Boomshots

Category: Reggae

  • HEAR THIS: Jesse Royal “Silent River”

    HEAR THIS: Jesse Royal “Silent River”

    The Palace Pikney’s Lyrics Run Deep

    Opening with a sample of Horsemouth’s speech from the classic Jamaican midnight movie Rockers, Jesse Royal’s latest single, “Silent River” runs as deep as its title suggests. “We step through the valley of death without fear,” he rhymes in his trademark melodic flow, “Lion nuh join squabble with eagle and bear.” Although it reworks a chorus from the version found on Royal’s critically acclaimed Royally Speaking mixtape, this is a totally new version, produced by Kareem “Remus” Burrell for XTM Nation‘s Living Heart Vol. 2, a tribute to the producer’s late father, Philip “Fatis” Burrell. With Kirk ‘Kirkledove’ Bennett on drums, Llamar ‘Riff Raff’ Brown on keyboards, Mitchum ‘Khan’ Chin on guitar, and a legendary horn section featuring Nambo Robinson on trombone and Dean Frasier on sax, the track is an all-star affair, providing a fitting soundscape for the lyrical Beretta to buss.  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Morgan Heritage Embarks On “So Amazing” U.S. Tour

    Morgan Heritage Embarks On “So Amazing” U.S. Tour

    The Grammy Family Brings Laza Morgan & Jemere Morgan Along For Support

    After twenty-plus years making real roots rock reggae music, Morgan Heritage took home a richly deserved Grammy Award this year. Their self-produced set Strictly Roots won the award for Best Reggae Album, outpacing strong competition from the likes of Jah Cure, Luciano, Barrington Levy, and Rocky Dawuni. To celebrate with their fans, the Grammy family has announced a U.S. tour. You can call it a victory lap if you like. They’re calling it “So Amazing,” so you get the idea. They’ll be supported by family members Laza Morgan (whose tune “One by One” is a certified Boomshot) and Jemere Morgan (Gramps’ big son who’s growing into a lover’s rock force in his own right.) Plus, on select dates, UK band The Skints and/or Orange County ukelele-strummers The Wheeland Brothers. Keep up with the band on their official website, or go ahead and download their app. (Ratid!) Tour Dates After The Jump… (more…)

  • Jah 9 Announces Summer Tour Dates

    Jah 9 Announces Summer Tour Dates

    From the U.S. to Canada, Europe to Africa

    Get those steamers ready. Jah9 is taking her powerful stage show on the road this Summer in support of a new album, set to drop when the weather gets hotter. If you haven’t caught the empress live & direct she is definitely a must-see. The new dates include stops in America, Canada, Europe, and Africa—with more dates to be announced. Keep up with Jah9 Online for updates and in the meantime, check out her latest video release, a live performance of “Humble Me” recorded by BBC 1Xtra at Anchor Studios in Jamaica. Videos & Tour Dates After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Bongo Herman “Drum of Long Story”

    HEAR THIS: Bongo Herman “Drum of Long Story”

    Mek Rolling Stone Dem Know—Half The Story Has Never Been Told

    Just the other day Rolling Stone published a list of the supposed Greatest Drummers of All Time. Carlton Barrett of the Hippy Boys—a two-man duo comprising him and his brother Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who once backed Scratch Perry at the Black Ark and would go on to tour the world with Bob Marley as The Wailers—and Sly Dunbar of Sly & Robbie fame both made the RS list—ranking at Nos 29 and 65 respectively. Even as reggae fans give thanks for a likkle bit of recognition from a mainstream pub like Rolling Stone, we know that half the story has never been told. No Style Scott. No Horsemouth. No Santa Davis. No Lloyd Knibb. And no Bongo Herman, who sold me a copy of his own CD during a recent pass throug 56 Hope Road. Perhaps the best US$10 I ever spent. Herewith a highlight, throughout which the legendary Mr. Herman beats the skins in a percussive reinterpretation of Keith & Tex’s “Oh It’s a Long Story” produced by Derrick Harriott on his musical chariot. The intro is everything. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Chronixx Bigs Up Vybz Kartel, Burns Out Ignorant Bloggers and VICE Media

    Chronixx Bigs Up Vybz Kartel, Burns Out Ignorant Bloggers and VICE Media

    Was Di Steam Ministah Misrepresented On Noisey Jamaica?

    “I will never dignify untrue and twisted publications made by a media who only seek to create headlines which drag artistes and their supporters through the valley of disunity and division,” said Chronixx in a new Instagram post. “It is all a part of the overall effort to divide our music, divert our creative focus and incarcerate the legends of our music- ‘To divide and rule is their only plan,’ he continued, quoting Sizzla Kalonji and Jah Cure. ‘I a nuh fool.’” The post was apparent response to media reports that Chronixx compared Kartel to a “cannibal” in a recent TV program called Noisey Jamaica. “Vybz Kartel himself has done a lot of good things in life, I must say,” Chronixx was quoted as saying in the program, which aired on the new network VICELand. “Gangsterism, cannibalism… because Vybz Kartel over time became a cannibal. When you listen to his music it is very cannibalistic.” Chronixx took to IG to clarify his remarks and to castigate “ignorant bloggers” and media outlets that sow discord rather than overstanding. Full Statement After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: I-Octane “Nuh Badda Dan Jah” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: I-Octane “Nuh Badda Dan Jah” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Octane Comes Before The Almighty With A Humble Heart

