As a performer and active member of the Caribana community, Beckford aims to promote culture through a unique blend of roots, rock and reggae.

From political to emotional
Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah, Part Two: Return of the Ankh is a return to her melodic neo soul roots
BY: Leroy Graham
There is no doubt that Erykah Badu is one of the strangest women in the music industry. In fact, our guess is that Lady Gaga has spent more than a few nights drawing inspiration from the swagger and style of the mama of neo soul. It’s actually that unpredictable (and sometimes unintelligible) artistic inspiration, which makes each Badu album a work of art. Two years after …

To say things are going well for Toronto R&B singer-songwriter Melanie Fiona would be an understatement. When Sway magazine caught up with Fiona in the midst of her whirlwind schedule, she was in New York City. It was not long after the Grammys, and Fiona scored a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song It Kills Me. She lost to BeyoncŽ’s Single Ladies — no shame there — she was just happy to be nominated.