The Stars of Miunga Ya Muziki
This is International Reggae Month and millions of music fans all over the world, are anticipating the grand release of Miungu Ya Muziki (meaning Music Gods in Swali, Africa). This 15-track album-the brain-child of Michael “Beatbopper” Hudgins and his incredible team-DiPresident, Bentley Records, and Third World Don, is giving the world, an album for all the years and ears.
Eugene Pitter, the Caribbean twice Most Outstanding Journalist, in a tough critique of the album, had this to say. “Well, it(Miungu Ya Muziki) is clearly an international reggae album with the qualities of being nominated for a Grammy. It’s refreshing with some great universal themes which are needed to give people hope in these trying times.”
This priceless souvenir comes with Africa’s music gods -the energetic Epixode, the dynamic Darkovibes, and HephB of Nigeria, with USA superstar Gucci Maine to as far as Ukraine’s diva, Tina Karol.
From the Jamaican camp (from which Bob Marley is Reggae King) comes the tantalizing Third World Don, the magnificent Maestro Don, and Lyrical Lahjihkal. The full slate of artists are Epixode “Killa Body”; Maestro Don, “Pioneer” ft. Bounty Killer; Third World Don, ‘”Prayer” ft. Kabaka; Pyramid; Darkovibes, “One Time”; Epixode “Jehovah” ft. Stonebwoy; Lahjihkal, “To The Team” ;Luca Dayz, Legendary Marquest ft Sean Kingston and Tina Karol, “Phenomenal” ft. , Beatbopper and Third World Don, The Stars of Miunga Ya Muziki “Jump Out The Gym” ft. Gucci Maine; Epixode, “Bad Energy”; KXNG Izem, “Stone Love” ft. BLvk H3ro ; Ayr Swisha, “Fortunes”; Milou Sky, “Compromise”; Talis and Headnoize, “Nuh Need” and Dylan, “Dili Do So:” ft. Nefatari.Hudgins.”
While hugging his most recent billboard plaque for helping to steer Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica-The Reggae Edition, to Billboard status, never forgets the “Big Man Above-JAH” in whatever he does.” He is the Creator of all things, and thanks to my mom, Carol Hudgins Hay (aka The Real Cookie), and grandmother, Mary Bowman. They taught me to respect others while demanding respect for yourself first.”
So, Hudgins quest to reach the heights of great men led to his meeting partners like David “DiPresident” Grant- a Jamaican born who had come to US land of fame and fortune. His passion for music was evidently working with the likes of cover-girl and songstress, Nefateri, actors/singers D’Meetri (Griffin) of Backish and Stitchers, Christian Distefano (the voice of Alex on Paw Patrol), as well as reggae-pop group Milou Sky, and Ukraine’s Tina Karol. “Well, everything came into play as I was searching for talent and listened to Third World Don music who Grant had already discovered.” Don turned out not only to be a US-based multi- platinum-selling independent artiste, on this album (Miungu Ya Muziki) but an invaluable business partner. “As if it was an act of God, Hudgins, while working behind the scenes of “Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica “The reggae Edition” met Bentley Records owned by Luca Dayz. And, what a blessing!
“This was the icing on the cake as Bentley Records based in New York works with some of the biggest artists around the world. Its music catalog is more than 5,000 records with major hit releases with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Sean Kingston, Soul Boy, and Tina Karol”. Hudgins and his dynamic trio fit into this million-dollar quote used so often to remind man that: “The heights of great men reach and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they while their companions slept Were toiling through the night”.
