Boomshots

Category: Dancehall

  • The Biggest Dancehall Riddims of 2016

    The Biggest Dancehall Riddims of 2016

    Who Run The Place? Johnny Wonder, CEO of 21st Hapilos, Counts Down The Year’s Top Juggling

    With Rihanna’s “Work” dominating mainstream airwaves all year, you might think Richie Stephens’ “Sail Away” riddim would take the top spot. Yes that was hot in the streets ten years ago, and shout out to OVO for bringing it back. But here at Boomshots we’re all about the music’s progress forward into the future—and celebrating the innovators over the imitators. After all the Tropical House hype dies down, where does reggae and dancehall go from here? Few people are better qualified to chart the music’s movements than Johnny Wonder, CEO of 21st Hapilos Digital, the leading digital distributor of new reggae and dancehall music from Jamaica. As the man who breaks most big riddims first, Johnny Wonder’s ranking is based strictly on facts—streams and sales—and never payola or politricks. So if you want to know who ran the place in 2016, look no further. Riddim Countdown After The Jump… (more…)

  • Xana Romeo Talks About Her Debut Album “Wake Up” and Finding Her Own Way

    Xana Romeo Talks About Her Debut Album “Wake Up” and Finding Her Own Way

    A Reggae Legend’s Daughter Creating Conscious Reverberations

    Forty years ago Maxwell Livingston Smith, better known as Max Romeo, released his classic album War Inna Babylon on Island Records. The album featured classic hits like “Chase The Devil”  (which would later be sampled by Kanye West for Jay Z’s song “Lucifer”). This song sent fans into a frenzy with its balance of  spiritual and conscious lyrics over the Lee “Scratch” Perry–produced riddim. Max Romeo “put on his iron shirt” and chased the Devil out of Earth with his lyrical prowess—and he’s still making music to this day. Now, four decades later, it should come as no surprise that his daughter is stepping forward along a similar  path. Azana Makeeda Smith, aka Xana Romeo, brings a unique feminine fierceness with her incendiary lyrics. She has a great vocal range and her enunciation is clear and precise, adding to the palpable power of her music. With her  debut album, Wake Up releasing today, we linked with Xana Romeo, CEO of Charmax Music to discuss her debut album. Interview After The Jump…

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  • American Reggae Acts Dominate 2017 Grammy Nominations

    American Reggae Acts Dominate 2017 Grammy Nominations

    Three Out of Six Nominees Are Based in the U.S.A.

    Earlier today The Recording Academy announced the 2017 Grammy Award nominations. Beyoncé topped all nominees with nine nods while Drake, Rihanna, and Kanye West snagged eight each. Rihanna & Drake’s dancehall cut “Work” was nominated for Record of the Year, although Drizzy’s chart-toppers “One Dance” and “Controller” were snubbed. Tory Lanez’s “Luv”—based on Tanto & Devonte’s dancehall classic “Everyone Falls In Love”—was nominated for Best R&B Song. Sia’s No. 1 single “Cheap Thrills”  featuring Sean Paul was nominated in the Best Pop Duo Performance category. As usual the Reggae category was full of surprises, with three of the five nominations going to U.S.–based acts.   More Details After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Elephant Man x Starface “Tek Wuk” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Elephant Man x Starface
    “Tek Wuk” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    When Elephants Play The Grass Gets Trampled

    “The main idea was to paint a vivid picture of a twisted fantasy,” says director Peter Parkkerr of his latest video. “Starface played the role of a sexy French maid who serviced Elephant Man’s room. It’s definitely gonna light up your TV screens.” After one glass of wine, Elly’s mind starts to wander. And after that, well… one wine won’t do. Boomshots proudly premieres the mad new music video from Energy God Productions: Elly alongside a fresh new face on the dancehall scene: Starface. “This was a fun video to shoot,” she says. “The acting part is always what I enjoy, to be someone else for a minute. I appreciate Elephant Man reaching out to me as a new artiste to represent on his track.” Dancehall’s Energy God was impressed with the new artist. “I wanted a bad female for this track,” he says. “When I made checks the feedback I was getting was all saying to choose Starface. Send her the track and she proved herself on it.” But don’t take his word for it. Check “Tek Wuk” for yourself. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Tarrus Riley “Crime-Free Christmas”

