At a time when the hammering dancehall beat has all but drowned out the traditional skank - and angry voices shout homophobic rants - comes a voice with positive messages: modern and distinctive, but steeped in Reggae’s tradition, drawing on R&B, roots, soul and world flavors.

Abijah’s international flair is exemplified by the flamenco-tinged title track of his new album, Moving to the Top released originally by Azion Music on April 20, 2008. It reveals again his penchant for combining the old and the new. Abijah’s efforts to “move to the top” are about picking up the torch and continuing the work of waning generations of Reggae legends (the recent passing of Culture’s Joseph Hill, Lucky Dube, and now Mikey Dread come to mind). Abijah’s seen it all, starting in his childhood, tapping out percussion with his father’s seminal group: The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari.

The songs on this album were road-tested as Abijah toured over 30 cities, live and with a pre-release (called “Swept Away”). At the Kingston launch party at the close of ‘07, MC Tony Rebel (artist and founder of the world-famous Rebel Salute festival) and Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell one of  Abijah’s producers (the force behind the rise of Luciano and Sizzla) were in the house. Abijah also showcases his own production skills with this new album, alongside fellow-producer and instrumentalist: Gibby (Peter Tosh’s guitarist). The day after the launch, Abijah and his touring band Dub Station performed live on TV from the National Arena for all of Jamaica.

 Jamaicans gave Abijah his moniker “Ambassador of Peace” for his work promoting One Love philosophies before thousands of kids in the island school system, as well as abroad, including at Native American reservations, prisons, and by invitation to Harvard and Oxford Universities.

Bringing back the acoustic feel of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” with his own #1 hit “Revelation” (on his first, VP Records’ release), Abijah has reinvented his own song with a “Revelation remix” featuring dancehall’s premier legend Beenie Man. Marvin Gaye’s “Abraham, Martin, and John” (lamenting the loss of Lincoln, King, and Kennedy) is recast in Abijah’s “Tribute,” where he reflects on the passing of Reggae roots progenitors Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and Joe Higgs. MLK’s own words “we shall overcome” are echoed in the song “Overcome” (alongside R&B crooner Tevin Campell).

Motown, Marvin Gaye, Jackson Five… musicians learn from each other no matter where you’re from. Friends visited Marley and he was listening to the Bee-Gees! When asked why, Bob said ‘they do so well, I’m listening to see why.’ I try to be like a sponge, to learn, absorb, be open... Other artists are a big influence on me, music’s not about where you’re from, no limits or boundaries, it's not about religion, politics, or the color of your skin, music is given to each and all of us. -- Abijah

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Merch Sponsor - ArtShirt Co

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Our Newsletter Service - a standout worth checking

Press section of Reggae4i.com, where our newsletters are archived & listed by category

For several years now, we've been sending out newsletters. It began as a way to pitch artists & events we were sponsoring. Now it's developed into more of an art form, with much more potential than the one-liner: "listen to this singer" or "come to this show," which most promotion is limited to being.

Fact is, more people open newsletters than might buy an album or go to a show. The newsletter itself becomes a destination and a commodity, something of value. Essentially, it's an online or emailed magazine.

There are other newsletters out there, and e-blast promotion companies doing excellent work. Every service has its strengths & limitations. We're working on some improvements down the line, as we are to our home site www.Reggae4i.com. We pride ourselves, however, in what we do right, focusing on what we CAN do, not what we can't.

One thing we definitely do, is "clean" our list of bad e-ddresses. We also add new names to make up for lost contacts. Most importantly, we categorize our recipients by state and other criteria, which enables the fine tuning of who gets which email. The last thing we want is to overload your inbox.

We have a Singers & Players newsletter, which goes only to Artists; the DJ's Selectors' Choice; an Artist Spotlight, which goes to our entire Global list; and various Regional lists to choose from. We still promote the artists & venues we work with most closely, and have some sponsors, but we're looking to expand our service to welcome NEW sponsors.

So if you or someone you know is interested in promoting one of the project types listed above - be it a band, venue, festival, organization, or brand of any kind - please don't hesitate to be in touch. You can click below for samples, or email us at ReggaePR@aol.com.

