Octane Flips Drake and Solja Boy’s Turnt-Up Anthem
Earlier this week, I-Octane revealed the track listing for his next album, My Journey, which can best be described as an evolution of his sound towards straight-up roots & culture reggae music. But lest we forget the dancehall flair that made Octane’s name, he’s just dropped an ill hip-hop remix. What a way the man versatile. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Mr. One Drop Chops It Up With Reshma B
Live from Kingston, Jamaica, direct from the river side in Caymanas Park, dancehall star QQ chops it up with the ReggaeGirlAboutTown before jumping in the water and wetting up the place himself. The not-quite-20-year-old artist who brought us “One Drop” in 2013 talks about his latest smash, “Mosquito Net”—and gives Reshma B a quick lesson in how to do the dance (as well as a crash course in how young dancehall stars deal with the ladies). QQ also shares some of his plans for 2014—including a “major” 20th birthday party, and more work with his charitable foundation to uplift underprivileged and disabled children. He even previews his latest release, “Dutty Heart,” a special request to all the haters. Video After The Jump…
IyaCure Keeps On Beating The Drums of Righteousness
“Jah Children Wake Up and stop walk in your sleep”! sings Jah Cure as he beats the bongo drum while the Binghi fire blazes in the latest video from Iyacure Productions. This standout cut on the Sweet Personality Riddim, produced by Nature’s Way Entertainment, has been crying out for a powerful visual treatment, and finally it’s here. The video, directed by Skanka, closes with Marcus Garvey’s inspirational words: “Work to make the dream a possibility within another generation.” How many wake-up calls do you need? Video After The Jump… (more…)
Ricky Blaze Blesses Gyppy With Another Banger
The last time Gyptian stopped by Ricky Blaze’s Brooklyn basement studio, the result was a worldwide certified gold dancehall classic called “Hold Yuh.” Since that time we have not witnessed their musical chemistry—until today. Boomshots is proud to premiere “Stuck,” a new song by Gyptian produced by Ricky Blaze. And just like their last collaboration, this tune is guaranteed to get Stuck in your brain. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Gongzilla Raises Thought-Provoking Questions About the Real Gangsta Life
Sometime after midnight tonight Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley will be taking the stage at Rebel Salute, Jamaica’s biggest roots reggae festival, which kicks off place just outside Ocho Rios. This morning he’s blessed us with a brand-new tune on the big bad “Rootsman Riddim.” The song asks a simple yet profound question to all those living (or glamorizing) the gunman life. “Is It Worth It?” As you would expect from Gongzilla, the lyrics are catchy, carefully crafted, and creatively thought-provoking, exploring all the nooks and crannies of a real gunman’s life, from his family troubles to his financial pressures. “Does he get nervous just like you and I? Watching out as the police pass by?” Audio After The Jump…
“I was born in Haiti,” said Wyclef Jean shortly after rocking a tough Jamaican crowd at Sting. “I was born in a hut. I used to eat dirt off the floor if you read my book All we had was the music.” Although Clef was raised in New Jersey amidst a streetwise soundscape of hip-hop, soul, and reggae music, his affinity for Jamaican sounds the multi-multi-platinum 3-time-Grammy-winning rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and former member of The Fugees. After he stepped off stage in his dapper black tux, Clef took a moment to chat with Reshma B. Video After The Jump… (more…)
The Gully Gad Gives It All To The Fans At Sting
How happy was Mavado to be back home at Sting 2013? Well, he didn’t mind throwing his $1700 gold-plated Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers into the audience as a way of letting his fans know he appreciated theirGully Gad Gives It All To The Fans At Sting warm welcome. (The Gully Gad did not, however, fling his iced-out Jacob the Jeweler cross into the crowd.) Finishing his set in sock feet, Mavado made it clear that he might have been all over the world repping reggae and dancehall music, but his heart is always in Jamaica. Soon after leaving the stage he sat down with Reshma B to put the whole thing in perspective: “You done know our thing legendary yunno. I mean, remember, we are not artists that people try to make up and try to promote and try to put up on top. We go on the top ourselves. We becomes generals. We becomes leaders of this school ourselves. Nobody. No additive. No nothing. Just natural… So the fans nah go do nuttin but just love we.” Video After The Jump… (more…)
Vikings And Conglomerates Connect. Axes Up!
Not only was “Differentology” the top-ranking soca jam of 2013 and winner of MTV Iggy’s song of the year compeition, it’s an undeniable outernational smash that’s ready for the road around the world. Now just in time to wrap up the year, “Differentology” gets an outernational refix courtesy of the Dungeon Dragon himself. Vikings—Axes Up! Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Reasoning With The Wild Apache After Sting 2013
It’s been eleven years since William Maragh, aka Super Cat aka the Don Dada of reggae music inna dancehall style has performed in his native Jamaica, or as he prefers to call it, “I-Mek-yah.” A master of words, Cat is also very much a man of action, and in his final few hours in Jamrock he spent his time relating a few of his colorful exploits in the streets and dancehalls of Kingston and worldwide. While some that conversation will remain strictly off the record, he did sit down with Reshma B on the final day of his return to Jamaica to reflect on his majestic performance at Sting 2013, and explain why the Don Dada will never lose his people. Video After The Jump…
Defiant Miss Dye Dye Resfuses to Say Die
Beaten but unbowed, Macka Diamond was chilling in the parking lot outside Jamworld following her highly anticipated clash with Lady Saw. Although the audience chose Muma Saw as the decisive winner, Macka explained that she felt victorious because she proved she was not a coward by stepping onstage to face the Queen of the Dancehall after all the diss records and Twitter beef. Macka vows that their lyrical war is just beginning, but it looks like she may not be in such a rush to get that crowd after all, as she says… “If that crown make me so unhappy, me no want it.” Video After The Jump…
The Queen Defends Her Crown
The 30th anniversary staging of Sting offered many highlights, from the return of Super Cat to Tommy Lee’s courageous comeback after a near-fatal car crash and international stars like Wyclef Jean and 2Chainz. In the clash department, Kiprich battled Blak Ryno for a US$30,000 prize, but nothing could match the raw energy and excitement of Lady Saw’s long-awaited head-to-head confrontation with Macka Diamond. After weeks of diss songs, Twitter beef, interviews and speculation, these two dancehall stars put on their solider gear and war paint and launched into lyrical combat. Shortly after her decisive triumph, the Queen of the Dancehall sat down with Boomshots to share her thoughts on the clash—and why she says it will be her last. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Super Cat’s Triumphant Return Continues
Reggae fans around the world are having a very good Christmas today because one of the true icons in the business has returned to the game as if out of nowhere. Super Cat aka The Wild Apache aka the Don Dada has been missing in action for a long while now. But with Cat back in Jamaica, and set to take the stage at Sting tomorrow night, you can feel the excitement is in the air. If you’re not fortunate enough to witness the action in person tomorrow, you can watch this historic show on Pay Per View or hit up BringTheSting.com to stream the show online. Some tan so back and some a dem a rally forward. Videos After The Jump…