Boomshots

Author: robk007

  • WATCH THIS: Potential Kidd “Yah Suh Nice” Video

    Dancehall’s Maddest New DJ Has Whole Heap Of Potential—And He’s Got The Girls Going Crazy

    Potential Kidd brings a refreshing rawness back to the dancehall, plus an off-the-wall sense of humor reminiscent of champion DJs like Professor Nuts and Screechy Dan. Judging by the video for his breakout hit “Yah Suh Nice,” he’s got a way with the ladies too. Looking forward to hearing more from this maaad new voice on the scene. (more…)

  • K’Naan Speaks On #StopKony Mania

    The Somali Rapper, Singer, and Activist Raises Questions About Do-Gooders Like Invisible Children

    The most viral video in history is a 30-minute documentary called “Stop Kony.” The horrific clip about an African warlord with an army of child soldiers and underage prostitutes was viewed over 100 million times in a week, generating millions of dollars in donations to the organization Invisible Children. Soon thereafter Invisible Children’s founder, Jason Russell, went a little crazy in Cali—stripping butt naked and galavanting through the streets of San Diego. And that  was before a video emerged of one of his colleagues swigging vodka and “joking” about pocketing 90% of the donations. Suffice it to say that there are serious questions to be raised about do-gooders trying to “save Africa.” To get some perspective, we caught up with K’Naan, whose song “Coming To America,” off his latest EP More Beautiful Than Silence, tells the story of his upbringing in Somalia. “I’ve gotten hundreds of messages about the ‘stop Kony’ thing,” he said. “[They’re like] ‘Would you say something about the ‘Stop Kony.’ Stop Kony!’” Though K’Naan takes the well-being of African people very seriously, he refused to get caught up in the #StopKony hype. Here’s why… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: I-Octane “Zion Awaits” Live Acoustic Version

    MTV Iggy Picks I-Octane To Represent “The Future of Music”


    I-Octane’s sophomore album Crying To The Nation recently got a big co-sign from MTV Iggy, an online portal focused on highlighting “The Future of Music.” The Jamaican singjay was invited to do an exclusive acoustic performance in New York City, where he unleashed unplugged versions of the album’s title track as well as “L.O.V.E. You,” and “Zion Awaits.” Octane also talked about being raised by a single mother and pursuing his dream of making a career in music. “I don’t really put myself in a box,” he explains. “I am a reggae artist. I come from a reggae genre, a dancehall genre, but I’m just doing music. I try to do my flavor, my style.”
    (more…)

  • Sizzla’s European Tour Continues Despite Protest By Gay Activists

    Kalonji Muzik Issues Statement After A Gay Rights Group Pressured Stockholm Venue to Cancel Gig

    After kicking off last Friday in Milan, Sizzla Kalonji’s tour of Europe is off to a bumpy start. Even before the first show, controversy flared up over Sizzla’s fiery lyrical content. Gay activists pressured the Hornstull concert venue in Stockholm to cancel Sizzla’s appearance because they say his music advocates violence against homosexuals. Sizzla’s concert was soon re-booked at another venue and it appears that the show will go on. A statement sent by the artist’s Jamaica-based record company Kalonji Muzik asserted that the whole controversy stems from a misunderstanding of patois and dancehall culture: “The messages in the songs are based on words that have been misconstrued and mistranslated,” read the statement, which estimates that “90%” of Sizzla’s catalog is “uplifting, positive.” (No mention is made of the other 10%.) “We don’t see you attack Eminem or other musicians who make clear stances against these same issues in the hip-hop, rock, and pop industry,” the statement went on to say. “It makes us wonder if there is a bigger picture being painted here? Or is it the fact that they just have better lawyers and bigger companies making money from them?” Check out the full text of Kalonji Muzik’s official statement after the jump and let us know what you think… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Konshens “Rasta Imposter” Remix ft. Tarrus Riley, Sizzla Kalonji, Darrio & Wrath Riley

    Konshens And Friends Burn A Fire On All False Prophets

    One of the best songs off Konshens’ outstanding debut album Mental Maintenance is this remix of a tune he first dropped back in 2008. The tune bad from day one, but this time around Konshens brought some friends along to dash another fire on all fake dreads. The Riley bros & Kalonji deal with it wicked. Can’t stop rewinding this one. Certified Boomshot.
    (more…)

