Boomshots

Category: Outernational

Crossover and outside of core

  • HEAR THIS: Raekwon x Kabaka Pyramid “Be Inspired”

    HEAR THIS: Raekwon x Kabaka Pyramid “Be Inspired”

    The Chef Connects With Baka Over Walshy Fire’s Production— Accurate!

    Any time you can get two of the world’s greatest living lyricists on one track for the first time, that’s a win. On “Skew It On the Bar-B” Andre 3000 and Raekwon brought A-Town and Shaolin together and the result was historic. On the fresh cut “Be Inspired,” Raekwon the Chef trades bars with Kabaka Pyramid over a hard-driving breakbeat. (Shout out to our peoples over at egotripland for the link.) If you can’t picture the Wu God kicking it with a dancehall reggae artist, perhaps you forgot about his Clarks game—not to mention that Wu-Tang “One Blood” joint.  Let’s just say the homie Walshy Fire has made history with this one.  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: David Bowie ft. Tina Turner “Tonight” Live

    WATCH THIS: David Bowie ft. Tina Turner “Tonight” Live

    Ziggy Stardust Inna Rub A Dub Style

    In 1984, after his massively successful album Let’s Dance, and the subsequent Serious Moonlight Tour, the late great David Bowie went to Quebec, Canada to work on a follow-up album. “It was rushed,” he said later. “The process wasn’t rushed; we actually took our time recording the thing; Let’s Dance was done in three weeks, Tonight took five weeks or something, which for me is a really long time. I like to work fast in the studio. There wasn’t much of my writing on it ’cause I can’t write on tour and I hadn’t assembled anything to put out.” The resulting album contained not one but two reggae cuts—both covers of Iggy Pop records. (This was not Bowie’s first foray into reggae; his 1979 album Lodger contained the reggae vamp “Yassassin.”) In “Don’t Look Down” Bowie sang of “that crazy sound, from New York to shanty town” while “Tonight,” a duet with Tina Turner (whose “What’s Love Got to Do With It” was another stealth reggae joint), spoke of love’s power to overcome death itself. Bowie and Turner recorded their vocals sitting face to face.  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: RDX “Foot A Talk” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: RDX “Foot A Talk” Official Music Video

    RDX Gets The Whole World Dancing

    RDX is an abbreviation for Research Department Formula X, a high explosive developed by the U.S. military that’s more powerful than TNT. But today we’re talking about RDX the Jamaican dancehall duo, aka Renegade and Delomar, whose explosive catalog of high-energy tunes has made them a favorite of the island’s street dance scene. Their latest release, produced by Juss Kool, is a worldwide dancing anthem with visuals gathered from around the planet. The song is called “Foot A Talk” and Mass Appeal just premiered the music video. Run it! Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Allan Kingdom ft. Chronixx “Fables”

    HEAR THIS: Allan Kingdom ft. Chronixx “Fables”

    St. Paul Spitter And Spanish Town Stepper Join Forces In a Quest for Truth

    When Kanye West features you on a track alongside Paul McCartney and Theophilus London, that’s what is known as a “good look.” Just ask Allan Kingdom, a Canadian-born African youth (mom from South Africa, dad from Tanzania) who’s now based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Yesterday he celebrated his 22nd birthday by gifting fans with a free album called Northern Lights. Features include D.R.A.M, Jared Evan, Gloss Gang—and, of special interest to the Boomshots massive, Chronixx di General. The misty, atmospheric song is all about misinformation, whether spread via church pulpit or tellers of tall tales. “I could kiss the ocean floor; I could dangle from the heavens; you a danger on the low,” Kingdom raps before Chronixx burns out “Stereotypes and all your labels” and pledges to “read with his three eyes wide open” in order to discern the truth. We already know Chronixx is a big Yeezy fan (see video below for proof); now he’s got a strong collab with one of Ye’s favorite youngsters. It’s only right—one good look deserves another.  Audio & Download Link After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: R. City ft. Adam Levine, Agent Sasco, Popcaan, Kardinal Offishall & Bunji Garlin “Locked Away” Dancehall Remix

    HEAR THIS: R. City ft. Adam Levine, Agent Sasco, Popcaan, Kardinal Offishall & Bunji Garlin “Locked Away” Dancehall Remix

