Return of the King
The often controversial always charismatic King Kino has emerged on the scene backed by the creative muscle of a new Haitian label with an eye for choosing the right artist at the right time. Kino joins Beethova Obas, Raymond Cajuste and other 'cutting-edge' artistes at the avant-garde label Muzik Arts (muzikarts.com). Kino formerly of the group Phantoms has been at the forefront of Haitian music scince releasing the classic song "Cowboy" in 1992. The song borrowed the famous "Dirty Harry" whistle and was tinged with country and western beats while openly discussing the right-wing para-military groups that were terrorizing Haiti. "The army did not like the song, they shot people--people died for that song, for playing it. People cried for that song. That song was a revolutionary song in the country. Makes people cry, makes them laugh. It was funny. It was the song of the country." Kino told the Revolutionary Worker in an 1997 interview. Kino was forced to go into exile after being told that he was a target of the Military regime that had toppled President Aristide. He says of his triumphant return "My first concert back in Haiti was on December 23, 1993, over 60,000 people at the concert. I didn't sing one word of that song. I just start the song, the audience picked it up and finished it." Kino would find himself in the center of controversy again in Brooklyn, New York. Kino and his band Phantoms were performing every Friday night at Club Rendez-Vous on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The club was extremly popular for being one of the few places that offered Haitian music on a regular basis. Abner Louima, a young Haitian-immigrant who would frequent the club was speaking to Kino early Saturday morning in front of the club before Louima got picked up by the police who came to the club for an altercation in which he was not involved. Louima's brutal treatment by the NYPD cops reminded Kino very much of the "cowboys" in Haiti. Kino and the band became very outspoken taking place in rallies and discussing the incident and its implications on U.S. national television. Louima succesfully sued the department. His first single on Muzik Arts could easily be mistaken for a party song, but as in most songs by Kino there is a message, and a controversial one at that. Just in time for the 200th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution and Independence Kino is scheduled to perform at Manhattan's Sounds of Brazil (S.O.B.'s) on January 30th. The much anticipated show is titled "Return of the King." • listen to Move Move
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Wyclef Blasts Off With Masquerade
Wyclef Jean is flipping though a magazine in his Platinum Studios in midtown Manhattan. He's whipping through a string of interviews to promote his third solo CD, Masquerade. A diamond-studded lion rests on his chest. "It's from the 12 Tribes of Judah," he explains. "I'm from the tribe of Levi. That's where the Haitian tribe descended. It means power." Besides the bling-bling of the pendant, Clef's in jeans, a tee and sneakers. "I'm in the music industry but you might see me on Flatbush and you think it's a dread selling cocoa bred. I'm a people's person. I can get in a limo but I think that's wack. I'd rather jump on my Ducati and hit the road. Sometimes I ask the chauffeur to let me drive. They think I'm real crazy. But I was a gypsy cab driver. That's how I paid for my college education" Wyclef wasn't born with diamonds around his neck In fact, his lead single "PJ's" is an ode to his humble beginnings. Just like his remake of Frankie Valli's "Oh What A Night." "That's a song my father used to clean bathrooms to when I was young," Clef reveals. "Whenever that song came on, we used to jump around with plungers. That song made me forget that we were working for $4.50 an hour." On this latest project, Clef is keeping it all the way real. He's telling kids to stay in school, rookie rappers to watch their backs when signing label deals and letting everyone know he's got skills. "It's sort of like going back to the essence for me, like back into my hip-hop roots," he assures. "Lyrically, I took my time. The album was done in like 2 1/2 months. I felt like this was my first CD. I wanted to make sure the essence of the grime of Wyclef Jean was still represented. It's like an autobiography—to show kids how Wyclef became Wyclef Jean." "I'm ahead of my time like Jimi Hendrix playing Woodstock," raps Clef on "80 Bars." "I came in this game like a hip-hop musician," he points out. "We came in with "Vocab" [from Blunted on Reality] with an acoustic guitar. "Killing Me Softly," Fender Rhodes. Music is always the strongest element of what we do. I think if I came in and all I did was rhyme I don't think I would be here. That's why I said on "The Score:" 'Wyclef the multi-talented, average heads can't handle it. I bring it to you live only if you want it.' My musical taste is versatile. That's who I am. If this is Jeopardy, I'll take rock n' roll for $500. Give me hip-hop for $1,000. Give me country music for $200. I'm a musical historian. I grew up listening to all kinds of music. And somehow 30 years later I can mix it up and turn it into something." Whether he's the rapper or producer, Clef has the Midas Touch. "A producer is like a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist makes you feel relaxed. Like you're in total control. But in actuality, the psychiatrist is in total control. I go into the studio with a legend like Carlos Santana and I don't go in on an ego trip. I play him the ideas and when he feels comfortable to the tee that I have his back, then he lets me just do what I do. And that's when I stick it to him with "Maria, Maria." One of Wyclef's greatest assets is his ability to drop a rowdy anthem like the title track with MOP and Freddie Foxxx and then follow it up with "Daddy," a tribute to his father who recently passed away and the "911"-like ballad "Two Wrongs" with City High's Claudette Ortiz. "That's my favorite song, 'Daddy.' It's my emotional, vulnerable side. It's important that I be vulnerable at times. I'm not trying to be a tough guy. Because I like to show kids you can be a bad ass but sometimes it's OK if you want to cry." At times Clef feels like a lone soldier doing what he does. "I always tell people it's harder for me when I coming out with a record than for Jay-Z or Puffy because I'm representing a whole other side of hip-hop. I'm one of the last of the hip-hop musicians that wants to be a little conscious. I miss the versatility in rap. I want Masquerade to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album. It wouldn't mean as much for me, but if our peers can help move this type of hip-hop forward, it would make it look like the next hip-hop can come like that." Courtesy: Major Money Entertainment

