Boomshots

Category: Dub

  • WATCH THIS: Jack Johnson x Lee “Scratch” Perry “Traffic in the Sky” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Jack Johnson x Lee “Scratch” Perry “Traffic in the Sky” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    From The Album In Between Dub

    Jack Johnson is not a reggae musician, but growing up in Hawaii he’s been immersed in the sound and the sensibility as long as he can remember. “Reggae music was kinda like mainstream here,” he recalls. “That was something that was always around. When you jump in someone’s truck to go drive or go surf it was mostly reggae records playing.” On June 2 the pro surfer turned multiplatinum recording artist, film maker, and environmental activist will release In Between Dub, a selection of tracks drawn from Johnson’s two decade-deep catalog, served up “with a dub twist.” While Johnson never aimed to play reggae music, he recognizes its influence on his folk rock aesthetic. “I always identified the tones that I’m shooting for,” he reflects. “On all my albums we kind of go for a nice round bass sound.” When you check it deeply, Johnson did once accompany the legendary Jimmy Cliff performing “The Harder They Come” at a European music festival. Johnson and Ben Harper also joined backed Hibbert while performing “Pressure Drop” on Saturday Night Live. And Johnson will make a guest appearance on Stephen Marley’s forthcoming solo album. So perhaps it was not such a crazy notion for him to reach out to dub visionary Lee “Scratch” Perry in 2020 to work on a kind of greatest hits in dub project. “It didn’t feel like it would be going outside of our natural zone,” he says. “I felt it would be interesting to hear the songs dubbed out even if they’re not straight reggae. I felt they might fit into that pretty nice.” Boomshots is proud to premiere the dubbed-out visuals for “Traffic in the Sky,” a gentle acoustic tune from Johnson’s 2003 album On & On, which Scratch transforms into a spongy slice of digital dub sport. The video of Scratch was culled from actual studio footage sent by his wife after his passing. Run it!  Video After the Jump… (more…)

  • Dubbin’ with Bulby: Exclusive ‘Master Blaster’ Mixdown

    Dubbin’ with Bulby: Exclusive ‘Master Blaster’ Mixdown

    Legendary Producer and Engineer Dubs Beres, Busy & Kartel Live in the Studio

    A graduate of King Tubby’s Dub University, Colin “Bulby” Yorke has done his teacher proud. Over the course of nearly 30 years in the music industry, Bulby has produced, mixed, and engineered a plethora of certified boomshots—recordings by most of the top artists in dancehall and reggae pantheon—both as part of the Fat Eyes camp and under his own banner. Having worked with the likes of No Doubt and Rihanna as well, it was only right for Bulby to begin releasing albums himself. His solo debut, Epic & Ting, was so well received that he recently dropped a follow-up entitled Master Blaster. During a recent promo run through NYC, Bulby invited Boomshots up to Grey Noise recording studio in Times Square for a very special musical treat. Sitting down next to Reshma B at the mixing board, Bulby ran through an exclusive dub mixdown of three crucial tracks from Master Blaster: “Freedom” featuring Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, J Boog & Lutah Fyah, “Cherry Oh Baby” featuring Busy Signal and Patrice Roberts, and “Cyan Dween Like We” featuring Vybz Kartel alongside Lola Monroe and Candy Gloster. In between tracks, Bulby dropped knowledge about the art of Dub while RGAT witnessed a master at work. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Addis Pablo ft. Shanique Marie “From Morning” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Addis Pablo ft. Shanique Marie “From Morning” Official Music Video

    Boomshots Premieres A Hot Dub Collaboration

    We last met up with Addis Pablo in 2017, at the Greensleeves Records 40th Anniversary on his dad, Augustus Pablo’s birthday, June 21.  He spoke of how his dad taught him all the basic chords and melodies and how he was working very hard to become his “own creative force.” Since then Addis Pablo paid tribute to his father in 2018, alongside his sister, Isis Swaby at the Apple Store New York in Williamsburg, drawing a diverse crowd of VP Records executives and “The Nomads.” Now he releases the visual for “From Morning,” a collaboration with Shanique Marie, and a single off his Majestic Melodies EP.   Interview and Video After The Jump…

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  • Greensleeves Records Celebrates 40th Year Anniversary at B.B. Kings Blues and Grill in New York City

    Greensleeves Records Celebrates 40th Year Anniversary at B.B. Kings Blues and Grill in New York City

    Star-Studded Event Captures Music in A Time Capsule

    The founders of Greensleeves Records, Chris Sedgewick and Chris Cracknell launched the record label in 1977 and sky rocketed the careers of many foundation artists and cross over artists, including: Barrington Levy, Shabba Ranks , Beeenie Man, Mr. Vegas, Shaggy, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel and more. Partnering with VP records in 2008, only strengthened the label’s international ties. On Wednesday, June 21, 2017,  the two powerhouses came together at B.B. King Blues and Grill, to celebrate Greensleeves’ 40th year in the music business. On the summer soltice at New York City’s hottest musical venue, the label showcased it’s shinning stars: Alborosie, Queen I-frica, and Addis Pablo.More After The Jump…

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  • BuzzRock’s New Album: “Nobody’s Fool”

    BuzzRock’s New Album: “Nobody’s Fool”

    New Solo Album From One of Trinidad and Tobago’s Finest Roots Artist

    Sadiki also known as BuzzRock, releases his new album today, a solo album entitled “Nobody’s Fool” on his own label, Ministry of Dub. BuzzRock released four albums as part of a group but this time he is taking his baritone vocals and conscious lyrics to the world. This article contains an interview we conducted two days prior to the album release followed by an album review. More After The Jump…

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  • Saba Jenga: Black Girl Magic

