New Releases
Sounds Like The Big Ship Bigger Bredda Wants To Ruff It Up
The last tune we heard from Chino was some lovey-dovey stuff, but enough of all that. This tune finds him feeling rude, telling the girls to “take the dancefloor and get naughty.” Girls from “all bout” are welcome—though Chino seems partial to the yardie gal dem—and he doesn’t care if she has a man. “Me ah no yuh man, but I can be one who turn your bow leg inna bandy.” Ah whoah. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
After A Medical Scare The “Rasta Rock” Chanter Has Got His Mojo Back
This past October Mr. Mojo, the youngest member of Morgan Heritage, collapsed during a Miami recording session and was rushed to the hospital. After recuperating from his illness, he’s back with newfound energy and a new record deal at Krian Music Group, the same indy label that’s now home to dead prez and Richie Loop. “After fighting through a near life threatening encounter, as I did last month, you tend to revamp your outlook on life,” Mojo said in a statement. “My single ‘New Dawn’ has become more relevant in my personal life. I hope to provide listeners with a vehicle to always look on the brighter side of a bad situation and the song gives me a second chance at doing just that.” Mojo calls his sound “Rasta Rock,” a blend of reggae, alternative, and hip-hop with a Top 40 twist. “New Dawn” samples Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” and features an uplifting hook from Mojo’s big brother Peetah. Audio & Lyric Video After The Jump… (more…)
Octane & Ifrica Sing About Love Inna Rootical Style
When’s the last time your lover told you “Ask me for anything”? That’s the kind of love I-Octane and Ifrica are singing about on their new duet “Wonderful Feeling,” which adapts the hook from the reggae classic “Joy In The Morning” and chips in some dancehall delivery from the Rasta singjays. “All day long me glowing from simply knowing later tonight me ah go see you,” Ifrica sings. Remember that feeling? Yeah. Total niceness. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Pusha Meets Hotskull Inna Raggamuffin Style
You’ve seen flicks from the video shoot, now check the tune. Pusha T, Popcaan, and Travis Scott. Young Chop on the beat. Early heat from The Wrath of Cain mixtape. This type of shit happens every day? If only… Audio After The Jump… (more…)
This Ain’t No Beach Party
Cham’s “Stripper Pose” video looks like it had to be one of the funnest video shoots ever. Beautiful girls on a beach with big bass cabinets blasting dancehall—what’s not to like? His song “Lawless” video might be on the same Dave Kelly–produced riddim, but the visuals depict totally different situation. It’s a rudeboy tune after all, a block-by-block survey of which neighborhood in Kingston is the maddest and why. We’re talking black bandanas, high-speed chases, outwitting Babylon at every turn. Fasten your seatbelt. Video After The Jump…
Busy Stays Getting Busy, Drops Two Bad Tunes on the Church Money Riddim
Busy is not rampin’—at all. Ever since his triumphant return to Jamaica, he’s been dropping heat every single day. Today our inbox was blessed with not one but two tunes on the Church Money riddim. The first, “Bout It,” is all about the sexy ladies with a catchy Auto-Tune hook that sounds a bit Kartel-ish. The second “Defense” is a rapid-fire audio assault focusing on Busy’s lyrical prowess. “Superior is my style, some bwoy style inferior.” Any questions? Audio After the Jump… (more…)
Nuff Respect to the Turf Hi Power… Music Every Minute Every Hour
Considering all that he’s been through lately, Busy sounds happy just to be back in the studio. This particular tune is all about the sheer joy of spitting lyrics. Flinging down classic foundation styles “to make you dance pon yuh toe,” Busy touches on key topics like Selassie’s 1966 visit to Jamaica, burning out badmind and obeah, and dashing another fire on the one Lucifer. After underscoring the importance of fresh armpits and a clean heart, Busy goes on to big up the godfather Rodney Price, and shouts out a diverse range of artists ranging from Tiger to Bongo Herman, Dean Fraser, Tippa Lee & Rappa Robert, and Sugar Minott “the sprinter-stayer long-distance runner.” Sounds like another #CertifiedBoomshot from Jukeboxx Jamaica. Audio After The Jump…
Jamaican-Born Beauty Looking For Mr. Lover To Bruk It Down
The artist formerly known as Lil Precious is now going by her born name Karian Sang. Nice to see this Jamaican-born Canadian cutie embracing her culture to the fullest. She just dropped a new song with Shaggy that’s full of dutty dancehall slang. You gotta love it when she starts talkin bout “wine pon the edge” and “bruk down the bed.” This girl sounds almost as good as she looks. Not mad. At all. Audio After The Jump…
(more…)
Busy’s Back—Time To Get Busy… Hottted!
That first tweet when he touched back down on Jamaican turf was nice. Last night’s press conference was sweet. But nothing beats the feeling of hearing Busy Signal’s first new release since his own release. No surprise he sounds like he’s got a lot to get off his chest. “Me just jumped out and me ready, go tell the whole world say me ready.” His fans are ready for sure. Hope the whole world is ready too. Audio After The Jump…
(more…)
Epic Two-Part Video Takes Elly & Crew From The Swamp Around The World And Back
You’ve gotta love the new Elephant Man video from Terminal 4 Media. Not just because it’s hilarious seeing Elly and Ding Dong and Keiva and the Ravers Clavers crawling in the primordial ooze like a bunch of swamp creatures. And not just because they so clean up in the second half of the video, trash and ready and bush to the bone ready to floss around the world in yet another dancehall version of Psy’s runaway hit “Gangnam Style.” And not just because it’s great to hear Elly singing a ridiculous dancehall instructional video all hoarse and off-key and not giving a frack like in the good ol’ days. It’s a little bit of all those things, actually. “How dem say Ding Dong stop dance?” Elly asks, outraged. “A lie dem ah tell!” As silly as these songs are—and make no mistake, they’re pretty silly—there’s a serious subtext behind the whole thing. “Mek we bring back the dancehall,” Elly sings on the delightfully ear-splitting hook. “Mek we show dem how it used to be.” Which means you’ve got to come with a new style. Even if it means making up your face like a reptile and crawling in the mud. And of course “Badman Style” isn’t exactly new. Psy did it first. Then Mega Banton, Singer J, and G-Loc brought it into the dancehall. But theirs was more of a bad man badman thing. And you already know Elly’s thing is a dancing thing. As in not taking oneself too seriously. As in embracing the inherent silliness of the whole thing. As in having fun again. Just like it used to be. Video After The Jump… (more…)
RiRi Reps Her Island Roots On This Reggae-Flavored Cut
What’s your favorite cut off Unapologetic? We’re loving the reggae tune of course. From “Pon Di Replay” and “No No No” (featuring Vybz Kartel) up through “Rude Boy” and “Man Down” Rihanna has always represented for the reggae massive. And her latest album is no exception (Peep the random “chalice” shout-out on the album cover). “How could you murder us?” Rihanna asks on this dramatic song, which was written by Elijah Blake—the man responsible for Usher’s No. 1 hit “Climax”—and produced by No I.D. Audio After The Jump…
Techniques And Truck Back Connect For A Pretty Song About How Love’s Not Always Pretty
Love is lovely, and war is kinda ugly. But what about the space in between? “Till You Do Me Right” explores that no man’s land with sensitive vocals from a quartet of voices. But we can’t stop asking ourselves—what if all these guys are singing about the same girl? That would explain why there’s so vexed! Audio After The Jump…
(more…)