Queen Ifrica

Last year's sold-out event featured the onstage lyrical devastation of Dancehall's reigning 'Don Gorgon' Ninja Man, who squared off against rival deejays Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. This year again, in a showdown dubbed 'three the hard way,' the rivals return for another lyrical showdown that is sure to have the Dancehall aficionados reeling. The NJ Reggaefest is also the only summer festival that Bounty Killer's scores of die-hard Tri-State fans will get a chance to see the 'Warlord' live in action, as this is the only outdoor staging that he will be doing in the area for 2008.
 
Known as the "Fiyah Muma" Queen I-frica, who scored her first hit single with "Below the Waist," in 2007, has emerged as one of Roots Reggae's foremost conscious stars, stirring controversy and social awareness by addressing incest and child molestation on her follow up chart-topping single "Daddy," and the dangers of Jamaica's latest skin bleaching trend with "Mi Nah Rub." The daughter of legendary Reggae singer Derrick Morgan, I-frica is looking forward to making her Tri-State area debut. I-frica's manager, legendary Roots singjay Tony Rebel, confirms that the Queen is ready for 'the year of the great' NJ Reggaefest.
 
"Yeah, this is I-frica's first time appearing in the Tri-State area, since she has become famous," states Rebel, who scored his first of many big hits in 1990 with "Fresh Vegetable" and has since gone on to found record label and management firm Flames Productions.  "She is really looking forward to coming to New Jersey for the ReggaeFest; the Tri-State area is definitely a huge market that has been waiting for her, and she is more than ready to deliver."
 
"Last year, we had to turn people away because the venue was totally sold-out, filled to capacity," states NJ Reggaefest organizer Casey "G City" Rankine. "This year again, with Queen I-frica, Beenie, Ninja, and the return of Bounty, it is sure to be even bigger than last year."
 
Vintage Reggae lovers will be treated to acclaimed crooners Barrington Levy and Carlton Livingston. Top contending newcomers Flippa Mafia, who is riding high with the single "Dem Yah and Dem Yah" and his starring role in the film What Goes Around, Etana, and Demarco whose anthems "Fallen Soldiers" and "Duppy Know Who Fi Frighten" have made him a dominating force in Dancehall this year, will make their NJ Reggaefest debut.
 
"Two Thousand Eight is our 8th year as New Jersey's premiere outdoor festival celebrating the sound and culture of Reggae," says G City. "With a line-up that includes so many of the Dancehall/Reggae greats and upcoming greats, we had to nickname 2008's Reggae Fest, 'the year of the great.'"