Born on 420, Stephen “Ragga” Marley Invites You To A Blazing Birthday Celebration
Now in its third year, Kaya Fest was launched with a mission that goes beyond music. Don’t mistake this event for just a “smoke out.” Yes the festival kicks off on April 20, which is also Stephen Marley’s birthday—and just happens to coincide with 4/20, the official herbalists’ holiday. But Kaya Fest’s stated purpose is “Education before Recreation.” More specifically, the festival’s goal is “to educate the people of the many uses of this plant as well as to inspire and encourage positive public awareness.” But of course music and herb is a perfect combination, and nobody pairs them better than the Marley family. Story Continues After The Jump… (more…)Category: Ganja
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Boomshots 420 Playlist (2018)
A Playlist with Smoking Hot Chalice Chunes
California was the first state to launch a program for the use of medical marijuana, with Proposition 215 in 1996. This was followed up with the groundbreaking Senate Bill 420 in 2003, to clarify the provisions for medical use and protect those with authorized medical prescriptions from criminalization. This gave way to the 420 movement that is celebrated on April 20 for cannabis culture. Now 29 states allow for the medical use of marijuana, while only 8 states (California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas and Montana) have legalized recreational use in the United States. On a Federal level, marijuana is illegal and viewed as a highly addictive Schedule I drug, with no therapeutic properties.
Reggae music, as a genre, has always produced music with a high level of consciousness and significant social commentary. Throughout the years, there have been many marijuana anthems promoting freedom of choice, which are highly revered by smokers and non-smokers of this plant. On this 420, also Earth Day we hope to take you on a natural musical and mystic high with the Boomshots 420 Playlist. Boomshots 420 Playlist After The Jump…
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WATCH THIS: Damian Marley “Medication” Official Music Video
Zilla x Ragga Sing Praises To The Plant
Damian Marley has just released the visuals to his 420 anthem “Medication,” a collaboration with his brother Stephen “Ragga” Marley. Produced by Scheme Engine and directed by the ardent photographer and director Nick Walker, the video was shot on location in the California prison that Jr. Gong recently converted to a growing facility. “The video showcases the night and day of what this prison used to be,” says Gongzilla. “This place used to house human beings and now is a place that houses plants—some of those humans were once upon a time locked up because of these plants. We are showing the contrast, and what has become something positive and beneficial for so many people.” The video also features several patients who have benefited from the use of cannabis for healing purposes. As Ragga puts it: “These are living testimonies of the benefits of this plant. This plant saves lives…. Wake Up! Education before Recreation.” You can watch the video now on TIDAL and get a free 3-month subscription, and check out a clip below. (In related news, Jr. Gong and a team of investors recently acquired the O.G. herb publication High Times magazine for $70 million. Big up yuh chest Mr. Gong!) We’re almost a month away from the July 21st release date of Gongzilla’s fourth studio album, Stony Hill. Video After The Jump… (more…)
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Boss of the Year: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
Junior Gong Is Changing The Game In More Ways Than One
On “The Struggle Discontinues,” a track from Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s forthcoming album Stony Hill, Gongzilla offers a thought-provoking critique of reggae’s long history as “sufferer’s music.” As the tune puts it: “I don’t wanna sing a song that says ‘the struggle live on’… when will we overcome?” It really should come as no surprise that the artist who gave us hits like “Set Up Shop” and “Hard Work” is all about self-determination and economic advancement. “What we need in reggae music is business visionaries,” he says. “We have a lot of creative, artistic visionaries.” With that in mind, 2016 was a massively successful year for Bob Marley’s youngest youth. His Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise completed its third annual outing, selling out an even bigger vessel than ever before. While the cruise has inspired a few imitators—the sincerest form of flattery—WTJRC has been hailed by Billboard as “the genre’s premiere event.” With the 2017 lineup already announced, cabins are filling up fast. Meanwhile, Damian Marley also announced a foray into the booming herb industry—partnering with Ocean Grown Extracts, which recently acquired an abandoned prison in California which is being converted into a ganja grower—a potent symbol of poetic justice. The company has also entered a “joint venture” with Tru Cannabis to open a medical and recreational dispensary across the street from the NFL stadium in Denver—offering a new way to help keep Bronco tailgaters a “Mile High.” Don’t get it twisted—Jr. Gong’s main focus remains music, as evidenced by the anticipation for Stony Hill , the follow-up to his classic, certified Gold, double-Grammy-winning album Welcome To Jamrock. But it’s also true that rather than playing along, Zilla’s determined to change the game. “I’m working toward killing the struggle,” says Marley. “Not killing people’s ambition to better themselves, but killing the feeling that you have to be a struggler.” In recognition of his transformative power moves in 2016, Boomshots names Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley the Boss of the Year. Photos And Video After The Jump… (more…)
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WATCH THIS: Lutan Fyah “Sweet Trichomes” Official Music Video
Brand New Visuals Fi Di Ganja Man Dem
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica Lutan Fyah studied architecture and played professional football before launching into a music career in 1999. Cutting early records for Buju Banton’s Gargamel label, he would go on to collab with such culturally inclined artists as Lucinano and Turbulence. On his latest release, produced by Tim Dub, Fyah goes beyond the usual ganja tune cliches, giving a botanical lesson on the definition of “trichomes” and how these small glandular hairs growing from the epidermis of herb buds relate to the cultivation of the cannabis plant. Video After The Jump…
