Boomshots

Category: Reggae

  • Troubling Questions Raised by the Riff Raff, Snoop & Collie Buddz Collab

    Troubling Questions Raised by the Riff Raff, Snoop & Collie Buddz Collab

    So… Another Rapper’s Dabbling in Dancehall?

    This past Friday, you may have noticed all those hipster blogs breathlessly reporting that Riff Raff aka Jody Highroller had “gone reggae.” OK, fair enough—these “Yankee rappers dabbling in dancehall” posts are surefire crowd pleasers. Why should we even be surprised when a kid from Houston born Horst Christian Simco signs with Mad Decent and decides to switch up his bugged-out raw flow and try singing over a reggae beat? But can we honestly claim that the guy has “gone reggae.” I mean, what ever happened to Snoop Lion? When Big Homie first aappeared on the Strictly Boomshots show, he was all about that Rasta life. Now he turns up on a reggae track produced by The Cataracs (the duo who made “Like A G6”) rappin’ like Snoop Dogg? Riff Raff’s in Jody Highroller mode, Snoop’s in Dogg mode… Hold up—we’re getting confused. Wasn’t Snoop suposed to be Bob Marley reincarnated or something? Thank God Collie Buddz sounds like himself on this one.  Audio After the Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Strictly the Best Vol. 50 The Mixtape

    HEAR THIS: Strictly the Best Vol. 50 The Mixtape

    Rico Vibes of Natural Vibes and Da Flava Radio Pon The Megamix

    Over the past 35 years, VP Records has established themslves as the dominant distributor of Jamaican music, and the 50th and 51st installments of their Strictly the Best compilation series drops today. As per usual, the first volume focuses more on roots and lovers rock singers while the second dives direct into the dancehall. And because this year marks a landmark anniversary for VP—or simply to tickle the fancy of the “Don’t make em like they used to” posse—each volume of the anthology includes a second disc jam-packed with classic selections culled from earlier STB editions. Today we present a megamix of Volume 50 cuts curated by selector Rico Vibes. From Half Pint‘s Greetings and Luciano‘s “Sweep Over My Soul” straight back to Etana‘s “Trigger” and Jah Cure‘s “Life We Live,” this one is total niceness. No matter how cold it is where you are right now, press play and prepare yourself for a virtual vacation to Jamaica’s sunny shores. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Lee “Scratch” Perry Wants You To Stop Smoking Ganja

    Lee “Scratch” Perry Wants You To Stop Smoking Ganja

    The Reggae Pioneer Tells The Fader About New Music, Old Studios, and Negative Influence

    Lee “Scratch” Perry, who crafted sounds for Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and countless others while releasing genre-formative albums of his own, is relaxing in a grand old English guest house in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. He has just gotten through performing at the Lakefest Music Festival and is wearing a full red suit covered with dollar, pound, and Euro signs written in Magic Marker; his baseball cap is adorned with metallic badges, a large circular mirror, and a pinecone-shaped chunk of crystal perched on the brim. When he speaks, his words, like his clothes and his tunes, are freewheeling, arcane, and ceaseless. From a small settee, he holds forth on a wide range of subjects, including his new signee, Iguana, his return-to-form new album Back on the Controls, which he recorded in a replica of his legendary Black Ark recording studio, and why he feels guilty about the marijuana culture his art helped to spread to the masses. Video After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “The Lyricist” Mixtape PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “The Lyricist” Mixtape PREMIERE

    Word, Sound and Power—Plus It’s Accurate

    Whenever Kabaka Pyramid grips the mic, the first word heard tends to be “accurate.” Known for dropping immaculately crafted rhymes addressing topics with real relevance to real people living real lives, Kabaka has distinguished himself as a powerful voice for the voiceless. Much like his namesake, the lyrical architect crafts his music creations to stand the test of time. “Me’s a man, my music different,” he says on the intro to his debut mixtape, aptly titled The Lyricist, which we proudly premiere today. “I have extra appreciation, cause my music is not party music. Is serious things I and I ah talk ’bout.” And not only does he make music, he can articulate his points of view in an interview or defend them with passion in a debate.

    Mixed by Livity Movements sound and produced in association with Destine Media and the Parris Agency, this 24-track compilation brings together the lion’s share of the work that has earned the young DJ recognition as a integral part of the so-called “Roots Revival” currently unfolding within Jamaican music. From the political insights of “No Capitalist” to the furious flows on “Choppingz” featuring Massicka to the sheer firepower of “Selassie Souljahz” featuring Sizzla, Chronixx, and Protoje, Kabaka’s densely wrought rhymes always shine through, charting a path toward the future of reggae music. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Live Pon The Reggae Cruise 2015

    WATCH THIS: Live Pon The Reggae Cruise 2015

    They Said “What Happens On The Cruise Stays On The Cruise”—But They Were Wrong!

