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Protoje breaks down the history and process behind the making of the his 3rd Studio Album titled ANCIENT FUTURE. Directed and Edited By: Yannick "The Therapist" Reid Shot By: Nickii Kane and Yannick Reid

The reggae triad of Treehouse! representing Myrtle Beach, South Carolina just released their latest LPLifted on March 10th – their third studio album in five years. Following the band's self-titled debut in June 2011 and their sophomore album Growth of May 2013, Lifted continues to prescribe a leisurely lifestyle to Treehouse! listeners and promote self-improvement along the way. Notably, the LP was recorded and mixed by Wolfgang Zimmerman and mastered by More Sounds Studio's Jason “Jocko” Randall, a man who's resume includes John Brown's Body, Easy Star Records and more. With psychedelic motifs and a heavy walking bassline, each track offers encouraging lyrics towards betterment Lifted combines elements of jam band, reggae, ska, and rock executed through a wide array of instruments to create its essence. With psychedelic motifs and a heavy walking bassline, each track offers encouraging lyrics towards betterment with titles like “Embrace the Change”, “Follow Your Calling” and “On The Road”; even though “Growth” labeled their last album, it is apparent that 'still growing' is Treehouse!'s current theme. The first single being advertised off the LP is “Look into the Stars”: a lively track with hip-hop style vocals, a unique horn riff, a funky beat and an electric guitar interlude which allows an edgy break from a somewhat poppy melody. The band plans to be on the road broadcasting their music until next November, so look for Treehouse! on your local marquees. The newest album is attainable on all digital outlets and with the band's “get 'Lifted'” mantra in mind, it is evident that the boys of Treehouse! are determined to climb all the way up the rope-ladder of success. By Kristy Rose

Aswad became one of the UK’s top reggae bands in the 1980s, introducing strong R&B and soul influences to their music. With number one hits including ‘Shine’ and ‘Give a little love’, they have produced 21 albums and have been playing live since the mid 1970s. The British stalwarts are set to play a free concert at Joys Live bar on Saturday April 11th For more information visit www.joyslive.com

Dancehall artists Konshens and Busy Signal collaborated on a new single “Soca People”. The song was produced by Subkonshus Music and Monstapiece Entertainment. Listen to the song below....

Reggae sensation Shaggy is back on the Billboard top 40 charts with his new single, “I Need Your Love (featuring Mohombi, Faydee and Costi)”. Up seven places to #39, it commanded 777 weekly spins. This is Shaggy's ninth song on a Billboard chart. The single which was released in September 2014, racked up 800,000 YouTube views in less than one week and currently has over 20 million views , making Shaggy one of Jamaica's most successful artistes to date. Shaggy recently premiered the video for a new single, Picture, featuring Melissa Musique, exclusively via the leading music identification app Shazam

The media maven has officially resigned from her hosting duties on the popular Reggae Ride to Work and Reggae Riddims shows on WZMX Hot 93.7 FM in Connecticut, the diva who has two more weeks to share her love of music with her Connecticut audience, candidly admits that it is bitter sweet "I have so much love for everyone here at Hot 93, from my coworkers to the bosses, but most of all my audience, I will miss them". This surprising move comes on the eve of her departure to Jamaica where she will take to the airwaves spring 2015. An official announcement from the station will come within the next few weeks. From BET, to BBC 1Xtra, and a #1 syndicated radio countdown program which proudly sets the standard in quality Caribbean Music in such countries as Ghana, Kenya and the British Islands, the diva has become one of the most sought after hosts. But part of Nikki Z's heart and soul has always remained in Jamaica where she last hosted an on air show in 2009. With her new management team in place, Nikki Z's excitement for her return to her beloved island is hard to contain. The diva shared her thoughts "Words can't express how excited I am to be able to reconnect with the listeners I love the most. The ones who made me who I am and I feel very blessed to have someone like Brand Manager Shelly Curran on my team guiding this transition back home. Just get ready, the Diva is back!" Nikki will continue to host her #1 syndicated Nikki Z Hot 20, and worldwide hosting duties. Keep up to date via www.DivaNikkiZ.com

