Boomshots

Author: Boomshots

  • Assassin Talks “Theory of Reggaetivity”: “Roots Proponents See Me as a Baldhead Rasta”

    Assassin Talks “Theory of Reggaetivity”: “Roots Proponents See Me as a Baldhead Rasta”

    Agent Sasco Links Protoje & Chronixx, Returns To The Roots

    Yesterday Assassin aka Agent Sasco released Theory of Reggaetivity, his first album in over 10 years. The 14-song set shot straight toward the highest regions of the iTunes reggae chart, landing just below Bob Marley’s Legend, which is appropriate for the dancehall DJ’s first all-reggae project, which he describes as “my musical study of the principles of reggae music.” Conceived in Europe and recorded between Los Angeles, New York, and Kingston, JA, Theory of Reggaetivity features production by the likes of Sting International, Chimney Records, Silly Walks Discotek, Diggy British (aka Protoje), Niko Browne, The Drum Keyz, Theo Butler, MLMG, Sound Cheq, and W. Thompson. We first heard this gravelly-voiced lyricist ripping up the Diwali Riddim and trading bars with Spragga Benz and Vybz Kartel back in the early 2000s. More recently he’s become hip hop’s best kept secret weapon [LINK], making guest appearances on massive albums by Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. Boomshots caught up with him the night after Kendrick featured his voice in a live performance on the Grammy Awards broadcast, and chatted about why he decided the time was right to make this decisive move forward to the roots of Jamaican music. Interview After the Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Sister Nancy

    Reasoning with Sister Nancy

    Dancehall’s Original Muma Talks “Bam Bam,” Rihanna, and Kanye West

    Quick: what’s the most sampled song in reggae history? If you guessed “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy you know your stuff. Her 1982 album cut has provided raw material for dozens of records for artists ranging from Chris Brown to Too $hot to Diamond D. The latest may be the biggest tune of all:”Famous” by Kanye West featuring Rihanna and Swizz Beatz, off The Life of Pablo. Yep, that’s the song where Yeezy disses Taylor Swift–the one everybkdy’s chatting bout although few have actually heard it. When Boomshots caught up with Muma Nancy for a recent Billboard piece the legendary foundation DJ had not heard the tune yet. Not that she’s in much of a hurry to do so. She’s unimpressed with the whole sampling thing, much preferring a live session. But trust and believe she will be picking up that royalty check. Pree the full reasoning below. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Reggae Rajahs “Pass The Lighter”

    HEAR THIS: Reggae Rajahs “Pass The Lighter”

    Even in India, Where Ganja is a Way of Life, The Struggle Continues

    Based in the beautiful seaside state of Goa, Reggae Rajahs represent reggae music throughout India. It’s only right, considering the massive influence of Indian culture with Jamaica in general, plus reggae and Rastafari in particular. In this track from the Rajah’s December 2015 EP, Reggae Beach Party, the five-man posse utilizes the classic Studio One riddim “High Fashion Dub” to advocate for the legalization of marijuana in a country where ganja has been considered a holy sacrament since 2000 B.C. Go deh Rajahs! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kendrick Lamar ft. the voice of Assassin “The Blacker The Berry” Live pon The Grammys

    WATCH THIS: Kendrick Lamar ft. the voice of Assassin “The Blacker The Berry” Live pon The Grammys

    Agent Sasco Was Not In The Building For The Grammys, But His Words Rang In Our Ears

    Let’s start by saying that there were no losers at this years Grammys. Congratulations to Morgan Heritage on the Grammy they worked so hard for—for their entire lives. Big up The Weeknd and Kendrick and Adele and Lady Gaga and Alabama Shakes. We lovers of reggae respect all great music. (Wouldn’t be mad at some vicey versey love tho.) It was also a night when Rihanna canceled her performance due to bronchitis, Lauryn Hill didn’t turn up as expected for her “surprise” spot with The Weeknd, and Jah Cure wiped his Instagram clean shortly after coming up short in the voting for the Best Reggae Album. (Big up Iyacure said speed; just remember music alone shall live, and “we don’t need no visas to come thru your speakers.”) Still at the end of it all, we had Assassin’s voice, cutting through like a chainsaw while K-Dot released the chain.  Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jah Mason “Princess Gone” (Remix)

    HEAR THIS: Jah Mason “Princess Gone” (Remix)

    Because Valentine’s Day Isn’t Always So Sweet

    It’s been ten years since Jah Mason dropped his album Princess Gone: The Saga Bed.  The title track, originally released in 2005, was the artist’s first No. 1 single in Jamaica, topping the charts for three straight weeks. The tall, slim turban-wearing youth, born Andrae Corey Johnson in rural Manchester, clearly had music in his blood just like his relative Tony Rebel. And despite all the music he’s made in a prolific career, “Princess Gone” remains his signature song. Now working with New Creation productions, Jah Mason recently gifted his fans with a new EP entitled Love & Wisdom. This tasteful acoustic remix—filled with shakers, Binghi drums, flute, acoustic guitar and sweet harmonies—invests the poignant song with fresh life. Anyone who’s ever lost their love will surely feel this one, especially on a day like today.  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Come Over (Missing You)” Acoustic Cover

    WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Come Over (Missing You)” Acoustic Cover

    Great Songs Are Just Great Songs, No Matter Where You Come From

    Busy Signal is not just the most versatile artist in dancehall today, he’s also a great songwriter. The Turf Prezident’s powerful pen game inspired this acoustic cover version, which we discovered last night on his Instagram. The singer’s name is Jayne. The guitarist is Ramiro Malagon. The backing vocals are provided by the producer of this track, a youth called Maroon Riddimz. According to his SoundCloud page, he’s based in Pembroke Pines, Florida and his parents are Jamaican. There’s a bottle of Appleton on the table and a black gold and green flag on the wall. Judging by the sounds, they are definitely feeling the vibes. Start your Valentine’s Day off with these sounds and hold a romantic medz. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Tune For Tune: Battle of the “Hello” Reggae Versions

    Tune For Tune: Battle of the “Hello” Reggae Versions

    Who Did Adele’s Big Tune Better: Conkarah & Rosie Delmah or Alaine?