Hear & Buy the new Abijah CD on iTunes

Although also carried by Ernie B's, and in the process of further distribution internationally, "Moving 2 the Top" has been made available on iTunes, for listening & purchase. There's something on the album for every type of listener. Check it out and also feel feel free to Reply with feedback.

Radio people: scroll down and visit Abijah's AirPlay Direct page, where you can download MP3's & WAV files directly - and for free - for your broadcasting convenience.

"Moving 2 the Top" CD on iTunes

Abijah performing live in Boston, Memorial Sunday, May 25th

click for more info on the Bill's Bar date & schedule

One of the most dynamic artists to hit the stage of this legendary venue (which has also featured the likes of Junior Kelly, the Itals, and Everton Blender), Abijah is making his first U.S. appearance of 2008 on Memorial Day Sunday, May 25th. Last he came through to a packed house on Valentine's Day weekend, 2007 (previously graced by England's Peter Hunnigale).

 photo: Rototom Festival in Europe

Whereas many artists are mixing track dates with live dates, Abijah always appears with a full band, doing a full 90-minute set. Sharing the stage, doing his own high-energy performance, will be Jus Goodie. A headliner in his own right, Goodie's toured with Sugar Minott, Junior Toots, and Winston Jarrett.

Backing Abijah - as they did most recently in Jamaica (and previously, on a 20-city West Coast/Hawaiian tour) - will be the Dub Station band, award-winners and previous touring band to Richie Spice, Frankie Paul, and Shinehead.

Abijah wins AirPlay Direct Contest

Abijah's AirPlay Direct DPK, for the public, radio, and booking agent

Hosting more than 10,000 artists and delivering broadcast quality songs & electronic press kits (DPK's) - free to performers & radio - AirPlay Direct is at the forefront of what the Internet has to offer Artists.

Nearly every month, a new genre hosts a contest, in which AirPlay Direct client bands submit their own DPK's for review by a professional board of sponsors.

 photo: Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

The first ever "All Things Digital Reggae & World Music Contest" drew a number of contestants, from which Abijah was selected as the most outstanding and "ready" artist capable of benefiting from the push & accolade of the victory.

about this newsletter & KRucial promotions

We are in the business of connecting Artists & Audiences. Check our Newsletter service explained to the left. We transmit almost weekly - always on topic & region specific - to our entire list of nearly 8000 recipients (or subsets thereof). We focus on readability & content, and have less than a 1% unsubscribe rate, so people are happy to recieve our NL's, as we call them.

Our home web site of www.Reggae4i.com (click link below) gets upwards of 10,000 visitors monthly, and is about to unveil a substantial overhaul, not only in terms of being up to date with the latest Internet protocols (older sites will become less managable if they don't switch over), but in terms of functionalilty. Our store has been problematic for years, and we're hoping to fix those bugs. We can now have a wider home page, which will allow for at least 6 banners, which we'll be populating with products & services we want to draw special attention to.

Also, and most importantly, we assist artists get their  name & image (and music!) out there, as in the case of Abijah, above. We provide Management & PR Consulting limited only by the artists' vision and capacity to fulfill their dreams. By combining our own promotional efforts with theirs, we're best able to stay in the business and service all comers, the media and fans particularly.

So if you'd like to reach our audience or utilize our services, be in touch at ReggaePR@aol.com. Also, please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested, or forward us their email addresses, so we may keep them in the loop as well.

KRucial Promotions' home site: Reggae4i.com

ARTISTS COME IN FREE - FANS BY DISCOUNT & VIP - but you have to email us by the day before

Don't miss this 1-time event NEXT Wednesday (4/9), early night, unique format!

Two cities away from Bill's Bar is one of the premier live clubs in the area - Johnny D's in Somerville - where Blues legends & world beat acts are standard fare. What we're trying to do is actually get away from the club scene - bands and DJ's per se - and have a mellower night focusing more on what's behind the music than the music itself: have a sort of meet & greet with one another. Though music will definitely play!

On Wednesday, April 9 KRucial Reggae presents a showcase (see the flyer above, and around town) of talent & reasonings to span from acoustic performances to a multi-media presentation by internationally renowned photographer Peter Simon (co-author of Reggae Bloodlines, Reggae International, AND most recently: The Reggae Scrapbook, which he's put out with Bob Marley expert & archivist Roger Steffens. 