Who is Carimi ?
CArlo Vieux, RIchard Cavé and MIckael Guirrand are the names behind and in the hottest konpa band on the New York Scene. Carlo has been performing since the age of 13 with Alex Thébaud of K-Dans, Fabrice Rouzier, and Zin.. He juggled his musical career with his education and graduated from Rutgers University and is looking at the opportunity to attend Stony Brook where he will be working towards his Masters in Public Relations.

RIchard Cavé's choice to follow a career in music came naturally and came as no surprise to his friends and family, his uncle Syto Cavé is a well-known poet who resides in Haiti and his cousin Alan Cavé is the lead singer of the group Zin.

MIckael Guirrand, the third piece to the equation is very much like his colleagues. Like the rest, he had a love for music since childhood, which led him from a school choir to K-Dans and now to his own band. He, like his band mates, has managed to pursue both a musical career and an education; he recently graduated from St. Johns University and in the midst of all this, he still managed to stay focus. Their first live appearance at SOB's NYC will go down in history as one of the best "coming out" parties, because no other band had such a big impact on a first live appearance. The members got on stage on time with coordinated attire, which reflected another side of their mission in the music industry, and kept the fans jumping and chanting all night. Now CARIMI is packing the house at Club Elliahs, every Friday night. CARIMI have also expanded internationally, ranking #5 in Martinique and #2 in French Guyana. For a new band they are really high in demand, and they soon will have a hard time keeping up with their schedule. ‘I am happy for our success; it is quite amazing, but we are also not looking to be the kings of the town; we just want to keep on enjoying what we are doing'. Richard Cavé.

Article provided by konpadirek.com
visit the site for the full article and an interview with Carimi
Photograph courtesy of carimi.com

New Release - Miami Live 2001 VOL. II
Miami Live 2001 vol.2 the new release from Mini Records is hitting the streets and features the hottest artists in Miami and in Compas period. An all star album, the concept was first introduced by producer Fred Paul in the first volume released in 2000. Miami Live features lead vocals from Gracia "Mas Compas" Delva, Gassman "Pipo" Pierre, Jacques S."Jackito" Jean, Carmelo "Frédy" Frédéric among others in the all star line-up. Musicians Bemol Telfort on guitar, Ed Calle on sax, Alix Nozile on Conga and Josué "Doudou" Joseph on Bass perform on track such as POU FANATIK YO, VALE NOU, LUCILLE. The tracks are great for dancing with grooves and melodies that are sure to hit this summer and beyond.