Prologue
By Anrea Santos | May 5th, 2018
When NOTHINGMAG.TV found out we’d have the opportunity to cover our first major festival, we were stoked! Mainly because it was a new experience for us and not necessarily because of the names on the lineup. To be honest, no one on our team really listened to reggae. Personally, the only reggae I was familiar with was Bob Marley’s Greatest Hits and Sublime (not with Rome). Sublime is Reggae right? How about No Doubt? Ska Punk is practically the same is Reggae right? “Cali-Reggae” festivals have become a huge hit, especially within California beach cities, but even so, it’s not a scene that generally catches the attention of mainstream radio. With that in mind, our team posed a question: Is reggae relevant?
While everyone may be at least familiar with Bob Marley’s songs, most millennials probably never think too much about his global impact on music, nor the 2nd and 3rd generation kin following in his footsteps. With little research, you’ll learn that Damian “Jr Gong” Marley just won the 2018 Grammy for Best Reggae Album. Damian has also recently worked with several big names like Jay-Z, Skrillex, Wiz Khalifa, and Ty Dolla $ign. Stephen Marley, who organized Kaya Fest, has won 5 Grammys, and their eldest brother Ziggy Marley has 6 Grammys under his belt. Another mention is Skip Marley, Bob Marley’s grandson, who was on Coachella’s 2018 lineup and performed with Katy Perry at the 2017 Grammys.
SEE SKIP MARLEY COVER “REDEMPTION SONG” AT COACHELLA
Aside from continuing Bob’s legacy through music, the family has been continually passing on the message of peace, love, and also happen to be major advocates for “herb”. You can find the brothers often making headlines on Rolling Stone and Billboard for their efforts to promote the benefits of cannabis with their philosophy of “education before recreation.” If you follow High Times Magazine, the world’s leading source of cannabis news, you might be interested to learn that Damian Marley along with a group of investors purchased it in 2016.
READ ROLLING STONE ARTICLE BY ZIGGY MARLEY
“Possessions make you rich? I don’t have that type of richness. My richness is life.” – Bob Marley
To understand Reggae music, you must learn from the man himself, the legendary Bob Marley. His words were eloquent and well thought out before speaking. His beliefs and lifestyle were often misunderstood in his generation but Bob was ahead of his time— In fact, he was and will continue to be a revolutionary figure. To me, the most commendable part about the 2nd and 3rd Generation Marleys’ performing together on stage, is that they represent the full embodiment of the legacy Bob left behind. I can’t think of anyone else in the music industry whose legacy lives on as strongly as Bob Marley’s family.
SEE BOB MARLEY’S 1979 NEW ZEALAND INTERVIEW
With this new understanding and rediscovery of Bob Marley’s music, our team was able to relate to the importance of this event. We came to the conclusion that reggae is extremely relevant, we just weren’t paying attention to the music or the message. Kaya Fest wasn’t merely going to be a new experience or just another music festival, but rather, a major part of history.
Read on as our team describes their personal highlights on this collaborative edition of Post Show Thoughts.
Marcia Griffiths and Yandel
By Corduroy Soul
(1) Marcia Griffiths: Photo by Nadya Diaz (2) Yandel: Photo by Summer Dos Santos
Crowds of people stood in anticipation as they awaited the uncontested Queen of Reggae and Kingston, Jamaica-born musician, Marcia Griffiths. On day one of the Kaya two-day Music and Awareness Festival, Ms. Griffiths’ voice– a combination of both powerful and tender; majestic and true, completely hypnotized festival goers as it flooded every inch of Kaya grounds. As her smooth vocals crept in to accompany the rhythmic instrumentation, “No, no, no… you don’t love me and I know now…” it made us, the audience feel an overwhelming sense of wonder and excitement. Not only were we witnessing an incredibly talented musician perform but the Queen of Reggae, a cultural icon!
Puerto Rican-born musician and superstar, Yandel, brought those true reggaeton dance party vibes to the festival on Saturday. As the sun turned in for the night, the lights on the stage grew brighter than ever! Yandel, accompanied by a group of talented dancers and musicians, performed with so much energy. Literally, nobody could’ve stood still while they were performing– it was nearly impossible to resist Yandel’s energy. Rightly so, though– Reggaeton is a genre of music that originated in the clubs of Puerto Rico and it’s rooted in hip-hop and Latin American music– two distinct styles of music that carry with them a flare and passion for dance. Yandel’s performance was so passionate and it absolutely killed at Kaya Fest.
