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BOOK CLUB PICK: JIMMY CLIFF: A Life in Reggae and Resistance




Jimmy Cliff: A Life in Reggae and Resistance is the definitive portrait of one of the most influential and beloved figures in global music history. More than a biography, this book is a powerful, emotional journey through the life of a man whose voice helped shape reggae, whose courage inspired generations, and whose spirit continues to echo across the world.


From his humble beginnings in Somerton, Jamaica, to becoming a groundbreaking global star, Jimmy Cliff transcended borders and genres. His rise during the explosion of reggae in the 1960s and 1970s—alongside icons like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Toots Hibbert—changed the cultural landscape forever. His starring role in the legendary film The Harder They Come not only introduced reggae to millions but also cemented his status as a cultural hero and international symbol of resistance, freedom, and hope.




This biography explores Cliff’s early hardships, his bold move to Kingston, his collaborations with global artists, his political and spiritual convictions, and his lifelong dedication to uplifting the oppressed through music. Readers will discover the deeper story behind timeless anthems such as “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Sitting in Limbo,” and “The Harder They Come.”


Richly written and deeply inspiring, this book chronicles Cliff’s role as a reggae pioneer, humanitarian, and cultural ambassador. It reveals the man behind the legend—an artist driven by faith, purpose, and unshakeable resilience.






Whether you are a lifelong reggae fan or discovering Jimmy Cliff for the first time, this book offers an unforgettable look into the life of a man whose music changed the world. His message of courage, unity, and resistance continues to inspire millions—and now, his extraordinary story is finally told in full.


Dive into the life of a legend.

Discover the soul behind the music.

Jimmy Cliff’s journey will stay with you long after the final page.



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Former Third World Drummer Willie Stewart Mobilizes Reggae Royalty for Jamaica Relief via New Single


 

The new single, "Have a Little Faith", co-executive produced by Willie Stewart and Steve Lane of Digital 1 Media Services is already drawing strong early praise.


Written and composed by William "Willie" Stewart, O.D., former percussionist of the iconic Third World Band, "Have a Little Faith" brings together an extraordinary lineup of reggae greats—Leroy Sibbles, J.C. Lodge, Glen Washington, Carlene Davis, Wayne


Armond, Dwisdom, Gem Myers, Patrick Ulysees Pinkney, Alecia Marie, and Carl McDonald, in unified call for hope, endurance, and national healing. The anthem of hope released earlier today, and is available on all streaming platforms.



"It feels like a warm memory from the golden age of reggae that we are missing — losing — in the space," said Kabu of Irie FM. "I'm hearing the soul of classic, authentic roots music — speaking to hope, endurance, and collective healing as a nation.


The first live performance of "Have A Little Faith" will take place at the Rhythms of Africa: Run Di Riddim – Every Beat for Jamaica on April 18 and 19 at Miramar Cultural Center. 100% of the royalties generated from "Have a Little Faith" will go to the Humanitarian   Music Initiative for Jamaica.



The collaboration represents a rare historic coming together of Jamaican musical voices whose collective influence spans generations. For Jamaica, Have a Little Faith carries that same spirit of solidarity, reminding audiences that music remains one of the most powerful tools for healing, identity, and collective action.





Reggae on the River Announces First Artist Drop for 2026!



Reggae on the River Announces First Artist Drop for 2026! Kabaka Pyramid, Don Carlos, Dezarie, Big Mountain, Iba Mahr, Subatomic Sound System, Prezident Brown, Army, Ka$e and SIMRIT ft. Purity Attack Confirmed


Reggae on the River, one of the world's most storied and influential reggae festivals, announces its first artist drop for the 2026 edition, taking place August 14 to 16, 2026 in Humboldt County, California.


This initial announcement presents a powerful cross generational lineup that reflects the festival's enduring mission of honoring reggae pioneers while amplifying the voices shaping the genre's future. The first confirmed artists for 2026 include Kabaka Pyramid, Don Carlos, Dezarie, Big Mountain, Iba Mahr, Subatomic Sound System, Prezident Brown, Army, Ka$e and SIMRIT ft. Purity Attack.