    Big up all Boomshots massive and welcome to a new feature we call “Tune for Tune.” Today we’re going to compare different reggae versions of Adele’s 2015 chart-topped “Hello.” In Reshma B’s latest Clash Music Reggae & Dancehall Column, she points out that a reggae version of Adele’s latest sad song shot to the top of the ITunes Reggae Charts. That version was recorded by Conkarah, a British/Jamaican artist, who discovered a fourteen-year-old girl from the Solomon Islands named Rosie Delmah. The other reggae version was recorded by Alaine, Jamaica’s “reggae songbird” and produced by Shane Brown for Jukeboxx Productions. Let’s get to the tunes. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jully Black ft. Tanya Stephens “Bom Bom” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Jully Black ft. Tanya Stephens “Bom Bom” Remix

    Two Dancehall Divas Tackle The Track Sister Nancy Made “Famous”

    This weekend the Internet is buzzing about Kanye West dissing Taylor Swift on a track called “Famous.”  The song, which apparently features Rihanna and Swizz Beatz, is part of his new album, The Life of Pablo, and isn’t released yet. If you were one of the people who tuned in to last week’s big Yeezy Season 3 fashion show / album premiere, live-streamed around the world from Madison Square Garden, then you know the most-talked-about track on the most-talked-about album right now is built around Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam”—a dancehall classic on the immortal Stalag Riddim. Since it’s not much fun reading about songs you can’t hear, let’s turn our attention to another hot song that interpolates “Bam Bam.” This one was created by Toronto’s own Julky Black, who reached out to a real live Jamaican reggae star to spit some fire on the remix, riding a rough and rugged remake of the Stalag with drums that go extra hard. No more long talking. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Machel Montano Rules Carnival With “Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?

    Machel Montano Rules Carnival With
    “Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?

    Trinidad & Tobago’s “Minister of Road” Takes Third Consecutive Road March Title

    Trinidadian soca superstar Machel Montano has won his third consecutive road march title. Since 1932, the Trinidad Carnival Committtee has awarded the prize to the  musical composition played most often at the “judging points” along the parade route throughout Port of Spain during the big carnival celebration. This is the eighth win of Montano’s career. Not since Tambu hit the trifecta in 1988, 89, and 1990 has one artist dominated the competition three years in a row. The winning tune, “Waiting on the Stage,” was produced by Trini production squad Badjohn Republic. But with its strong EDM influence, it almost sounds like it could be a Major Lazer record.  Check out the tune and judge for yourself. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Raging Fyah “Milk and Honey” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Raging Fyah “Milk and Honey” PREMIERE

    New Music From The We Remember Dennis Brown Album

    It’s been just ten days since V.P. Records announced the highly anticipated roots reggae project, We Remember Dennis Brown, which will see a range of Jamaican and international artists paying tribute to the Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown by recording some of his classic cuts. Today Boomshots is proud to premiere the latest track from the album, an all-new version of the Rastafarian anthem “Milk and Honey” as performed by the red-hot Jamaican reggae ensemble Raging Fyah. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Marley Natural Mystic Blowing Through The Air

    Marley Natural Mystic Blowing Through The Air

    Excuse Me While I Light My Spliff

    Just last Friday in Los Angeles, Marley Natural announced the launch of their highly line of premium cannabis products. “We are fortunate to be living during a promising time of positive change, especially with regard to cannabis and how people understand it,” said Cedella Marley, Bob’s firstborn child, who heads up the family’s business affairs. “My dad would be so happy to see so many people appreciating the natural, healing power of the herb. We are thrilled to be sharing Marley Natural products with the world just in time for his 71st birthday.” The family-owned company, which has been in the works for more than a year, attracted investment from major players like Peter Thiel, the founder of Paypal.  Marley Natural’s inaugural product line includes four different strains of all-natural, locally-sourced, sun-grown cannabis flower (aka buds) and oil, which will be available in California for starters, but is expected to roll out nationwide as marijuana laws. (Last year legal cannabis sales exceeded $5 billion in the U.S. alone) Marley Natural also offeres a line of body care products made from hemp seed oil and other Jamaican botanicals as well as a collection of “smoking, storage and preparation accessories”—what Babylon used to call “drug paraphernalia.” More Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • Ten Great Bob Marley Songs You Probably Never Heard

    Ten Great Bob Marley Songs You Probably Never Heard

    The Songs That Made The Gong A Legend Are Not All On Legend

    Bob Marley’s greatest hits collection Legend is the top-selling reggae album of all time, with at least 15 million copies sold—according to the RIAA website. It’s a good bet the actual numbers are a lot higher, but let’s just say that the 15 tracks on that album have served as most people’s introduction to the Tuff Gong—and to reggae music overall. But like the song says, “Half the story has never been told.” Even if you’ve collected all of Marley’s albums for Island Records you could still spend a lifetime exploring his work with Scratch Perry, Coxsone Dodd, Leslie Kong, Danny Sims, or Randy’s Studio 17. In honor of Robert Nesta Marley’s 71st Birthday, we’ve gathered some of our favorite rarities and under-rated Marley classics. Most will come as a revelation to your average Legend listener. A serious reggae fan will have heard at least a few before. If you know all ten of these already, nuff respect. Rock on, Tuff Gong. Audio After The Jump… (more…)