Mod Sun works a feel-good genre angle he’s dubbed Hippy Hop that runs on sunshine, positive vibrations and righteous herb. His infectious positivity and zest for living makes him Hip Hop’s Andrew WK.     

 South Carolina’s Trevor Hall doesn’t make the kind of music you might expect to come from a native of the American South. Instead, Hall’s music has a Reggae streak, the kind of tunes he may have heard growing up in the beach community of Hilton Head or later at the arts school he attended in California. If you like Jack Johnson and Colbie Caillat and enjoy grooving to Bob Marley on occasion, Hall’s releases would fit nicely in your collection.   

 Rebelution’s infectious blend of Reggae and Pop underscores their socially conscious lyrics, creating a positive vibration that has proven to be engaging and wildly popular.   

Dave Matthews is understandably fond of Soldiers of Jah Army, or SOJA as they’ve been acronymed. The Arlington, Va., quintet has a similar grass roots success story, after all. SOJA has opened for M  

Looks like Jamaica is about to get a lot less fun. Officials announced recently that there would be a ban on all references to sex and violence on the airwaves. The ban is specifically targeting music; according to the AP, the government plans to "ban any song or music video that depicts sexual acts or glorifies gun violence, murder, rape or arson."  

Shit, has it really been six years since The Sundresses erupted all over the Cincinnati scene? In that time, the trio has amassed some impressive stats, including four consecutive SXSW appearances and a ton of wildly successful opening gigs and tours.  

His Torah-inspired lyrics have mainstreamed Reggae while giving audiences exposure to the dynamism of the Jewish faith. With each performance, Matisyahu is recasting how the public receives both Reggae and Judaism.  

Recently I met up with the members of local Reggae giants Super-Massive at The Mad Frog in Corryville, where they play every Thursday. The band is wrapping up a year that's included many successes and milestones, including the release of their self-titled debut CD in September and, just last month, winning their first Cincinnati Entertainment Award.  

Cincinnati’s finest and most popular Reggae crew, Super-Massive, will unveil its first album with two release parties this week — Wednesday at Stanley’s Pub and Thursday at The Mad Frog (where they’ll be joined by special guests Jah Roots, from Missouri).