Boomshots

Category: Dancehall

  • No Long Talk: Daddy Ernie On Freedom of Choice: “Who Want Vex, Vex!”

    No Long Talk: Daddy Ernie On Freedom of Choice: “Who Want Vex, Vex!”

    Host of UK Radio’s Superjam Reflects On His Legacy

    If you weren’t in London from the ’90s, you may not be aware of Daddy Ernie or the power of his radio show, SuperJam. As he says: “Who’s Daddy Ernie? Some black DJ who used to be on a station in Brixton that everybody used to wear big gold chains and rings.” What you should know is he’s one of the most respected and important British contributors in the history of Jamaican music. He’s also the only person in history to present a reggae show Monday to Friday on a legal radio station. And it was prime time from 1990 to (about) 2003/2004. The way things are, it’s likely he’ll be the sole claimant forever. Daddy Ernie’s SuperJam ran alongside Choice FM’s lifespan (1990–2013), becoming one of the stations most listened to shows and amongst the highest paid specialist DJs on the station.  Podcast After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “Bad Long Time”

    HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “Bad Long Time”

    Turf Prez Style Magnificent Magnificent Magnificent Magnificent

    Busy’s newest tune to touch the road is a standout cut off Seanizzle’s new “90s Don Dada” Riddim. The Turf Prez tears up this vintage-feel juggling—the style is magnificent and the damage is perdamanent. “Hotted”! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “These Are The Days” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “These Are The Days” Official Music Video

    The Song That Set Busy On A Next Level Back in 2008

    The Turf Prez keeps the streets supplied with new music at such a frenetic pace that sometimes we fail to check the catalog deeply. From the moment Busy Signal “Stepped out” in the dancehall biz it was clear he was a talent to be reckoned with who was “not going down” any time soon. With his 2008 sophomore album Loaded he unleashed a lyrical fusillade entitled “These Are The Days” that made clear this was a youth who was operating on a much higher level than most of his peers in the music industry. Eight years later his fans have gained a greater insight into the angst that fueled these bitter bars, and our appreciation of Busy’s artistry has only grown over time. Lick it back from the top the very last drop. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Out of Many (One)” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Out of Many (One)” Official Music Video

    Turf Prez In The Drivers Seat—KUFF!

    Today is Busy Signal’s birthday so we’re repping hard for one of our favorite artistes, the Turf Prez. In case you missed his most recent video, check out Sheik Busy stunting in outrageous whips while ripping up a classic dancehall riddim—Jammy’s “Magic Moment” riddim—inna style made famous by the great Shelly Thunder. The Jamaican national motto is “out of many one people” but this new selection from the Turf Prez feels more like an “out of many artistes I am the one” vibe. Judge for yourself (and let us know in the comments which of these cars you’d prefer to drive). Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Nesbeth “My Dream” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Nesbeth “My Dream” Official Music Video

    From Trenchtown, A Next Star Arise

    Released last month, “My Dream” features the veteran reggae singer reflecting on the struggles he’s faced in Jamaica and focusing on not giving up. A superb track from start to finish, it’s a progressive take on roots reggae with a dash of picked pop guitar and a catchy bounce. The video release, directed by RD Studios, is a fitting complement to the unique sound of “My Dream” and captivates immediately. Opening with wide-angle montages of Jamaica’s breathtaking coast, Nesbeth appears draped in the flag singing “Mek wi start dah one yah, like how Martin Luther King would ah start it.” The song goes on to tell the story of a young boy who’s driven to success against all odds. The Jamaica-based artist finished 2015 on a high, thanks to “My Dream,” and the video certainly reflects the success of his aptly titled new album, Victory. From Trenchtown a next star arise. Video After the Jump…

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  • Dre Island Makes Mass Appeal’s List of “16 Artists To Watch in 2016”

    Dre Island Makes Mass Appeal’s List of
    “16 Artists To Watch in 2016”

