Boomshots

Category: Jamaica

  • INTERVIEW: Diana King Speaks on Putting Out Her Own Album and Coming Out as Gay

    KingSinga Nuh Fraid Fe Talk; In This Muma Shilo Exclusive, She Puts All Her Business Outta Door 

    With unparalleled vocal power and passion, diverse style, edgy lyrics, exotic beauty, and a sharp, opinionated mind, Diana King is quite simply a star. Known to her fans as ‘KINGSINGA,’ she’s responsible for chart topping hits like “Shy Guy” from the soundtrack of the movie Bad Boys, “Say a Little Prayer” from the soundtrack to My Best Friends Wedding, “Spanish Town Blues” from Anniversary, Sly & Robbie’s Grammy-nominated album. She also co-wrote and was featured on “Treat Her Like a Lady” from Celine Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love album. She’s even flipped a fierce dancehall style on “Respect” from The Notorious B.I.G’s debut album Ready to Die. After selling more than 5 million copies of her debut album Tougher Than Love, King went on to establish her own ThinkLikeAGirl imprint, which will release her album AgirLnaMeKING—which maintains her unique style of blending reggae with R&B, soul, dance and straight-up pop. As a woman in the reggae business, she’s no stranger to adversity. But she developed a resiliency that helped her when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a few years ago. After a long bout with depression she rejected the drugs that her doctors prescribed, tried natural remedies, and literally willed herself to walk again. More recently she made headlines around the world when she decided to proclaim her sexual identity as a lesbian—breaking a major taboo in Jamaican cutlure. As you can see from our exclusive interview, Diana has always believed in staying true to herself, both as an artist and as a person. (more…)

  • Beres Hammond Set To Drop New Album

    The Double Disc “One Love, One Life” Will Show Both Sides of Hammond’s Artistry

    A new Beres Hammond release is always cause for celebration. From love songs like “What One Dance Can Do” and “Tempted To Touch” to reality tunes like “Warriors Don’t Cry” and “Putting Up Resistance” the maestro’s catalog runs the gamut of styles and sounds, and the classics never seem to stop coming. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Tifa “Show Me The Bubble”

    Tifa Gets Wild & Loose On ZJ Chrome’s New “Wild Bubble” Riddim

    You’ve gotta love a girl who knows what she wants. And Tifa leaves nothing to the imagination, providing her man with motivation to tan tuddy and wine pon her body. ZJ Chrome’s Wild Bubble Riddim is loaded with hits—Voicemail with the title cut, plus Popcaan, Konshens, Elly, Aidonia, Bugle, Black Diamond, Tommy Lee, a Kartel & Gaza Slim duet, and two outrageous tracks from Tony Matterhorn—but Tifa’s sexy selection ranks right up near the top. She already told y’all bout “Swaggin“, and showed you how the “Hot Gal Sit’n” goes. Now she wants somebody to show her the bubble. So who’s up to the job? Audio after the jump.
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  • HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel & Tommy Lee “Betray Di Gaza Boss”

    Shots Fired? Kartel And Tommy Lee Unleash Some Harsh Words For All Those That Goes Against Gaza


    Even behind bars Vybz Kartel remains a force to be reckoned with. In this cominbation with the Sparta Psycho Tommy Lee, Addi reminds everybody who really runs Di Gaza—and what happens when you cross the boss. It’s been said before, but worth saying again, how incredibly productive Addi must have been before getting locked up almost a full year ago. The tunes just keep coming, and somehow they still sound pretty topical. Loyalty and betrayal have been eternal themes in most showbiz careers and Kartel is certainly no exception. Loaded with subliminals, this snippet can’t help but get you wondering who it was directed at. Given Gaza Slim’s comments about Popcaan, many have jumped to the conclusion that this song might be directed at him. But then again Gaza Slim later relayed another statement in which Kartel supposedly questioned Tommy Lee’s loyalty. Whatever the truth may be, you can bet that any artist who ever broke away from the Empire—and there are quite a few—will be listening very carefully to this tune. (more…)

  • Interview: Reasoning With Storm Saulter

    The Director of Better Mus Come Talks New Caribbean Cinema

    After apprenticing with Lil X and attending film school in Los Angeles, Storm Saulter returned to Jamaica to jump-start a movement that he calls “New Caribbean Cinema.” His first feature length film, Better Mus Come, is a gritty period piece is set within the politically charged turf wars of 1970s, when Kingston, Jamaica was on the front lines of the Cold War and poor ghetto dwellers were manipulated like pawns on a much larger chess board. The film tells the story of a young father who must choose between turning his back on the gangster life and making a better life for his five-year old son. It’s also a story of forbidden love that entices a boy and a girl to tempt fate and cross over the borderlines that crisscross the streets of Kingston. Loosely based on real events, the film courageously breaks an unwritten code of silence about depicting controversial events like the Green Bay Massacre—a landmark event in Jamaica’s political history during which government forces ambushed and shot to death a group of gunmen aligned with the opposition political party. This do not go unnoticed by the powers that be in Jamaica, who closely monitored the production and even sent spies to the set.