Action Bronson and Chronixx
By Dom Douangpanya
(1,2) Action Bronson: Photos by Pat Evans (3) Chronixx: Photo by Dom Douangpanya
The biggest takeaway of the weekend was hands down the Marley Brothers’ historic acoustic tribute to their father. With that said, there should be high praise given to fellow performers who also blessed the Kaya Fest stage. This year’s lineup featured a wide variety of artists that take inspiration from the late, great Bob Marley, and reggae music one way or another. Out of all the performers, there were two artists in particular that shined, but for different reasons: Action Bronson and Chronixx.
Arguably the most surprising listing on the Kaya Fest lineup was hip-hop artist Action Bronson. Although his music doesn’t necessarily directly reflect reggae influence, Action Bronson has always embraced the culture and has even collaborated with reggae artists in the past. The two genres may have different sounds, but let’s not forget that reggae had an enormous influence during the adolescent stages of hip-hop. The Queens rapper made his presence felt during his Saturday set with his colorful lyrics and his infectious aura while showing his advocacy for cannabis by smoking on stage to the crowd’s delight. Songs like “Baby Blue” and “Actin’ Crazy” were fan favorites for those who watched him during his 6:00 p.m. performance.
Labeled as “The Golden Boy of Reggae” by GQ Magazine, Chronixx did not disappoint once he hit the stage. With a name like that, it was as if he was meant to be here, at a festival celebrating the riches and benefits that cannabis has to offer. Singing hit songs off his debut album Chronology, the energy of Chronixx’s performance had the crowd in a euphoric daze during the entire set. Live renditions of songs like “Skankin’ Sweet” and “Spanish Town Rockin’” make it easy to understand why the reggae artist has already had a Grammy nomination for best reggae album at the age of 25. The future of the genre is in good hands with Chronixx, as his talents were on full display for everyone to witness Sunday evening.
Kudos to Kaya Fest for booking acts outside of your typical reggae festival mold while also introducing attendees to the present and future faces of the genre. Their eccentric lineup made Kaya Fest much more approachable to people of all ages and musical preferences. It was a weekend full of education, recreation, and entertainment, leaving fans with excitement for what’s to come at next year’s festival.
Cypress Hill and Sway
By Pat Evans
(1,2) Cypress Hill: Photos by Sean O’Connor (3) Sway: Photo by Pat Evans
Kaya Fest may have primarily been a reggae festival but the event organizers made sure to sprinkle in several Hip-Hop acts throughout the weekend. One Hip-Hop act in particular that stood out was legendary West Coast artists Cypress Hill. Aided on turntables by newest member Mix Master Mike, of the equally legendary Beastie Boys, the group gave an energetic performance with the kind of precision that only people who have been working together for over 20 years can give. Their chemistry was apparent from the moment they walked on stage and even more obvious when performing the hits they’ve accumulated over the past 25 years. On paper, they may not have fit in with the rest of the acts on the festival line-up but after seeing the crowd go wild during “Insane in the Brain”, “(Rock) Superstar” and “Dr. Greenthumb” there was no denying that Cypress Hill was in the right place at the right time. After nearly three decades of recording and touring they show no signs of slowing down. If you have the chance to see them live, don’t hesitate to buy your ticket.
The Hip-Hop presence was not only strong on stage but backstage as well. On day 2 of Kaya Fest I had the privilege of meeting Sway (yes, from MTV) backstage and hanging out with him in the crowd for a few songs during the Chronixx and Cypress Hill sets. For most people Sway is just a TV and radio show host, but for me Sway is the TV and radio show host that shaped my musical tastes the most. As host of The Wake Up Show for nearly 2 decades, Sway and his partners King Tech and DJ Revolution provided the soundtrack to my youth and help set my high standards for what qualifies as Hip-Hop. I used to stay up until 2am to record the show on cassette every Saturday night so when I spotted Sway backstage I had no choice but to introduce myself and thank him for being such an influential figure. It can be scary meeting your idols because they may not be what you thought they were but, fortunately for me, Sway is as down-to-earth in person as he came across via radio waves and satellite signals for so many years.
