Boomshots

Category: Dancehall

  • HEAR THIS: Mavado ft. Vybz Kartel, Future & Ace Hood “I Ain’t Going Back Broke” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Mavado ft. Vybz Kartel, Future & Ace Hood “I Ain’t Going Back Broke” Remix

    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…)

  • The House of Marley Presents: Boomshots Unplugged Inna Style & Fashion

    The House of Marley Presents:
    Boomshots Unplugged Inna Style & Fashion

    Sister Carol, Screechy Dan, DJ Norie, Reshma B Chains, & Rockers NYC Take Over Negril Village

    Spring has sprung, and there’s definitely something in the air. Is that the essence of ishens? Yep, must be 4/20. One week from today, the Boomshots posse will be taking over NYC’s original Jamaican restaurant, Negril Village, for an historic event: the first ever staging of our quarterly after-work get-together, a thing called Boomshots Unplugged inna Style & Fashion. Come shake off the winter blues with a live acoustic performance by BK foundation DJ Sister Carol alongside the man called Screechy Dan as you’ve never heard them before. Shock out with DJ Norie and BBC Hi-Fi. Admission? Buy out the bar. Powered by The House of Marley. Way Up & Stay Up. Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • Boomshots x Pepsi Best Dancehall Songs

    Boomshots x Pepsi Best Dancehall Songs

    From Jr. Gong to Gully Bop—And Everything In Between

    If you peeped last year’s Pepsi list, you already know the flex. Reshma B selects Strictly Boomshots pon a worldwide level—with no badness, no slackness, and nuh shakiness. There are so many artists and producers on the island it seems like the tunes never stop, but with Boomshots as your guide you can sit back and enjoy nothing but the best. You dun know who makes culture pop. Up, up, up! Audio After The Jump…

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  • Kartel Busts The Billboard Charts

    Kartel Busts The Billboard Charts

    The Unstoppable WorldBoss Just Keeps On Winning

    Controversial Deejay Vybz Kartel‘s latest album Viking (Vybz Is King) made a grand debut at #3 on the Billboard‘s Reggae Album Chart and currently sits comfortably at #6. At the moment, he is the only dancehall artist to have an album in this chart’s Top Ten. This milestone marks the highest debut of his career, adding to Kartel’s string of successful musical feats since he has been incarcerated for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. Against all odds, he has remained at the forefront of the dancehall music scene—regularly releasing new songs, dominating radio airwaves and winning awards even as detractors denounce him. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Ghetto Youths International Posse Tour the U.S. In Support of Set Up Shop Vol. 2

    Ghetto Youths International Posse Tour the U.S. In Support of Set Up Shop Vol. 2

    Cham, Wayne Marshall, Jo Mersa, Christopher Ellis & Black-Am-I Touch The Road

    There is a famous saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” and for the heirs of reggae legend Bob Marley, Damian, Stephen and Julian Marley, their actions prove just that. Just as their father founded the Tuff Gong imprint, his youths see big things looming for their fresh record label Ghetto Youths International (GYI). For lovers of the perfect mixture of blues, calypso and rock and roll, Jamaica’s own reggae, GYI has a tour in the works next week. With the Marley imprint behind this initiative one can expect nothing less than a star-studded lineup of acts including Cham,Wayne Marshall, Black-Am-I, Jo Mersa, and Christopher Ellis. Said GYI participants are of course featured on the Billboard chart-topper, Set Up Shop Volume 2, a compilation that represents a full spectrum of music, from reggae to dancehall and futuristic fusion. With such a stellar selection of artists on tour, backed by the Lawless band, who wouldn’t be excited? Tour Schedule After The Jump…
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  • Reasoning with Keith Walford from Bass Odyssey

    Reasoning with Keith Walford from Bass Odyssey

    The Sound System’s Founder Talks Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise and the Sound Clash on the Sea

    In the mid 1970s Keith Walford expanded his father’s mechanic business in Alexandria, St. Ann into distributing and stocking jukeboxes all over Jamaica. His used to spin music at private fetes before officially launching Bass Odyssey in 1989 along with then-partner Bunny Hayles and selector Tinna-One, who was later joined by Glamma G and the legendary Kevin “Squingy” Bennett. Squingy referred to himself as “the Michael Jordan of clash” and he helped to make Bass Odyssey a musical killing machine. Sadly he fell ill and passed away in 2009 but the sound has kept his legacy alive thanks to young selectors like Dwayne, Worm,  Skinny, and Charly Black who’s gone on to become a successful recording artist. Although Keith entered the political life in 2011, becoming a Member of Parliament representing St. Ann, his “World Sound From Way Out in the Country” is still going strong. Last year the sound celebrated its 25th anniversary by launching Jamaica’s first ever sound system festival, with plans to make it an annual event. This coming November Bass Odyssey will challenge longtime sparring partner Metro Media and Far East Rulers Mighty Crown during the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise’s first-ever Sound Clash on the Sea. Boomshots spoke with Keith as his sound prepares to make waves.  Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • Anything Goes at DJ Norie’s Anniversary Bash