Fresh off the release of his "Move On " Deluxe Edition album and a successful UK promotional tour Omari Banks is gearing up for a special performance at Moonsplash 2015. Moonsplash, the longest running independent music festival in the Eastern Caribbean, will be celebrating it's 25th anniversary with a star studded lineup which will take place March 27th until to 29th, 2015 at The Dune Preserve in Anguilla. The reggae star will share the familiar stage with such reggae legends as his father Bankie Banx, Third World, Freddie McGregor, Jah Cure a nd a host of notable artists. "It's always a pleasure performing on Moonsplash festival over the years. Moonsplash to me has been more than just a festival it has been a way of life and a family reunion at times. I've played many roles over the years from accompanying my dad on stage at age 9 or lining the beach with Candles with my best friend in primary school to ensure the mood is set for the nights headline act, it always a special time of year. This year is especially special as it is the 25 anniversary of Moonsplash and the vibes are running high. I'm super excited to put in a performance that I'm proud of and that will be remembered in the years to come" - Omari Banks Moonsplash was founded by Bankie Banx and Sheriff Bob Saidenberg in 1991 as a roving music festival. The original concerts were staged on Sandy Island, Pinel Cay off St. Martin and in St. Barths. Moonsplash found its permanent home in 1995 at The Dune Preserve at Rendezvous Bay on Anguilla. Since that time Moonsplash has become the longest running independent music festival in the Eastern Caribbean and has become a top showcase for vintage reggae acts and emerging talent. Over the past few years, headline performers have included Buju Banton, Gramps Morgan, Chronixx, Tarrus Riley, Duane Stephenson, Steel Pulse, Third World, Inner Circle, Buju Banton, Gregory Isaacs, Culture, Toots & The Maytals and many others. Other surprise guests have included Jimmy Buffett, John Mayer and the Bacon Brothers. ...................................................................................................................... Friday 27th - International Night • JAH CURE • OMARI BANKS • MIGHTY MYSTIC • And Much More .... ----------------------------------------------- Saturday 28th - A Night of LEGENDS! • THIRD WORLD • FREDDY MCGREGOR • BANKIE BANX AND THE ALL STAR BAND • And Much More .... ----------------------------------------------- Sunday 29th - Beach Party • ALL STAR BAND • VARIOUS LOCAL ARTISTS