    HEAR THIS: Tarrus Riley “Crime-Free Christmas”

    Singy Singy Prays “Don’t Let Bloodshed Bruk The Vibes”

    “All I want for Christmas is to stay alive,” sings Tarrus Riley on this brand-new holiday boomshot, “Can’t take the sound of the 45!” Visions of yuletide merriment and “a new brand ride with a thick empress inside” are interspersed with heartfelt pleas for peace over a bouncy dancehall track produced by Lamont “Monte” Savory and mixed by Shane C. Brown of Jukeboxx Productions. “Seasons greetings” the song’s intro states. “Uptown, Downtown, we no wan’ hear no gun sound.” Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: A-Game “Everyday” Official Music video

    WATCH THIS: A-Game “Everyday” Official Music video

    In Comes Swing Ting With A Next Mad Sinting

    You may recall the UK-based label Swing Ting aka “the big bad sound outta Manchester” from that Devin Di Dakta “Bubble” joint we premiered a while back. They’re back at it with another bass-heavy digital excursion pon the version. This tune features an artist known as Alexx A-Game, who got his start in the business as a member of Konshens’ touring band. A-Game dropped a mixtape in 2014 and has been steadily building a core fanbase with his uplifting soulful lyrics. He also featured on “Gangsters,” a next Swing Ting release with UK producer Famous Eno and MCs Serocee & Fox, which showcased “a rawer side to his delivery,” as Swingting’s own Balraj Samrai puts it. The new tune is livicated to “every breadwinner who ah work for the cheese and butter.” The video includes scenes from the Rooftop Dayrave party, a joint venture between Equiknoxx & Swing Ting that took place in Downtown Kingston earlier this year. In this brave new world of Brexit and Trump, the hustling can’t stop, cause from you have life you have needs. Video After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Hempress Sativa “Fight For Your Rights” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Hempress Sativa “Fight For Your Rights” Official Music Video

    A Luta Continua

    When it comes to female reggae artists on the rise, Jah9 usually gets the lion’s share of the discussion. But she is not alone. Hempress Sativa is rapidly gaining the attention she deserves as a brilliant artist who can sing, dj, and even rap. First introduced to music by her father Albert ‘Ilawi Malawi’ Johnson, selector for the legendary Jah Love Sound System, Kerida Johnson began performing at the age of 13. She chose the name Hempress Sativa which she said represents “a state of euphoria, a state of consciousness, [and] a state of high.” Her music is rooted in her Rastafarian faith and includes songs such as the marijuana anthem “Oo La La La: The Weed Thing,” the sensuous “Kushite Love,” and the homage to sound system culture “Boom (Wa Da Da Deng),” alongside Paolo Baldini DubFiles. Today we focus on the  Hempress’ latest single “Fight For Your Rights,” produced by Conquering Lion Records, mixed by The Original Dub Master “Scientist,” and released to coincide with the 86th coronation of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen. Of the song’s new video Hempress Sativa wrote on her Facebook page “People of African descent were considered underlings and were being denied then and still now some basic human rights! So With the 1930 Coronation, The Royal Family of H.I.M Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen exemplified nobility and a dynasty as long as King Solomon and Queen of Sheba reconciling the fact that we (Black People) were from the beginning indeed the first civilization and not savages as their stories would have us believe.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Popcaan Performs Live At MOBO Awards

    Popcaan Performs Live At MOBO Awards

    Unruly Gang Inna Glasgow

    The last time Popcaan set foot in the United Kingdom, he used an OVO duplate to seal up Mixpak’s decisive victory in the Red Bull Culture Clash. Now comes news that the Unruly Boss will be performing live at the 21st Annual MOBO Awards in Glasgow, Scotland. The awards, which honor Music of Black Origin around the world, will kick off in just a few hours. This year’s Best Reggae Act nominees include Popcaan, Alkaline, Spice, Kranium, and Protoje. (Nuff respect!) Those of us who are not in the UK can pree the red carpet pon Facebook, and keep it locked to Boomshots for more updates. More Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Mavado “Get Up”

