Boomshots

Author: Boomshots

  • WATCH THIS: Snoop Lion “Reincarnated” Extended Trailer

    Check The Brand New Trailer For The Film That Tells How The Dogg Became A Lion

    Earlier this week, the Snoop Lion documentary Reincarnated was screened for a small group of media at the Sony headquarters in midtown Manhattan. After seeing the movie in full, an old Wailers lyric came to mind: “Half the story has never been told.” It may seem strange to see a gangsta rap icon from the LBC saying Jah Rastafari and singing over reggae beats. Some have even called it a gimmick. (And when Snoop released his “Hot Pockets” video with showers of pepperoni raining from the sky, it was hard to argue with them—unless there’s an ital version of Hot Pockets on the way.) But despite the apparent contradictions, don’t make up your mind until you see this film, which will hit theaters in 2013. Snoop’s visit to Alpha Boys School in Kingston, freestyling over a live version of “Rockfort Rock,” or his impromptu session with Cutty Corn in a hole-in-the-wall studio near Tivoli Gardens (not to mention his Mind Gardens project) puts this whole Snoop Lion thing in a new light. And as for his baptism as Berhane in a Niyabinghi temple (seen above), well you’ll have to judge for yourself. Who says you can’t teach an old Dogg new tricks? Video After The Jump…

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  • Mr. Vegas Launches Bare Tingz Website

    First Came The Song, Then The Video, And Now The Website… Next Up? The Book

    When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But when your woman gives you bun, what do you do with that? In the case of Captain Barkey it led to a tragic double homicide followed by a suicide. But in the case of Mr. Vegas he turned his real-life pain into a hit song and music video. Yesterday the singer took things a step further with the launch of BareTingz.com. More Details After The Jump…

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  • Reasoning With Bay-C from T.O.K.

    Bay-C Squashes T.O.K. Breakup Rumors, Explains Jr. Gong Collabs, And Bigs Up Snoop Lion
    Ever since 1999, when they dropped “Eagles Cry” on Dave Kelly’ Xtra Large label, T.O.K. brought has a completely fresh sound to dancehall, merging Jamaica’s great tradition of male harmony groups with the cutting-edge digital  dancehall sound. They went on to become a dancehall supergroup, blazing a trail of hits around the world—and becoming bonafide pop stars in Japan. T.O.K. has not released an album since 1999, and they have pursued solo projects in recent years, but Alistaire “Alex” McCalla, Craig “Craigy T” Thompson, Xavier “Flexx” Davidson, and Roshaun “Bay-C” Clarke are still very much united, as Bay-C makes clear in this exclusive Boomshots interview. During a recent trip through London, the ReggaeGirlAboutTown caught up with the deep-voiced DJ in the studio and they sat down to reason about a wide range of topics, from his latest collaboration with Christopher Ellis “Don’t Change Ur Number” to his work with Damian Marley, Tarrus Riley, and Wayne Marshall and his thoughts on Snoop Lion and the Americanization of Jamaican music. Video After The Jump…

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  • Reggae Grammy Nominees Announced

    Old School Legends Dominate The Best Reggae Album Category

    In a year when Jamaica celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, legends of roots rock reggae took four of five nomination for the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award—reaffirming the powerful legacy of Jamaica’s musical legacy even as it left its future clouded in relative obscurity. Despite outstanding releases by Busy Signal (Reggae Music Again), Mr. Vegas (Sweet Jamaica), Vybz Kartel (Kingston Story), Konshens (Mental Maintenance) and Romain Virgo (The System)—to name a few glaring oversights—the only reggae artist under the age of 50 to make the cut this year was Sean Paul, whose album Tomahawk Technique stands as the sole nominee representing the dancehall genre. Full List of Nominees After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Pusha T “Blocka” ft. Popcaan & Travis Scott

    Pusha Meets Hotskull Inna Raggamuffin Style

    You’ve seen flicks from the video shoot, now check the tune. Pusha T, Popcaan, and Travis Scott. Young Chop on the beat. Early heat from The Wrath of Cain mixtape. This type of shit happens every day? If only… Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “Bedroom Bully”

    Shabba Ranks Endorses The Turf; The Turf Pays Tribute To The Ranks

    Twenty years ago, Shabba dropped a banger called “Bedroom Bully” off his Xtra Naked album. Now Busy has paid tribute to the dancehall emperor with a 2012 update of the tune, produced by Kirkledove/Jukeboxx/Turf Music. Shabba has expressed his respect for Busy’s lyrical prowess in recent interviews. Wonder what he’s saying now? Busy definitely did the Rankin’s tune justice. #CertifiedBoomshot Audio After The Jump…
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  • Pusha T Shoots Video In Kingston