    USVI x JA x TNT x TDot Link Up On This Mega Refix

    Over New Year’s weekend, Shaggy & Friends annual fundraiser went down in Kingston, Jamaica with the usual star-studded guest list—hailing from yard and abroad—all to raise funds for Jamaica’s Bustamante Hospital for Children. (That “one ticket = one life” slogan is no joke.) Amongst the headliners was R. City (formerly Rock City), the songwriting duo responsible for smash hits by the likes of Rihanna, Usher, and Chris Brown who now have some pretty big tunes of their own since dropping their debut album What Dreams Are Made Of last August. Although they’ve always been known as stars in their U.S. Virgin Islands homeland, Timothy and Theron Thomas only recently stepped in the international spotlight as performers and recording artists. Their Adam Levine–featuring single “Locked Away” had the pop charts on lock last year, and just in case you didn’t notice the tune’s dancehall drum pattern, they’ve dropped a remix featuring Assassin, Popcaan, Kardi and Bunji. The Thomas brothers stay repping the Caribbean all day long. Legal shot! Salute! Audio & Download Link After The Jump… (more…)

  • “Sorry,” Not Sorry: A Justin Bieber Remix Rewind

    “Sorry,” Not Sorry: A Justin Bieber Remix Rewind

    Biebz x Skrillex Have The Dance On Lock

    Ever since the “Tropical House” track “Sorry” dropped last October, it’s been going HAM in the dancehall. If the ragga drum patterns didn’t tip you off, then those New Zealand bashment girls in the official video—Ladies of ReQuest joining forces with the Royal Dance Crew—must have driven the point home. Skrillex has always been a big reggae fan and he’s been spending nuff time in Jamaica lately. It seems the local sounds are definitely rubbing off. But they rub both ways of course. What dancehall artist doesn’t enjoy a good remix? This holiday season the club was flooded with “Sorry” versions. Here are a few of our favorites, without any apology. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Popcaan “Where We Come From” Heatwave Remix

    HEAR THIS: Popcaan “Where We Come From” Heatwave Remix

    Unruly UK Refix Pon The Golden Hen Riddim

    It’s been a minute since we heard from our peoples across the pond, but the Heatwave just popped three new refixes into our inbox. As usual, we’re sharing the best bits straightaway. If you’re like us, you’ve kept the title track to Popcaan’s Where We Come From album in heavy rotation for the last couple years TR8. Now that Poppy’s sophomore album release date is drawing near, it’s only right to have a fresh take on the Anju Blaxx–produced original to hold you down. In comes a Mad Mad Heatwave refix to hot up any wintry shubeen. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Jah Cure Talks Grammy Nomination, Freedom for Buju & The Life He Lives

    Jah Cure Talks Grammy Nomination, Freedom for Buju & The Life He Lives

    Reshma B Reasons With Iyacure Pon Di Cruise

    Nobody had more fun on this year’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise than Jah Cure. The World Singer is always appreciative when he gets the chance to reach an international audience, particularly since visa issues have prevented fans in the UK and the USA  fr0m seeing him perform in their part of the world. If he stepped onto the ship with an extra spring in his step this year, maybe it was due to the fact that his latest album The Cure, spent several weeks on top of Billboard’s Reggae chart this year. And although he didn’t yet know that it was about to be nominated for a Grammy—the singer’s first—he had a good feeling about it. His performance was nothing short of electrifying. He sang about “the wicked people and badmind, lurking in the dark” but onstage his spirit soared. He took a moment to livicate his performance to incarcerated reggae star Buju Banton, and spoke of how the artist checked for him when he was behind bars. After the performance, Jah Cure sat down with the Reggae Girl About Town for an in-depth conversation. He discussed his strategy in putting his latest album together, how sought to incorporate diverse sounds and styles in a pleasing blend, similar to a fruit cocktail. What comes through in the final analysis is a man who has come through many a struggle without ever seeming “struggled,” and one who feels deeply satisfied with a job well done. “My bad days prepared me for my good days,” he told RGAT. “And I’m so blessed…. I’m living like a King.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Joss Stone: “I’d Never Offend Someone Intentionally, But It Happens”

