It’s a Universal Unification
Kickin’ Productions is back at it with ace producer Bulpus on the boards. In comes a brand new rub-a-dub riddim called ‘In My Brain’ featuring a big bad combination from Richie Spice alongside the Chron Dada. “Some ah go up, some ah go down—Natty Dread inna the middle still safe & sound.” In other words, unity is strength—ah just that we need right now! Check the sounds and listen keenly. Audio After The Jump…
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Portmore Dancehall Artist Links With Grammy-and-Oscar-Winning Soul Man
John Legend, the multi-award-winning soul singer who’s been a cornerstone of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music team from day one, today released a new collaboration with dancehall artist IAmStylez. Coming ten years after Legend’s well-received combination with Buju Banton, “Light Up The Night” was produced by Philly Phat Boi. Legend previously collaborated with Common on the Academy-Award-winning track “Glory.” Boomshots proudly presents his latest release here (for promo use only!) “John is basically a big fan of our music and culture as you know from his previous collaboration with Buju,” Stylez told Kevin Jackson of the Jamaica Observer. “So this is no surprise that he is at it again. This time with a little twist, his people had reached out to my management team inquiring about the next big thing that will emerge from Jamaica on to the mainstream and at the same time I had got my manager to also seek out major collaborations for me… Long story short, it’s right timing, great teamwork and perfect execution,” he said. Judge for yourself now. Audio After The Jump…
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Maya & Daps Link Pon The Borderline
Ever since M.I.A. first burst on the world, she has been all about crossing lines in the sand, using her playground chants, beatbox ballistics, and agitprop visuals to mash up all cultural and geopolitical borderlines. Now that M.I.A.’s released what she warns may be her last album, her focus on speaking truth to power from a refugee point of view takes on new urgency as the world finds itself in the midst of a “refugee crisis” and Brexit meltdown and a Trump presidential run. As soon as M.I.A. released “Borders” (both the song and its breathtaking video) anticipation for this album began to build, and yesterday AIM finally arrived. On this track Maya dabbles with dancehall star Dexta Daps of “7Eleven” and “Shabba Mudda Pot” fame who sounds like the UK bad gyal inspired him to hit some strong new notes. Audio After The Jump…
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From Toronto To Queens Pum Pum Reigns Supreme
A half-Bajan R&B/hip hop artist from Toronto who’s been doing his thing for a few years now, Tory Lanez has recently begun exploring Caribbean sounds. When Tory’s “LUV,” a reworking of Tanto Metro & Devonte’s worldwide dancehall hit “Everyone Falls In Love,” was described as “Terrible” by OVO stalwart Boi 1da, Tory proceeded to remix Drake’s “Controlla” in a fairly murderous fashion and tweeted that he was “bout to have Jamaica on fire.” Today he drops “We Can,” a sexed-up combination with Kranium which sounds more like Kranium jumping on a Tory Lanez #Swavey R&B track than vice versa. Still their icy machismo nicely complements this gauzy beat from Sak Pase and DJ Marley Waters as two young players pledge allegiance to the pum pum. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Another Video From The Reggae Family’s Grammy-Winning Album Strictly Roots
As one of reggae’s most enduringly and successful veteran acts, Morgan Heritage is known to be in a category by themselves. From their Grammy winning album Strictly Roots they’ve redefined roots reggae yet again; with their upbeat hit “Wanna Be Loved,” featuring Rebelution’s front man Eric Rachmany. Shot on their landmark 2015 Catch A Fire US tour, the music video was directed by Morgan Heritage and Emmylou Mai, capturing various vignettes of their sold out performances and positive vibes, all in chromatic black and white. Watch closely to catch the various reggae superstar cameos, as this is definitely an anthem of enduring love, unity and upliftment. Video After the Jump… (more…)
Two Dancehall Divas Tackle The Track Sister Nancy Made “Famous”
This weekend the Internet is buzzing about Kanye West dissing Taylor Swift on a track called “Famous.” The song, which apparently features Rihanna and Swizz Beatz, is part of his new album, The Life of Pablo, and isn’t released yet. If you were one of the people who tuned in to last week’s big Yeezy Season 3 fashion show / album premiere, live-streamed around the world from Madison Square Garden, then you know the most-talked-about track on the most-talked-about album right now is built around Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam”—a dancehall classic on the immortal Stalag Riddim. Since it’s not much fun reading about songs you can’t hear, let’s turn our attention to another hot song that interpolates “Bam Bam.” This one was created by Toronto’s own Julky Black, who reached out to a real live Jamaican reggae star to spit some fire on the remix, riding a rough and rugged remake of the Stalag with drums that go extra hard. No more long talking. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
The Chef Connects With Baka Over Walshy Fire’s Production— Accurate!
