Newspaper Article

At Radio City Music Hall, A Happy Reggae Birthday

Wartofsky, Alona

2004

Overview

No less riveting was Beenie Man, who has left VP but whose hit singles regularly appear on the label's \"Strictly the Best\" compilation series. His latest crossover hit, \"Dude,\" set to an infectious rhythm track known as \"fiesta,\" is the first cut on \"Strictly the Best 31,\" and is looking to be this summer's jeep anthem. It's already at No. 3 on the playlist of influential New York hip-hop station Hot 97, and is climbing the Billboard charts. Beenie Man's set was all too brief -- he joined Tanto Metro and Devonte at the end of theirs, and was gone just a few short minutes later -- but when he got to \"Dude,\" the roar of the audience nearly drowned out his vocals. \"VP planted the seeds for reggae music, watered it, and it became a plant,\" said Sasha. \"Back in the day, reggae was Bob Marley. Now because of VP Records, reggae is not just Bob Marley anymore. It's Sasha, it's Sizzla -- it's all these artists. Now people can see that we definitely have that crossover potential.\" The evening wasn't strictly dancehall. The program opened with a moment of silence dedicated to legendary producer Clement Dodd, who died last week. (Dodd, known as \"Sir Coxsone,\" presided over the influential Studio One record label, whose roster included Bob Marley.) Marcia Griffiths, one of the original backup singers for Bob Marley and the Wailers, performed a brief set. Also on the bill was Morgan Heritage, consisting of the children of reggae singer Denroy Morgan and favoring the classic \"one-drop\" reggae sound. The band's set, which included a luminous \"Don't Haffi Dread,\" was one of several marred by a sound mix that was so bass- heavy that the vocals were barely audible.

• Publisher: WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post
• Subject: Beenie Man (Anthony Moses Davis) / Elephant Man (musician) / Lady Saw (Marion Hall) / Musical performances / Reggae / Sasha (musician) / Various artists