Boomshots

Author: Boomshots

  • WATCH THIS: Fuse ODG “Top of my Charts” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Fuse ODG “Top of my Charts” Official Music Video

    The UK Afro-Beat Star Drops Some Straight Lovers Rock

    Born in Ghana and based in London, Fuse ODG champions a musical wave known as AfroBeat in the UK, but to island ears it sometimes sounds a lot like reggae music. On this particular track—which hits stoees next week—he’s taking it straight to Jamrock by way of West London. After all it was the UK that pioneered the whole Lovers’ Rock movement. The video has a nice block party vibes—special request to all the lovers who know they’re in it to win it. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Shaggy Has A Plan to Defeat ISIS

    Shaggy Has A Plan to Defeat ISIS

    The Operation Desert Storm Veteran Is Still Fighting the Good Fight

    “ISIS can go fuck themself,” Shaggy declared in a recent interview with the Miami New Times (and the question was about music, not politics).  “That’s some crazy shit what they’re doing. It’s horrible, man. I can’t see… I don’t get that much hate. I just don’t get that level of evil. I can’t understand it.” And so, after a few more questions about music, Shaggy—aka former field artillery cannon crewman Orville Richard Burrell, USMC—shared what was really on his mind, a strategy for toppling the Islamic State in Syria. Thank him later. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Krept & Konan ft. Jeremih, Beenie Man & Popcaan “Freak of the Week” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Krept & Konan ft. Jeremih, Beenie Man & Popcaan “Freak of the Week” Remix

    Di Playground Riddim Ah No Play Play Ting

    South London grimesters K&K serve up hip hop and grime on their new mixtape The Long Way Home. The breakout single, featuring DJ Mustard on the beats and Chi-town singer Jeremih on the hook, has a definite dancehall flavor—inspired by the mighty Playground Riddim—which inspired Beenie and Papi to give it a refix. Check the levels. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Lil Wayne ft. Jr. Reid, Cory Gunz & Capo “Murda”

    HEAR THIS: Lil Wayne ft. Jr. Reid, Cory Gunz & Capo “Murda”

    Free Weezy Album Cut Says The Youth in New Orleans Have Two Choices

    Who cares about a multimillion-dollar-lawsuit? Lil Wayne dropped his Free Weezy album on July 4th just as he promised his fans. Tunechi’s spitting straight fire on this album, especially Track #8. “First degree murda,” Jr. “One Blood” Reid sings on the hook. “Beg them don’t push it further / This ah no beef fe mek burger / The youth them strapped with them burner.” You get the picture. In his verse Weezy suggests that “we’re living in a time when the 10 Commandments are now suggestions.” Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Drake Brings Out Skepta to Shutdown London’s Wireless Festival

    Drake Brings Out Skepta to Shutdown London’s Wireless Festival

    Drizzy Is The Latest Superstar to Link With Boy Better Know

    According to NME, Drake brought out London grime MC Skepta to perform “Shutdown” during his set at London’s Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park July 3rd. OVO affiliate Partynextdoor joined Drake on one song as did iLoveMakonnen, who performed ‘Tuesday’ with his new label boss. However, the biggest reaction was by far when Skepta came out. Drake wore a Boy Better Know T-Shirt and chatted in some UK slang: “Man’s never been in Finsbury when it’s shutdown,” said Drake as the song began. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Mr. Easy “Bashment Gal”

    HEAR THIS: Mr. Easy “Bashment Gal”

    Nuh Fraid Fi Bruck Out And Whine

    Early July is such a great time for reggae music. There isn’t really one dominant song of the summer yet, but there’s lots of candidates for the title. The result is an explosion of creativity and excitement that goes on and on. Ricky Blaze just forward a link fresh outta his basement studio inna Flatbush BK. Seems the big bad producer linked up with the year-to-year singer Mr. Easy like bloodcleet Sunday Morning. The fruits of their label is  a musical thing called “Bashment Gal.”  Classical dancehall vibes, Boomshots certified. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Red Fox & Screechy Dan “Skylarking”

    HEAR THIS: Red Fox & Screechy Dan “Skylarking”

