Sean Paul & Beenie Remind Us All Who Are The Real Gallis
Two titans of the Dancehall scene link up over the Claims Records produced Sneak Preview Riddim. Sean and Beenie waste no time reinforcing who are the real gallis inna dis, each boasts lines upon lines of how large their respective gal army really is and even Mr. Paul proclaims “ugly or pretty sen on mi nah partial.” Every girl get a chance to enroll in Sean and Beenie’s army – Video After The Jump. (more…)
Emily Raboteau’s New Book Is One Reggae Lover’s Literary Quest For The Promised Land
In her book Searching For Zion, Emily Raboteau sets off on a diasporic quest for the mythical promised land that so many reggae artists have sung about over the years. If you’ve ever been puzzled by songs like Demond Dekker’s “The Israelites” or Dennis Brown’s “Children of Israel” then this book is just what you’re looking for. Why are Jamaican Rastafarians so obsessed with Israel anyway? And what about those elaborately dressed black Israelites one sometimes encounters on street corners? As a lover of Jah music and the daughter of an expert in African-American religion, the acclaimed author was well aware of the concept of “Zion” as a “place black people yearned to be.” Over the course of ten years, she visited Jamaica, Ethiopia, Ghana, and the American South, speaking with Rastas, mystics, and Katrina refugees, shedding light on their shared plight as well as their shared visions. While you wait for this enlightening book to download, check out Some of Our Favorite Zionist Reggae Jams After The Jump… (more…)
The New Caribbean Cinema Movement Scores A Major Breakthrough Thanks to AAFFRM
With the slogan of, “Together, We Are Strong,” the AAFRM (The African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement) is all about bringing the vision of independent filmmakers to the world. To add on to their much success, AaFFRM has announced their new label, ARRAY. The label will be a multi-platform distribution for black independent films. The award winning, Storm Saulter directed film, Better Mus’ Come, will be the first film distributed by this company. “We’re proud that his gem will launch ARRAY,”says AaFFRM Founder, Ava DuVernay. “Storm’s work on Better Mus’ Come as director, writer and cinematographer is wildly impressive, incredibly important and deserves to be seen by as many film lovers as possible. AFFRM’s new label ARRAY is build to serve the tremendous burst of black cinematic talent across the globe, filmmakers who are embracing new technologies to tell their stories by any means necessary. The goal is to expand the brand cultivated over our first four theatrical releases by reaching new audiences via both digital and traditional platforms.” And if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to check out the trailer for Better Mus Come. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Fellas Take Note—If It Happened To Octane It Can Happen To Anybody
First it was Mr. Vegas baring his personal pain with “Bare Tingz,” now I-Octane joins the ranks of dancehall stars singing about girls doing them wrong. Affairs of the heart never fail to inspire great songs, and this banger (produced by Troyton and Seanizzle) is no exception. It’s not clear whether Octane is speaking from personal experience here, but the truth is that it can happen to anybody—and it’s a hell of a feeling. “Nah spend no time with me gal and me gal ah gimmi bun.” You have been warned. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
If You Can’t Tell The Truth, Could You At Least Do A Better Job Lying?
