Reshma B Chops It Up With The Latest Ghetto Youth Recruit
Black Am I hails from Nine Mile, the same rural Jamaican village where Bob Marley was born. After auditioning for Damian Marley back in 2007, he put in a full year of practice before Jr. Gong decided he was ready to become a Ghetto Youths International artist. Since then he’s dropped a music video for his tune “Modern Day Freedom” and contributed two tracks to the Ghetto Youths album Set Up Shop Vol. 1. Watch Black Am I performing his signature song at London’s IndigO2 and then chatting with Reshma B about how he’s making his dreams of reggae stardom come true. Video After The Jump…
Category: Jamaica
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Reasoning With Black Am I “We Come Prepared”
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HEAR THIS: Tommy Lee Sparta ft. Tabeta Cshae “Spartan Angels”
Uncle Demon Grows His Wings
I did not see this one coming. But why am I surprised? Tommy Lee is always doing something different in the biz. His fascination with the Goth world has been an exciting new image for dancehall lovers to sit back and watch unfold. Of course not everybody likes it—as he says in the song, “Some a say me bless, some a say me curse….” But then again the Gaza crew have always been down to try new and experimental things. As Kartel once told me “Vybz Kartel’s always surprising the audience—keeping them on the edge of their seats.” No surprise, then, that his protege is following in Di Teacha’s footsteps with a totally unexpected released on UIM Records called “Spartan Angels.” All the speculation about whether this is an original track is beside the point—is it super important that the tune is based on a hit by the Dutch rock band Within Temptation? Is there anyone else bringing that type of sound into the dancehall? It’s been a minute since a dancehall artist had people talking this much. “True me say demon, it is just a phase,” he growls on this track. Not sure if this is is the end of Tommy Lee’s dark side or just a manifestation of a completely new image. Maybe it’s a split personality kind of fing: Jekyll & Hyde, Norman Bates & Psycho??? God (or Satan) only knows—but one thing’s for sure: he’s got the streets (and me) locked. Audio After The Jump…
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HEAR THIS: I-Octane “Pretty Little Flower”
Brand New Release Off the Valentine’s Day Mixtape “L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.”
I-Octane loves the ladies, and he knows action speaks louder than words. So he’s blessed all the empresses with a free Valentine’s Day mixtape called “L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.” Some of these tunes you may have heard on Boomshots before. But one of the new ones is this Trotyon production about a pretty little flower who needs to be watered every hour. Audio & Download Link After The Jump… (more…) -
HEAR THIS: Italis “Dash It Weh” and “Reminisce” Premiere
The Ragga-Rough DJ Chats Bout Both Sides Of Love—The Tuff And The Tender
Patrick Anthony Willis’s mother gave birth to her sun by the roadside in the lush Jamaican parish of Portland. “I was born in the streets,” Italis says with a laugh, “so it will be hard for anyone to get me out.” As a child, his unusually deep voice, inherited from his dad and grandfather, made him a “celebrity at church.” Inspired at an early age by the Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Brown, Willis knew that a career in music was his destiny. He spent many hours listening to artists like Papa San, Ninja Man , Garnet Silk, I-Wayne and Bushman, developing a deeper appreciation for his roots, and eventually taking the name Italis. “Although I am mainly a DJ, the singers are the ones who inspired me the most,” he says. As Italis got older, his voice got even deeper—so deep, in fact, that his sound would often be compared to dancehall icon, Buju Banton. “I love Buju Banton. People tell me I sound like him all the time. I can’t help that. This is just me. Naturally.” Discovered by reggae producer Donald Grant—better known as Danny Champagne—Italis went on to work with Grammy-winning producer, Tony ‘CD’ Kelly, who was one of the first producers to voice Buju Banton when they worked together at Shocking Vibes. Today Boomshots premieres not one but two brand new tunes that display the DJ’s versatility—the hard-driving “Dash It Weh” on The Journey riddim, and the smoothed out “Reminisce” on the Sky High riddim. Audio After The Jump… -
HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel “Mr. Bleach Chin”
If Kartel Got a Billion Dollars… Imagine!