    Having successfully completed its second annual mission, Damian Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise goes down in history as another amazing experience for lovers of reggae and dancehall music. This year featured not one but two back-to-back cruises loaded with no fewer than 23 different acts—not including guest artists—plus another 10 “sound systems,” three of whom engaged in an epic battle dubbed the first ever “sound clash on the sea.” Not a single detail was overlooked: from the movies showing in the ship’s theater to the music playing in the hallways when you step out of your cabin—even the buckets of Guiness sold hot or cold—everything was chosen to appeal to lovers of Jamaican culture. Roughly half the passengers hailed from the United States, with twenty or so other nationalities representing the UK, Europe, Asia, South America, the Pacific Islands, and of course the Caribbean. Rumor has it that there was even an early morning Niyabinghi session on the uppermost deck of the ship at dawn.
    For the second year in a row, the Boomshots team was on board to catch all the action. Check out the photo gallery above and watch this space for highlights of performances by Super Cat, Ragga Marley, King Jammy’$ Super Power and much much more. Video After The Jump…
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  • Reasoning With Stephen “Ragga” Marley

    Reasoning With Stephen “Ragga” Marley

    Ragga Talks Roots, Fruits, and Revelation With The Reggae Girl About Town

    The master producer, musician, and vocalist known to his brethrens as “Ragga” is a man of few words who normally lets his music do the talking. In this exclusive chat, live and direct from his Lion’s Den studio in south Florida, Stephen Marley reflects on his next musical creation, and the legacy he lives each and every day. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise Crossword Puzzle Playlist 2015

    Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise Crossword Puzzle Playlist 2015

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  • HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid ft. Chronixx “Ghetto Blues” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid ft. Chronixx “Ghetto Blues” PREMIERE

    Let Them Sing A Sweet Song For You

    Livity Movements titled their new Kabaka mixtape “The Lyricist” for a reason. His rapid-fire flow is jam-packed with gems of wisdom, knowledge, and over standing on this crucial compilation, spearheaded by the Parris Agency and Destine Media. Here he joins forces with long-time sparring partner Chronixx on an exclusive track from “The Lyricist,” which drops next week. The song is called “Ghetto Blues” and Kabaka really blacks out on this one. As the roots revival continues. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Ini Kamoze “Hill & Gully Ride (Remix)” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Ini Kamoze “Hill & Gully Ride (Remix)” Official Music Video

    The Lyrical Gangster Rides Again

    You don’t have to be a reggae fanatic to know Ini Kamoze’s voice. He’s the one who sings the hook—”Out in the streets they call it murder“—on Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s 2005 banger “Welcome To Jamrock.” And back in 1994, the “lyrical gangster” was responsible for the worldwide smash hit “Here Comes The Hot Stepper,” which reached the No. 1 spot in the U.S. when remixed by Salaam Remi for the Pret A Porter soundtrack. Kamoze first recorded a different version of “Hot Stepper” for the late great Jamaican producer Fatis Burrell, founder of the legendary Xterminator label. Fatis’ son Kareem Burrell of XTM Nation remixed another Kamoze classic, “Hill & Gully Ride,” first released 30 years ago. (The track will be included on the forthcoming remix album Living Heart vol. 2.) Today we premiere the animated video, directed by Juppi Juppsen. Watch the ride—and hold on good. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Alkaline “Anywhere We Go” & “In This World”

    HEAR THIS: Alkaline “Anywhere We Go” & “In This World”

    Plug Into Both Sides Of The Alkaline Battery

    An Alkaline battery has two sides, one positive and one negative. The same goes for the controversial dancehall star of the same name. When I sat down to chat with him last December at 21st Hapilos headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, he was already emerging as one of the most powerful new voices in Jamaican music—and all this past year he’s continued to charge up his ever-growing fan base with an unpredictable I-care-zero approach to making music. Two fresh selections—one produced by DJ Frass, one by ZJ Chrome—highlight both sides of this polarizing young artist. On “In This World” he touches on the realities of life and sufferation and on “Anywhere We Go” he disses Bounty Killer and Foota Hype. Hate it or love it, you cannot deny Alkaline’s talent nor his ability to electrify the streets of Kingston. Audio After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Black-Am-I “In The Ghetto” Live Pon The WTJ Cruise

    WATCH THIS: Black-Am-I “In The Ghetto” Live Pon The WTJ Cruise

    I and I Tour Currently Cruising Through The United States

    When the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise set sail last month, the first artist to touch the main deck stage was none other than Black-Am-I. The culturally inclined singjay rocked the big boat, closing out an energetic set with his latest song “In The Ghetto,” a track taken from the forthcoming Set Up Shop Vol. 2 compilation, due out later this year. Black-Am-I, who hails from Nine Mile, the birthplace of Bob Marley, is currently on tour of the U.S. with I-Wayne. Watch for them coming to a town near you. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Black Lion & The Wizard ft. Kat Dahlia, Nyanda & Kemist “Mash It Up” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Black Lion & The Wizard ft. Kat Dahlia, Nyanda & Kemist “Mash It Up” Official Music Video

    What could be more fun than rolling through Kingston street dances with Kat Dahlia, Nyanda (of Brick & Lace), and The Wizard? How about adding Black Lion and Kemist to the mix—and shooting a music video for their posse cut “Mash It Up” while you’re at it? Like the song says, “they do what they do and and don’t give a fvck! The crew look like they are having a blast as pass the mic and rave all night till morning light. You can barely tell that this was Kat’s first trip to Jamaica. The genre-bending singer/songwriter signed to Epic Records looks right at home shocking out on a sound system. Whether MIA or JA, she already warned you: “we coming to your city and we mash it up.” Video After The Jump… (more…)