Boomshots

Category: Foundation

Classics

  • Eye of A Tiger: New Song Highlights The Style of Reggae Veteran Tiger

    Eye of A Tiger: New Song Highlights The Style of Reggae Veteran Tiger

    New Twin of Twins Song  Shines A Bright Light On Tiger’s Classic “When”

    “Bun Again” by Twin of Twins comments on tumultuous relationships in dancehall.  Mr. Vegas, Foota Hype and Gully Bop are featured in the video,  along with  their close encounters with infidelity and domestic violence. The song discusses these serious topics in a satirical way. The beginning of the song also lyrically makes reference to 2016 Grammy Nominated Artist, Barrington Levy  and his classic “Too Experienced.” Produced by Anju Blaxx, the intro is the classic song “Woman is Like A Shadow” by The Meditations.  Moreover, the entire song is a remake of “When” by  living legend, Tiger.  More After The Jump (more…)

  • Reasoning with Sister Nancy

    Reasoning with Sister Nancy

    Dancehall’s Original Muma Talks “Bam Bam,” Rihanna, and Kanye West

    Quick: what’s the most sampled song in reggae history? If you guessed “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy you know your stuff. Her 1982 album cut has provided raw material for dozens of records for artists ranging from Chris Brown to Too $hot to Diamond D. The latest may be the biggest tune of all:”Famous” by Kanye West featuring Rihanna and Swizz Beatz, off The Life of Pablo. Yep, that’s the song where Yeezy disses Taylor Swift–the one everybkdy’s chatting bout although few have actually heard it. When Boomshots caught up with Muma Nancy for a recent Billboard piece the legendary foundation DJ had not heard the tune yet. Not that she’s in much of a hurry to do so. She’s unimpressed with the whole sampling thing, much preferring a live session. But trust and believe she will be picking up that royalty check. Pree the full reasoning below. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Reggae Rajahs “Pass The Lighter”

    HEAR THIS: Reggae Rajahs “Pass The Lighter”

    Even in India, Where Ganja is a Way of Life, The Struggle Continues

    Based in the beautiful seaside state of Goa, Reggae Rajahs represent reggae music throughout India. It’s only right, considering the massive influence of Indian culture with Jamaica in general, plus reggae and Rastafari in particular. In this track from the Rajah’s December 2015 EP, Reggae Beach Party, the five-man posse utilizes the classic Studio One riddim “High Fashion Dub” to advocate for the legalization of marijuana in a country where ganja has been considered a holy sacrament since 2000 B.C. Go deh Rajahs! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Raging Fyah “Milk and Honey” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Raging Fyah “Milk and Honey” PREMIERE

    New Music From The We Remember Dennis Brown Album

    It’s been just ten days since V.P. Records announced the highly anticipated roots reggae project, We Remember Dennis Brown, which will see a range of Jamaican and international artists paying tribute to the Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown by recording some of his classic cuts. Today Boomshots is proud to premiere the latest track from the album, an all-new version of the Rastafarian anthem “Milk and Honey” as performed by the red-hot Jamaican reggae ensemble Raging Fyah. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Ten Great Bob Marley Songs You Probably Never Heard

    Ten Great Bob Marley Songs You Probably Never Heard

    The Songs That Made The Gong A Legend Are Not All On Legend

    Bob Marley’s greatest hits collection Legend is the top-selling reggae album of all time, with at least 15 million copies sold—according to the RIAA website. It’s a good bet the actual numbers are a lot higher, but let’s just say that the 15 tracks on that album have served as most people’s introduction to the Tuff Gong—and to reggae music overall. But like the song says, “Half the story has never been told.” Even if you’ve collected all of Marley’s albums for Island Records you could still spend a lifetime exploring his work with Scratch Perry, Coxsone Dodd, Leslie Kong, Danny Sims, or Randy’s Studio 17. In honor of Robert Nesta Marley’s 71st Birthday, we’ve gathered some of our favorite rarities and under-rated Marley classics. Most will come as a revelation to your average Legend listener. A serious reggae fan will have heard at least a few before. If you know all ten of these already, nuff respect. Rock on, Tuff Gong. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Richie Stephens “Rain From The Sky” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Richie Stephens “Rain From The Sky” Official Music Video

