![]() Fantra Zine Note: This piece on STALAG 20, 21 & 22 - The Next Generation was written by Jesse I Nonneman who is a radio jock, journalist and sound system owner in Australia. It was published both in Jamaica in X-News, and in a Sidney - Australia newspaper... When D.I.A produced Stalag 20, 21 & 22 � The Next Generation, this other New York based reggae label in Jamaica, Queens tried every thing to smother the project. They put out a hurried similar one-dimensional project that sounded like a dubplate. They did all kind of fuckry... They even went as far as telling Hot97 in NYC not to play D.I.A Records� recordings. Even for the X-News article, the general belief still is, the striation through the article and poorly printed words one could barely read, was intentional. And guess what � D.I.A�s ad (1/3 page) was the only ad on that page. That "likkle" one-stop got nervous because D.I.A was doing things the right way on the next levels. The remarkable thing is, D.I.A was recording and developing reggae acts but there was no intention to build D.I.A Records as a �reggae� label. Currently D.I.A can sell and is selling punk, reggae (ska, dancehall, dub, etc.), funk, hiphop (urban & alt.), metal, alt. rock, etc. No hype -- D.I.A is in the same mix as Volcom and Silverback. And it does not matter how much that one-stop label (in Jamaica, Queens � NYC) spend on purchasing hurry-come-up compilations from reggae-related alternative bamds -- some of whom D.I.A has a long association with, that label will never have the indelible universal identity and credibility across the face of muzik as D.I.A. D.I.A is not niche into one corner. It took years of paying dues that included physical fights, hard work and kicking in doors to obtain and maintain this alternative/underground identity. Word to the wise � no pop-like artist, band or reggae label can get up one day and decide to infiltrate or win over the alternative or underground muzik consumers and fans. They cannot be bought. You have to build and earn the respect of these fans and consumers one by one. Man D.I.A (Diverse Intensified Audio) is naturally a rockstar, but reggae is naturally at the core 2!! It is the Global Rock Revolution. And regarding Stalag 20, 21 & 22, it still stands strong!! Below is the piece printed in X-News. STALAG 20, 21 & 22![]() Consequently, it is a riddim that never goes away. Nevertheless, 200 saw something of a hyper interest in the classic Stalag, with several producers coming out with their own interpretations with two Stalag bass one-riddim albums hitting the market. However it was the new label, DIA (Diverse Intensified Audio) Records, that got to the party first with their Stalag 20, 21 & 22: Next Generation which was named in tribute to Winston Riley�s original album, Stalag 17, 18, 19. DIA�s compilation is as refreshing as they took a more adventurous path that saw them record several og Jamaica�s current dancehall artistes of a harder hip hop influenced recut. Gruff voiced Junior Demus kicks the set off in a style with the tuff �Good over Evil,� before the long underrated Merciless/War Head storms in on �Gimmie Back De Dayz.� From there on in we really do come to the next generation with new names such as Leju, Egg & Bread and Kandi Slyk (Candy Slick). The shared the ![]() Elephant Man is in perfect form on �Never Bow� and he is given a mix of the same standard, with plenty of room for his trademark echo style to ring clear. Mr. Vegas reaches new heights on the positive and uplifting party tune �Push Em Up,� a cut that should be able to move any reggae or hip hop dance floor in the world. Stunning new female singer �Hot Gal� and �No Watch Gal,� as does Danny English who growls for the girls on �Turn On,� before slowing down the groove a fraction for �No,� a combination with the dynamic Kandi Slyk. Stalag 20, 21 & 22 is the album that truly takes us into the new millennium, proving a great introduction to the latest generation of dancehall artists direct from Kingston, Jamaica while sounding as timeless as ever over the immortal Stagalag. Fantra Zine Note: You know, it is not a great mystery why Lee Perry burned Black Ark Studio to the ground. Scratch figured it out and left Jamaica for a reason. And D.I.A will continue to rep the "defiant stand-firm attitude" of artists like Scratch, Keith Hudson, Supercat "The Wild Apachie," Eek A Mouse, Peter Tosh and Ras Karby and all artists who were exploited... Don't care how much income could be made. "Prefer to die on my feet rather than live on my knees man." Ain't never gonna waver. Don't get this missive wrong. I LOVE JAMAICA and I LOVE THE PEOPLE. I alwayz rep the Rock in places some will never go. I alwayz rep JAMAICA to people some will never meet. Jamaican culture and reggae muzik are alwayz at the core!! This is compulsory!!! But who I AM goes back thousands of years FAR beyond 1962. D.I.A (aint no CIA). ![]() Again -- Global Rock In Effect and REGGAE IS AT THE CORE too, 'longside Punk, Hardcore, Alt. and Urban Hiphop, Funk, Ska and Metal, etc. D.I.A build and incubate original concepts from the ground up via hard work. D.I.A trailblaze and does not ride coattails. But other krews ride ours. We do not buy our way into anything including any compilation of alternative artists we are clueless about. Jamekee/D.I.A pays dues and go against the grain with originality built in. D.I.A's Logos and brands are trusted worldwide across all people. The creative process runs deep. Light-years Ahead!!! Not miles. Ghetto Muzik TV . D.I.A Records (III) - Myspace . Street Ragz Clothing Email contact: Fantra-Zine@DIA-Inc.com ________________________________ ![]() STREET RAGZ Garments! STREET RAGZ ruff 'n' tuff universal wear. No hype! No flossin'. Repeat until shredded... Don't be a slave to fashion.
![]() ________________________________ ![]() ![]() ![]() And you wanna tell me there are world-classproducers like Willie Lindo, Mikey Bennet and Cordell "Scatta" Burrel in Jamaica an' two Disney-type hyped-up ![]() NE wayz -- GONG's STAR SHINES BRIGHT LIKE SIRIUS! Check out this home-grown audiovisual Ghetto Muzik TV Youtube clip about Gong's star on Hollywood Walk Of fame. ![]() Fantra Zine . FZMA Newsletter . Ghetto Muzik TV . Global Rock Radio (GRR) . Street Ragz (Clothing) . Street Ragz Clothing Summer Collection Email contact: Fantra-Zine@DIA-Inc.com |
![]() D.I.A RECORDS Classic Releases "OUT OF BOUNDS" by HR of Bad Brains. ![]() ![]() "OUT OF BOUNDS" CD available on ITUNES, AMAZON MP3, EMUSIC, GOOGLE PLAY, RHOPSODY, SPOTIFY ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() as well as via PAYPAL orders: Cost -- $49.99. FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S.A.Overseas add an additional $15. USD for shipping.): "HR IN DUBB" (EP) by HR (Human Rights) of Bad Brains. ![]() "HR IN DUB" CD available on ITUNES, AMAZON MP3. EMUSIC, GOOGLE PLAY and SPOTIFY. "HR IN DUBB" will be live on RHOPSODY soon. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ________________ The immortal STALAG 20, 21 & 22 -- THE NEXT GENERATION featuring Elephant Man, Mr. Vegas, Junior Demus, Ce'Cele, Merciless, Danny English, Egg 'n' Bread, Hawkeye, Chico and more... (Reggae-Dancehall super artists). Project was mixed by Cordel "Scatta" Burrell. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() and CD orders via PayPal: Cost -- $49.99. FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S.A. Overseas add an additional $15. USD for shipping): ________________ ![]() ________________ (Various Artists) ![]() Inverted Paradox (Various Artists) album is available on: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() as well as via PAYPAL orders: Cost -- $44.99. FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S.A.Overseas add an additional $15. USD for shipping.): |