    You have some bwoy who feel like they’re wicked and dreadful. They march through the streets with the tallest tall-up and claim to run the road like tire. I-Octane’s thought-provoking tune on Good Good Production’s Cure Pain Riddim points out the folly of mortal men who seek comfort in mass destruction and exalt themselves because they have the power to brutalize their brothers and sisters. At the end of the day, who is really badder than God himself? Today Boomshots proudly premieres the visual interpretation of this tune, a hard-hitting video that might just have the power to change lives. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Dre Island “M-16” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Dre Island “M-16” Official Music Video

    Rise The Machine And Rinse It Clean

    Dre Island is a youth we’ve been checking for from time. He rolled into 2016 as one of Mass Appeal’s 16 Artists to Watch and today he drops what may be his most anticipated release yet, the first video off his “Now I Rise” project on E5 Records. Big up the Mass Appeal massive every time. In comes a musical thing called M-16 so just rock and come een. This yah one badder than a laser beam—Zeen? Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Keznamdi “Herbs” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Keznamdi “Herbs” Official Music Video

    Kez & Keida Work The Ital Steamer

    Ever since RiRi and Drizzy touched up the Pot O Gold “Sail Away” riddim with the chart-topping tune “Work,” Jamaican artists have been inspired to reimagine the tune in their own style and pattern. The latest “reworking” is a wicked ganja tune called “Herbs” by the rootical DJ Keznamdi.  “I wanted to put a little more roots in there, so you see a lot more Jamaican culture,” he told The Fader, who premiered the video earlier this week—which features noted herb advocate Keida in a crucial supporting role: keeping the ital steamer hot. “Marijuana advocacy is very special to me,” says Kez, “so whatever way I can get the message to people I try to.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Dre Island “M-16” Video Shoot Behind-The-Scenes

    Dre Island “M-16” Video Shoot Behind-The-Scenes

    The Official Music Video Premieres Tomorrow on Mass Appeal

    Named one of Mass Appeal’s “16 Artists To Watch in 2016,” the Jamaican artist and producer Dre Island is known for a lyrical attack that’s both “hard and heartical, streetwise and sensible.” On “M-16,” the first track from his highly anticipated Now I Rise project, Dre uses his rapid-fire lyrics like an automatic weapon to inspire his listeners to eradicate the negative energies that support and uphold the Babylon system. Tomorrow he will premiere the music video for the track, directed by Steezy for RD Studios, on Mass Appeal. In the meantime, pree this mini documentary about the track, produced by E5 Records, and check Nickii Kane‘s behind-the-scenes photographs from the video shoot at Old Theatre in Harbour View, Jamaica. Photos After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jahmiel “Where Were You” x “Great Man” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Jahmiel “Where Were You” x “Great Man” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Oh Why Oh Why? You Get a Fight When You Start Try

    The road to “overnight success” is usually longer than it seems, and it’s not without pitfalls and stumbling blocks along the way. Just ask Jamiel Foster, aka Jahmiel, a youth known to true dancehall fans as one of the music’s most promising new voices. After years of tirelessly writing, voicing, and promoting his music by all means necessary, last year’s tune “Gain The World” for Quantanium Records elevated Jahmiel to stardom. Ever since we caught his show-stealing guest spot on this year’s Rebel Salute, we’ve been big supporters of the artist. We know he’s not frightened fe Benz and Beamer—but what about badmind and bandwaggonist?  Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Mighty Mystic “How Many Miles” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Mighty Mystic “How Many Miles” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    The Never-Ending Journey of Love and Loss

    “This song symbolizes that there is no length of time, distance or space one is willing to travel to get back to or find the person they love—no matter the cost,” says Mighty Mystic, the Jamaica-born, Boston-based reggae singer who released his third album The Art of Balance earlier this year. True to the album’s title, this song is a complete departure from the previous single, a light-hearted ganja tune “Something Bout Mary,” although it’s also about a powerful male-female relationship. “When my brother played the first note on the keyboard it sent chills down my spine and immediately felt pain,” relates the singer, who parents named him Kevin Holness (his brother is actually the newly elected Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness). “I’m not talking ’bout stubbing your toe pain—I’m talking ’bout a deep pain like losing someone you love type pain. So on the heels of that emotion I wrote ‘How Many Miles.’” Today Boomshots premieres the music video, directed by Marlon O, which Mystic describes as “a mysterious reflection of the song.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jimmy Riley “Rougher Yet” Live in Tivoli Gardens 2008

    WATCH THIS: Jimmy Riley “Rougher Yet”
    Live in Tivoli Gardens 2008

    Rest In Power Jimmy Riley (1954–2016) Music Alone Shall Live

    Martin James Norman Riley, a distinguished singer and songwriter known to music lovers the world over as Jimmy Riley passed away around the dawning of March 23rd. Mr. Riley grew up in the musically blessed and economically stressed Waterhouse section of Western Kingston, and attended school with Slim Smith, with whom he would later record the timeless “My Conversation.” He was a member of seminal Jamaican harmoney groups The Sensations and The Uniques, and applied his rich soulful voice to classic solo recordings with Sly & Robbie including “Love & Devotion” and a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” which topped the UK reggae chart. His musical legacy is further enriched by the fact that he is the father of the great Tarrus Riley, with whom he often shared the stage. “Tarrus always gravitated toward music,” Jimmy Riley told the New York Times in 2009. “He learned to play the piano and grew up right there in the midst of things. Most of the veteran singers were friends of mine, so he knew them all.” Tarrus and his father appeared onstage together as recently as last Spring’s Oracabessa Festival in Queens, with the elder Mr. Riley in a wheelchair, but still full of life. Check this video of Jimmy in top form. Notice when the band tries to change the riddim, Mr. Riley reminds them, “Me ah the singer!” Don’t you ever forget. Music alone shall live. Video After The Jump… (more…)