Any time you can get two of the world’s greatest living lyricists on one track for the first time, that’s a win. On “Skew It On the Bar-B” Andre 3000 and Raekwon brought A-Town and Shaolin together and the result was historic. On the fresh cut “Be Inspired,” Raekwon the Chef trades bars with Kabaka Pyramid over a hard-driving breakbeat. (Shout out to our peoples over at egotripland for the link.) If you can’t picture the Wu God kicking it with a dancehall reggae artist, perhaps you forgot about his Clarks game—not to mention that Wu-Tang “One Blood” joint. Let’s just say the homie Walshy Fire has made history with this one. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
The Bad Boys of Reggae Link With J Boog
Fresh off a successful tour with SOJA, California-born and Hawaii-based reggae artist J Boog, releases a track with reggae’s “Bad Boys” Inner Circle and their late great vocalist Jacob Miller. Having topped the reggae charts for consecutive years with his 2011 full length release Backyard Boogie, J Boog has since graced the world stage with some of reggae’s most popular talent. In this track he updates a classic Heptones selection alongside the voice of the “Killer” Miller. Audio After the Jump…
St. Paul Spitter And Spanish Town Stepper Join Forces In a Quest for Truth
When Kanye West features you on a track alongside Paul McCartney and Theophilus London, that’s what is known as a “good look.” Just ask Allan Kingdom, a Canadian-born African youth (mom from South Africa, dad from Tanzania) who’s now based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Yesterday he celebrated his 22nd birthday by gifting fans with a free album called Northern Lights. Features include D.R.A.M, Jared Evan, Gloss Gang—and, of special interest to the Boomshots massive, Chronixx di General. The misty, atmospheric song is all about misinformation, whether spread via church pulpit or tellers of tall tales. “I could kiss the ocean floor; I could dangle from the heavens; you a danger on the low,” Kingdom raps before Chronixx burns out “Stereotypes and all your labels” and pledges to “read with his three eyes wide open” in order to discern the truth. We already know Chronixx is a big Yeezy fan (see video below for proof); now he’s got a strong collab with one of Ye’s favorite youngsters. It’s only right—one good look deserves another. Audio & Download Link After The Jump… (more…)
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…)
Unity Is Strength, And Love & Hate Can Never Be Friends
During his 10 years in the music business David Constantine Brooks aka Singing Blacks aka Mavado has come a long way. Several years back his name was linked to the Gully vs. Gaza war but times have changed. Now a member of DJ Khaled’s We The Best Music Group, the Gully Gad recently dropped an historic remix featuring his former rival, Vybz Kartel, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder (with an appeal pending). “After a storm,” Mavado explains to Reshma B, “There must be a calm.” Audio After The Jump… (more…)
It’s a Dancehall Dilemma: Experience vs. Youth? The G or the Bop?
“Right now me feel good, how me come a England and them just embrace me,” states JA sensation Gully Bop as the DJ continues his rise from sufferation and obscurity to the top of the game. “Big big BBC radio a play Gully Bop non-stop and invite me in them studio. Me a get support at every show, every one of them pack! People swarm me like bees fe take picture everywhere me go. Is a thousand things and more a go on right now, so me have to give God thanks.” He even found time to link with ranking UK Yardie Stylo G. Just like Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney, and Home T, Cocoa Tea, and Shabba, Stylo and Bop seem to have a small serious disagreement on their hands. The affections of a young lady are at stake. Experience vs. Youth. The G or the Bop? Which one ah dem she want? StarTraxx & Adde on the riddim. Audio After The Jump…
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