Dubplate You Know That Is The Artillery—And Gwan Go Mek Dem Know It’s In Abundancy
First they gave you that “Herb Man Skank” and now Specialist Moss and Mr. Williamz are back with a criss new video off the big bad Dub Style EP. With live footage direct from London’s Notting Hill Carnival, the visuals delve into the roots of UK sound system culture. This is what happens when two UK lyrical badman buck up pon one ill drum and bass riddim. Field Marshall no partial. Video After The Jump… (more…)
40 Percent Off Until Midnight Monday Night
Our people at Reggae King have the reggae swag game on lock. From caps to T-shirts to jewelry to heaphones to lava lamps and more… If you’ve got a reggae lover on your holiday list Reggae King has got them covered. They are having a Cyber Monday sale with 40 percent off, so now would be a good time to head on over to Reggae King and get your e-commerce on. Details After The Jump. .. (more…)
So… Another Rapper’s Dabbling in Dancehall?
This past Friday, you may have noticed all those hipster blogs breathlessly reporting that Riff Raff aka Jody Highroller had “gone reggae.” OK, fair enough—these “Yankee rappers dabbling in dancehall” posts are surefire crowd pleasers. Why should we even be surprised when a kid from Houston born Horst Christian Simco signs with Mad Decent and decides to switch up his bugged-out raw flow and try singing over a reggae beat? But can we honestly claim that the guy has “gone reggae.” I mean, what ever happened to Snoop Lion? When Big Homie first aappeared on the Strictly Boomshots show, he was all about that Rasta life. Now he turns up on a reggae track produced by The Cataracs (the duo who made “Like A G6”) rappin’ like Snoop Dogg? Riff Raff’s in Jody Highroller mode, Snoop’s in Dogg mode… Hold up—we’re getting confused. Wasn’t Snoop suposed to be Bob Marley reincarnated or something? Thank God Collie Buddz sounds like himself on this one. Audio After the Jump… (more…)
Brand New Dance Inna The Place
Ah wah gwan? Brand new dance inna the place—Ding Dong and Octane connect with DJ Frass for a musical thing called “Hold Yuh Own.” Hot Ras and Ravers Clavers link up… When you see them in the dance just give them space. Audio After the Jump… (more…)
The Hotskull Finds An Empress To Cool Him Down
The latest visual offa Poppi’s Where We Come From album is all about the love between one man and one woman. “Love Yuh Bad” (produced by Dre Skull) was the first track leaked off Popcaan’s debut album on Mixpak Records, and the accompanying video finds Hotskull and his queen in the rain forests of St. Thomas where the natural vibes flow (inna back-to-nature Adam and Eve style). This video should really be picked up by the Jamaica Tourist Board because after you watch it you will want to book two tickets to paradise like Eddie Money. Watching Popcaan and his lady boiling bananas, burning spliffs, and playing in the river serves as a timely reminder that you don’t have to have a big fat roasted turkey in the oven to give thanks. Video After The Jump… (more…)
All The Turf President Wants for Christmas Is a Bag of Money
You already know about Busy Signal’s versatility. He can sing you a country & western classic, chat pon a Major Laxer production, blaze up a cutting-edge dancehall riddim, or ease into roots rock reggae music. In his latest release “Money Flow” Busy takes it back to classic rub-a-dub dancehall style, riding the “Wah Do Dem” riddim made famous by Eek a Mouse and brandishes the “Ribbi Dibbi” flow made famous by Super Cat over Half Pint’s “Greetings” riddim. What better way to make preparations for the Yuletide season than by stacking paper? Run that… Video After The Jump… (more…)
Island Records Founder Reflects on a Friend Who Had Nothing And Still Had Everything
Most reggae fans know the Reggae Cult Classic film Countryman, but it’s less well known that the star of the film is real person. The 1982 film, which will be streamed online next Friday night, December 5th—following an exclusive BoomshotsTV chat with one of the original cast members, veteran Jamaican actor Carl Bradshaw—was directed by Dickie Jobson, and stars a Rastafarian Indian Tamil fisherman who lived in the seaside community of Hellshire outside Kingston, Jamaica. Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who backed the film project, reflects on the man he knew, a real Rastaman who truly undersood the meaning of the term Thanksgiving, and embodied it in his simple life and his every word and deed. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Rico Vibes of Natural Vibes and Da Flava Radio Pon The Megamix
