How’d Singso Know We’ve Been “Right Here Waiting” For One Of His Classics To Come Back?
There’s not many singers who can make a computerized riddim tug at your heartstrings like Wayne Wonder. His catalog is filled with dreamy love songs set to cutting-edge eletronic grooves. Back in the day he used to flip a lot of cover versions, until he hit 1995 with the turning point album Original Bombshell. Since then it’s been “No Turning Back” for the Billboard-certified outernational hitmaker. So we were pleasantly suprised when we received our latest Johnny Wonder 21st Hapilos E-Blast and saw that Wayne had linked with Mad Spyder productions to release a thing called “Flashback.” It’s a crispy 2013 update of his best-loved dancehall classics—a cover of Richard Marx’s pleasantly cheesy “Right Here Waiting”—inna 2013 style. And surprise surprise—it sounds sweeter than ever. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Category: Lovers Rock
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HEAR THIS: Wayne Wonder “Flashback”
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HEAR THIS: Shaggy ft. Beres Hammond “Fight This Feeling”
Sly & Robbie On The Riddim + Shaggy & Beres On The Mic = Total Niceness
Since last year, Shaggy has been working on a very special roots rock reggae project with riddims laid down by the legendary Sly & Robbie and guest vocals by a who’s who of reggae superstars. When a Jamaican-born dancehall DJ who’s taken street music to the top of the pop charts joins forces with the greatest drum and bass duo in reggae history, you can expect a game changer. Today we proudly present Beres Hammond and Shaggy on the riddim Dennis Brown used for his immortal classic “Sitting and Watching.” When Beres and Shaggy sing about a love that makes you lose control, it feels like the first time. Audio After The Jump… (more…) -
WATCH THIS: Sadiki “Show You”
Sadiki Reminds Us That Actions Speak Louder Than Words
In today’s society the phrase “I love you” has fell to little or no meaning at all. One doesn’t just have to say it, one has to really show it and prove to their significant other that they truly love them. Sadiki blesses us with a sweet ballad of love and how one should treat his or her significant other. Remember, actions speak louder than words, Grab That Special Someone and Hit The Jump… (more…)
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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… -
Strictly Boomshots Lovers Selection
Valentine’s Day Vibes From Radio Lily With Love
Love never goes out of season, but on a day like today it’s all anybody seems to be thinking about. That’s why this week’s Strictly Boomshots show is strictly for the lovers. So light the candles, pour the wine, and throw on this 3 hour mix to set the mood. Just don’t be surprised when the ting tun up. Audio After The Jump… (more…) -
HEAR THIS: Mr. Vegas “Whenever You’re Lonely”
Vegas Sings A Long-Distance Livication to his One and Only
The latest release from MV Music is the Suriname riddim, a classic midtempo reggae groove with bubbling guitars and a hot horn section. The juggling features voices Gyptian, Nadine Sutherland, Natel, Lady G, and more. Since it is his production it’s fitting that Mr. Vegas turns in an outstanding performance, singing about a girl who’s can’t be by his side right now. No matter how much people try to keep them apart, it sounds like she definitely has his heart. Audio After The Jump… -
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… -
WATCH THIS: Jah Cure “That Girl” Official Video
Iyah Cure Is Searching For His Dream Girl
Earlier this week Jah Cure released his long-awaited album World Cry—and the music is so good it was worth the wait. Here’s his latest visual from the album, for the romantic tune “That Girl.” Cure’s legions of female fans are guaranteed to go wild for this one. Video After The Jump… (more…) -
Beres Hammond Interview: “There’s A Power Within Love Songs”
The Maestro Speaks On The State of Reggae Today, The Real Buju Banton, and His Own Musical Legacy
For me, it started with Full Attention. Hugh Beresford Hammond’s first album for V.P. Records began with a drum roll and a saxophone tendril that laid the foundation for the textured tenor to plead his case with a lady who didn’t seem to know he was alive. It was full-on lovers rock reggae with R&B and soul sensibilities made by a man who dreamt of crooning like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. The music was accessible—at least more so than the Sugar Minott, Burning Spear, and Culture records that spun in my New Jersey home on Sunday mornings over cornmeal porridge. Beres may not have had any honorific titles laid onto him, like the Crown Prince of Reggae, but for my money he’s every bit as legendary as any of the greats that came before him.You can start with his voice, which is as strong as it is soulful and soothing. When he belts out a tune, even when his grainy vocals are pushed to the limits, it feels effortless. The voice works with the music to emphasize the words, always telling a story about real people, inflecting meaning where there previously was none. Hammond sings like he’s wrenching the emotion from each word. My mother once told me one of her favorite songs was “Ain’t That Loving You” by Alton Ellis until she heard Beres sing it. On the other hand you can start with his songwriting. The best Beres Hammond songs distill relatable situations and feelings into clever, meaningful couplets wrapped in sticky melodies.
Relevancy is a tough coin to spin for a lot of artists, but throughout his thirty-year career Beres has managed to glide his distinctive voice through the dancehall revolution, partnering with wicked up-and-comers like Buju Banton. In high school, when all my friends were blasting Sean Paul’s Alton remix, I was hanging tough with “Who Say.” Hammond has lasted while maintaining his trademarked effortless cool. That’s why it was such a thrill to speak with him about his latest album One Love, One Life. To me, he’s like the reggae version of Jay-Z—so it’s fitting that he’ll be performing with The Roots tonight on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and that he’ll take the stage tomorrow night at Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets. Sure, many great artists have come before him, but to paraphrase Hov: No one’s been this good for this long, or this pop or this hot, with so many different styles. For that reason, Beres Hammond will continue to have my full attention. Interview After The Jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: I-Octane ft. Queen Ifrica “Wonderful Feelings”
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…)
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HEAR THIS: Inner Circle & Peetah Morgan “Broken Hearted”
Brand New Lovers Rock Selection from the album Inner Circle Dubets
Ever since the tragic death of Jacob “Killer” Miller in a 1980 car crash, the legendary Jamaican band Inner Circle has worked with a range of vocalists. But on their upcoming album Dubets, the Bad Boys of Reggae collaborate with a range of great vocalists including the reggae empress Marcia Griffiths, Mr. Rock Steady himself Ken Boothe, Ali Campbell of UB40, and not one but two members of the mighty Morgan Heritage, Gramps and Peetah. Boomshots is proud to premiere the first song off the album, Peetah Morgan interpreting Jimmy Ruffin’s Motown classic “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?” Sad song + sweet sounds = Total niceness. Audio & Full Tracklist After The Jump…