    But all the drama was well worth it. After a successful run in Jamaica, Better Mus Come went on to win the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at both the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival and the Bahamas International Film Festivals. It’s been screened at the Toronto international film festival, L.A.’s Pan-African film festival and at Lincoln Center in New York. Tomorrow Better Mus Come will be seen for the first time in the UK at the British Film Institute. (The following day BFI will host the world premiere of Ring Di Alarm, a compilation of seven short films that Storm calls “a true experiment in guerilla film making in the Caribbean.”) Reshma B caught up with Storm to talk about his first film and how the movement is coming along. (more…)

  • Buju Hires New Lawyer

    Gargamel Hasn’t Given Up The Fight

    Already having his appeal denied by a Tampa federal Judge, David Oscar Markus (Buju’s then attorney) has told the New Times that he’s moving on from the case. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Major Lazer ft. Amber of Dirty Projectors “Get Free”

    Major Lazer’s New Single Gets The Visual Treatment

    Major Lazer unleashes a new video for their latest single “Get Free” featuring the harmonies of Amber from the Dirty Projectors voice of the track’s minimalistic synth driven production. The track is expertly placed behind a virtual tour of average Jamaican life, be it climbing the hills to a waterfall or hitting the town to soak in the youths dancing. The vid also features cameos from some of Dancehall’s finest – Take a look you won’t be disappointed. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Tanto Metro & Devonte “Bubble”

    The DanceHall Duo Taps The Originators Sly & Robbie For Their Latest

    Having already given us hits like “Everyone Falls In Love Sometime” and “Give It To Her“(which is still played in dances to this day) Tanto Metro & Devonte sets to add another hit to their ever-growing list. Produced by the legendary team of Sly & Robbie, Tanto Metro & Devonte’s latest part cut entitled “Bubble” transports you back to a time of when Dancehall was exactly what the name implies, hitting the dancehall after a hard work week for a couple Red Stripes and if you’re lucky you might even get a nice young lady to bubble on you. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Major Lazer Presents Carnival 2012 Mix Hosted By Walshy Fire

    Just in Time For Notting Hill Carnival Major Lazer Blends Dancehall, Soca And Pop Into One Amazing Mix
    When it comes to Caribbean music Major Lazer’s mixes are second to none. They superbly blend Dancehall into Soca with a splash of pop (check there No Doubt Remix) with some original production in between. The mix is hosted by none other than Black Chiney’s Walshy Fire who displays his prodigious selector prowess as he takes you on a ride through all the islands. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: The Award-Winning Film “Better Mus Come” Opens in London Alongside ”Ring Di Alarm” World Premiere

    New Caribbean Cinema Movement Will Take The UK By Storm This September
    From Top: Michael ‘Ras Tingle’ Tingling, Michelle Serieux, Storm Saulter, Nile Saulter, Joel Burke, Kyle Chin

    What could be hotter than a group of young directors getting together and making movies—Caribbean style? Just as Jamaica’s athletes have come in and done their ting its time for the island’s visual artists to come in and show Wha Gwan. Seven stories, six directors, all reprsenting one island: Jamaica.  (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Cherine “Jamaica Tun It Up 1, 2, 3 (Olympic Anthem)”

    Sexy Songstress Cherine Hits Us With Another Jamaican Olympic Anthem

    The Jamaican track team just tun it up inna London sparking a slew of patriotic filled songs. Not to be left out the beautiful Cherine adds her own into mix comparing JA’s track and field accomplishments to the resilience and fighting spirit born into every proud Jamaican. (more…)

  • Judge Denies Buju’s Request For A New Trial

    Judge Denies Buju’s Request For A New Trial

    The Gargamel’s Troubles Continue As His Legal Team’s Request For A Retrial Is Shut Down

    A federal judge has denied reggae Buju Banton’s request for a new trial stating there’s no need due to a previous appeals court ruling. (more…)