  • WATCH THIS Damian Marley “Set Up Shop” & “Affairs Of The Heart” Live

    Damian, Stephen and Julian Marley Rock DJ Norie’s Anniversary Show In New York City

    The Marley brothers mashed up NYC’s Best Buy Theater last night—with a little help from the Ghetto Youths Crew, including Wayne Marshall, Spragga Benz, and Christophger Eliis, among others… Let’s just say it was a night to remember. In this exclusive video clip Jr. Gong thrills the crowd with a couple of his latest & greatest at DJ Norie’s anniversary jam.  (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Noah Powa “I Care Zero” Video

    NY Selector Turned DJ Has A Hit On His Hands

    Following in the tradition of Sanchez, Chicken Chest, and Tony Matterhorn, Noah Powa is a selector who made the jump to recording artist. His tune “I Care Zero” has been devastating the dancehalls of late. The video may look a teensy bit low-budget, but just how much do you suppose Mr. Powa cares about that? (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Nas “The Don”

    Heavy D Flips a Classic Super Cat Sample, Salaam Remi Tees It Up and Nastradamus Spits Fire

    It’s well known that Salaam Remi and Nas have a very special creative chemistry—as seen when the producer and MC collaborated on classics like “Made U Look.” What’s less well known is that both are big reggae fans. The track was actually built by the late great Heavy D, whose collabos with Super Cat are well known. Hev passed the track to Remi—who  produced Spragga Benz’s epic Shotta Culture album. Nas of course collaborated with Damian Marley on the album Distant Relatives, so Remi felt it was only right to put him on the record. During the Distant Relatives promo run, Nas spoke about his early reggae and dancehall musical menu: “It was the 80s,” he recalled. ‘Who was the dudes? Pass the Dutchie Pon the Left.’ [Musical Youth] It was a lot of old-school cuts. You had Yellowman, of course Bob Marley, Peter Tosh. A lot of the early dudes. We listened to everything. Shabba Ranks, all a that. I was Supercatted-up… I studied the battles with Supercat and Ninjaman.” Now Nas and Remi have brought their mututal interests together on this blazing new cut called “The Don.” Remi’s track is built around a sample from a rare Super Cat single “Dance Inna New York.” Nas’s rap is built on Henny, blunts, and sheer genius. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kes The Band Live in NYC

    Rising Soca Stars Rock With David Rudder and Tessanne Chin

    Kes The Band is the future of soca music. This Friday they brought their infectiously forward-thinking brand of soca fusion to the Best Buy Theater in Times Square and Boomshots was there. They might not have won this year’s Soca Monarch or Road March competitions, but do they look bothered? “When we feel to do the music, we do what we feel to do,” said lead singer Kes to the ecstatic flag-waving capacity crowd. “We do soca, pop, rock, reggae—it doesn’t matter.” You can’t put these brothers in a box. They’re all about winning some Grammys—and making the massive get “Wotless.” They’ve also got three of the flyest dancers on the planet.  Let’s go to the video tape… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Spice “Body Great”

    Mad Gyal Spice x Madhouse Tun Up Riddim = Greater Than Good

    Some gyal say them good, but Spice is extraordinary. We’ve known it since her earliest Madhouse recordings, long before “Ramping Shop” days. She makes another compelling case on this fresh new Dave Kelly-produced cut from the big bad “Tun Up” riddim. Don’t believe she’s great? Just ask her man “when him see me ah wine and vibrate.” (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Mavado “Soulja Girl”

    Brand New Gully Gaad For The Girls—”She’s The One I Bust My K With”

    “I’m her Romeo, she’s my Juliet,” Mavado sings on this exclusive leak from his DJ Khaled project. Soaring vocals, epic echo and a touch of steel drum synths—voila! Something sweet and smooth for the ladies. And of course a true Soulja Girl holds her man down in good times and bad. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Tarrus Riley Pon Radio Lily

    Singy Singy Flashing Lyrics Live And Direct Inna Dancehall Style
    Last night Tarrus Riley, Dean Fraser, and Diana King joined Monty Alexander on the final night of his two-week stand at New York’s legendary jazz club The Blue Note. But in between the first and second set, Tarrus passed through Radio Lily to dash it in a dancehall style. Versatility a dweet. (more…)