Showing posts with label SATTA MAGGANA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SATTA MAGGANA. Show all posts
MEDICINE MAN PRESCRIBES SATTA MASSAGANA REBIRTH RIDDIM

MEDICINE MAN PRESCRIBES SATTA MASSAGANA REBIRTH RIDDIM

Artistes representing Jamaica, Belize, Trinidad, Argentina, USA, France, and Mexico were all brought together by Manatee Records President and CEO Calvin ‘Doc’ Flowers for a musical renaissance incorporating the iconic Satta Massagana riddim. 
 
Acknowledged as one of reggae’s greatest musical gems, the Satta Massagana – affectionately called the Satta – was originally recorded in March 1969 at Studio One and has been re-recorded many times over the years. Roots reggae group The Abyssinians released Satta Massagana, one of the most respected roots-reggae albums, and 50 years later, the title track is firmly enshrined in Rastafari global culture. In the ‘90s, Manatee Records released their first rendition of the Satta, and Flowers said the riddim was even blessed by none other than Bernard Collins of the original Abyssinians.
 
With this newest project, his second spin around the Satta track, the CEO, who is actually a medical doctor by profession and born in Belize, is reintroducing his label in a huge way after a two-decade absence from the riddim-driven album-production scene. Manatee Records’ last such project was the Virus Riddim album in the year 2000. Flowers, a music aficionado, established his label in 1992 and has been fully involved with the reggae and hip hop music community in Chicago, where he is based. He has recorded and marketed many of the top-selling reggae artistes, and his rich catalogue includes over 400 reggae titles. The reggae-loving medicine man admits that he is happy with the reception of ‘Satta Massagana Rebirth Riddim’, which was released in April.
Flowers has high hopes for the project and has secured intense media coverage in France, Africa, and Canada. In fact, he is so inspired that he is even considering doing a deluxe and releasing his first version of the Satta as well. “The songs are well written and bring positive messages of introspection, peace, and love to all,” he said.

An avid supporter of the many Afro-Caribbean music festivals for the past 40 years, including the Chicago Music Awards and the Festival of Life, Flowers has many fascinating tales about quirky coincidences that paved the path to this rhythmical renaissance. It involves meeting up back with persons he didn’t even know were part of the original production or who have worked with his musical partner on other projects in Jamaica while he was in Chicago.

“I had sent the riddim to Don Yute and didn’t hear back from him. Seven months later, I called, and he said, ‘Father Doc, mi nuh get nuh riddim from yuh’. I sent it back, and then I get a call from Sandy, who I haven’t heard from in 27 years. She got my number from Don Yute, and we rekindled that working relationship. I reached out to another artiste, and he said, ‘Talk to my manager. He’s in Canada.’ And then he told me that he was a young DJ spinning music when my Virus riddim was released in 2000. I had no idea of that connection,” he said.

But balancing out the highs of reunions is an unexpected loss. Gilbert Alamilla, also known as Mr Program, one of Belize’s young rising reggae stars, was stabbed to death in October in Belize City in what was described as a “bizarre incident”. Mr Program, who was known for the song See I Rise, had recorded his song on the Satta Rebirth [riddim] shortly before he died. “His death came as a shock to all of us. His song is titled My Religion, and we are humbled [by] his song. See I Rise was a hit throughout the Caribbean and the United States, and Mr Program was expected to go far musically,” the Manatee Records CEO said.

For Flowers, the Satta rebirth is a global call for giving back to the youth of today, and he is still revelling in a teaching moment when he brought the riddim to the attention of the younger artistes. “Some of them had never heard it before, and it was a moment just to see and hear their response,” he recalled.

The ‘Doc’ sees it as significant that the ‘Satta Massagana Rebirth Riddim’ is led by the mystic who wears the title of France’s most popular Jamaican singer, Winston McAnuff. Armageddon is the standout track from the veteran reggae artiste who Flowers said appreciated hearing the new rendition of the Satta. It is quite a family affair for the McAnuffs on this riddim. His son, Ishmel, one of France’s reggae stars, and his daughter, Nadia, also represent. Ishmel’s song, Who Build These Guns, features his sister Nadia, who is described as “a powerful dub vocalist”.

Repping for Jamaica are dancehall artiste Don Yute with No Stopping Me; TeearDropz, whose song Wake Up List is being embraced by radio in Jamaica; and Ras Ash 1st with the song Slave Trade. Trinidad’s Jah Defender is on the album to Chant Dem Down, and Belizean artistes include Drivah, Jah Art, Mikey Lion, and Shawn Adaan, as well as Belizean-American Kmino Contigo.

From Argentina hails Rastafarian star Fidel Nada. There is the Mexican-American artiste Sgt Remo, and Jah Myhrakle and CK Pragmatic, formerly known as Cement Kidd from the early ‘90s when he was signed to Manatee Records, both represent New York. YoungWildApache, the youngest artiste on the riddim, has a collab with Sasha Musiquee, the title of which – Nice Again – sums up the reaction to the Satta Rebirth.