    Lost Tape From Steely & Clevie’s Studio One Sessions

    This is a pretty good week for Richie Stephens. First came news that Rihanna’s producers had sampled his “Sail Away” riddim for her latest duet with Drake. (In other words Pot of Gold Productions must nyam some good food.) Now he’s seeing the release of a 14-year-old recording project—and the tune sounds nice! Stephens recorded this cover of the Studio One classic “Rolling Down” back in 1992 when ace prodcers Wycliffe “Steelie” Johnson and Cleveland “Clevie” Browne were working on the album Steelie & Clevie Play Studio One Vintage. Released on Heartbeat Records in 1992, that album would go on to score a major chart hit with Dawn Penn’s “No, No, No,” but the whole album was wicked. Somehow this recording got misplaced on one of the studio reels and was recently rediscovered while SilverHawk Sound was getting its dub collection back into order. (More on that later, but all dibby dibby soundbwoys you have been warned.) In the meantime let’s rock and groove to the voice of Mr. Richie Stephens singing a heartical Studio First selection. Cue the trombone Mr. Hornsman! Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Paying Tribute To The Crown Prince on “We Remember Dennis Brown”

    Paying Tribute To The Crown Prince on
    “We Remember Dennis Brown”

    Young Reggae Artists Pay Homage To The Crown Prince

    This February 1st marks what would have been the 59th birthday of the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown, better known as the Crown Prince of Reggae. Having made his mark at Sir Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One as a child performer, D. Brown would go on to blaze a trail of soulful roots reggae, taking his sound to the top of the British charts in 1972 with “Money in My Pocket.” The singer recorded crucial cuts for many of Jamaica’s greatest producers including Lee “Scratch” Perry, Niney the Observer, Joe Gibbs, King Jammy’$, and Sly & Robbie. He passed away in 1999 but his music continues to play all around the world, with timeless lyrics like “Love and hate can never be friends” becoming immortalized in the popular vernacular. In 2016 V.P. Records has announced that they will be releasing a 2-CD tribute album entitled We Remember Dennis Brown. In the same spirit as We Remember Gregory Isaacs, the album will feature newer artists covering classic and rare cuts by the master. The first four songs in the double-CD set have been revealed. Lineup & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Jah Cure Talks Grammy Nomination, Freedom for Buju & The Life He Lives

    Jah Cure Talks Grammy Nomination, Freedom for Buju & The Life He Lives

    Reshma B Reasons With Iyacure Pon Di Cruise

    Nobody had more fun on this year’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise than Jah Cure. The World Singer is always appreciative when he gets the chance to reach an international audience, particularly since visa issues have prevented fans in the UK and the USA  fr0m seeing him perform in their part of the world. If he stepped onto the ship with an extra spring in his step this year, maybe it was due to the fact that his latest album The Cure, spent several weeks on top of Billboard’s Reggae chart this year. And although he didn’t yet know that it was about to be nominated for a Grammy—the singer’s first—he had a good feeling about it. His performance was nothing short of electrifying. He sang about “the wicked people and badmind, lurking in the dark” but onstage his spirit soared. He took a moment to livicate his performance to incarcerated reggae star Buju Banton, and spoke of how the artist checked for him when he was behind bars. After the performance, Jah Cure sat down with the Reggae Girl About Town for an in-depth conversation. He discussed his strategy in putting his latest album together, how sought to incorporate diverse sounds and styles in a pleasing blend, similar to a fruit cocktail. What comes through in the final analysis is a man who has come through many a struggle without ever seeming “struggled,” and one who feels deeply satisfied with a job well done. “My bad days prepared me for my good days,” he told RGAT. “And I’m so blessed…. I’m living like a King.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Super Cat “Ever Ready”