Over the past 35 years, VP Records has established themslves as the dominant distributor of Jamaican music, and the 50th and 51st installments of their Strictly the Best compilation series drops today. As per usual, the first volume focuses more on roots and lovers rock singers while the second dives direct into the dancehall. And because this year marks a landmark anniversary for VP—or simply to tickle the fancy of the “Don’t make em like they used to” posse—each volume of the anthology includes a second disc jam-packed with classic selections culled from earlier STB editions. Today we present a megamix of Volume 50 cuts curated by selector Rico Vibes. From Half Pint‘s Greetings and Luciano‘s “Sweep Over My Soul” straight back to Etana‘s “Trigger” and Jah Cure‘s “Life We Live,” this one is total niceness. No matter how cold it is where you are right now, press play and prepare yourself for a virtual vacation to Jamaica’s sunny shores. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
The Reggae Pioneer Tells The Fader About New Music, Old Studios, and Negative Influence
Word, Sound and Power—Plus It’s Accurate
Whenever Kabaka Pyramid grips the mic, the first word heard tends to be “accurate.” Known for dropping immaculately crafted rhymes addressing topics with real relevance to real people living real lives, Kabaka has distinguished himself as a powerful voice for the voiceless. Much like his namesake, the lyrical architect crafts his music creations to stand the test of time. “Me’s a man, my music different,” he says on the intro to his debut mixtape, aptly titled The Lyricist, which we proudly premiere today. “I have extra appreciation, cause my music is not party music. Is serious things I and I ah talk ’bout.” And not only does he make music, he can articulate his points of view in an interview or defend them with passion in a debate.
Mixed by Livity Movements sound and produced in association with Destine Media and the Parris Agency, this 24-track compilation brings together the lion’s share of the work that has earned the young DJ recognition as a integral part of the so-called “Roots Revival” currently unfolding within Jamaican music. From the political insights of “No Capitalist” to the furious flows on “Choppingz” featuring Massicka to the sheer firepower of “Selassie Souljahz” featuring Sizzla, Chronixx, and Protoje, Kabaka’s densely wrought rhymes always shine through, charting a path toward the future of reggae music. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)
Let Them Sing A Sweet Song For You
Livity Movements titled their new Kabaka mixtape “The Lyricist” for a reason. His rapid-fire flow is jam-packed with gems of wisdom, knowledge, and over standing on this crucial compilation, spearheaded by the Parris Agency and Destine Media. Here he joins forces with long-time sparring partner Chronixx on an exclusive track from “The Lyricist,” which drops next week. The song is called “Ghetto Blues” and Kabaka really blacks out on this one. As the roots revival continues. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
The Lyrical Gangster Rides Again
You don’t have to be a reggae fanatic to know Ini Kamoze’s voice. He’s the one who sings the hook—”Out in the streets they call it murder“—on Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s 2005 banger “Welcome To Jamrock.” And back in 1994, the “lyrical gangster” was responsible for the worldwide smash hit “Here Comes The Hot Stepper,” which reached the No. 1 spot in the U.S. when remixed by Salaam Remi for the Pret A Porter soundtrack. Kamoze first recorded a different version of “Hot Stepper” for the late great Jamaican producer Fatis Burrell, founder of the legendary Xterminator label. Fatis’ son Kareem Burrell of XTM Nation remixed another Kamoze classic, “Hill & Gully Ride,” first released 30 years ago. (The track will be included on the forthcoming remix album Living Heart vol. 2.) Today we premiere the animated video, directed by Juppi Juppsen. Watch the ride—and hold on good. Video After The Jump… (more…)