Jamaican-born billionaire Michael Lee-Chin seems to have captured the imagination of The Werlboss, sparking this meditation on a billion dollars. (Not Jamaican dollars, by the way.) “Crime is a sickness and me know say money ah de antidote,” Kartel observes. This brand new T.J. production is sure to have the paper chasers going wild. But as Kartel points out, “life ah de greatest ting.” That, and freedom. Audio After The Jump… (more…) -
WATCH THIS: Chronixx “Beat And a Mic” Official Video
It Doesn’t Take Much To Be Happy When You Enjoy Life’s Simple Things
Chronixx is back with another melodic one drop track, this one produced by Bost & Bim for Special Delivery Music / ROD. As usual the music and visuals are 100% hype-free. This is one artist who overstands the importance of sticking to the basics—good music, good messages—and that’s why Chronixx is winning. Video After The Jump…
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HEAR THIS: Protoje “I&I”
Diggy’s Debut Disc “The 8 Year Affair” Hits iTunes Today
Protoje has cut his own path through the reggae industry, bringing a fresh voice and mental sharpness to the ting. If you liked his Seven Year Itch sampler, then you’ll love his debut album The 8 Year Affair, which appeared on iTunes today. The single “Kingston Be Wise” set the bar pretty high, but we’re really feeling track #2 off the album, which rides a heavy Sly & Robbie-ish riddim with horns and the whole nine yards. But don’t sleep on “Black Cinderella” or “Reggae Revival” featuring Romain Virgo. As a matter of fact, don’t sleep on Protoje. Support real reggae music. Nuff said. Audio After The Jump… (more…) -
WATCH THIS: Planet VI And The “Island Boy Cartel”
Planet VI (Formerly Rock City) Introduces Us To The IBC
Virgin Islands natives Planet VI (formerly Rock City) introduces us to the “Island Boy Cartel.” Made up of Planet VI, Kardinal Offishall along with DJ Benny Demus and Verse Simmonds the collective further explains the reasoning behind them joining forces. To get down with the IBC just check the Video After The Jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel ft. Gaza Slim “Children Are Our Future”
Worlboss Reps For The Yute Dem While Vanessa Bling Does The Whitney Ting
Politicians and defenders of public morality often list dancehall music in general and Vybz Kartel in particular as a negative influence on the youth. It’s true that Kartel’s lyrics can be extremely XXXplicit, and that he’s awaiting trial for murder. But he’s still innocent until proven guilty. And if you’ve read his book, The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto, you know Kartel is deeply concerned about the future of underprivileged youths pon di Gaza and worldwide. That’s why he sounds so serious on this new release from So Unique Records, as he and Gaza Slim burn out all child victimizers. Audio After The Jump… (more…) -
WATCH THIS: Jah Cure Interview “The World Is Crying As We Speak”
We Were Just Kickin’ It Poolside With IyaCure And His Little Princess—And Then Scratch Showed Up!
Live from Kingston, Jamaica, Boomshots presents Reshma B’s exclusive Jah Cure interview. Watch Jah Cure and his beautiful baby daughter Kailani Belle kicking it poolside with the ReggaeGirlAboutTown about his long-awaited album World Cry and why it took two years to complete, about his recent marriage and the birth of his daughter, about his collab with 2Pac and why he identifies with Pac’s struggle, about how Drake sampled his music, and about the “World Cry” title track and why it was better after he remade it without any guest artists. He even told @ReshmaB_RGAT about his Mavado and Rick Ross collabo “Call It Like I See It” and why it did not appear on his album. Then while he was explaining why he would never work Sting, we got a special surprise visit from Lee “Scratch” Perry. Video After The Jump…
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HEAR THIS: Morgan Heritage “Perfect Love Song”
Something Sweet & Strong From the Morgan Fam
Morgan Heritage have blessed us with a previeew of their next album Here Come The Kings, and we like what we hear. “Perfect Love Song,” released this week on iTunes, has a nice beat, sweet melodies, and Gramps spitting a DJ verse. “The story behind ‘Perfect Love Song’ is about a person realizing that the one he or she loves makes them feel beyond good, beyond great,” says Peetah Morgan. “Instead, the person makes them feel heavenly.” Kinda like this tune. Audio After The Jump…
