Boomshots

Category: Rastafari

  • HEAR THIS: Sizzla “Psalms 121”

    Churchical Chants For Kalonji’s Upcoming Album The Messiah
    Sizzla - The Messiah - BOOMSHOTS
    Although he can rip up a dancehall track any time he feels like it, The Messiah represents Sizzla Kalonji’s welcome return to spiritual roots reggae. Released through his Kalonji Music label, the album returns to the Afrocentric themes of clasic albums like Black Woman & Child and Da Real Thing, presented with the seasoned voice and fresh perspective of a man on a musical mission. The album drops May 28th but here’s an early preview—behold how good and how pleasant it is. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Bob Marley’s “Catch A Fire” Turns 40

    Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell Speaks On The Recordbob

    This week (April 13th to be exact)marks the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley And The Wailers “Catch A Fire.” Often credited as one of the first reggae albums to gain international acclaim as well as to many one of the greatest albums of all time in any genre, but most importantly the one that propelled Bob Marley into stardom. Already with three studio albums under their belt Bob Marley And The Wailers signed with CBS Records and hopped on a plane and headed to the UK to work with Johnny Cash on the soundtrack for the film Want So Much To Believe. Bob and friends encountered an  obstacle when financing for the film ran short, they now found themselves stranded in the UK without money and worse,  a way back to Jamaica. As fate would have it Jah smiled on Bob and the Wailers through Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, a fan of the group, connected through a mutual friend and subsequently signed Bob Marley and the Wailers to the then indie label Island Records. On the occasion of Catch a Fire’s 40th anniversary, The Boom Box sat down with the man largely credited as the one who “discovered’ Bob Marley” about the making of the record. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Warrior King “Melody” Official Video

    The Melody Gives The Music Lifewarriorking

    Warrior King burst on the scene with the hit “Virtuous Woman” in 2001 and then blazed through 2002 with other hits like “Never Go where Pagans Go” and “Empress So Divine” all which garnered him critical acclaim, And then he got cold, popping up every few years with a feature or album but never with the same tenacity as he had in 2002. It looks like he has found his flame again. Jumping on the classic Midnight Hour Riddim, Warrior rides the riddim superbly chanting is his signature harmonic flow. “Tell Me How Me Sound,” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Snoop Lion Feat. Cori B. & Drake “No Guns Allowed”

    Snoop’s Latest Gets Some Visualssnoop

     

    Whatever your thought are on Snoop’s rasta persona Snoop Lion one thing can’t be denied that he does make good music. This statement has been further solidified with the success of his “No Guns Allowed” tune. The audio petition for the crack down of gun violence finally got its visual treatment presented nicely in a predominantly black and white package directed by Jesse Terrero. Snoop and Terreo make sure the message is very clear – Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Meta & The Cornerstones Feat. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley “My Beloved Africa”

    Meta And Gong-zilla Joins Forces To Show Love For The Motherlandmeta

    With the April 30th release of their sophomore album “Ancient Power” drawing close, we take a listen to one of its stand out tracks entitled “My Beloved Africa” featuring none other than the mighty Gong-zilla himself Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley.  (more…)

  • Snoop Lion “Reincarnated” Track Listing

    Get The Full Rundown On Snoop’s Long Anticipated Reggae Albumsnoop

    Snoop Lion aka Snoop Dogg is set to release his highly anticipated new album titled “Reincarnated” on April 23, and which features such big names collaborators as Drake, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, T.I., Akon, and yes Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora,  and Snoop’s own daughter Cori B. Some have criticized Snoop for his new moniker, others insist that he’s making a mockery of the Rastafari culture and should cease immediately, but Snoop holds firm: “We were searching for true reggae music and the message of peace and hope it reflects, It’s so much a part of who I am, and this record is all about paying homage and giving respect to those who created and love reggae music, and hopefully introducing it to a whole new audience. I feel truly honored to make this album and respect to all who blazed the path for me.” Check the complete breakdown of all 16 tracks on the album (hmm… wonder if there’s any bonus cuts?) along with a glimpse of Snoop speaking on the inspiration for his latest single, “No Guns Allowed.” Video & Tracklist After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Protoje “I & I” Official Video

