Boomshots

Category: Outernational

Crossover and outside of core

  • WATCH THIS: Reasoning with Randy Valentine “The Sound of a Young Rebel”

    WATCH THIS: Reasoning with Randy Valentine “The Sound of a Young Rebel”

    UK Reggae Rebel Rocks London With Tarrus Riley, Talks “Break The Chain” EP With Reshma B

    Tarrus Riley’s Love Situation tour passes through the UK tonight at the Forum in Kentish Town. Always ready to support rising talent, Singy Singy’s opening acts include Jamaican songstress Alaine and a young UK rebel by the name of Randy Valentine. RV’s been making waves with his powerful voice and no-nonsense approach to the music, as first glimpsed on his 2012 mixtape Bring Back the Love, which showcased the young artist’s writing and vocal abilities against some timeless Studio One instrumentals. His Break The Chain EP dropped in May and shot straight to No. 1 in Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland’s iTunes Reggae charts. The EP also reached No2 in Italy, and No3 in both Canada and the UK. RV’s ‘Break The Chain Tour’ kicked off in May, and he’s done shows in 20 countries all over Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, France, and the UK. In the first of his chats with Reshma B, Randy talks about his musical influences and why he’s never going to sell his soul (or anything else) for radio play. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reggae Sumfest 2014: Party Tun Up

    Reggae Sumfest 2014: Party Tun Up

    REGGAE SUMFEST marks changing times in dancehall, hip-hop, and the leveling of the pop playing field

    Whenever the third week of July rolls around, reggae lovers know it’s that time again—the time when Reggae Sumfest takes over Mobay for 3 solid days of entertainment. Though it’s dubbed “the greatest reggae show on earth,” Sumfest has never been limited in terms of genre. Every year the organisers go all out to pull together a blend of the best homegrown and international talent. Acts such as Jay Z, Missy Elliott, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj have all graced the Sumfest stage over the past 22 years, often sharing that stage with Jamaica’s biggest stars to create once-in-a-lifetime moments that don’t happen anywhere else. Full Text After The Jump…
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  • Reasoning with Wiz Khalifa: “I Get it Grown For Me”

    Reasoning with Wiz Khalifa: “I Get it Grown For Me”

    Taylor Gang Boss Rocks Reggae Sumfest In Montego Bay, Readies Blacc Hollywood Album

    This past weekend Wiz Khalifa made his first trip to Jamaica to rock Reggae Sumfest 2014. Before the big show he sat down poolside with RGAT to talk about his love for Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Listen as Wiz weighs in on whether yard weed stacks up to Khalifa Kush, plus he reveals which reggae artist he’d like to collaborate with. Then watch him shell down International Night 1 in the same black and yellow shorts he was chilling in by the pool! Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Johnny Gourzong’s Reggae Sumfest Preview

    Johnny Gourzong’s Reggae Sumfest Preview

    Sumfest Boss Shares His Personal Highlights—And Says Octane vs Vegas Was “Blown Out of Proportion”

    It’s that time of year again. As most reggae lovers around the world know by now, during the third week of July all roads lead to Montego Bay for Reggae Sumfest. And with just one more day to go before the 22nd staging of “The Greatest Reggae Show on Earth,” anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. Between Sean Paul returning to the Sumfest stage for the first time in a decade, international pop star Jason DeRulo tweeting pictures from the emergency room, and I-Octane and Mr. Vegas trading barbs like Beenie and Bounty in the ’90s, this year’s festival promises to be entertaining in more ways than one. To get the inside scoop we reached out to the big man himself, Mr. Johnny Gourzong, executive Director of Summerfest Productions, who shared his personal thoughts on which acts he’s most looking forward to—and let us in on a few possible surprises. If you can’t make it down to MoBay tomorrow night, don’t worry—you can still purchase a live stream of all the Dancehall Night action. Full Story After The Jump… (more…)