    Anything Goes at DJ Norie’s Anniversary Bash

    Live Sets From Wayne Wonder, Red Rat, Tarrus Riley & More

    DJ Norie has come a long way since his days on Brooklyn’s Wah Gwan Radio. His weekly show on New York’s top urban radio station, Power 105.1 FM, is one of the city’s leading platforms for reggae and dancehall music. So when he celebrated his anniversary late last week the stars came out. Check out Wayne Wonder breezing through his vast catalog of certified Boomshots—including the song that gave this annual showcase its name. And how long since we saw Red Rat blazing up his hits? He’s still got the girls screaming “Oh Noooo!” for tunes like “Dwayne” and “Tight Up Skirt”—and watch what happens when the Rat bucks up a fluffy gal from the front row. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Kreesha Turner: “I Wear My Benz Punany with Confidence”

    Reasoning with Kreesha Turner:
    “I Wear My Benz Punany with Confidence”

    Jamaican-Canadian Pop Star Reconnects With Her Dancehall Roots

    Kreesha Turner’s debut album Passion was an instant smash in her native Canada. Back in 2008 her single “Don’t Call Me Baby” became the most played song on Canadian radio and hit number one on Billboard‘​s U.S. Hot Dance Club Play. Nominated for “Best New Artist” and “Best Pop Album of The Year” at that year’s Juno Awards, her future seemed all mapped out for her. But there is another side to this perfect pop princess, a girl who grew up between Edmonton, Canada and Spanish Town, Jamaica. “Before I got signed I was in the underground hip-hop scene, and everything I did was a mixture of dancehall, hip-hop, and R&B,” she explained to the Reggae Girl About Town over lunch at Strawberry Hill. “When I got signed, the label took me all the way opposite to what I was. They got me to start straightening my hair. I went to media training and they told me not to speak in Jamaican dialect.” Now managed by Nick Cannon and signed to Universal Republic, Kreesha’s third album brings her full circle, diving into the dancehall, hip-hop and R&B sounds she loves. Her first single, “Sexy Gal,” features the Jamaican dancehall supergroup T.O.K. Watch for the official music video premiere March 31 on Mass Appeal. In the meantime, check out Reshma B’s exclusive interview, and enjoy the view! Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Ricky Blaze “Mighty”

    HEAR THIS: Ricky Blaze “Mighty”

    FME Capo On Some Next Flex—Again. Try & Keep Up!

    Sparking his spliff at the top of his latest track, Rick Bleezy re-introduces himself: “My name is Ricky Blaze—baddest bumbaclaat producer.” Not that he requires any intro. You already know this is the man responsible for dancehall bangers like Ding Dong’s “Badman Forward” and Gyptian’s “Hold Yuh,” the first reggae/dancehall cut to be certified gold since Jr. Gong’s “Welcome to Jamrock.” This is the guy who sang “Just You & I” on the same riddim, the youth who gave us “I Feel Free.” Restlessly innovating as he pushes the music forward, his new tune “Mighty” finds Blaze dropping gems: “Don’t confuse it, caw me fuse it… If you have a privilege don’t abuse it / Timing is everything, use it.” The sound is dark, dreamy, brooding—oh, and the whole thing ends with an ill guitar solo. R U ready? Let’s go.  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Text Message” Live

    WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Text Message” Live

    Turf Prez Previews Hard-Hitting Track From His Next Album on Jamaican TV

    Down near the end of a recent interview about his charitable endeavors, Busy Signal casually dropped some big news: the Turf Prezident has a double album in the works. “We haven’t finalised the name yet,” he told the Jamaica Observer, “but we’re looking at about August-September. In the meantime, we’re focusing on some visuals because people want to see what they’re buying. We’re shooting three videos today.” Three in one day? No wonder they call him Busy. During a recent pass through OnStage TV, Busy performed one of those tracks, and tore up the place. Video After the Jump… (more…)

  • Busy Signal Launches Helping Hands Foundation

    Busy Signal Launches Helping Hands Foundation

    Turf Prez Giving Back To The Hospital Where He Was Born

    St. Ann’s Hospital in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica is giving thanks for a new initiative, spearheaded by none other than popular dancehall artist Busy Signal. The dancehall phenomenon will be launching the Busy 20/20 Helping Hands Foundation April 2. The charitable organization’s first order of busi is to help the hospital to fulfill its needs, which are plentiful, including implementation of vital X-ray/CAT scan equipment, which Busy describes as a device used “for detecting cancer.” The pricetag? J$12 million—or just over US$100,000.  Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Cham “I’m Too Hot!” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Cham “I’m Too Hot!” Official Music Video

    The Kid Is Back. Deal With It.

    Cham has never been lacking in the confidence department. But in his new video the swag is just disgusting. Pushing a Rolls-Royce through South Beach? Stop it! But don’t get it twisted: “Even though me have the Ghost and the Phantom,” the DJ chats. “Still haffi keep me likkle crib pon the Waltham.” The boasy new visuals pave the way for the release of Cham’s third studio album Lawless, which will be produced by dancehall mastermind Dave Kelly and features appearances from Mykal Rose, Bounty Killer, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Miss O. All eyes on this. Video After The Jump… (more…)