Photo by Che Kothar Protoje — née Oje Ken Ollivierre — isn't supposed to be here, or at least that's what he says. The Jamaican native grew up in the western parish of Saint Elizabeth, a small country town far from the energy and liveliness of the Jamaican capital. Growing up, Saint Elizabeth was never a beacon for music for the young Proteje; there was no musician he could idolize who was also from the area. While his mother Lorna Bennett made a huge impact on reggae music with her 1972 version of "Breakfast in Bed" (she opted out of music for law school) and his father Michael Ollivierre, known as Lord Have Mercy, was a Calypso king in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, those weren't the paths Protoje wanted to take. One of Protoje's first interactions with music outside reggae was when he was in grade school. An older kid was rapping the lyrics to Slick Rick's 1989 classic "Children's Story." Protoje had never heard anything like it, and made the kid sing it again and again until Protoje knew the song from start to finish. Protoje didn't hear the original song in its entirety until he was 16-years-old as there was no access to hip-hop in Saint Elizabeth, but that didn't stop him from penning some of his own rhymes. He first started writing when he was twelve, and attended sound clashes (akin to rap battles) where his peers sang popular songs. He went to so many clashes that he was able to predict who would sing what, which allowed him to write counteractive lyrics in advance. While the other kids reused material, Protoje wrote original rhymes and knocked his competition out. He began honing his craft, essentially growing up on hip-hop, but on his own terms. Purchasing hip-hop music was difficult; songs like "Children's Story" were obscurities in Jamaica. The first hip-hop album that Protoje was able to purchase was Snoop Dogg's 1993 album Doggystyle, and that was long after it was released. Now, while his music is certainly reggae, elements of hip-hop are still present in his sound, especially through his lyrics and rhyme schemes. With this latest release Ancient Future, Protoje has been firmly placed at the forefront of the "reggae revival." He's indeed been able to pair the old with the new — for instance, Chronixx is featured on the hit single "Who Knows," while both Robert "Robbie" Shakespeare from Sly and Robbie and Earl "Chinna" Smith have also contributed bass and guitar lines to the album, respectively. For Protoje, it's all about "a youth that's working together," as he puts it. Protoje and his contemporaries, Chronixx and Kabaka Pyramid, are taking the first steps of reawakening. The three work together for the common good of their genre and country. They don't fight for the limelight, but lift up each other. In doing so, they have successfully pushed the boundaries of reggae to be inclusive and to move forward, to be self-sustaining and supportive. "I always say, the sky's big enough for every star to shine," says Protoje. His wish is that his music will move Jamaica forward, and overcome stereotypes to show that the country is going through many of the same situations that the people of America and elsewere experience. With the help of his cohorts, Protoje is launching a new reggae sound for a new generation. Ancient Future is a testament to that, a new age of reggae that infuses all genres, with hip-hop fusion and overt rock elements as well. Protoje and Winta James, a popular Jamaican producer, soaked up genre after genre to perfect their sound, listening to everything from the Black Keys to Lana Del Rey to Joey Bada$$ and Drake. And that's the thing about the musicians' newest project: it also is saturated in the old, in traditional Seventies and Eighties reggae bass lines and social consciousness. Ancient Future is a lament of times past, of the golden era of reggae music, before Bob Marley, Jacob Miller and Peter Tosh passed, and before Garnet Silk suddenly died. The album is also about memory: Protoje wrote Ancient Future in the same house where he grew up, in the same bedroom he slept in, using the same mirror he sang in front of as a teenager. While writing, he made it a habit of standing on the porch and recalling memories from his childhood and stories his father told him, such as the murder of Jamaican gang leader Claude Massop. He sings about what he saw and heard when he was younger. "[The album] was about paying homage to an era that I grew up with...for this album that was the design, that was the purpose," he says. "[Ancient Future] was just about going back to the past to move forward. Taking a step back to take two steps forward. Ancient is relative. But in our human life, twenty years ago is ancient. The future part of it comes from pushing the envelope, not just playing over beats and sampling stuff that was from twenty years ago, but what are we going to add to it, what elements are we going to infuse so that our generation can be a part of it? That's what I think I have and we have been able to do, [to] get people who are not in Jamaica into old school reggae, but into more modern music to kind of crossover." But ultimately, the album is about forward momentum. Ancient Future is a conversation between Protoje's younger and older selves. While Protoje felt a bit of hesitancy in showing his true self in his previous albums The Seven Year Itch (2011) and The 8 Year Affair (2013), he felt nothing but freedom and liberation with Ancient Future. The project became his diary of his joys, sadness, weaknesses and strengths. "I just felt like a bird out of a cage...I'm very comfortable now in what I do." His lyrics and concept are immersed in social responsibility, and at the root of it all is a call for everyone to be understanding and empathetic towards each other. "[Ancient Future is about] allowing people to be themselves — about letting people try to find themselves and not judge because you feel like you're at a further state of development than them. Because no matter how advanced you think you are, there's somebody out there that could look at you and be like, you're so not with it. To have that understanding." Like Protoje's song "Who Knows" goes, "Who knows, who knows, who knows, who knows / I just go where the trade winds blows." Be like the water that just keep flowing; try to give thanks for the good that you do get because some days will be great and others will be worse. Protoje will celebrate the release of Ancient Future at S.O.B.'s on March 15