This night is REALLY gonna start early (they serve dinner from 5pm) - with the main presentation starting between 9 & 10pm - so don't be late!

The program's looking like this: music will begin over the speakers before 9pm, with a mix specially selected by KRucial Reggae to reflect some of the original legends we hardly here out anymore: Culture, Israel Vibration, Bob Marley in Dub, etc. There will be introductions by MC NoCi, and native Spanish (and English) speaker  Roberto Gell is gonna play guitar with some thought-provoking lyrics in anticipation of his Bill's Bar show coming up 4/13 (see listing to the right). Then comes Peter Simon's PowerPoint presentation, with Q&A, followed by a musical performance by roots singer-songwriter Tom O'Brien, alongside members of Dub Station. Strong Tree Sound, UK & Dub specialist, will spin out the night, which closes at 1am.

If you or someone you know has any ideas on how to make this night even more unique, or are interested in making an appearance on this night (even as a discounted guest) be in touch. The program is still evolving (but will be finalized over the next few days). Call 617-771-5119, or email ReggaePR@aol.com.

COMING UP IN MAY at BILLS BAR BOSTON (Reggae Sundays calendar continued)...

Sunday, May 4: the Berklee Bob Marley Ensemble, featuring director Matt Jenson, is a 14-piece starship of the music college's finest, with a full horn section (and custom-written horn parts Bob hadn't thought of yet). Jenson is also known for his Acid Reggae project and his Marley, latin-style Rebel Tumbau, which is gonna break to the general public later this year.

REST OF MAY: potential shows with Majek Fashek on Mothers Day & Abijah on Memorial Day Sunday.

some background on this newsletter & our promotions

We mostly promote Bill's Bar Sundays, but if hired to do so, we'll promote other events. In the case of next week's evening at Johnny D's, we consider it a complementary show, a part of the synergy we're trying to foster in the scene. These newsletters themselves are essentially a king of news magazine, not just a promotional outlet for shows. That's why we'll occasionally bring you special interest stories, or represent other sponsors we think might be of mutual interest.

If you have an artist or DJ you'd like to be featured on any event (or newsletter), also drop us a line. We're reaching 1600-8000 people every time we hit Send. Our contact # is 617-771-5119 and our best email is ReggaePR@aol.com. 

KRucial Reggae home site Reggae4i.com

Bills Bar Boston Schedule

Full Schedule, Directions, etc. on Bill's Bar Boston

Every Sunday night, KRucial Reggae hosts a band and/or DJ at 5 Landsdowne St. (off Kenmore Square, across from Fenway Park). There's ample parking and it's 21+.

REVIEWS - starting now. We're gonna try to review each show, to let you know how it went (fan reviews are welcome, too). DJ Quinton's night got off to a slow start, but as the audience poured in, his fellow radio station DJ's came in, and it turned out not to be the solely Soca night I was expecting. There was a LOT of variety, mostly Reggae & Dancehall, but creative, good stuff. And the Soca was damn good, even for Reggae lovers. Quinton's been doing better, every time he comes through, and we're glad to have him in our DJ spotlight series...

end of March into April

Sunday, April 6: Luv Bug Movements, all-female team responsible for bringing up Ras Ghandi for a show earlier this month

 Sunday, April 13: Roberto Gell & the Midnight Ravers band - delivering original roots reggae from projects that span the country (here to LA), alongside new sound: DJ Humble Son.

Sunday, April 20: Bostons' Official 420 Party w/ DJ Bud E.  Green!!
Celebrate the High Grade Holiday w/ Bostons' Greenest selector Bud E. Green.
1st 100 people receive a FREE copy of the new mix CD " Head Case" from Bud E. Green. Sponsored by thesmokedepot.com


 Sunday, April 27: from BERMUDA: McCannon Cassidy and The HomeGrown Band here for one date only before their whole-summer stint in Bermuda. This high energy dancehall group features a singjay performing the latest dancehall hits and his own original lyrics. They've opened for all the big names and backed a number as well.

Moving 2 the Top

After a pre-launch this fall in Kingston - and in anticipation of the official release date this spring - we have made Abijah's long-awaited second album "Moving 2 the Top" available on iTunes, check out our track descriptions!