  • RGAT x Anya Collab to Create CANYAval Chains

    RGAT x Anya Collab to Create CANYAval Chains

    Reshma B and Anya Ayoung-Chee Set The CANYAval Off With a Fly New Collab

    When it’s carnival time in Trinidad everything tun up… The music, the drinks, and of course the girls. Who knows that better than Anya Ayoung Chee and Reshma B? The fashion designer who won Project Runway a couple years ago is also a former Miss Trinidad who has shot fashion stories on the road in Port of Spain Trinidad while playing Mas same time. Meanwhile in the UK Reshma B, who came up right in the heart of London’s Notting Hill Carnival, the biggest street fair in all of Europe, is now internationally known as the Reggae Girl About Town [RGAT], a blogger and fashion designer whose line of chains has been seen on the necks of celebs from Lauryn Hill to Lady Saw… and even Popcaan. ANYAxRGAT linked up to create an exclusive design for Anya’s CANYAval event in NYC. She’s just posted the design on her official Instagram. In case you didn’t make it out to Milk Studios for the big event, you can still cop an exclusive chain while supplies last. Video, Photos, and Buying Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Protoje: “It’s Our Time to Govern the Music”

    Reasoning with Protoje: “It’s Our Time to Govern the Music”

    “There Is A Rising Consciousness that’s Obviously Happening. There Is a Movement As Well.”

    While passing through the concrete jungle the other day, Protoje dropped by Plex HQ to reason about life and the state of the music. We started off discussing his big tune with Chronixx “Who Knows,” and how Storm Saulter—of Better Mus Come fame—came to direct the song’s epic music video. Diggy said Winta James came up with the video’s basic concept, which he described as “You start off with everything and as the day goes on you lose stuff, and it’s either you’re gonna turn around and go home or keep pushing forward.” So it’s all about the Bounce Back, which is a fitting transition to our discussion of the shift within Jamaican music right now. “We want to change the perception of what people think reggae is,” Protoje explained. “Cause I see what people think the genre is, and the reality of what it is now—and It’s far.” Protoje made the point that he’d rather not be pigeon-holed within the category of reggae just because he is from Jamaica. “Chronixx and I make two different sounds,” he asserted. “Sonically our music sounds different, but we’re still under the same heading of reggae music.” He calls his current sound—which has amassed a huge following in Europe, where he will be touring this summer—”a real hybrid,” citing Junjo Lawes and Jimi Hendrix as infuences. Nevertheless, he goes on to state that he and Chronixx and s number of other like-minded artists and producers are all part of a cultural movement within Jamaica right now.  “There is a rising consciousness that’s obviously happening. There is a movement as well… 2010 to 2020 is our time to govern them music.”  Video and Summer Tour Dates After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jemere Morgan “International Love” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Jemere Morgan “International Love” Official Music Video

    Dada’s Son Gives The Ladies Something Sweet Off His New Mixtape

    Jemere Morgan is just like every teenage boy in that he loves to play basketball and Xbox, listens to music, go to the movies and hang out with his friends. However there is one aspect of his life that is not so typical and that is the fact that he was born into one of Reggae’s most influential musical family, Morgan Heritage, his Father, Gramps Morgan and Grandfather, Denroy Morgan. Proving to be a chip off the old block, Jemere’s love affair with music began when he went on the Vans Warped tour with his Father and his family in 2000 for 7 weeks. Seeing his Father and his band mates, Morgan Heritage, perform inspired Jemere so much that he knew that music was the only thing that he wanted to do with his life. In 2011 he got the opportunity of a lifetime when he opened for Morgan Heritage on their European Tour. The experience proved to be a very pivotal moment in his career as he was able to showcase his talents on an international stage.  As a result he’s seen a lot of lovely ladies around the world, and apparently they were the inspiration for this tune, set to the rhythm of Gregory Isaacs’ “Stranger In Town.” The track, produced by Rellee Hayden for A-Team Music, is taken from Jemere’s new mixtape, Jemere’s Jukebox, which you can enjoy in full, after the jump. Audio & Video After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Bunny Rugs “Alone Again”

    HEAR THIS: Bunny Rugs “Alone Again”

    A Lost Session With Sly & Robbie Comes To Light

    This morning’s email contained a rare gift for all reggae lovers to cherish: a message from Guillaume Bougard, sharing this never-before-heard recording of the melancholy ballad “Alone Again” voiced the late great Bunny Rugs backed by Sly & Robbie. “Bunny Rugs recorded ‘Alone Again’ in 2010 during a day off of a Third World tour in Europe,” Bougard explained. “Here is a rough mix that I just stumbled upon.” On his Facebook page, Bougard elaborates that “We had recorded the instrumental originally for Horace Andy but Horace didn’t like the song, so I kept it and submitted it to Rugs who liked it, despite the overall sadness of the lyrics. He managed to retain the emotion and yet instill his usual joy. Lovely. Rugs knew he did very well on that take. Listen carefully to the last 2 seconds: he says ‘Bwoy Guillaume, you have a whole a money for me now.’ When Jamaican artists think they’ve done a great take, they believe the song is going to sell well and generate big royalties for them.” No amount of money can equal the joy of a new song by Bunny Rugs, who died of leukemia this past February 6 (which is also Bob Marley’s birthday) leaving an irreparable breach in the reggae matrix. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • The Queen of Reggae Gets Her Groove On at Groovin’ In The Park

    The Queen of Reggae Gets Her Groove On at Groovin’ In The Park

    “This is My Moment,” said Marcia Griffiths, “And I’m Gonna Live It.”