It’s been a minute since we heard something new from Denyque Dontrae, a.k.a. Supergirl. She first caught our attention a couple of years ago with her Jeremy Harding–produced single “Hooked On Me,” a tragically slept-on pop masterpiece. Now the brainy beauty is back with a Stephen McGregor jam that looks at affairs of the heart with a very unromantic eye. In this song she’s way past expecting this man to tell the truth, but she wouldn’t mind if he a bit more effort into his lies and alibis. Love is not a game—if ya don’t know, you might be getting played. Audio After The Jump…
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Young Warrior Shocks Out On Sting For The First Time, Maintains Steady Meddy
Over the past few months, 20-year-old Jamar McNaughton, better known to reggae fans as Chronixx has emerged as the hottest new artist in Jamaica. Songs like “Behind Curtain” and “Warrior” are enjoying heavy rotation on reggae shows all around the world, and his “Start A Fiyah” mixtape with Walshy Fire of Major Lazer is closing in on 100,000 downloads. This smart, humble singjay—who works closely with his best friend Teflon on Zinc Fence Records—is being hailed as a big hope for the genre, but he doesn’t seem to be feeling any pressure whatsoever. Shortly after his first-ever performance on Sting, where he mashed up the notoriously hard-to-please crowd, Chronixx sat down to reason with Reshma B, and he was just as cool as a cucumber. Video After The Jump…
The Queen of the Dancehall Speaks From The Set Of Her New Video “Heels On”
Last week in Kingston Jamaica Lady Saw shot the video for her sexy new single “Heels On.” In between takes she took time out to speak exclusively with Reshma B, clearing up rumors that she’s getting out of the game, addressing various rivalries in the business, promising not to chat bad about any other female artists, and explaining why she would never clash against another artist on stage. She even premieres a new gospel song and says “the good lord won’t be mad at me” while the Queen of the Dancehall does her thing. Get ready for more of the unexpected on her Alter-Ego album. Check the behind the scenes photos above, and pop the top for Reshma B’s on-set video interviews. Video After The Jump… (more…)
After Getting Pushed Offstage At Sting, Ryno Pushes Back At Popcaan
Over the years, Sting has been known for lyrical clashes, but the biggest buzz this year was about the clashes that didn’t quite happen. We’ve all heard about how Spice was waiting for Macka with a donkey but Macka never turned up. And while Popcaan was performing, Blak Ryno stepped on the stage with a mic in his hand, ready to battle. But instead of a lyrical contest, Papi pushed him off the stage, touching off a scuffle. Now “Di Stinger” links with Stashment Records to give his side of the drama. “Wash your hair badman—keep it clean.” Audio After The Jump…
Dancehall Diva Wants To Move Past Lady Saw Rivalry, Focus On Her Debut Album Twisted Footprints
Tifa sat down with the ReggaeGirlAboutTown for an exclusive interview last week in Kingston, Jamaica. “Everybody else has been talking,” she said, “now it’s my turn to talk.” Tifa says she doesn’t feel like she needs to beef with Lady Saw, and wants to focus on taking Tifa to the world. She just wishes there was more unity among female artists in the business. Video After The Jump…
Watch Kalonji Drop Classics Like “Dry Cry,” “Give Me A Try,” and More
Sizzla has been on a roll lately, turning in powerful performances at major stage shows like the Sir Arthur Guiness Celebration in late September. His set at this year’s Sting was no exception, with Kalonji dipping into his vast catalog to squeeze off Boomshot after certified Boomshot. He even touched a tune based on the melody to Rihanna’s “Unfaihful.” All in all Sizzla delivered one of Sting’s strongest performances. Video After The Jump… (more…)
The Dancehall Veteran, Author and Actress Reasons with Reshma B About Music, Money, Love & War
Hours after her no-show at Sting 2012—where she was expected to clash Spice—Macka Diamond went straight to the studio to record a dis track called “Donkey.” Her next stop was an early morning interview with Reshma B for Boomshots. Macka explained to the ReggaeGirlAboutTown that she did not run from the clash and that Spice would have been “an easy kill.” In this epic four-part interview, Macka Diamond speaks on her earlier dis track “Kill The Black One,” and tries to clear up any misunderstanding about the lyrics. While Macka’s differences with Lady Saw are in the past, she says her war with Spice has just begun—and that her offer still stands to pay Spice for a clash at her upcoming birthday bash. But Macka has lots of other projects going on besides clashing. She talks about latest book for Page Turner Publishing, Naughty or Nice, the sequel to her successful debut novel Bun Him, and about her latest movie role. Because at the end of the day, Macka is all about her “Money-O.” Video After The Jump…
Hear The Tune That Tore Down Sting
When Busy took the stage at Jamworld, he came fully equipped with new songs—and none more crucial than “Mystery History,” the most detailed musical account yet of Busy’s arrest, case, and legal struggles. Opening with the sound of a jet plane, the tune breaks the whole story down before giving thanks and praise to the Almighty for securing Busy’s release from prison after just six months. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
