Dancehall News

“Go check the file.” That’s Buju Banton’s message to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, after the PM suggested some Jamaican entertainers wave the national flag to sell tickets while running the country down abroad.

Kabaka Pyramid is closing out his year on an island. The Jamaican reggae artist’s newly announced Rebel Music US Tour wraps in Hawaii, with shows in Wailuku on November 27 and Hilo on November 28, after a month spent zigzagging across the mainland.

Few beats in dancehall have been played, voiced, juggled and rebuilt as often as the Punanny riddim.

Reggae star Buju Banton has delivered a sharp reply to Jamaica’s prime minister: the country’s musicians do more than wave its flag — they help give it meaning around the world.

The late reggae legend Bunny Wailer’s “Fig Tree” is bearing fresh fruit—and his daughter is helping bring in the harvest.

Some years in dancehall drift by on a handful of street bangers. 2023 was not one of those years.

Some years in dancehall drift by. 2024 roared. Vybz Kartel walked out of prison and straight onto the charts, Squash came back from the wilderness with the biggest record in Jamaica, and the shared riddim returned to the centre of the culture.

Some years in dancehall belong to one riddim. Others belong to one voice. 2025 belonged to a lot of things at once.

Sean Paul hasn’t played a full concert in South Africa in 20 years, and for his return he’s sharing the stage with two of the men who helped build amapiano.

Andrew Holness had a guest list complaint on Wednesday, and it had nothing to do with protocol.