The Royal Family of Reggae, Morgan Heritage , recently partnered with Billboard to exclusively premiere the new video for “ Perform And Done ,” the first single off the Strictly Roots, the band’s 10th studio album. The album will be released digitally on April 20th, 2015 and physically April 21st, 2015. Regarding the video, Morgan Heritage states, “Perform And Done is the music video that pushes the envelope for Morgan Heritage lyrically and visually. The goal is to captivate a whole new audience that would not typically watch a Morgan Heritage video. Our hope is that our existing and new fans appreciate our artistic expression.” Strictly Roots features a wide variety of guest performers including platinum selling pop/dancehall phenomenon, Shaggy ; American reggae and R&B vocalist, J Boog ; third generation ambassadors from the Morgan and Marley families, Jemere Morgan and Jo Mersa Marley ; reggae sensation, Chronixx; rock, world and reggae band, Rebelution ; and Bumble Bee from the American Grammy-nominated pop reggae band, SOJA . Morgan Heritage , which has established themselves as the premiere live group on the reggae circuit, will be kicking off the Strictly Roots tour in support of the band’s newest album on April 8th in Washington D.C. and wrapping up in Las Vegas, NV on April 27th. The tour also features third generation ambassador from the Morgan family, Jemere Morgan , as a special guest. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased here: http://morganheritagemusic.com/tourdates . Undoubtedly one of contemporary reggae’s most powerful forces on the global stage, the sensational roots reggae quintet, which comprises siblings Peetah Morgan (vocals), Una Morgan (keyboard/vocals), Gramps Morgan (keyboard/vocals), Lukes Morgan (rhythm guitar) and Mr. Mojo Morgan (percussion/vocals) has embraced the challenges that come with empowerment of this nature. Guided by sheer acumen and a passionate desire to make their already rich musical legacy even more impactful, Morgan Heritage , after much deliberation and contemplation, triumphantly delivers their latest album exclusively on their very own label CTBC (Cool To Be Conscious) Music Group. For more information, please visit: www.MorganHeritageMusic.com

Bermudian " Ravoshia Mone’ ,” has released an official music video for her song “ Drop It” . On her rise to fame, last year she released her first song, a dance track titled “ Don’t Stop Pop Rocks ,” followed by her second single, called “Dutty Wine”. Born Ravoshia Whaley , she is now residing in Austin, Texas attending college in her fourth year, even while recording new music as she works to push herself into the music business

Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman will be the new “ Bond Girl” , Estrella , when she appears in 007’s upcoming movie Spectre. She will star opposite Daniel Craig in the franchise’s 24th movie. The film also stars double Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz as likely villain Franz Oberhauser and Dave Bautista as henchman Mr Hinx. Ralph Fiennes plays the new M, with Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw returning as Moneypenny and Q. Sigman, 27, has starred in the award-winning 2011 Mexican film Miss Bala , about a beauty pageant contestant involved with drug traffickers. Also, this summer she’ll star as drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s mistress in the Netflix series Narcos. Sigman is the second Mexican born female to star as James Bond’s love interest; Linda Christian was the first in the 1954 television adaptation of the Casino Royale . Spectre' is due to open in US cinemas on November 6.

The “ Vibes on the Island” concert which is sponsored by The Sandals Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company and Caribbean Bottling Company Bahamas has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2015. The concert was originally scheduled for October of 2014 but was cancelled due to inclement weather. “Due to unforeseen weather conditions, we were unfortunately unable to host “Vibes on the Island” last October,” noted Heidi Clarke, Director of Programs for the Sandals Foundation. “We are so pleased, however, to have rescheduled what promises to be an energetic and sensational event with top-notch performers. We are looking forward to a successful evening thanks to the support of our local and international sponsors, and encourage Bahamians near and far to come out as we together raise funds for a very worthy cause.” The charity fundraiser will feature live performances from internationally acclaimed reggae artist, Tarrus Riley and Chronixx , with special guests Dean Fraser & the Blak Soil Band and ZincFence Redemption. “Vibes on the Island 2015” will once again take place on Sandals’ Private Island at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in Nassau, Bahamas The concert in support of the Providing Access to Continued Education programme (P.A.C.E.) will also be sponsored, in part, by: Flight Centre Travel Group, JetBlue Airways, Columbian Emeralds, and The Nassau Guardian Limited. All proceeds from this year’s benefit concert will go to P.A.C.E. and to the completion of their building fund. P.A.C.E. provides much needed support and education to teenage mothers while promoting awareness to help reduce teen pregnancy among young adults in Nassau, Bahamas. As a proud partner, the Sandals Foundation – the non-profit arm of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Resorts – remains committed to raising funds that will see to the completion of building a brand new, multi-purpose facility ensuring that young mothers have access to a support center that will accommodate administrative, health care, nursery and academic services.