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Carifest 2007 Comes Full Circle with the Return of the Don Gorgon
Organizers Team Legendary is set to outdo themselves this year, not only bringing back the Gorgon, but promising many big surprises to make up for their non-appearance last summer. With a line-up that also includes revered South African Reggae singer Lucky Dube, Reggae ambassadors Third World, Dancehall veterans Buju Banton and Bounty Killer alongside legendary toaster Yellow Man, Dancehall's newest singing sensation Mavado and veteran ragga-singer Pinchers, Bermudian Reggae artist Collie Buddz, Trinidadian roots chanter I-Sasha, and the New Kingston Band, this year's Reggae Carifest offers a wide cross-section of talent that appeals to just about every Caribbean musical taste. "Reggae Carifest has been the Tri-State's favored summer event for the past decade, showcasing West Indian culture at it's best," says Team Legendary's D'Niscio Brooks. "We are once again doing our part in trying to give the people what they want by moving mountains to bring together on one stage Dancehall's finest and Reggae greats for a show that will surely be one to remember." Excited about his first U.S. performance in 15 years, the once reputed 'Front Teet, Gold Teet, Gun Pon Teet Don Gorgon,' Ninja Man sees this performance at Carifest, as an opportunity to reach a wide and diverse cross-section of people to make a fresh new start, with a brand new image and message. "Know seh all the war in the business have to come to an end," states Ninja Man. "If you see Ninja Man, now you see him in all white. That is all I wear for I want to be a beacon, a light for the world to see. We need to bring back love and Reggae Carifest has always been a show that is about the love of the business and I figure if mi and them could work a way to have Ninja Man on stage for Carifest, then my journey would begin to reach the world." Although Ninja has put his 'badman' days behind him, the noted lyrical terror promises to deliver a show that will no doubt serve the Tri-State area with same theatrics, bravado, quick wit, and intensity that he has been praised for over the past two-decades. "Ninja Man have a lot say," he states. "Been through the trenches and now the sky is the limit, so on August 25th wi a go make history." Reggae Carifest 2007 will be held on August 25th at Randall's Island in New York City. Tickets are currently on sale for $47 (general admission) and $92 (VIP admission). Tickets are available on line at www.ticketmaster.com and at all Ticket Master locations. Tickets are also available at Temptations in Brooklyn, Original Records in Queens, Rocatone Restaurant in the Bronx, and Jammyland in Manhattan. For a full listing of local ticket outlets, log on to www.reggaecarifest.com, or call Team Legendary at 718-856-3336. ======================================
The Reggae Carifest Experience is a nonstop musical celebration showcasing the best of Caribbean Music, recording artists, cuisine, and arts & crafts. Our legacy has excited a passion in our loyal attendees that revel in the memories of our year-to-year captivating presentations allowing for continuously growing attendance. Launched in 1998, the tri-state vicinity is treated annually this explosion of Caribbean culture, with a diverse pool of talent and events that speaks to volumes of not only Caribbean natives, but the Tri-state area's residents from all walks of life. Reggae Carifest 2k5 was a landmark event, where we were the first promotional company in America to film a Caribbean concert in large scale in High Definition and Dolby 5.1 digital surround sound. We have continued to strive ahead, making each stage show bigger and better than the last. Team Legendary is opening roads for the Caribbean community and market. ABOUT TEAM LEGENDARY Team Legendary, the hardest working independent company within the tri-state area. Based in Brooklyn New York. The company is a small business network with big plans, whether it is Concerts, Clubs, Parties, Broadcasts, Live Recordings (Audio 5.1 surround) or Visual (High Definition HD) of the West Indian culture. An entertainment company is hardly as important as the people who give it reason for being: yet with few exceptions, it helps to bridge the chasm between creative impulse and realization, offering continuity with an over soul and family tree all its own. Life can seem hardly lucrative. A changed must come. It is time for research and deliver for the market. Reggae seems to be what the public is interested in so we made sure we got listed around the Caribbean. The gamble tilted in our favor, we could see it begin to happen in the festivals; it was easy music to manage, friendly, collegiate." The explosion of reggae in the early 1990's as a social-phenomena changed Team Legendary irrevocably from small specialty company to a player in the international gaming tables of Entertainment. But an independent company, not only rises and falls on "its senses, its feel of the audience, on its judgment and taste, intuition, and, of course, luck," but also its production. As the millennium turned and the stakes became higher, Team Legendary grew its product. As we say, "to build something special, something that was nourished by the spirit of the past but whose real purpose is to find the future." ABOUT NINJAMAN Beginning with his first single "Protection," recorded with Reggae singer Courtney Melody in 1986 under the moniker Uglyman, Ninja's distinct lyrical pattern and smoothly wicked delivery was easily recognizable among the ranking deejays of the mid to late 80's. A slew of singles followed with "Cover Me," a romantic duet with Reggae singer Tinga Stewart, becoming his first bonafied hit in 1988. However, Ninja's greatest acclaim would come at the turn of the decade, when he became the initiator of the "badman era" of 90's Dancehall, with the release of the highly acclaimed "gunman" anthems "Murder Dem," "My Weapon," "Champion," and "Permit to Bury." It would be Ninja's over-the-top stage performances that cemented his place as the "original gold teet, front teet, gun pon teet don gorgon." The theatrics, politics, charisma, intensity, and bravado that he brings to the live arena married with his ingenius on-the-spot lyrics has made him not only the most respected, but the most feared lyrical stage opponent among other artists. Revered Dancehall lyricists Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, and Vybz Kartel are among the lengthy list of Ninja's lyrical conquests. Desmond Ballentine was born on January 20, 1966 in the rural province of St. Mary in Jamaica. After moving to Kingston as a young teen, he began selecting for the popular soundsystem Killamanjaro, under the names Double Ugly and/or Uglyman. The name Ninjaman was given to him by Killamanjaro's founder Noel Harper, who teased Desmond about his ninja-like behavior and tendencies, which includes his chameleon-like ability to fit into any Reggae musical category. His substantial catalogue includes memorable duets with Lover's Rock legends Gregory Isaacs, Linval Thompson, Admiral Tibett, and Cocoa Tea, in addition to a number Roots & Culture tunes alongside his signature badman staples. |
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New
York, NY - July 2nd, 2007 - Marking his first U.S. performance since 1992,
the ever-controversial Dancehall deejay Desmond 'Ninja Man' Ballentine is back
in the Tri-State by overwhelming demand, armed with new conviction and a bag of
new lyrics to come full circle with Reggae Carifest on August 25th at Randall's
Island in New York. Under the Banner 'Give Peace a Chance,' the undisputed 'Don
Gorgon' of the dancehall will share the stage with some of Dancehall's and Reggae's
finest for the return of one of the area's signature Summer stagings.