A Festival That Helped Define Reggae Culture in the United States

Founded in 1984 by The Mateel Community Center, Reggae on the River is widely recognized as the longest running reggae festival in the United States and one of the most important platforms for reggae music outside of Jamaica. Over four decades, the festival has hosted foundational figures in roots, dub, dancehall and sound system culture while serving as a gateway for artists reaching North American audiences.


For generations of fans, musicians and cultural organizers, Reggae on the River has represented far more than a music festival. It is a cultural pilgrimage rooted in community, consciousness, activism and the natural beauty of Northern California.




Bridging Roots and the Future

The 2026 lineup reflects the continued evolution of Reggae on the River, intentionally bridging classic roots reggae with contemporary and emerging global sounds. Legendary artists such as Don Carlos, Dezarie, Prezident Brown and Big Mountain carry the foundation of reggae's golden era, while Kabaka Pyramid, Iba Mahr, Subatomic Sound System, Army, Ka$e and SIMRIT ft. Purity Attack represents the genre's ongoing innovation, spiritual depth and global reach.


Together, the lineup highlights reggae as a living culture that continues to expand across generations, geographies and sonic boundaries.




A Return to Purpose and Cultural Impact

As audiences increasingly seek deeper cultural meaning in live music experiences, Reggae on the River's 2026 edition reinforces the festival's original ethos of unity, resistance, spirituality, celebration and sound system culture, presented within the immersive outdoor environment that has defined the event for decades.


Additional artist announcements, cultural programming and experiential elements will be revealed in the months ahead.


Festival Dates: August 14 to 16, 2026 Location: Humboldt County, California


For tickets, camping options and lineup updates, visit


www.reggaeontheriver.com




GEAR UP WITH SHYRICK PRODUCTION DESIGNS



Are you maaaaaaaaad about the cover designs to SHYRICK PRODUCTION  projects?  We wondered what they would look like on a T-shirt or a cap too! So we did just that and opened up a store.  There's loads of fun merch for you to dive into.


SHYRICK NATION! You can now do a little  window shopping while streaming with us!  We have our shop linked in the RADIO LOUNGE, SHYRICK RECORDS and even our LINKTREE ( just to mention a few spots.) GO CHECK IT OUT!!!


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Sustainable shopping: Good for you and good for our planet

In this Shop, you can filter products to view organic or fair trade items. Organic and fair trade products have been proven to have a smaller environmental and social footprint than conventionally produced products, as these actively help protect the environment and improve working conditions.


 
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30-day Return Guarantee
Simply return your product within 30 days of your receipt date. If it doesn’t fit or you don’t like it, just send it back. As a print-on-demand provider, we can offer you the following return options:

Exchange for a new product
Exchange for a voucher. Can be redeemed towards your next order
Refunding the purchase price is possible as long as you didn’t customize the product yourself.



Karamanti Transitions to SheltaRock


 


The artist formerly known as Karamanti announces a name change and artistic transition, moving forward under the moniker SheltaRock. This change marks a new chapter in her creative journey and reflects a deeper alignment with purpose, freedom, and authenticity.



While operating under the name Karamanti, the artist felt driven to create music primarily for commercial, vain purposes. After a period of reflection, she no longer desires to participate in the music business in that capacity.


Under the name SheltaRock, she will continue to make music for both love and purpose—free from commercialized and egotistical pressure, and guided by personal truth. This new identity represents real liberation and intentional artistry.




SheltaRock will also continue to produce and release music independently through her label, Blakkwuman22 Music.


B L A K K W U M A N 2 2   M U S I C

Record Label, Publishing House & Digital Music Distribution







STREAMING WITH YOU IN THE PAST WEEK





We broadcast globally 24/7 .... 365 and have been for over a decade. We  have embedded players on our web pages, in our radio lounge, on 15 affiliate websites  and broadcast live from TIC TOC.  That's reaching out to a lot of reggae enthusiasts. Our service provider furnishes  a cumulative report from all the disbursed media players and here's the top 25 countries who tuned in the past 7 days.

The first graph reports  the top countries who hit that >> GO BUTTON<<< and tuned in. The second graph reports who tuned in for the longest period of time per session!  This is the NATION family!!!!  The people we love and respect.  Thank you for  hitting that dial and staying locked .....




















