MIMS teams with Ky-Mani

Mims worked with Ky-Mani Marley on his album.

RAPPER MIMS, who struck it big two years ago with Junior Reid on the song, This Is Why I'm Hot, is back with Guilt, his second album.

Guilt was recently released by Capitol Records. It hears MIMS - who has Jamaican roots - maintaining the reggae link with Ky-Mani Marley on the song, One Day.

This Is Why I'm Hot was a surprise hit. It topped the Billboard Pop Singles chart, and not only announced the New York-reared MIMS to the hip-hop scene but revived the career of Reid, a roots singer who has been recording since the late 1970s.

Reid has since recorded with R&B superstar Alicia Keys.

Experiencing Kiddus-I

Kiddus-I

Resurgent roots singer Kiddus-I headlines the Inna De Yard Experience show this evening at the Redbones Blues Café in St Andrew.

He is scheduled to do an acoustic set accompanied by veteran session guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith who conceptualised the Inna De Yard series which has done well in Europe.

"I haven't worked in Jamaica for a while so it's a nice change of pace," Kiddis-I told Tidbits Thursday.

In the past two years, Kiddus-I has recorded the well-received Inna De Yard and Graduation In Zion albums. He has two other albums, Green For Life and Rocking Rebels, scheduled for a summer release.

Kiddus-I (real name Frank Dowding) was an underground player in the roots-reggae movement of the 1970s. He is best known for his role in the 1978 movie, Rockers.

New 'gigs' for Lukes

Lukes from Morgan Heritage. - Contributed photos

Morgan Heritage guitarist, Lukes Morgan, has launched Prestige Entertainment, a booking/production company which will work with reggae and dancehall acts.

The company has offices in Kingston and Miami. Recently, it signed singer Lutan Fyah to its roster and has been working with Busy Signal, Demarco, Natural Black and Bunny Wailer.

Morgan says he has booked dates for Morgan Heritage in the past three years. He believes years of recording and touring with his siblings have prepared him for his new gig.

"I feel the experience as an artiste has helped. The young artistes especially need someone who knows the business and who can relate to them," he told Tidbits Thursday.

Morgan said he is not leaving Morgan Heritage.