1. Moving 2 the Top is a flemenco tinged dancehall rhythm with a positive message "they can do it, we can too, let's get together cause it's alright, world!"
2. Where has the Love Gone (featuring Smoke Bulga) is another pumping beat with a bonified hip hop artist peppering this call to conscience.
3. Tribute is based on Marvin Gaye's "Abraham, Martin, and John," and likewise laments the too-soon departure of Reggae heroes Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, and Joe Higgs.
4. Lovin' Girl is a true Lover's Rock anthem akin to the best of the 70's & early 80's
5. Heaven Knows, another love song with an original feel Dalton Browne arranged with Abijah.
6. Be Happy is a lounge tune who's fluff covers serious advice about cheer in spite of hardship.
7. Overcome (featuring Tevin Campbell) invokes MLK's message: "we shall overcome," with R&B crooner in a duet that works particularly well in the song's music video on YouTube.
8. State of Emergecy works like the best modern roots anthems, calling attention what we're living in today.
9. Nah Give Up is a message to the youths, to keep the faith, on Calibud's classic remake of the "Forever Loving Jah" rhythm.
10. Swept Away was the original title of this album, in its pre-release format - hails from the Lustre Kings camp - and is a call to awe in the works of The Almighty.
11. Music & Me, adapted from an old song remade by the young Michael Jackson, is a walk through the livelong friendship between an artist and sound itself.
12. Be My Love is a sexy reminisce of Sade with a driving but romantic lilt.
13. Bad Boyz, an ode to gangsters, has all the immediacy of a car chase or bar room brawl.
14. Rasta Love came out through Lustre Kings as well, on their Red Razor rhythm, which advises we "seek Rastafari Love," there's nothing like it!
15. Sun is Shining - what can we say - this remake of Bob Marley's soothing feel good tune underscores the vocal similarity between Abijah and his relative, the King of Reggae (and it reached the European charts in its own right).
16. I Surrender is a traditional gospel traditional delivered with the church based Positive Entertainment Choir.
17. My Best laments that sometimes our own standards might not be good enough, and in his humility, Abijah asks: "forgive me."
18. Revelation remix (featuring Beenie Man) reinvents the original track (click here to see the original music video on YouTube), which went straight to #1 in Jamaica, and now has a new life with the dancehall legend that gives it just the right treatment to freshen its delivery to the now generation.
19. No More War captures some of Abijah's stage power (from Island Fest), which only seeing him live can do true justice to. In fact, his touring band Dub Station is on a bunch of stage show recordings. This ending track is only a hint of what's to come "to a dance hall near you," and in future releases.

Reminder to RAW members

If you're a member of RAW, ro Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide (click the link to find out more, or go to the MySpace link below), don't forget to send in your election ballot. KRucial Reggae has been working closely (as an organizational consultant & member) with RAW to attract nominees to the new Board, as set up by the group's new ByLaws.

Every member got a ballot by mail, and should fill it in & mail it in to Tom Pearson, 911 Marine Corps Drive, in Tumon Bay, Guam, 96913. They're due mid-January; and the first Annual Board meeting (for the now 15 year-old non-profit networking organization) will be in mid-March.

new Reggae Scrapbook another landmark

“If Bob Marley is Jesus in these times, then Roger Steffens is Peter.”  ─ Carlos Santana

“Peter Simon is a magician, capturing moonbeams in his hand and lens. Most of the world’s thrilling places elude their documentarians. But Peter’s body of work is a voyage to all the places he has seen and been, in all their mystery and enchantment.” ─ Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America

"The Reggae Scrapbook is a time capsule capturing the evolution of reggae culture." - Ryan Hohn, Buzz Magazine

Historical witnesses to the unfolding Reggae legacy, Roger Steffens (founding editor of BEAT Magazine; author of Bob Marley & the Wailers: the ultimate discography) and Peter Simon (Carly's brother, and co-author of the seminal tracts "Reggae Bloodlines" of 1977 & Reggae International, 1983) have teamed up to deliver this generation's ultimate review of the genre from its start. Thousands of photos, interviews and testimonials by artists themselves (Forward by Toots Hibbert included), as well as pop-out and pasted in reproductions of vinyl, tickets, set lists, etc. make this an impeccably complete archive of memorabilia more personal than a reference book. Hopefully, it will spark a whole new wave of interest in the roots of this great music!

