Beppe JAKA Giacalone, born in Sicily is one of the most noted ambassadors of reggae in Italy. Resident in Tuscany, he is extensively active as a singer, MC, musician, composer, DJ, radio-show host and promoter.
Over the course of his career he was invited to perform live on stage by artists such as Luciano, Alton Ellis, Max Romeo, Michael Franti, Sergent Garcìa, Eek-A-Mouse, Africa Unite, 99 Posse, Roy Paci, Almamegretta, Frankie Hi-Ng , and many others, and to sing with sound systems such as One Love Hi Powa, Sattamassagana Sound, Villa Ada and Blackheart.
Jakas voice opens the album Black Liberation Dub Vol. 2 of Mad Professor, and he composed Ganjah, one of the greatest successes of Italian reggae.
Jaka recorded his first single under the name of Dj Kote Giacalone in 1991, in combination with Il Generale. Produced by Madaski with the title Della Parola Armati (Wide), today this release is a classic of Italian reggae.
In 2000 Jaka released the CD Memorabile (Teg/Warner Music) containing the noted success Un SAccuntenta, whose video achieved heavy rotation on major national Italian television channels.
Jaka has appeared in hundreds of concerts in the most prominent Italian venues and festivals, including the Olympic Stadium of Rome, Metarock of Pisa, in 7 editions of the Rototom Reggae Sunsplash and in the Sikula Reggae Festival, where in 2002 seven thousand fans greeted the return home of the Sicilian ambassador of Reggae.
In 2000 Jaka participated in the tour of Piero Pelù of Litfiba fame in stadiums of major Italian cities. Jaka has been the official MC of four editions of Rototom Reggae Sunsplash, Europes biggest Reggae festival,and the anchor man for ArcoIris Tv going on the Sky channel on television.
As radio host, Jaka collaborates with Controradio, where for fifteen years, has presented Bongoman, a program fundamental in popularising reggae in Italy. Jaka is also one of the official DJs of Popolare Network, which annually broadcasts the Rototom Reggae Sunsplash live.
Jaka has been resident DJ for a decade at the prestigious Flog Auditorium of Florence, where, with turntables and mic, he opens shows for major international artists and where he directs the evenings Vibranite, which have become the key event in Italy for dedicated reggae fans.
Active in the street, Jaka conducts music workshops in (neighbor)hoods in Florence, and has initiated the project H2F, dedicated to Tuscan reggae and hip-hop. The H2F project has inspired two CDs (H2F e H2F2) and a video documentary that represents the vibrant and ever-growing Tuscan scene where Jaka has been a focal point. Jakas concerts and DJ sets remain one of the best ways to be part of one of the most intriguing shows of contemporary Reggae.
