Outernational

It's been a while...but all good things come to those who wait...Taken from a reasoning session with the legendary Burning Spear in west London around 1992 - this latest podcast in the Outernational Series by Haji Mike is a must.Spear is a foundation artist. He is also  the heart beat  that has been pulsating for decades, defiant, lion-like, resisting all kinds of dilution, diversion and corporate manipulation. Undoubtedly one of the best live performers, his spell on an audience is a mesmerizing - floating experience.More details on this musical legend atwww.myspace.com/burningspearmusic  

Anthony Henry - a.k.a. "Tippa Irie" - is one of the most conscious, entertaining and skilled MC's in the reggae business. Starting out  from England's Saxon Sound International 25 years ago. The star-studded travelling sound system was like a sound system university launching artists such as Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Smiley Culture. Tippa Irie was a key part of the new generation of British MC's who developed the 'Fast Talking' style chat long before UK-Garage with its equally hyper commentaries. Uniquely British but deeply rooted in Jamaican sound system culture, Tippa topped reggae charts far and wide without much mainstream recognition. Until 1986 that is when 'Hello Darling' went to number 22 in the UK charts. A straight up love song which lent its main groove lick from an old Matumbi song called 'My Point of View' 'Hello Darling' brought Tippa to a wider audience and major attention. However major labels back then failed to understand the complexity of reggae music and its artists – a tendency that exists even today with many major labels trying to make reggae artists sing r&b/hip-hop aimed at that puzzling ‘mainstream pop audience’.  Tippa continued recording a hole heap of hits with Peter Hunningale such as 'Raggamuffin Girl' the definite ragga gal tune - Lloyd Brown “Stress”, Frankie Paul as well as a string of MC combination tunes with Pato Banton. As one of the most successful and hard working MC's in reggae Tippa is as humble as always - remaining in-demand on all sides of the Atlantic, across Europe and throughout the world.  More recently he was featured on the Grammy Award winning release by The Black Eyed Peas 'Hey Mama'. Skills, hard work and decades of commitment  are the three key things that make Tippa one of the best, and one of the few UK reggae MC's from those heady early 80's sound system days to still be donning a mic and moving the masses. More info on Tippa Irie at www.myspace.com/originaltip

Selections inspired by the recent Power of Words Tour in California...I met Edi Fitzroy in Santa Cruz and he told me to 'Hold the Vibes' brand new CD unreleased as yet. Ameoba is my fave vinyl shop in the world-I always find something there thats been on the wants list for ages. "Bankrobber" by The Clash on 10" for just $14! IDC distribute some great new music and The Stand Out Selector pointed me in the way of Rastarillos, a heavy Mexican reggae band. "Que Se Levante" is real bubbler. Back at Ameoba, even though I had it on LP and CD, a 7" version did not hurt."One Step Forward" Max Romeo. Piano B are an outfit based out of Italy, distributed by IDC "Mek We Sing" - fresh beats, powerful words. Just had to throw in something  classic for the mix, Barrington Levy "Dances Are Changing". Set ends with "The Gun" by Edi Fitzroy. Big UP IDC for the CD's, Edi Fitzoy and Joe for the dubplate and Ameoba for being Ameoba!  One Love  HM  HM   

1980'S dancehall London style - inspired by the sound systems and blues dances that carried the swing. Features Papa Levi, undoubtedly one of the best MC's to ever come out of London, Josie Wales, one of my all time favourites, Michael Prophet, Tristan Palmer, Sugar 'boogalooga granulated' Minott, Pablo 'Hard Times' Gad and some dubs and special shout outs...njoy!

 THE STORYMAN NEW CD BY HAJI MIKE MASH DOWN BABYLON MIX TAPE VERSION 1MORE INFO www.hajimike.com www.soundclick.com/hajimike available at www.cdbaby.com