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Damian Marley’s “Joint Venture” in the Ganja Business: “You’re not a Criminal for Smoking Herb”
Gongzilla Sets Up Shop, Forbes Takes Notice
“It goes without saying that for marijuana the attraction is very natural,” says Damian Jr. Gong Marley in a new interview with Forbes magazine. “Damian Marley Invests in Marijuana Futures” reads the headline in the respected business publication covering the news about the reggae star’s joint venture with Ocean Grown Extracts. As part of their new start-up, Marley and Ocean Grown will be turning a vacant Coalinga, California prison into a medical marijuana manufacturing plant, which Ocean Grown will provide to dispensaries. “I want my kids to look back and be proud of me and say I didn’t sell my soul to earn a dollar, that is very important to me,” he told Forbes. Continued After The Jump… (more…)
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WATCH THIS: Rebelution “De-Stress” 360° Video Live at Red Rocks
California Reggae Posse Rocks Colorado
Sure they have a bassist named Marley, and that can’t be a bad thing for a reggae band—right? But way back when they were students at the University of California Santa Barbara, the members of Rebelution probably never imagined that twenty years later they would be touring the world and topping the Billboard reggae charts—becoming basically the most popular reggae band in America. How did it happen? Well, things just kinda fell into place. In fact, the band’s latest album just happens to be called Falling Into Place. In case you’re not up on Rebelution, peep this virtual reality experience from a 2015 concert at Red Rocks in June 2015. (You can navigate around the video using the arrow keys.) And if you like what you hear, hit up their official site for tour info—they tour a lot. During Rebelution’s latest tour stop in NYC, Boomshots caught up with the guys. This band is so big, we could only fit three of them in our camera lens. Fortunately we also got a nice shot of Marley’s bobble-head doll, because it’s only right for him to be represented too. Video After The Jump… (more…)
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WATCH THIS: Micah Shemaiah featuring Rassi Hardknocks “Legal” Official Music Video
Check out the new video for “Legal” with Cameos from Yaadcore, Keida and Exile Di Brave
The decriminalization of marijuana remains a huge topic of interest for reggae music in 2016. Reggae has always been a medium for social commentary and these lyrics reflect global changes regarding this plant. The highly anticipated visual for the Uncle Ben (Channel One) produced song was released this week. The video directed by Sherkhan Chiffre of Raatid Magic Films features Micah Shemaiah, Rassi Hardknocks and friends handling the herb discretely. Video After The Jump…
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Barrington Levy Is Broader Than Broadway
Barrington Celebrates And Boomshots Appreciates
It is Barrington Levy birthday bash here at Boomshots. We are celebrating the musical icon for his accomplishments in Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and transcending music barriers. His distinctive ad-libs make his music enjoyable for people of all ages from various walks of life. Barrington Levy’s 52nd Birthday is today, April 30th. Read more after the jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: OriEL “Medicated” + Video PREMIERE
A Dominican Herbs Anthem For 4/20
Oriel Barry was born in Wesley, a village in the small Caribbean island of Dominica. Growing up, he was part of a drum band and his school and church choir. Upon migrating to Pittsburgh, Pa he formed the sound system Vybz Machine with friends in 2005. Oriel became a popular club DJ, Studio Engineer, and Graphic Designer before becoming a recording artist. Describing his music as ‘’Reggae/Fusion’’ which is mostly reggae fused with the sound of Jazz, R&B, Rock, Blues & Hip Hop. He’s worked with Richie Stephens, Bugle, Raine Seville, RDX, Voicemail, Anthony Cruz, Konshens, Wayne Wonder and Chris Martin. Oriel has performed as the opening act for the likes of Ziggy Marley, Shaggy, Luciano, and New Kingston. This song is an herbalist’s anthem with a relatable chorus: “They don’t know what we go through.” Linval ‘Shem’ Brown of Afar Music Group says: “The song was produce by ORieL and Ludwig and yours truly. We wanted to put out a special song on this day of herb celebration in America and the world.The songs is about the benefits of the herb, medically, spiritually and financially—contrast with the opposition that Babylon puts up against it.” No wonder they call OriEL fans “Revoluters.” Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “We Get High” PREMIERE
Blaze Up the Haze And Me Calm Fe Me Nerve
In comes a crucial herbalist anthem for 4/19 to tide you over until tomorrow. The 4/20 Riddim was produced by Dev Kutta of Livity Movements and DRWTHVN (a new recruit from Guyana) released on LMI Records, managed by the one Paul Parris. “This is our 3rd release for the year, Octane’s ‘Fallin’ EDM mix was first and we are part of the Noise Cans/Dim Mak remix pack for the “Bucka” record that came out last week.” Boomshots proudly premieres something new from the Turf Prez: The plump squelchy bass notes on this joint signal that we’re in for bare madness. Audio After The Jump…
“You know say me fly… me nah lie…” Blaze it…
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WATCH THIS: Keznamdi “Herbs” Official Music Video
Kez & Keida Work The Ital Steamer
Ever since RiRi and Drizzy touched up the Pot O Gold “Sail Away” riddim with the chart-topping tune “Work,” Jamaican artists have been inspired to reimagine the tune in their own style and pattern. The latest “reworking” is a wicked ganja tune called “Herbs” by the rootical DJ Keznamdi. “I wanted to put a little more roots in there, so you see a lot more Jamaican culture,” he told The Fader, who premiered the video earlier this week—which features noted herb advocate Keida in a crucial supporting role: keeping the ital steamer hot. “Marijuana advocacy is very special to me,” says Kez, “so whatever way I can get the message to people I try to.” Video After The Jump… (more…)