Boomshots

Category: Reggae

  • HEAR THIS: Inner Circle ft. J-Boog & Jacob Miller “I’ve Got The Handle”

    HEAR THIS: Inner Circle ft. J-Boog & Jacob Miller “I’ve Got The Handle”

    The Bad Boys of Reggae Link With J Boog

    Fresh off a successful tour with SOJA, California-born and Hawaii-based reggae artist J Boog, releases a track with reggae’s “Bad Boys” Inner Circle and their late great vocalist Jacob Miller. Having topped the reggae charts for consecutive years with his 2011 full length release Backyard Boogie, J Boog has since graced the world stage with some of reggae’s most popular talent. In this track he updates a classic Heptones selection alongside the voice of the “Killer” Miller. 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…)

  • 2016 Kickoff Playlist

    2016 Kickoff Playlist

        Multi-genre Playlist of Songs That Are Already Moving the Massive Internationally in 2016

    The start of the New Year could not be any better.  This playlist highlights ten notable releases between the end of last year and the beginning of this year, that are stirring up the musical anticipation for the rest of 2016.

    More After The Jump…

    (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Allinor “Fun” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Allinor “Fun” Official Music Video

    Straight Outta Ghana to St. Andrew Park

    What’s fun to you? Kicking a soccer ball? Playing with kids in the park? Listening to some tunes? Fulfilling your lifetime dream of traveling from Africa to Jamaica and recording a full album with some of the greatest reggae musicians who ever lived? All those things converge with Allinor, a young singer from Ghana who took a leap of faith and caught a flight to Kingston in hopes of working with the legendary guitarist Chinna Smith, who played with everybody from Amy Winehouse to Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus to Robert Nesta Marley. His is the yard in St. Andrew Park mentioned in Jah9’s “Steamers a Bubble”—a place where serious reggae jam sessions go down on the regular. Allinor made the link with Chinna, sang him some songs, one thing lead to another, and before he knew it, the young African vocalist was standing in Harry J Studios laying down his debut album. The first video from said album dropped yesterday, and it’s filled with words of wisdom about how you can enjoy your life a whole lot more. How fun is that? Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Reasoning with No-Maddz: “Breadfruit is the new Bread, Baby!”

    WATCH THIS: Reasoning with No-Maddz:
    “Breadfruit is the new Bread, Baby!”

    The Puku-Poo Posse Bugs Out With The Reggae Girl About Town

    Last year No-Maddz burst on the international scene with a debut album, Sly & Robbie Presents: No-Maddz, that Billboard magazine (with an assist from Boomshots) ranked as one of the Top 10 Reggae albums of 2015. In fact we’ve been rocking with No-Maddz from long time—ever since we first bucked up Sheldon, Heavy, Birdie, and O’Neil on the set of Better Mus’ Come it was clear that these Bongo youths were destined for greatness. So when we caught their first performance on the big stage at Reggae Sumfest—shortly after the release of their 2012 EP NBO (New Bread Order)—their reasoning with the Reggae Girl About Town was something special. Check out the vibes for yourself.  Video 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…
     (more…)

  • 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…)

  • PREMIERE: I-Octane “Hello” Mixtape

    PREMIERE: I-Octane “Hello” Mixtape

    Download A Musical Holiday Present From Conquer The Globe X Street Team

    “Them say we would not turn a star but we now become an icon,” sings I-Octane on his aptly titled rub-a-dub selection “Life is What You Make It.” Since setting his mission statement in the establishment of Conquer The Globe productions, the “Hot Ras” has wasted no time moving toward his stated goal. Along the way, I-Octane has proven to be one of those rare artists who are equally adept at classical reggae and straight-up dancehall, one who can keep it conscious while always maintaining his presence in the streets. (Never selling out “the linky” yet managing to stay away from “the waste man dem.”) Witness the artist’s latest mixtape, titled “Hello,” which Boomshots proudly premieres tonight. Mixed by DJ Cory of Street Team (Alkaline’s official tour DJ), this 43-track juggling comprises a succinct survey of Octane’s latest & greatest recordings to date, ranging from reality tunes like “Time Will Come” and “It’s Alright” featuring Gentleman, all the way to  hardcore tracks like “Flick Duppy” and “Straight Stinger” not to mention “Above Dem,” Octane’s big collab with the Gully Gad and Alkaline. For the diehard fans, call it a holiday present. For those who haven’t been paying such close attention, consider it a wake up call. HELLO! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jacob Miller & Ray I “Natty Christmas” LP

    HEAR THIS: Jacob Miller & Ray I “Natty Christmas” LP

    Sounds Called Bruk Pocket Day We Never Feel No Way

    There’s nothing quite like Christmas in Jamaica, but no matter where you are celebrating this day, you can do it inna rub-a-dub style. And there’s no better way to do that than with the rockers master Jacob Miller alongside the Inner Circle Rhythm Section plus rootical DJ chanting courtesy of the man called Ray I. Reggae musicians have blessed the world with plenty of great holiday selections, but nothing quite tops this 1978 vinyl LP. Click forward for nuff more Yuletide selections and bless up yourself. Audio After The Jump… (more…)