    Protoje’s Latest Visual Is More Than Just A Music Videopro

    Just three weeks ago, a group of young Jamaicans exercised civil disobedience in remarkable fashion on Hope Road. The occasion appeared to be a video shoot for Protoje’s ‘I&I,’ the second track on his Billboard and iTunes charting album, The 8 Year Affair. Yet, much more occurred on that Friday morning. Moreover, it was flawlessly executed. Bracing bumper-to-bumper traffic scores of Rastafarian youth, Reggae Revivalists and their supporters spilled onto the street. They marched from the Twelve Tribes of Israel headquarters at Clieveden Avenue, made their way pass the Bob Marley Museum to King’s House, the Governor-General’s residence, then continued on to Jamaica House, which houses the Office of the Prime Minister. The inspirations for the video as Protoje states:

     “Every time I envisioned what this video would look like, all I kept seeing was I and I and I making this trek,” said Protoje. “The song is aggressive but it is still love that we are coming with. I wanted the video to show that energy.”

    The ‘I&I‘ video features the likes of Kabaka Pyramid, No-Maddz, Jesse Royal, Hempress Sativa, Jah9, Chronixx plus members of Zincfence, Pentateuch and Raging Fyah along with other familiar faces. Members of Protoje’s band, The Indiggnation, are also prominent in various scenes. Again Protoje insists this wasn’t a protest of any sort, in fact as he claims:

    “It wasn’t a protest or anything like that, I and I just felt like taking a stroll down a public street and have fun doing it.”

    None the less the procession definitely garnered a lot of attention. See What The Power Of Music Can Do After The Jump… (more…)

  • 7 Essential I-Octane Tunes

    7 Essential I-Octane Tunes

    Just In Case You Never Know

    I-Octane’s latest video “Gal A Gimme Bun” is something new for the artist who blazed onto the Jamaican scene seven years ago with a steady diet of conscious lyrics with just the right street edge. As we prepare to premiere the new video on Boomshots, we decided to take a look back at the songs that made the singjay one of the hottest artists in the dancehall. Click the image above to check out the list…

  • WATCH THIS: Snoop Lion “Reincarnated” Extended Trailer

    Check The Brand New Trailer For The Film That Tells How The Dogg Became A Lion

    Earlier this week, the Snoop Lion documentary Reincarnated was screened for a small group of media at the Sony headquarters in midtown Manhattan. After seeing the movie in full, an old Wailers lyric came to mind: “Half the story has never been told.” It may seem strange to see a gangsta rap icon from the LBC saying Jah Rastafari and singing over reggae beats. Some have even called it a gimmick. (And when Snoop released his “Hot Pockets” video with showers of pepperoni raining from the sky, it was hard to argue with them—unless there’s an ital version of Hot Pockets on the way.) But despite the apparent contradictions, don’t make up your mind until you see this film, which will hit theaters in 2013. Snoop’s visit to Alpha Boys School in Kingston, freestyling over a live version of “Rockfort Rock,” or his impromptu session with Cutty Corn in a hole-in-the-wall studio near Tivoli Gardens (not to mention his Mind Gardens project) puts this whole Snoop Lion thing in a new light. And as for his baptism as Berhane in a Niyabinghi temple (seen above), well you’ll have to judge for yourself. Who says you can’t teach an old Dogg new tricks? Video After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Snoop Lion “La La La” Video

    The Mighty Snoop Lion Unleashes His First Music Video
    Yesterday, Snoop Lion released the official music video for “La La La,” the first single from his forthcoming album Reincarnated—which of course Snoop first discussed on the Strictly Boomshots show. Snoop teamed up with acclaimed horror film director Eli Roth to create a fun, Halloween-inspired music video filled with kids in Halloween costumes and imaginative scenery. The track is produced by none other than Major Lazer, and samples the Ken Boothe classic “Artibella.” Check the video after the jump and weigh in on the latest from Snoop Lion. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: H.I.M. Haile Selassie’s Official State Visit To Jamaica

    Happy Birthday To The King of Kings

    Exactly 120 years ago today, Tafari Makonnen was born in the Harar province of Ethiopia. He would go on to become His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, still revered by the Rastafarian movement and countless reggae songs as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In short, a Black God incarnate. When Emperor Selassie visited Jamaica On April 21, 1966 he was greeted like a messiah. Video after the jump. (more…)