    Behind The Scenes Flicks From The “Blocka” Video Shoot


    Long before “Mercy,” we knew Pusha T loved that dancehall sound. Remember his verse on the “Half On a Baby” remix with Vybz Kartel? Last week, Pusha and his crew took a trip to Kingston, Jamaica for the video shoot of “Blocka,” the Young Chop–produced single of his upcoming Wrath of Cain mixtape. We hear there’s another big dancehall star Popcaan featured on the track, which debuts soon is hard as f**k. While you let your imagination run wild, check out some exclusive behind-the-scene photos of the shoot. Photographs After The Jump… (more…)

  • Bob Marley Class Will Be In Session at NYU

    Sign Up This Week If You’re Ready For Some Higher Education
    Remember “Babylon System,” that cut off Bob Marley’s Survival album, in which the Tuff Gong sings about how the downpressor man is forever “Building church and university / Deceiving the people continually /Graduatin’ thieves and murderers / Suckin’ the blood of the sufferers.” Well chances are he wasn’t singing about the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts—and he definitely wasn’t singing about Vivien Goldman, aka the @PunkProfessor. She is one of the few Marley experts who actually spent significant time with Bob, both in her native London and in Jamaica. She’s also the author of The Book of Exodus, a definitive study of one of Marley’s most seminal works. She’s even gotten props from Bunny Wailer. Yes, the Honorable Neville Livingstone called her an “esteemed journalist of this time.” So if any university prof is gonna “tell the children the truth,” she’s a good bet. Goldman will be teaching a course on Bob Marley starting next month, and it’s open to all students—not just NYU enrolees. But the deadline to sign up is at the end of this week, so don’t sleep! This Monday she passed through the StrictlyBoomshots show on Radio Lily.com to drop some knowledge on Marley and post-colonialism. Those who have ears, let them hear. [Photograph by Kate Simon] Audio and Registration Links After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Snoop Lion “Here Comes The King” ft. Angela Hunte

    The Lion’s Latest Reincarnation With A Positive Vibration
    Berhane’s brand new musical biscuit blends distressed dubstep bass tones with a steppers drumbeat and royal melodies from the empress Angela Hunte—all courtesy of the Major Lazer posse. When the Lion roars the whole jungle trembles. UPDATE: Snoop Lion has inked a deal with RCA Sony to release the album Reincarnated in Spring 2013. “Major Lazer and I had a special opportunity to focus on recording REINCARNATED from top-to-bottom with no interruptions in Jamaica. From my time spent with the people and in the streets, these songs are based on peace, love, and the struggle.” said Snoop Lion. “‘Here Comes The King’ is a taste of what’s to come off that REINCARNATED album and movie. It’s going to be an exciting 2013. Bless up.” Audio After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Inner Circle & Peetah Morgan “Broken Hearted”

    Brand New Lovers Rock Selection from the album Inner Circle Dubets
    Ever since the tragic death of Jacob “Killer” Miller in a 1980 car crash, the legendary Jamaican band Inner Circle has worked with a range of vocalists. But on their upcoming album Dubets, the Bad Boys of Reggae collaborate with a range of great vocalists including the reggae empress Marcia Griffiths, Mr. Rock Steady himself Ken Boothe, Ali Campbell of UB40, and not one but two members of the mighty Morgan Heritage, Gramps and Peetah. Boomshots is proud to premiere the first song off the album, Peetah Morgan interpreting Jimmy Ruffin’s Motown classic “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?” Sad song + sweet sounds = Total niceness.  Audio & Full Tracklist After The Jump…

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  • Win Tickets To See Kymani Marley, Third World, and Maxi Priest Live

    Jamaica At 50 Brings Roots Rock Reggae To New Jersey

    Tomorrow night the New Jersey massive will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence in fine style with a big reggae show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. On the bandstand will be Third World, one of the longest-reigning reggae groups of all time; Grammy-nominated British superstar Maxi Priest, whose sexy, soulful vocal style blends a hardcore reggae vibe with mainstream jazz, pop and R&B influences; and new generation dancehall artist Ky-Mani Marley, who follows in the footsteps of his legendary father, Bob Marley, with an urban sound that’s deeply rooted in both reggae and hip hop culture. Contest Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • “Ring Di Alarm” Screening In NYC

    New Caribbean Cinema Storms into New York Like Sandy

    After premiering last September at the British Film Institute, Ring Di Alarm will have its NYC premiere this weekend as part of the Flatbush Film Festival. A compilation of seven short films by seven different filmmakers that director Storm Saulter has called “a true experiment in guerilla film making,” Ring Di Alarm is the latest production of the New Caribbean Cinema movement that also brought us the critically acclaimed period piece Better Mus Come. You don’t want to miss this one. Movie Trailer and Screening Details After The Jump…

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