    Reasoning with Joss Stone: “I’d Never Offend Someone Intentionally, But It Happens”

    UK Soul Singer Recalls The Roots Of Her Reggae-Infused Album

    After becoming the youngest female solo artist to top the UK albums chart in 2004, Joss Stone sued her record label EMI, and formed her own Stone’d label in 2010. She lives in Devon with her four dogs and records pretty much whatever kind of music she wants. Ever since the music industry Bible, Billboard magazine, named Joss Stone’s 2015 disc Water For Your Soul the Reggae Album of the Year, her name has become a flashpoint for controversy. A range of critics—from the Jamaica Observer to dancehall icon Bounty Killer—expressed their concerns at the idea of a white British soul star having the top reggae of the year. Billboard published an article explaining that their decision was based solely on sales, not quality. (Billboard editors also reached out to Boomshots to compile a list of the year’s 10 Best Reggae Albums, which we happily provided.) All the controversy obscures two important facts:  Full interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • Billboard’s Best Reggae Albums of 2015

    Billboard’s Best Reggae Albums of 2015

    Boomshots Selects The Year’s Essential Reggae Discs

    As reggae lovers mark the 70th anniversary of Bob Marley’s birth, the music that the Tuff Gong spread around the globe has come full circle. While dancehall permutations from Major Lazer to Justin Bieber reverberate throughout pop culture, and Brits from Joss Stone to Keith Richards try their hands at Jamaican sounds, the land of this music’s birth is rediscovering its roots. Billboard enlisted Boomshots to pick this year’s best reggae albums, and the results may surprise you: Almost all are Jamaican productions, and almost none have anything to do with dancehall. And just because Bob’s latest live album takes the top ranking spot doesn’t mean this music has any less bright of a future than it did when he walked the earth. As the dreads say: Nothing before the time. Audio After The Jump…
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  • The Biggest Riddims of 2015

    The Biggest Riddims of 2015

    Who Run The Place? Johnny Wonder, CEO of 21st Hapilos, Counts Down The Year’s Top Juggling

    When pressed to identify his most influential rhythm track or “riddim” of all time, the late Clement S. “Coxsone” Dodd chose the “Real Rock.” And Downbeat ought to know, half a century ago his house band, Sound Dimension, laid down an instrumental track that provided the blueprint for countless reggae classics, as well as hits by international artists from The Clash to Boogie Down Productions. Such is the power of a great riddim. Fast forward to 30 years ago, when King Jammy’$ first released the mighty “Sleng Teng,” ushering in dancehall’s digital era. Such is the power of a great riddim. So where does reggae and dancehall music go from here? Few people are better qualified to predict the music’s future than Johnny Wonder, CEO of 21st Hapilos Digital, the leading digital distributor of new reggae and dancehall music. As the man who breaks most big riddims first, Johnny Wonder’s  ranking is based strictly on sales—never payola or political influence. So if you want to know who ran the place in 2015, look no further. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Lady Bee & Noise Cans ft. Mr. Vegas “Bucka” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Lady Bee & Noise Cans ft. Mr. Vegas “Bucka” Official Music Video

    Mr. Vegas Puts the “V” in “Versatility”

    Clifford Smith, better known to reggae and dancehall fans worldwide as Mr. Vegas, put the V in versatility. Earlier this year, he released the critically acclaimed Lovers Rock and Soul album, an excursion into vintage reggae. After that he dropped a classic ’80s-style dancehall track (set to King Jammy’$ “Magic Moment” riddim) with a gospel message called “Jesus Train.” Now, on his birthday, we present something completely different. Collaborating with Lady Bee and the mysterious Gombey-masked frontman of Noisecans, a Bermuda-based hybrid of EDM, trap, reggae, dancehall, and carnival sounds, the year-to-year dancehall star reworks one of his earliest hits, “Hot Gal Today,” a duet with Sean Paul on Steelie & Clevie’s immortal “Street Sweeper” riddim, Vegas slows it down. from the label Dim Mak Records. The anonymous frontman of the electronic dance act NOISE CANS talks his Bermudan origins, his new EP Bucka. Video After The Jump… (more…)