Many might wonder how an island closer to Venezuela than to Jamaica can have such a shocking surge of reggae culture, as opposed to a greater influence of Latin American music. Trinidadian reggae artists are often remarked as lesser to Jamaican reggae artists, but the plight is all the same.

It is indeed hard to ignore (Trinidadian-born) Mr. King’s, “Laventille”, but most people gravitate towards the more renown likes of Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock”.

Poverty is indeed a problem on this island republic, and most of the local reggae artists have covered this topic in many of their songs. Especially with focus on Laventille; an area in north Trinidad which hails the most drug and gang related crime in the country. These reggae melodies usually plead to the young people to put down their guns and unite.

Both Jamaica and Trinidad are going through the same crisis and reggae provides a good format to express feelings as a struggling person who feels like every move is being taken under surveillance.

There is no doubt that music speaks to people and entertainers have the power to make a difference and now more than ever that difference is needed.

Studio 53 is a trio of young producers from La Horquetta who are responsible for the beats behind the hits from Isasha and Million Voice. As a mini-record label stepping out of obscurity late last year, the three Jabari Charles, Kwesi Robinson and Roberito Angelo Pantin have signed nine up-and-coming reggae artistes whom they said would take T&T by storm by 2009.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

From early in the decade, Trinidad and Tobago has held a strong presence in the reggae industry with artists such as Jamelody, Isasha, Million Voice, Prophet Benjamin and Marlon Asher stepping heavy onto the scene.

Whether in be in the uptown club vibe, the downtown mellow party scene, or the quarterly reggae sound system gathering, Trinidad and Tobago has a heavy vibe for roots reggae.

With musical influences such as Steel Pulse, Toots and Bob Marley, Sizzla and Buju Banton these young men have emerged from various locations throughout the island, singing songs of love, liberation and without much neglect, the smoking of marijuana. Finding solice as well as spirituality through their song.

Jamelody has gotten a positive response from the Trinidadian audience and is seeking to establish himself on the international front. Well respected in Trinidad, his crowd response differs from the likes of Jamaican reggae lovers.

Isasha, the Trinidadian reggae song-writer and performer has always viewed conscious reggae music as nothing new, but always a means for the youth to express positivity.

Million Voice, writer and performer of the roots reggae song One Family shares similar opinions on the subject of young Trinidadians expressing their frustration and outlooks. As brothers, Isasha and Million Voice share the stage in unifying Trinidadian youths and covering topics such as poverty, crime, love and solution to retribution.

Prophet Benjamin seeks out more of a dubbed reggae style of music, and has shared the stage with all of the above mentioned. Like many other emerging artists, Prophet Benjamin has indeed begun to put Trinidad on the map for reggae music.

However, Marlon Asher has begun the trend of Trinidadian reggae musicians with his hit, “Ganja Planter”. This tune is guaranteed to flow heavy vibes into any crowd, as most youths in the audience just smile and dance to the music. Trinidad is known for marijuana cultivation, and this song not only appeals to marijuana smokers, but also to the struggling youths who seek cultivating as well as selling the herb.

Regardless of age and ethnicity, Trinidad and Tobago seeks to develop is reggae talent. However, most of the emerging musicians have agreed that the reggae and conscience style was always a way of life in Trinidad- it is one of the many things that unify different cultures on this island of multifarious ethnicity.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

Trinidad and Tobago has begun to nurture its surge of reggae and conscious artists, more in 2008 than ever. In this light, the local reggae anthology can be regarded as the reggae roadblock of the Caribbean.

Due in part to its strategic location, the only island which blocks the Antilles from Latin America; in part to its heavy cultivation of marijuana fields; as well as in part to the reggae and conscious anthology presented by local artists…this island will begin to shine with the emergence of its reggae industry.

With its local humour indicated in the name, the Reggae Road Block is a compilation of the Trinidad local Reggae artists of the Caribbean Music Group label. These artists also perform in small group tours, uptown clubs and large park venue concerts throughout the country- and the compilation is strictly the best of Trinidadian reggae.

Although the local anthology started to grow in popularity late last year, it had been released since late 2006. But as the musicians began touring, performing and being heard, the Reggae Road Block can still be heard during morning traffic in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Road Block includes artists such as Million Voice, Isasha, Prophet Benjamin, Kig David, Mr. King, Ziggy, Royal Daintes, Jah Melody, Cutty and Isaac Blackman. Each and every time I hear the tunes on this album I smile.

I smile because we hear these songs on the way to and from work; I smile because we hear these songs while we smoke; I smile because there is a roadblock three times a week and more on holidays and I smile because I am Trinidadian and I am proud of the talent that hails from my country.

Track Listing:

Track 01 :Pretty Boy - Prophet Benjamin
Track 02 :Don’t You Know - Isasha
Track 03 :Picture of Selassie I - Khari Kill
Track 04 :Oh Laventille - Mr. King
Track 05 :Usual Suspect - Prophet Benjamin
Track 06 :Coming from Moruga - Prophet Benjamin
Track 07 :Politricks - Queen Omega
Track 08 :If I Didn’t Love You - Juicy aka Jah Bami
Track 09 :One Family - Million Voice
Track 10 :Saving All Your Love - King Shom & Prophet Benjamin
Track 11 :Got Something - Benjai
Track 12 :Jesus - Khari Kill
Track 13 :Bad Man - Scientist
Track 14 :Old Dog - Mr. King
Track 15 :Herbalize - Juicy aka Jah Bami
Track 16 :Coming from Bronx - Prophet Benjamin

Article written by Jamie Jaggernauth

The reggae scene in Trinidad and Tobago has always been quite prevalent, as Trinidadian music has evolved from simple calypso, to eclectic mixes of reggae, ska and a bit of soca and R&B.

Much like the multi-cultural population itself, the reggae music that emerges from this island is also quite hard to pinpoint.

Such up coming artists such as Isasha, Million Voice, Jamelody and Marlon Asher have all echoed their Rastafarian chant through the Caribbean and have all begun to spread their song throughout the US and UK.

On a global level, there are artists that hail from Trinidad and Tobago; and have been classified as performers on the reggae front. This includes Machel Montano, Kees and the Band and the Orange Sky.

Machel Montano, who has been a soca performer for just over twenty- five years, released his second to last album in time for the 2007 Carnival celebrations. Having revealed his “Book of Angels”, Mr. Montano has re-vamped his soca style for the reggae remix of his number one hit, “Higher than High”. Performing on stage with the internationally renound, Sizzla, Machel has proved that Trinidad can not only make a presence in the soca arena; but can represent for the reggae industry as well, with his kettle drum beats.

Kees and the Band has been performing (with a few name changes) since the 90’s, and front man Kees, has performed with his youth and vibrance throughout Trinidad and the Caribbean, Canada and the UK, has surged the good vibes of reggae music through his 2007 album, “Lion”.

The Orange Sky has also been emergent in Trinidad and Tobago, touring through various locations, and has been one of the first bands to put Trinidad and Tobago on the map for a more ska-type sound. This was most prevalent for the daunting sound of their soulful cover of “Peace Train”.

Just the beginning of the journey, Trinidad and Tobago is making its name on the reggae scene. With young talent and stellar ambitions, these men will carry this small Caribbean nation deep into the reggae jungle.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.