TREESHA THROWS DOWN ANOTHER BANGER!




Produced by RIVA NILE PRODUCTION, this new track entitled "TIME MOVES BY" is an enchanting folksy tune overflowing with eloquent lyrics.  TREESHA's  vocals as always crisp clear and captivating.  Family hit that >> GO BUTTON<< and check out the next "must have" for your music collection right now:



Her repertoire entails the know how of different musical genres such as RnB, Pop, Reggae, Jazz and African traditional songs. Treesha is in her element as soon as she is in the studio for a recording session or when the radio is on. She will sing along to every song, especially those from artists who inspire her (for e.g. Aretha Franklin, Destiny's Child, Aaliyah, Brandy, Mary J Blige and Toni Braxton).




Treesha is a very good song writer and is always involved in pre-productions. She has worked with artists bands and producers like Denham Smith Mr. Nnaji, Nexx Muambila, Pensive, Phat Crispy, Ten Ahead Band Jim Rockford Band and Noxwell records.





2026 FESTIVAL SEASON KICKS INTO GEAR


 

The 2026 season has begun family. As the weather warms up  the festivals gear up to thrill reggae lovers world wide. It is truly a beautiful thing. There is no replacement for fresh outdoor summer air and the best music on the planet.! March sees the return of:



VENUE:  Reggae Rise Up Florida , March 12-15, 2026  St. Petersburg, FL




Reggae Rise Up Florida returns to Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida in March for 3 full days full of positive vibes and great music! 




Event Details

REGGAE RISE UP FLORIDA FESTIVAL 2026

4 DAYS OF MUSIC, FOOD, MERCHANDISE, ART, ACTIVITIES & GOOD VIBES!



All Ages Welcome | Rain or Shine

Kids 6 and younger are FREE with paid guardian.

ALL SALES FINAL, NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES



BOX OFFICE WILL BE OPEN DAILY

11AM - 9:30PM - THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY / SUNDAY




GATES OPEN

4 PM – THURSDAY

12 PM – FRIDAY / SATURDAY / SUNDAY



Click this link to get your TICKETS HERE !!!



A NEW RED HOT SHYRICK PRODUCTION PROJECT JUST RELEASED !!!


 

This project is a must have for your playlists family. Built to feel and sound like a way-back roots reggae vibe of the 90's, DJ FATTA ICON ( producer) fashioned modernized lyrics and added sweltering songsters for a fresh musical package. Hit that >> GO BUTTON<< family and sample: BACK TO THE 90's RIDDIM. 




Just a friendly reminder for you, all of SHYRICK PRODUCTION  releases can be found at www.SHYRIC.com, on the SHYRICK RECORDS page. SHYRICK RECORDS is listed on the page key of every owned Shyrick web page. We have a LINKTREE as well to make things real easy for you so go ahead and hit that link : https://linktr.ee/Shyrickentertainment






Also family, SHYRICK PRODUCTION has a show on the 24/7 stream as well where DJ FATTA ICON showcases SHYRIC PRODUCTION creations, so make sure to join the fun weekdays starting at 3pm CST. (Time zone calculator in radio lounge here : https://shyrickradiolounge.blogspot.com/




One final thing family.  SHYRICK PRODUCTION has some gear lined up for you with this jacket cover as the design. It's a maaaad thing,  so tap on the image above and go check it out !!!! 




BOOK CLUB PICK: The Art of Jamaican Drumming: History and Method

 



Explore the heartbeat of Jamaica through its most powerful instrument—the drum. The Art of Jamaican Drumming is a deep dive into the evolution of Jamaican music from its roots in African hand drumming and folk traditions, through the birth of Mento, Ska, Rocksteady, and the many forms of Reggae, including Steppers and Rockers.



Blending historical insight with practical instruction, this book guides drummers and music lovers alike through the rhythmic vocabulary that shaped a global sound.



Presented in chronological order, the book traces how each style developed from the ones before it, helping readers not only learn how to play authentically but also understand the cultural and social forces that gave rise to each rhythm. Along the way, readers will find detailed breakdowns of classic drumming styles, artist spotlights, performance tips, and reflections on how Jamaican drumming has influenced music worldwide—from jazz to hip hop to punk rock.


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