    HEAR THIS: Super Cat “Ever Ready”

    In Comes A Classical Wild Apache Selection Produced By Jah Thomas

    A few years ago the Boomshots massive bucked up Jah Thomas chilling backstage at Reggae Sumfest 2012. The foundation reggae DJ and pioneering producer said he was the “happiest man on the planet” because his production, “Dance in New York” by Super Cat, had recently been sampled by Salaam Remi for the hit Nas tune “The Don.” [Check the full story behind the making of that song HERE.] During the interview Jah Thomas casually mentioned that he still had some unreleased Super Cat joints on tape. This came as a revelation to Wild Apache fans who haven’t a new Cat tune since 19-how-long… Well, good news: one of those 1984 Midnight Rock masterworks has now surfaced on the Internet. Give thanks & praise. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Super Cat Confirmed for Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise

    Super Cat Confirmed for Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise

    The Wild Apache Will Be On Board—Nah Tek Back No Chat

    Not content to be merely awesome, the second annual Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise continues to up the artistic ante. Yesterday Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s official cruise Facebook page made a late-breaking announcement: dancehall reggae legend Super Cat has just been confirmed for both of the five-night cruises from Miami to Jamaica and back. (Cat joins an already excpetional lineup, ranging from Jr. Gong to Barrington Levy to Capleton and Popcaan and many many more.) After a lengthy hiatus from the music business, the Wild Apache rallied forward in 2013, taking the music scene by storm with a surprise appearance alongside Shaggy in NYC. Since then Cat made a historic return to Jamaica for Sting 2013 and has continued to perform select spot dates for various groups of fans fortunate enough to witness history in the making every time the Don Dada steps on the stage. With the all-star sound system lineup on board this year’s cruises (including Jammy’s, Saxon, Metro Media, and Black Scorpio to name a few) some truly legendary musical moments are likely to unfold on the high seas. Video & Booking Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Michael Rose “Warrior”

    HEAR THIS: Michael Rose “Warrior”

    Bless Up the Grammy Winner From Waterhouse On Another Earthstrong

    “Life is a gamble,” sings Michael “Grammy” Rose on the title track from his powerful 2007 roots rock reggae album produced by the Twilight Circus crew. “Cease fire!” Since joining forces with Black Uhuru in 1977, Rose has remained at the forefront of reggae music outernationally—whether by cultivating and celebrating a “Stalk of Sinsemilla” or shaking up society with “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” bouncing to the “Sponji Reggae” or collecting the first ever Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with Uhuru’s Anthem. As Mr. Rose marks his 58th birthday today, Boomshots salute a musical soldier who never cease fire yet, just like the youths of Eglington with them Remington. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: John Holt “My Heart Is Gone”

    HEAR THIS: John Holt “My Heart Is Gone”

    Celebrating The Birth of a Legend

    On this day in 1947, Winston “John” Holt was born in Greenwich Farm, Jamaica. His destiny in music was clear before he hit his teenage years, and he soon became a standout at the talent show circuit. His first recordings included “I Cried A Tear” for producer Leslie Kong and “Rum Bumper” a duet with Alton Ellis, for producer Randy Chin. He would of course go on to become a founding member of The Paragons, as well as one of Jamaican music’s most successful and prolific songwriters in his own right. He penned a rich catalog filled with internationally known hits, and yet everyone seems to have their own personal favorite John Holt tune. Before he grew his dreadlocks and starting singing more rebellious songs like “Police in Helicopter,” he was known as a romantic balladeer with legions of female fans. Some consider him a pioneer of the lovers rock style of reggae that later caught on in the UK—where he made his home for many years. Somehow John Holt seemed to particularly familiar with the sadder side of love, as he displayed on songs like “Tonight” and this one, which he first recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, and then re-versioned for Phil Pratt’s Sunshot label. It hasn’t been quite a full year since John Holt’s death—and there’s something about that first birthday after someone passes away. Those of us who aren’t quite ready to let him go will know exactly what this song is all about. Audio After The Jump… (more…)