    HEAR THIS: Mavado “Get Up”

    Brand New Serial From Marvoni Records

    Recently we’ve been hearing a lot of war tunes flying back and forth. Folks getting all excited about a next lyrical skirmish from two battle-tested veterans. While there’s a time and a place for war, life during wartime ain’t no party—and it ain’t no fooling around (word to David Byrne). So when we hear David Brooks singing a crucial message of inspiration for all the hard-working ghetto youths who hang on his every word, we’ve got to give that a big forward. Whether it’s controversial or not. Whether it sells or not. Because it’s only right. That’s what Gully Gaad does. That’s what the music is for—so listen up!  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Willi Williams ft. U-Roy “Miss Cutie Cutie”

    HEAR THIS: Willi Williams ft. U-Roy “Miss Cutie Cutie”

    Foundation Artists In Action

    Singer-songwriter Willi Williams’ 1979 hit “Armagideon Time” is forever enshrined in the reggae canon. Perhaps the most famous song on Studio One’s immortal Real Rock rhythm, Williams’ original was covered by seminal UK punk band The Clash that same year. Now the foundation singer has teamed up with the godfather of Jamaican deejays, U-Roy, and the Studio One house band the Soul Vendors for a new single “Ms. Cutie Cutie,” released through Williams’ own Drum Street label. This contemporary lovers rock track is a combination version of Williams’ “Natural Beauty,” both of which are available from all major digital distribution services and will be included on a full length release later this year, all backed by the Vendors. “My first recording was ‘Calling’ at Studio One in the late 1960s, and the Soul Vendors were Mr. Dodd’s house band at the time, working with every major act and helping create the Jamaican song book,” Williams explained. “The Vendors played on tracks from my Studio One album Armagideon Time, but this was the first time since then that we got in the studio and really worked together. I’ve been friends with U-Roy since the early 70s but we’ve never recorded together.” Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Boomshots Big Up: “Who Nuh Know Bella?”

    Boomshots Big Up: “Who Nuh Know Bella?”

    Who’s That Gyal?

    She’s lived life as a coked-out fairy with wings, launching into lanes of Oliver living legends, youtube rude and insta-famous. While Majah Hype remains ambiguous as to his indigenous, comedic lioness Bella Blair is unapologetic about her Jamaican genetics. She has been punching it on the Internet with the likes of “Poonchie,” a calling-card character, since 2011, blasting her Bella Blair Show and subsequent series. Bella Blair also caught eyes and ears with last year’s dancehall ditty “Good Gyal Anthem,” starring Poonchie, and the “Hotline Bling” parody, “Side Chick Bling.” BOOMSHOTS recently caught up with Bella at Irie Jam’s 23rd anniversary celebration concert during which Bella had made a well-received cameo. The Irie Jam appearance came amidst preparations for the official release of her island-pride-promoting single, “Jamaica,” a funky, sinister sonic, patois-peppered R&B tonic of a big up to Yard. Hard, smooth, cool and deadly on the rock steady with siren-like singing signifying that she ready. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Sizzla Scorches New York City

    Sizzla Scorches New York City

    The King of Kings Mashes Down B.B. Kings

    Outside the weather was watery, but pure fire blazed inside B.B. King Blues Club & Grill as Sizzla Kalonji took the stage of the storied Times Square centralized venue for the very first time early morning on October 22. In contrast to his previous New York City performance at Irie Jam’s 23rd Anniversary, his first in the area after an eight-year absence, Sizzla was without a live band and relied upon a selector to run the riddims. Unlike the open air of Irie Jam’s Roy Wilkins Park where the vibrations carried into the universe beyond, the confined vibes of the closer, more intimate space of B.B. King allowed the mystic to reverberate and pulsate to and fro, rebound off the walls and permeate the souls of the assembled. With Sizzla’s energy capable of reaching every individual in an unchained environment such as Roy Wilkin’s Park, to be exposed to his intensity amidst such intimacy was a powerful and sometimes overwhelming experience. Continues After The Jump… (more…)