Boomshots

Category: Reggae

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

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

    You Better Hold On Good

    The original Hot Stepper (aka the “Lyrical Gangsta”—Murdera!) links up with Jamaican producer Kareem Burrell of XTM Nation (son of the late great Fatis Burrell, founder of the legendary Xterminator label) for this 2014 update of a classic Fatis production, first released 30 years ago. Today we get the first look at the animated video, which bears a major resemblance to a certain laser-beam-toting superhero who terrorized the Caribbean, cannibalizing the indigenous cultures therein. Hey, the only way to save the universe from pirates is more piracy. Watch the ride—and hold on good. Video & Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Who is Shifta?

    Who is Shifta?

    Born In Jamaica, Based In Miami, Ready For The World

    Dancehall is undergoing a changing of the guard right now with new talent bubbling up from the underground  to the top of the game faster than ever. One of the new names to catch our eye and our ear is a youth called Shifta, whose music combines dancehall energy with warm and easy pop appeal. His single “Do You Wanna,” produced by Timeless Music, is making waves already on Miami radio (check the behind the scenes video shoot footage below). And his latest release, on TJ Records “Drink Up” Riddim, features his frequent collaborator, Che’Nelle, a Malaysian-Australian singer who’s had major success in Japan. The Reggae Girl About Town (@RGAT) recently caught up with Shifta at Miami’s Circle House Studio to hear about his deep dancehall roots and his plans to shift the game into overdrive.  Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Damian Marley & Friends Rock The Boat on the Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise

    Damian Marley & Friends Rock The Boat on the Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise

    As Bob Marley Once Sang, We Were “All In The Same Boat, Rockin on The Same Rock”

    When The Wailers linked with Lee “Scratch” Perry to record their classic African Herbsman selection “Don’t Rock My Boat” back in 1973, chances are Bob Marley had no idea that 40-plus years in the future his family would be rocking the biggest boat in reggae history. But when the Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise pulled away from the Port of Miami on Monday October 20th, the 2400 artists, selectors, and reggae lovers on board the luxury liner Norwegian Pearl were just as Bob sang, “All in the same boat, rocking on the same rock.” Continued After The Jump… (more…)

  • His Imperial Majesty

    His Imperial Majesty

    On November 2, 1930, the official crowning of a monarch occurred in Ethiopia

    Peoples of African descent, come from a lineage of kings and queens, as referenced in the bible. On this day, November 2,  in 1930, Emperor Haile Selassie I and his wife, Empress Menen Asfaw were formally crowned with regalia, together in Ethiopia.
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  • Full Moon Playlist

    Full Moon Playlist

     

    Ten Scary Selections for Your Halloween Party Playlist

    With fall comes one of the most festive holidays, Halloween. Elaborate costumes emulate scary and fictional characters; superheroes and sexy alter-egos. Children trick or treat for sweet candies and visit pumpkin patches. However, the holiday was created to remember the dead saints or “hallows.” This Boomshots full moon playlist highlights songs that comment on the dead rising theme in reggae, dancehall and soca. The playlist contains ten tunes, some focusing on the Halloween/horror theme, while others go beyond the theme and comment on social issues, and a few are highlighted for a wicked production. Audio After The Jump…

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  • A Love We Can Feel: Respect To John Holt

    A Love We Can Feel: Respect To John Holt

    Early Sunday morning, Reggae Legend, John Kenneth Holt, died at the age of 67 in London. Even after collapsing onstage during a performance at this summer’s One Love Festival in the UK, he insisted that his health was fine and said “I’ll be back.” Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1947, he entered talent competitions at an early age, throughout the island. Holt recorded his first single, “I Cried A Tear,” a song about lies and heartbreak, in London, 1963. This melancholy first tune, foreshadowed numerous follow up hits. More After The Jump…

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  • Top Ten At-Sea Selections

    Top Ten At-Sea Selections

    A Boomshots Playlist Inspired By The Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise

    “Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean sea,” Super Cat once observed. “In case you never know, it fulla mic MCs.”  The Land of Wood and Water is also full of boats and fishermen and as such it’s inspired countless reggae songs about the sea. Here’s a few of our favorite selections for all you Nautical Dreads. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Black-Am-I “In The Ghetto”

    HEAR THIS: Black-Am-I “In The Ghetto”

    Life Rough Rough Rough Rough Rough But The Music Sweet

    Striaght out of Nine Mile, birthplace of the King of Reggae, comes a new recruit to the Ghetto Youths Intl’ crew, Black-Am-I. You may remember his standout cuts “Modern Day Freedom” and “Samson Strength,”‘ but the rootical Rasta singer is just getting started. His latest release is a demand to ease the suffering of ghetto youths through the healing power of music. “More dance fe keep,” sings Black-Am-I over an energetic, upbeat riddim track. Between this tune and Jr. Gong’s “Hard Work,” we are definitely looking forward to the  “Set Up Shop Vol 2” anthology. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Alaine “Make it Home Again” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Alaine “Make it Home Again” PREMIERE