Reggae Scrapbook [ISBN-13:978-1-933784-23-6] is published by Palace Press/Insight Editions in association with Roots Of Peace who is committed to plant two trees for each tree used in the production of the Reggae Scrapbook, which sells for $45US.

PS: in it's list of key web sites, KRucial Reggae's own Reggae4i.com (as well as colleagues BigUp Radio) site is listed, which is a good thing, and further illustrates how new standard bearers are supporting the Roots' survival into the new millennium.

merch sponsor

Whether you're screen printing, doing embroidery, or building signs and banners, we've worked with the likes of popular band '311' and audio aficionados 'Bose' - so we know the industry's needs and interests. Visit our web site and give us a call, let us show you the ArtShirtCo difference: call 617-625-2636 or visit www.artshirtco.com

venue sponsor

THIS Sunday (12/23): from Vibe 105, DJ Quinton celebrates the Holidays!

NEXT week, 12/30: a New Year's Eve Eve (yes the night before the Eve itself) Celebration with the DUB STATION band, featuring Dion Knibb, with new repertoire, including Tarrus Riley and DeVille tunes; with Tom O'Brien delivering an opening Roots set and pre & post juggling by a special DJ tba.

Bill's Bar Boston (doors at 10pm, 21+) is located across from the Red Sox World Series Winners' Fenway Park, at 5 Landsdowne Street, and has been hosting Reggae Sundays continuously since 1995.

KRucial on MySpace

KRucial Reggae MySpace link

Just set up, this new concept reps us more like a label. Songs featured are by Abijah, Tom O'Brien, and Sonbeam - 3 of the already larger roster of artists we represent. Acts we plan to begin showcasing include Jus Goodie, Shaka Black, and Mykal Somer.

Our plan is to introduce the friends we've made through our individual artists' page to the group of acts, and to attract new listeners to all.

Click on the iTunes graphic above, to see Abijah on iTunes

Hear and/or Buy this CD on iTunes

GET the WHOLE ALBUM now on iTunes (19 tracks) it's AVAILABLE for JUST $9.99!!!

Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift or some new tunes for 2008, now's your chance to click through to iTunes and check out this first full album posting for Abijah on the digital mega-store everyone's talking about.

Ernie B's on board with international distribution

The world's biggest wholesaler & retailer of Reggae is glad to've picked up this latest capture of Abijah's broad talent, which they make available along with thousands of other titles, internationally.

KRucial multi-artist AirPlay

KRucial Reggae AirPlay Direct link

As part of our enduring commitment to get our acts' new music heard, the KRucial Agency has spearheaded a collaborative approach to reaching Radio.

While individual acts have their own ways of reaching the airwaves, KRucial is combining their efforts to deliver multiple artists' current recordings directly to Radio, where bonified DJ's can download broadcast-quality MP3 & WAV files FREE of charge, to share with their audiences. So even if you're not a DJ, you can visit this page and get a sense periodically of what we're promoting at the time.

This same page can be (and has been) converted to a digital press pac (DPK) for easy delivery to our network of booking agents and promoters, as all "our" artists are available for stage shows and tours for 2008. Call now - at 617-771-5119 (or email ReggaePR@aol.com) - for promotion, booking, and more information.

KRucial CONTACT

Check out our new Blog on why Reggae is uniquely set to contribute to world changes, but its ranks could always step up their game in lending a hand to bringing about a Better World. KRucial Reggae is committed not only to advancing a musical agenda, but also one of positive social evolution towards greater tolerance and understanding: One Love in manifestation, not only gestation.

This content-rich KRucial Newsletter (or eMag) is now going out to over 7800 recipients worldwide. Our website: Reggae4i.com, is frequented by 9400 visitors (sessions) monthly, and is constantly being redesigned to provide more features and deliver better service to our clients and fans alike. We print thousands of flyers for the shows we produce.

KRucial Reggae is about connecting Reggae enthusiasts and turning folks on to new music in our vital community.

If you would like to hire the KRucial Agency to broaden your exposure, or in a management consulting capacity, please call 617-771-5119 or email us at ReggaePR@aol.com.