    Marcia Griffiths, the undisputed Queen of reggae, hit Jamaica Queens NYC to celebate 50 years in the music biz at Groovin in the Park this June 29. Now in its 4th year, Groovin in the Park is an upscale affair that attracted 25,000 punters to ‘Roy Wilkins Park’ with a line-up that boasts some of the greatest names in Reggae history—many of whom have worked with Marcia at one time or another. With at least half a dozen outfit changes Ms. Griffiths was prepared for anything. She first hit the stage around 3pm—warming things up with her international pop hit ‘Electric Boogie’, which spawned a dance craze that continues till this day—and kept going strong with internmittent breaks until 9pm. Full Review and Videos after the Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Alborosie: “Everybody Receive The Music Nice”

    Reasoning with Alborosie: “Everybody Receive The Music Nice”

    Albo’s Got a New Album Featuring All-Star Duets

    When the Italian-born reggae singer Alborosie is not touring the world, he makes his home in Jamaica, where he spends most of his time in his studio. The latest product of his labors is the album Specialist Presents: Alborosie & Friends, a collection of his duets with a wide range of reggae and dancehall talent, which dropped on V.P. Records June 17th. The 24 tracks include duets with Michael Rose, Horace Andy, Etana, Busy Signal, Sizzla, and fellow European reggae star Gentleman. During a recent tour stop in Miami, Reshma B caught up with Albo to talk about how he’s not just a producer and performer but also a proud, hands-on papa. ”I change him pampers,” says Albo of his new routine in the studio. But that doesn’t mean he takes his music any less seriously. In fact, the reggae global ambassador reveals, “The day i don’t feel the vibe anymore i will retire quietly.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Japanese Melodica Master Anna i Talks Augustus Pablo and His “Far East Style”

    Japanese Melodica Master Anna i Talks Augustus Pablo and His “Far East Style”

    Classical Piano Lessons At Age Eight Didn’t Thrill Her, Then She Discovered Augustus Pablo

    July 1st marks the 20th anniversary of International Reggae Day a celebration of the global impact of Jamaica’s musical culture. And there’s no greater representative than Tokyo-born Anna i. She always loved music, so at the age of eight her parents gave her classical piano lessons. But her passion for playing wasn’t sparked until a vinyl-collecting friend introduced her to soul, jazz, and especially reggae. She was particularly drawn to the “Far East” dub style of Jamaican melodica master Augustus Pablo. Absorbing his sound, she taught herself to play the instrument and within a few years she was playing with the German punk band The Slits on tracks like the 2009 banger “Babylon.”  Earlier this summer she joined Jamaican keyboard master Monty Alexander during his birthday celebration at B.B. King’s, improvising “Happy Birthday to You” during a dub-jazz jam session. She’s now under the wing of Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin—the P in VP Records—who has big plans for the young melodica master. The ReggaeGirlAboutTown recently caught up with Anna i at VP headquarters for an in-depth conversation. Anna even treated Boomshots to an off-the-cuff performance. Video After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Mr. Vegas ft. Latty J “Who Rule”

    HEAR THIS: Mr. Vegas ft. Latty J “Who Rule”

    Vegas Latty Wage A Classic Battle of the Sexes—Inna Dancehall Style

    Dancehall superstar Mr. Vegas links with his protege Latty J for a classic battle of the sexes inna dancehall style. Flipping Shabba’s “Twice My Age” riddim, Vegas and Latty go line for line as they try to prove who really rules the world—or at least the household—Man or Woman? Listen for yourself and let us know who got the upper hand! During a recent Mr. Vegas performance in Florida, Reshma B caught up with Latty J and got to know the rising female DJ who first broke through with a wicked tune called “Put Up Uno Hand” on the “Nuh Frighten Vampire” diddim. Latty’s now doing music full time under Mr. Vegas’ management and it sounds like #TeamHustle is going hard. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)