MANATEE RECORDS NEW RELEASE CENTERS ON THE REBIRTH OF THE SATTA MASSAGANA RIDDIM, AS A GLOBAL CALL FOR GIVING BACK TO  THE YOUTHS OF TODAY

MANATEE RECORDS NEW RELEASE CENTERS ON THE REBIRTH OF THE SATTA MASSAGANA RIDDIM, AS A GLOBAL CALL FOR GIVING BACK TO THE YOUTHS OF TODAY

US-based independent label Manatee Records will be rolling out the reggae-powered 'Satta Massagana' rhythm in April
 
The project features a global contribution of various artists from Jamaica, Belize, Trinidad, Argentina, USA, France and Mexico. The artists representing Jamaica are led by veteran and known reggae icon Winston McAnuff who is a global reggae star and who has been the European bridge and reason for most if not all of the reggae iconic placements throughout Europe beginning with the music throughout France, England, Belgium and Germany. 
Artists such as Sly and Robbie and the originators of what is reggae currently as well as many other artists from the days of Ska are those indebted to Winston for the connectivity of Jamaican music in France, England and Germany. Other artists in the Jamaican contingent include 90’s dancehall star Don Yute with his song “No Stopping Me”, TeearDropz who has ben revving up his songs throughout the years with his hit single “Wake Up List” is receiving major attention on the airwaves throughout Jamaica as well as another rising star Ras Ash 1st with his rendition of “Slave Trade”, have contributed to this major project for bringing peace back into our streets and communities. 
The artist YoungWildApache and the youngest artist on the riddim, who is a fast rising dancehall artist in Jamaica currently , relates to his song ft Sasha Musiquee with “Nice Again” which demonstrates that the riddim has brought back musical memories across all ages as he explained that his inspiration or the song came from growing up when all the current superstars were on their trek to greatness who,ke he was a young teenager in Jamaica. Ishmel McAnuff, one of France’s reggae superstars, is the French contingent on the Satta Massagana Riddim Album which celebrates world peace. His input to the reggae community in France has been a historical position and has blessed the album with his song “Who Build These Guns”, referring to youth violence globally. His long history of appreciation of reggae music has positioned him along with his drive of reaching back to the youths and artists who are now producing new angles of such impacting music from his homeland Jamaica. 

The Belizean artists include, Drivah ft Bastic with “Road”, Jah Art “Hail Rastafari”, Mikey Lion “Wroo Oh Oh Oh” and Shawn Adaan “Bawl” make the album a treasure with their input. Fidel Nadal , Argentinian star rastafarian with his song “Mucho Por Hacer”, which translates there is much to do in our communities and what he exemplifies with all his communal love for music throughout South and Latin America as well as throughout Europe. Sgt Remo, who is Mexican-American puts an emphasis on the production with his rendition of what we need in the world today to “Hear The Trumpets Blow” which adds a flair to the album. 
 

Jah Myhrakle’s “Weh Manna Seh'' is again words connected to the rastafraian faith as he represents the United States along with CK Pragmatic formerly known as Cement Kidd from the early 90’s when he was signed to Manatee Records, Jamaica with his song “Alive” adds the Belizean American in Jah Myhrakle as well as the Jamaican-American in Pragmatic who both represent the city of New York, the melting pot for many west indians in the united states. Kmino Contigo with his Belizean-american roots, has given the album a millennial’s view of the struggles in our communities with his song “Always''. 

Finally Mr. Program, one of Belize’s young rising reggae stars, emotionally provided his song on the Satta Massagana Rebirth Riddim, just prior to being killed in the streets of Belize but we are humbled with praises for his song “My Religion”. "I'm getting a lot of positive feedback about this project. With the right promotion, these songs will do well both locally and overseas," Manatee Records President/CEO Calvin 'Doc' Flowers said. "The title of the project translates from the Amharic language as 'He Gave Praise', and with this project, I am honouring the spirit of that argument, by giving praise." He added, "The original Satta Massagana has even been adopted by some Rastafarian groups as a hymn used during services, so this project means a lot to me. The songs are well written and bring positive messages of introspection, peace and love to all." Flowers has been involved in the music community in Chicago since his arrival from his native country of Belize. Satta Massagana is the title track of a roots-reggae album of the same name by The Abyssinians. The rhythm itself has been re-recorded several times over the years. Manatee Records released a rendition of the Satta Massagana in early 90’s and the riddim was blessed by Bernard Collins and Manning from the original Abyssinians and one of the only labels to have received that verification of the riddim.

The standout song which is being played on Irie-FM, Mello, Zip-FM and Sun City stations in Jamaica as well as a host of other stations in the USA, Africa and the Caribbean is “Wake Up List” by TeearDropz. This song is inspired by the knowledge that life is the greatest, whenever you rise, you have it all, you're rich. The song has also received praise from Bobby Konders , top reggae DJ in New York and the Massive B movement. 

Winston McAnuff’s “Armageddon” is another standout track from the veteran and iconic reggae artist who appreciated hearing the new rendition of the Satta as we all know. Another stand out song is Ras Ash's 1st “Slave Trade”, which not only looks at the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and its lingering effects, but also focuses on the need for the loving kindness and mercies of Jah. Flowers has high hopes for the project given the early buzz.

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