    Saba Jenga: Black Girl Magic

    New Artist With Soulful Hip Hop and Conscious Reverberations

    Saba Jenga is an ambitious woman who left her hometown in Richmond, Virginia to pursue a career in music. She was determined to hone her craft with an educational foundation in New York City. She won the 2012 “Walk This Way Award” for Best MC at St. John’s University and following this she matriculated into the New York University, Clive Davis Institute of Recording Music. During her time of study, she coined a music style of her own called “Dirty Dub,” fusing various genres of music including dub, dubstep, reggae, trap and gogo. Saba Jenga evokes the “black girl magic” ensconced  in a world with a European standard of beauty and oppression of minorities; through a culmination of cultures and sounds. We spoke to Saba, following a stellar performance at The Miss Lily’s 4/20 Celebration with International Selector, Yaadcore.  More After The Jump…

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  • Jah Bami 20/20 Album Review

    Jah Bami 20/20 Album Review

    Jah Bami Makes A New Album of Conscious Thought and Musical Arrangement

    After releasing the Suave mixtape, Jah Bami and Suns of Dub will release “Riddimentary” on April 28 with VP Records. In addition to this high output of music and preceding a tour of Europe and The United States, Jah Bami released one of his best solo albums to date, “20/20” this month. Album Review After The Jump

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  • 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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  • HEAR THIS: “Super Hi-Fi Plays Nirvana”(Full Album Stream) PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: “Super Hi-Fi Plays Nirvana”
    (Full Album Stream) PREMIERE

    Grunge In Dub With Nuff Trombone

    Back when Ezra Gale—the bassist for undergound Brooklyn ensemble Super Hi-Fi—was in college, another band he played in opened for Nirvana. Now, 25 years after the Seattle trio’s classic Nevermind, he and Super Hi-Fi decided to put a very different spin on Kurt Cobain’s songbook. Super Hi-Fi Plays Nirvana will be released tomorrow on Gale’s boutique label Very Special Recordings via digital and cassette only. The throwback format is not just about retro cool, it’s also highly affordable, allowing for creative freedom and experimentation. “I hate cover versions that just sound like the original,” says Gale. “So with Nirvana, it seemed interesting to make something new out of something so familiar.” With Jon Lipscomb on guitar, Madhu Siddappa on drums, and trombonist Rick Parker dueling with Curtis Fowlkes, Robert Stringer and Alex Asher on 2nd trombone, Super Hi-Fi recorded instrumental versions of six Nirvana tunes (including Shocking Blue’s “Love Buzz” and LeadBelly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” both signature Nirvana covers) plus one original cut, entitled “Space Needle.” The sound is even more of a departure than Little Roy’s beloved reggae version of “Lithium.” Instead of Cobain’s guitar shrieks and Grohl’s chest-pounding drums, Super Hi-Fi (who describe themselves as “Brooklyn’s premiere two trombone dub experience”) serve up woozy horns, and heavy dub mixes courtesty of Nicola Stemmer, Victor Rice, Doctor Sub, and Prince Polo. Having a hard time imaging it? Well fortunately, you don’t have to. Boomshots is proud to premiere the full album right now. Audio After The Jump…
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  • HEAR THIS: Courtney John “Strangers”

    HEAR THIS: Courtney John “Strangers”

    Warm & Easy Modern Vintage Groove With An Undeniable Edge of Tension

    Courtney John’s distinctive falsetto sets an enigmatic mood on this ominous dubwise selection. with uniqueness that simply radiates. The singer who brought us Made in Jamaica five years ago jetted to Paris to work on his forthcoming album, also entitled Strangers, scheduled for a January 25 release. Produced by Guillaume “Gee” Metenier—who decsribes his sound as psychedelic soul jazz funk and early reggae. The singer linked with Gee in Kingston, JA and they previously collaborated on a next banger called “All I Know.” The “Strangers” riddim track is performed by top players from Paris’ international music scene. This one is radiant, strange, and special. Audio After The Jump…
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  • HEAR THIS: Akae Beka “Like Rhyme”

    vaughnBOOMSHOTSVaughn Benjamin’s Poetry In Song

    A master of word play, Vaughn Benjamin (Akae Beka), the prolific songwriter of Midnite Band, supersedes our expectations on his recent solo album, “Portals,” I-grade Records. This July, the artist from St. Croix  trods out for the “Portals Summer Tour.” Manager, Preston Powell predicts that venues will be bursting at the seams for fans who adore this “solo project,” with conscious hits about relationships, spirituality and life.  Fan favorite,  “Like Rhyme” really demonstrates the creativity and intellectual prowess of this lyricist. The entire song is poetry with each line reverberating a natural wave of consciousness.  Moreover it is not just the way the words sound but how the message is physically delivered and neatly packaged into one song.

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  • HEAR THIS: Morgan Heritage “Modern Man” (Umberto Echo Dub Mix)

    HEAR THIS: Morgan Heritage “Modern Man” (Umberto Echo Dub Mix)

    The Mad! Sick! Riddim Is Pretty Much Exactly That

    Our peoples over at Reggaeville linked up with Munich-based production team Oneness Records to drop an energetic roots rock juggling called the Maad! Sick! Riddim that mixes well with the Rootsman and other top-shelf culture cuts. The lineup is stocked with the likes of Exco Levi, Perfect Giddimani, Gappy Ranks, and Kelissa. Herewith we present an exclusive mix of Morgan Heritage’s “Modern Man” dubbed within an inch of its life by the man called Umberto Echo. Not to be confused with Mr. Eco—the linguist, philosopher, semiotician and author of Foucault’s Pendulum and many more—nor with the Bunnymen—the audio phenomenologist Mr. Echo adds his H for hextra echo.   Audio After The Jump… (more…)