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30th Anniversary of The Harder They Come
Third World films that break through to a wider audience are rarer than
union organizers in a free-trade zone. For a motion picture from a tiny
Caribbean island to achieve enormouss international attention, not to
mention ignite a musical movement of irresistible force, is a mighty
accomplishment indeed.
2002 marked the 30th anniversary of the release of The Harder They Come,
director Perry Henzell's landmark film of ghetto life in the daunting depths
of the Dungle, and the acompanying soundtrack which revealed reggae to the
rest of the world. Based in part on the true story of Ivanhoe Martin, a late
'40s cop-killing folk hero known as Rhygin (raging), the film weaves scenes
shot inside Kingston's prolific studios with a riveting tale of ganja, Rasta
consciousness and revenge. An anniversary edition of the film has just been
released on DVD, with commentary by the eloquent Henzell and the movie's star
Jimmy Cliff...
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Skankin' in St. Croix
I've been to Jamaica on 10 different occasions since 1988, and although
it's always been a great time, for years I haven't cared for the direction
of the music. Dancehall was taking over the island and I longed for the roots.
In fall 2001, I was fortunate to receive the re-released debut of Midnite,
entitled Unpolished (it originally came out in 1997). After just one
listen I knew this group was extremely special. They played a hard-core
roots style which I absolutely loved. The catch was that they weren't from
Jamaica, but rather hailed from St. Corix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In
the following months, I obtained each of their crucial recordings and
witnessed them in concert on three occasions -- and was completely blown
away each time. I realized after seeing them the first time that this
was the band I'd been longing for...
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Best of 2002
Top of the Tens with 8 picks each: Salif Keita, Orchestra Baobab;
5 picks for Red Hot and Riot; also picks for Tinariwen,
Toto La Momposina, Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Hasna and more.
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