    Alaine Brings Something Sweet and Strong to DJ Frass New “7venth Heaven” Riddim

    Alaine Laughton is one of those firmly established talents who’s blessed us with so many great songs over the years that we tend to take her for granted. Even though we don’t know what we’d do without her delicate but powerful voice and her gift for creating indelible melodies. But when we hear a song like “Make It Home Again,” a sudden thought flashes through the brain: do we really give her the full appreciation and props she deserves? No, we don’t. Boomshots is proud to premiere this song today, just as DJ Frass’ warm-and-easy “7venth Heaven” Riddim hits iTunes. This one goes out all the standing soldiers, questing travelers, and all the lost souls—just to let you know, no matter how far you roam you can still make it home. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Lee “Scratch” Perry, The 2nd Chapter: “Too Much Weed, So I Get Crazy”

    Reasoning with Lee “Scratch” Perry, The 2nd Chapter: “Too Much Weed, So I Get Crazy”

    Scratch Shares His Thoughts on Sex, Ganja, and the Illuminati

    When we last caught up with the Upsetter, he was sharing his thoughts on music—both his latest releases, and his seminal early recordings at the Black Ark. Of course, Scratch being Scratch, the conversation also veered into related topics such as Duppies, the true racial identity of God, and his everlasting battle with the Devil. Just hours before the man called by many names (including, notably, Pipecock Jaxon) take the stage at Brooklyn Bowl with Subatomic Sound System as part of the annual Dub Champions Festival, we proudly present the second installment of Reshma B‘s exclusive interview—in which the living legend/mad genius talks about what sort of girl he does not want to see in his bed—and names one in particular who would make him “vomit.” Scratch also admits that he was once addcited to marijuana, a fate that he hopes his fans will avoid. In fact, he says too music music and/or fire and/or weed in his head made him crazy. “They want to find out whether it’s me singing or the ganja singing,” he says. “It’s better when me sing. If the ganja can sing, it ah go take you to a height that you can’t come back.” The ReggaeGirlAboutTown even convinces Scratch to remove his remarkable hat and show her what’s inside. So fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a wild ride. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Mr. Vegas “Reggae Euphoria” Album Preview

    Mr. Vegas “Reggae Euphoria” Album Preview

    A Track-By-Track Breakdown of The Dancehall Hitmaker’s Latest Release

    Few artists in the Jamaican music fraternity can rival the track record established by Mr. Vegas since he exploded on the dancehall scene with his 1998 debut album Heads High. Just last September the year-to-year hitmaker delivered Bruk It Down 2.0, a blazing set of high-energy cuts that rode the wave of his international smash “Bruk It Down,” whose accompanying dance move was a favorite of Nicki Minaj among others. While his new album Reggae Euphoria contains plenty of dancehall energy, it presents the full range of his artistry—with elements of roots reggae, mento, rock steady, R&B, hip-hop and gospel and inspirations ranging from Delroy Wilson to Leonard Cohen to Miley Cyrus. No matter what style of music, Vegas is quite simply a master hitmaker with a rare gift for crafting compelling melodies that stick in the brain year after year. The term “Euphoria” refers to a state of extreme happiness familiar to all dancehall fans who’ve had the pleasure of catching Vegas live in concert. It was origianlly a medical term for “the condition of feeling healthy and comfortable (especially when sick),” and derives from the Greek euphoros meaning “power of enduring easily,” or literally “bearing well.” Whatever may be ailing the listener—whether heartsickness, lack of inspiration, or a chronic case of musical mediocrity, Reggae Euphoria is the perfect prescription. Today Mr. Vegas will be launching the album at Miss Lilys, so if you’re in NYC it’s time to head on down to Houston and Sullivan Streets. But if you can’t make it in person don’t worry we’ve got you covered!  Live Stream Link After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Jah Cure “Life We Live” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Jah Cure “Life We Live” Official Music Video

    Much has been said about a “roots revival” going on in Jamaican music at the moment. Artists like Chronixx and Protoje and Jesse Royal have created much excitement with their fresh take on reggae music, but let’s not forget that these talents have built upon the efforts of elder artists who have been putting in work for a longer time to make sure that the roots would never fade away. Jah Cure is one such steadfast soldier on behalf of classic reggae music. Groomed by the master music maker Beres Hammond, Cure has grown into a major talent whose live shows are second to none. The first single from his forthcoming album, The Cure—a dubby, dreamy take on the immortal “Heaveneless” riddim, produced by ‘Sketch’ Carey for Iyacure Productions—became an instant hit on the sound system circuit. Cure mentions Bob Marley’s name in his lyrics, which might be ill-advised for the average reggae singer. But Cure is anything but average, and he’s in rare form on “Life We Live.” Today we proudly premiere the music video, most of which Cure spends riding in the back of a pickup truck while life unfolds everywhere around him. There’s nothing flashy about this video, but it might just be the most inspiring three and a half minutes you spend today. So let it play and live your life. Video After The Jump… (more…)