Reggae The Heat In Jamdown Acts and Producers Who Are Stroking Today's Fire By Elena Oumano SHAGGY, along with BUJU BANTON, BOUNTY KILLER and BEENIE MAN, dominated the reggae deejay [rap] field at home and abroad last year, with newer artists FRISCO KID and GENERAL DEGREE beginning to crowd them at the figurative mic. Conscious deejay ANTHONY B dominated virtually all of the many shows he appeared at, and his fiery moral rhetoric was all over the radio, thanks in large part to his gifted producer/manager RICHARD "BELLO" BELL, also respsonsible for jump-starting singer EVERTON BLENDER's potent career. Top ranking singer LUCIANO's galvanizing performances and superb writing and recording in 1996 put him square in the tracks toward international stardom laid by BOB MARLEY. More than ever, artists are doubling as producers, with veteran singer FREDDIE MCGREG0R's Big Ship label the primary paradigm for this route to success. Singjay/singer/producer TONY REBEL'S "Lalabella" compilation continues to yield hit singles and welcome jolts of inspiration (especially from Rebel himself, Blender and a galvanizing new singer, African-American RAS SHILOH). Rebel's Flames label's forthcoming compilation of his own hits promises to do the same. Singer/producer RICHIE STEPHENS and his Pot O' Gold label have been consistent local hitmakers, and the versatile, R&B-inflected singer/writer/producer MIKEY SPICE recently inked an album deal with Atlantic Records-distributed American independent Mesa/Blue Moon. Buju Banton is recording for his Gargamel label, as well as for Penthouse, Mad House and others. Returning to his roots for inspiration, Banton even "juggled" the microphone last spring at a Brooklyn soundsystem dance...Longtime stellar DJ JOSEY WALES bounced onto the reggae charts in May and June with "Bushwacked," an autobiographical country-and-western-crooned account of being robbed and shot. Veteran singers COCO TEA, with "Israel's King" and ranking belle voce SANCHEZ's "Praise Him," both produced by XTERMINATOR, turned into two of 1996's best albums... The prolific BERES HAMMOND churned out several consistently fine albums in the past 12 months, while another steady hitmaker of two decades, singer BARRINGTON LEVY, paired with Bounty for "Living Dangerously," one of the year's boomshots. But reggae continues to be a constantly reinvented entity that depends on new musical talent and styles. Out of producer/manager PHILLIP "FATTIS" BURRELL's Xterminator label (the crew Luciano leads) comes singer/De SIZZLA, who released his sophomore album, "Praise Ye Jah," in early summer. Sizzla's melodically intricate, vertiginous chanting style and "wise child" lyrical revelations are pushing the DJ envelope hard, actually progressing the genre. The 21-year-old's built a good head of steam on such recent tunes as "Black Woman And Child" and "Homeless." Singer JAHMALI, managed by BRIGITTE ANDERSON, is a Cannes' musical revelation with movie-star looks now catching fire at home. Other bright new talents include SCREWDRIVER and BUSHMAN. Producer DANNY BROWNIE's Main Street label is combusting in the dancehall, thanks to his free-ranging musical imagination and a talented crew that includes Degree, BUCCANEER (whose "Skettel Concerto" kicked off the delightful reggae-opera trend), G00FY and the strikingly original RED RAT. Among other DJ [reggae rapper] crews making big noise now are MONSTER SHOCK and Bounty Killa's SCARE DEM...Dancehall producer/wizard MADHOUSE and Extra Large labels owner DAVE KELLY cannot create anything other than international chart-rulers. His "Joy Ride" riddim compilation was still No. 1 on Billboard's reggae chart as of this writing and is the disc jockey's prime obsession. And since WAYNE WONDER matched his silky crooning to Kelly's tracks in smash hits like "Glama Gal," the results have been gems of dancehall fascination. Another hit compilation album, "East Coast Meets Fat Eyes," features Jamaican-American ADRIAN JONES' excellent Brook!yn-based label going head-to-head with Jamaican engineers COLIN BULBY" YORK's equally dread label. On the sound-system [mobile-discos] circuit, STONE LOVE, reggae's top-ranking sound system (yes, the one that "mashed up" Cannes' Whiskey Au Go Go during MIDEM), celebrated its 25th birthday with late May shows and continues to "play out" internationally.. Relative new kid RENAISSANCE DISCO, headed by inventive remixer DELANO THOMAS, continues to build its reputation via Thomas' inventive reworkings on a reggae-meets-hip-hop-and-everything-else tip. The Renaissance record label launches this summer. Producer/Digital B label-owner BOBBY "DIGITAL" DIXON is still resuscitating the careers of worthy but previously dormant vets, along with producing NYC-based MORGAN'S HERITAGE's recent new album, "Protect Us Jah." The soundtrack for "Dancehall Queen," an Island Jamaica digital-video feature, outstandingly acted (especially by Paul Campbell) in patois, features Bounty Killa, SUGAR MINOTT, THE MARLEY GIRLS, CHAKA DEMUS AND PLIERS; a roundup of established and newer stars, and will be released this summer. It introduces to international listeners 22-year-old Island Jamaica singer CHEVELLE FRANKLYN in the title track's duet with BEENIE MAN (Delano Thomas did a sizzling remix)...Women I artists continue to struggle, but the winningly rambunctious, mega-talent LADY SAW is holding her top spot with tunes produced by PATRICK ROBERTS' SHOCKING VIBES and Kelly, and "Passion," her new album, which is being marketed aggressively outside Jamaica by VP Records. Relative newcomer dancehall singer TANYA STEPHENS emerged as a major player last year with "Yuh Nub Ready FI Dis," sung over Kelly's joyride riddim--a women's anthem for years to come. The MARLEY camp had a great year, with The Melody makers touring internationally this summer and fall in support of their new album, "Fallen Is Babylon." The first Jamaican single Lady Saw release, "Everybody Wants To Be," is already ruling airwaves there. Younger sons JULIAN and DAMIEN toured heavily in support of their excellent Ghetto Youth/Tuff Gong albums. Next up, 21-year-old sincger/DJ KYMANI, Bob's sixth son, whose mother is former Jamaican ping pong champ Anita Belnavis. Without making an issue of it, Ky-Mani is standing apart from Tuff Gong and Ghetto Youth, making camp instead with CLIFTON "SPECIALIST" DILLON's Shang label, which launched the international careers of SHABBA RANKS and PATRA. Ky-Mani's stirring up a major commotion with his new singles, "Judge Not," featuring PATRA; "Sensimilla"; and "The Lord Is My Shepherd," with Jamaican gospel group THE GRACE THRILLERS. ___________________________________