    Anticipation Builds For The Now I Rise Project

    A graduate of Kingston’s Calabar high school—alma mater of both Jr. Gong and Vybz Kartel—reggae/dancehall producer turned performer Andre Johnson aka Dre Island is emerging as a living link between the vaunted “roots revival” movement and the sound of the Jamaican streets. “The revival is really within the people. Reggae music never stop. Reggae artists always been touring. So it’s just the people’s awareness.” On the strength of his growing body of work, Dre has been named one of Mass Appeal’s “16 Artists To Watch in 2016.”  More After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Mr. Vegas “Dancehall Dabb” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Mr. Vegas “Dancehall Dabb” Official Music Video

    New Year New Style New Dance A Lick—Out And Bad

    The Mass Appeal massive already knows the deal. You’ve heard it straight from Migos: Dabbin’ is a way of fashion. But as you’ve no doubt noticed, this Dab thing is catching on in a big way—from Dabbin Santa to corny-ass college football coaches. Given Jamaica’s love for new dance moves, it was only a matter of time until somebody busted out a yardstyle take on the dab dance. As if on cue, here comes dancehall star Mr. Vegas—the same dude who gave us dance anthems like “Hot Wuk” and “Bruk It Down”—with a fresh new video shot in T-Dot and directed by Ty Black. In short, the ting tun up again. Video After the Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Raekwon x Kabaka Pyramid “Be Inspired”

    HEAR THIS: Raekwon x Kabaka Pyramid “Be Inspired”

    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…)

  • 2016 Kickoff Playlist

    2016 Kickoff Playlist

        Multi-genre Playlist of Songs That Are Already Moving the Massive Internationally in 2016

    The start of the New Year could not be any better.  This playlist highlights ten notable releases between the end of last year and the beginning of this year, that are stirring up the musical anticipation for the rest of 2016.

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  • HEAR THIS: Mr. Vegas “Dancehall Dab”

    HEAR THIS: Mr. Vegas “Dancehall Dab”

    New Year, New Style, New Dance A Lick

    It’s straaange how the dances are changing, as Barrington Levy observed many years ago. Just the other day our peoples at Mass Appeal made a flex down to ATL where the Migos explained the origins of the dab—the dance that looks sorta like you’re sneezing into your elbow. Trust me, it mash up the whole world. Given Jamaica’s propensity for dance tunes, it seemed only a matter of time until some savvy dancehall star stepped up with a yard-style dab. Now here comes Vegas, fresh from foreign, ready to buss the new dance in Jamaica. Gwan MV Music—Style them with the dab! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: RDX “Foot A Talk” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: RDX “Foot A Talk” Official Music Video

    RDX Gets The Whole World Dancing

    RDX is an abbreviation for Research Department Formula X, a high explosive developed by the U.S. military that’s more powerful than TNT. But today we’re talking about RDX the Jamaican dancehall duo, aka Renegade and Delomar, whose explosive catalog of high-energy tunes has made them a favorite of the island’s street dance scene. Their latest release, produced by Juss Kool, is a worldwide dancing anthem with visuals gathered from around the planet. The song is called “Foot A Talk” and Mass Appeal just premiered the music video. Run it! Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • No Long Talk: Serani Relives the Anger Management Riddim

    No Long Talk: Serani Relives the Anger Management Riddim

    Ten Years After Daseca’s Breakthrough Riddim, Serani Reflects

    Multi-instrumentalist and producer Serani (former one-third of Jamaican producers Daseca) reminisced on the creation, influence and legacy of Anger Management riddim on its 10th anniversary. Though officially released towards the end of 2004, it buss (a.k.a. impacted) in 2005. Made on a PC via a Triton keyboard in not much time (approximately 15mins), it went on to become one of the most memorable, gun finger-raising (critically-acclaimed) riddims of the noughties. The era-defining riddim spawned hits by legends Bounty Killer (“Gun Heaven”) and Sizzla (“No Way”), an establishing star in Vybz Kartel (“War Nah Talk Over”) and kick -tarted the career of a young talent from Cassava Piece by the name of David Brooks, better known as Mavado (“Real McKoy”). Everything was light prior to Anger Management. And things in the dancehall became a helluva lot darker after it ruled the airwaves and the streets. Audio After The Jump…
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