In the Bronx, there was a celebration of reggae music and its impact on other cultures.
“The Caribbean contribution to this city and to the United States and to the world is amazing and in the Bronx, of course, how it affected hip-hop,” Ralph McDaniels, host of Video Music Box, said. “So, it is super important the sounds of what you are hearing in the background.”
What You Need To Know
- In the Bronx, there was a celebration of reggae music and its impact on other cultures
- There was a New York premiere of the 2019 documentary “Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes,” which was showcased at the Bronx Music Hall
- Many at the celebration reflected on the connection between Jamaica, reggae and hip-hop
This, as a DJ played music inside the Bronx Music Hall for a celebration of Reggae Music Month, which coincides with Black History Month. They held the New York premiere of the 2019 documentary “Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes.”
Studio 17 was inside Randy’s Records in Kingston, Jamaica. Several legendary artists, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh and Gregory Isaacs, recorded there.
“It gives us an insight into our heritage and our tradition and our music that we didn’t know about, so this is amazing,” Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Radio, said.
Randy’s Records was founded by Vincent and Pat Chin, a Chinese-Jamaican couple. They moved to New York in the late 1970s and set up VP Records in Queens.
It became the world’s largest independent distributor of reggae music. Many at the celebration, including the filmmaker Reshma B, who produced the Studio 17 documentary, reflected on the connection between Jamaica, reggae and hip-hop.
“Kool Herc, a Jamaican kid from Jamaica, came here, strung up a sound system and that has been dubbed the first ever hip-hop party,” Reshma B said. “Hip-hop is born, so you got to know where you came from.”
DJ Kool Herc, who threw that party in the Bronx in August 1973, was at this celebration.
“I’m glad to be here man, they didn’t forget me,” he rejoiced.
Other people in attendance were also happy to be a part of this celebration.
“The fact that we have a month that is dedicated to Black history, as well as reggae music, is wonderful,” Ingrid Dixon explained. “The two things can go in tandem and should go in tandem for all times, so that we continue to spread the philosophy of reggae music.”
Others said it’s important to continue celebrating Black history beyond just February.
“It’s every day because it is our history, our culture and our experience that we are living every day in America,” Ron Scott, a freelance writer, said. “Of course we share that with our brothers and sisters in Jamaica.”
The next showing of “Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes” will be on Feb. 21 at Cinema Arts Center in Huntington, Long Island.
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