Constance Bubble
By Sean O’Connor
Constance Bubble: Photos by Sean O’Connor
The sun was shining and the dancefloor was poppin’. The DJs at the Constance Bubble stage came out in full force to bring the crowd at Kaya Fest the best mix of Dancehall and Reggaeton club hits. As the sun began to set on the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, DJ Crooks alongside Black Pages kept the crowd moving and grooving as DJ Shacia Päyne [Marley] took to the stage. The crowd consisted of people of all ages and extended well beyond the dancefloor. Past the outskirts of the stage, people relaxed on the grass field, soaking in the sun while enjoying the nice cool spring breeze.
I had to make a few trips between the slushie and churro vendors, but when I returned to the stage, I realized Shacia Päyne was spending an equal amount of time dancing as much as she was DJing. The crowd was loving it. At this time Black Pages and a few of the other DJs were giving away free t-shirts and merch, and with an introduction by DJ Crooks, Flash Sniper took to the decks to keep the crowd dancing.
The audience at the Constance Bubble stage was in full force by the time the sun went down. Kaya Fest 2018 offered an incredible line-up of both artists and DJs alike with an immense variety of sounds. In addition, the weather was perfect, the festival consisted of delicious treats, savory foods, and many souvenirs to take home at the end of the day. I can honestly say, I am already eagerly awaiting Kaya Fest 2019.
Marley Family and Ms. Lauryn Hill
By Anrea Santos
(1-4) Photos by Anrea Santos (5-8) Photos by Sean O’Connor (9,10) Photos by Anrea Santos
On Saturday, Bob Marley’s grandsons, Skip and Jo Mersa Marley, opened the Marley Family’s set with a few of their original singles. Skip’s tone was soft and mesmerizing as he sang “Cry To Me” and “Calm Down”. While Jo Mersa gave a strong and energetic performance with his song “Power Moves.” Although both performances were radiating different vibes, both were equally engaging in their own right.
When Stephen, Ziggy, Damian, Julian and Ky-Mani Marley were nearing show time, the crowd eagerly cheered with excitement to see them grace the stage together. This unique experience is one that can only be captured at Kaya Fest, and the audience could feel the chemistry and love from the brothers’ performance. When Tom Morello joined the family on stage it took the entire experience to a whole other level as we were fortunate enough to hear him end the set with one of his complex guitar solos.
On Sunday afternoon, Ziggy Marley’s son, Bambaata, took the stage with his band. His music seems to stray away from the classic reggae rhythms and is more reminiscent to Blues and R&B. He surprised the audience as he closed his set with high-energy, fast rhymes and was joined on stage with his cousins, including Jo Mersa Marley. It’s inspiring to see all the grandchildren representing reggae and their grandfather for the new generation with a new, modern sound.
Later that evening, Stephen Marley took the stage again. This time, it was a more intimate, acoustic set. He was joined on stage one-by-one with his brothers Julian, Ky-mani, and Damian Marley. This set was my favorite of the entire festival. The brother’s performed their father’s classics as well as a few acoustic renditions of their original singles. There is no denying that the spirit of Bob Marley was up there on stage with them.
Last but not least, the queen herself, Ms. Lauryn Hill. Arriving on stage at 1:30am, her presence resurrected the audience and I can honestly say, her performance was worth the wait. It was an honor seeing her up close and personal. 20 years since the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and she hasn’t slowed down one bit.
All in all, Kaya Fest 2018 was an experience like no other. It wasn’t merely a typical summer time music festival, but rather, a gathering of the most influential musicians celebrating one of the music of a major pillar of music history– Bob Marley. His music, influence, reggae culture, and the importance to educate oneself before the recreational use of cannabis.
At a time where it is so easy to be overwhelmed by negativity, the Marley family used the power of positivity to bring people together for one unforgettable weekend. Kaya Fest 2019 will be a two weekend celebration. Weekend one will take place in Garden Grove, CA and on 4/20 weekend, South Florida!
You better believe NothingMag.TV will be there… Will you?