    Ruff Entry Crew Revisits A Horace Andy Classic

    To skylark is to flitter about aimlessly, making no progressive movements and then begging somebody five cents to eat a food. Although the real-life birds may be very hard-working, their reputation for fuckery has inspired some nice reggae tunes. The metaphor was first employed by Horace “Sleepy” Andy, who cut classic versions of the tune for Studio One and Wackie’s, among others. Encouraging the youths to “earn your bread honestly” lest they “end up—up up in jail.” Some messages just never get old. Fast forward to 2015 and the great Screechy Dan and his lyrical sparring partner Red Fox have revamped the tune with Sting International on the production. You already know this one is a certified Boomshot. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • ReshmaB Chains Make Runway Debut at Caribbean Fashion Week 2015

    ReshmaB Chains Make Runway Debut at Caribbean Fashion Week 2015

    The Reggae Girl About Town Flexes Her Design Skills

    Reshma B, the UK-based music journalist, showed off her design skills at Caribbean Fashion Week in Kingston, Jamaica. ReshmaB Chains—recently included on Mass Appeal‘s round-up of New Streetwear Brands Who Are Killing it Right Now—made their runway debut at CFW’s Friday kick off. Pulse top model Oraine Barrett walked the runway, while three-time Vogue cover girl Jeneil Williams was spotted wearing a pair of ReshmaB earrings in the front row. Designer Reshma B capped the night by taking to the catwalk rocking a bright orange Day-Glo “Wah Gwan” chain, flashing her trademark peace sign, and snapping shots of the experience with a selfie stick. Article Continues After the Jump; Photo Gallery Above… (more…)

  • OMI “Cheerleader” May Be The Song of the Summer

    OMI “Cheerleader” May Be The Song of the Summer

    First Jamaican Release To Crack Top 10 Since Sean Paul’s “Get Busy”

    What could be a more natural combination than reggae and summertime? Last year the Canadian band MAGIC! made the connection with their pop smash “Rude.” But it’s been quite a while since a Jamaican reggae song was the anthem of the Summer—twelve years ago, to be exact, when Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” was on its way to the top of the U.S. pop charts. But according to the latest Billboard Hot 100 chart, OMI’s 2012 jawn “Cheerleader”—which has been dominating the charts in Europe on the strength of a tasty remix by German DJ Felix Jaehn—is now a Top 10 single. And Billboard is already talking about OMI sneaking in to become 2015’s official “song of the summer.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kat DeLuna ft. Trey Songz “Bum Bum” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Kat DeLuna ft. Trey Songz “Bum Bum” Official Music Video

    Bam Bam Inna Different Stylee

    Born in the Bronx to parents from the Dominican Republic, Kat DeLuna’s music has always shown a strong Jamaican influence. Her 2007 breakout single, “Whine Up,” featuring dancehall’s “Energy God” Elephant Man, has racked up 43 million views on Vevo. Eight years later she’s back on that sexy raggamuffin flex, sampling Sister Nancy’s Stalag riddim classic “Bam Bam” and flipping the lyrics from a female empowerment anthem—”MC is my ambition”—into a celebration of her (remarkable) “Bum Bum.” Trigger Trey joins in the fun, throwing in a little Shaggy “It Wasn’t Me” to seal the deal. The video is definitely NSFW because, really, what else could it be? True dem nuh know it’s from creation. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • A$AP Rocky Picks His Favorite Reggae Rappers

    A$AP Rocky Picks His Favorite Reggae Rappers

    Pretty Flacko Bigs Up Buju Banton’s “Boom Bye Bye” …And Others

    A$AP Rocky reps Harlem all day as one of the biggest rap stars in the world, but his dad was born in Barbados and he grew up loving dancehall reggae. While he was doing press for his new album ALLA. Rob Kenner of Boomshots asked him to pick his favorite reggae artists, which led to an interesting discussion of Buju’s controversial hit “Boom Bye Bye” as well as a very interesting chat about M.I.A. Rocky also spoke about directing A$AP Ferg’s video for “Shabba Ranks” and what it was like meeting the Big Dutty Stinkin’ Dancehall Emperor on the set. Apparently Shabba’s so turnt up, even the A$AP Mob can’t keep up. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Third World “Yim Mas Gan”

    HEAR THIS: Third World “Yim Mas Gan”

    Reggae Ambassadors Revisit an Amharic Classic

    In the ancient Amharic language of Ethiopia “Igziabeher Yim Mas Gan” roughly translates to “Let H.I.M. Be Praised” (with the letters h-i-m denoting His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, JAH Rastafari). The Abyssinians cut the original version of this mystical tune back in the 1972. Fast forward to 2015 and the legendary island fusion ensemble Third World aka the Reggae Ambassadors revisit this crucial roots classic with a track produced by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. And the beat goes on—itinually. Audio After The Jump… (more…)