Boomshots

Category: Reggae

  • Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, and UB40 Rock Barclays Center in Brooklyn

    Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, and UB40 Rock Barclays Center in Brooklyn

    Maxi Priest Performs For a Packed House at Sounds of Reggae

    Standing onstage in a T-shirt reading Flatbush Wah Gwan, Shaggy looked very much at home in the Barclays Center—the audaciously fly new arena on Atlantic Avenue that also serves as home of the Brooklyn Nets. “It’s very important that you came out in the masses as you did, so stand up and give yourself a round of applause,” Shaggy told the near-capacity crowd. “However I am a little bit disappointed because of the fact that this is West Indian party, and there is not party like a West Indian party. Yet still we have some old people siddown pon them chair like them no wan’ get up. And we no inna it tonight! So point dem out! The first time West Indian people are inside the Barclay Center and them siddung pon them backside? It nah go work!” After a little scolding from the Grammy Award winner—who ran through his catalog of chart-topping hits and invited sparring partners Rayvon and Red Fox on stage to perform dancehall boomshots like “Big Up” and “Bashment Party”—the party did in fact tun up. The Biolife Sounds of Reggae Concert also featured British reggae star Maxi Priest and internationally recognized reggae band UB40, as well as veteran reggae crooner Beres Hammond. Held under the patronage of the Consul General of Jamaica, Hon. Herman LaMont, the concert celebrated 50 years of Jamaican independence and raised over $10,000 . A portion of the concert proceeds to benefit the American Foundation for the University of The West Indies (AFUWI) scholarship fund. Maxi Priest turned in a solid performance to open the show, and UB40’s Ali Campbell proved that he still has the golden voice—if not the recent hits to hold the crowd during to the end of their ill-advised closing slot. But the night belonged to the legendary reggae vocalist Beres Hammond, who addressed the audience as “family” all night long and made the enormous venue feel as intimate as a house party. As he ran through a bushel basket of classics, from “Full Attention” to “Putting Up Resistance” and “What One Dance Can Do,” it was hard to tell who was having more fun—Beres or the audience. When all was said and done the crowd’s sentiment could best be summarized witha Beres lyric: “I wish you could stay longer.” Photos and Video After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Beres Hammond & The Roots on ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’

    The Maestro Makes His U.S. Television Debut
    Beres Hammond has been a staple in the Jamaican music world for quite some time. His soulful voice and feel0good lyrics have always made his songs just flow right. While he was in town for a performance at the Barclays Center, Hammond made his first appearance on American television by rocking out with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Our peoples at LargeUp TV have the hookup with The Roots so you know they’ve got the exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Roots and the man of the hour himself. Video After The Jump…

  • HEAR THIS: Ziggy Marley “Justice / War” Live Medley PREMIERE

    The  Brand New Selection From The Album Ziggy Marley In Concert

    “Justice” is not just standout cut from The Melody Makers’ 1989 album One Bright Day, it’s also the name of Ziggy’s daughter. On the new live album Ziggy Marley in Concert—available on iTunes next Tuesday, December 18—Ziggy blends “Justice” with one of his father’s greatest songs, which happens to be one of the few Bob Marley classics that Marley did not write. The lyrics to “War,” from the 1976 album Rastaman Vibration, were adapted from a speech made by Emperor Haile Selassie before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963. Audio After The Jump… 

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  • WATCH THIS: Beres Hammond on Late Night

    Reggae Legend Makes History Sitting In With The Roots on The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon

    Making his American TV debut, Beres sat in with The Roots on the latest episode of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Performing in and out of commercial breaks throughout the night, Beres shared airtime with actress Anne Hathaway, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, comedian Robert Smigel, and rapper Macklemore.Although it was tough hearing him get started on classics like “What One Dance Can Do” and “Double Trouble”—with Questlove killing it on reggae drums—only to have the show cut to commercial just when things were getting good. (Hopefully that video surfaces before long.) Still it was a great look for Beres, who performs at Barclays Center in Brooklyn Wedensday night. In case you missed this moment of reggae history, fret not thyself. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Beres Hammond Interview: “There’s A Power Within Love Songs”

    The Maestro Speaks On The State of Reggae Today, The Real Buju Banton, and His Own Musical Legacy

    For me, it started with Full Attention. Hugh Beresford Hammond’s first album for V.P. Records began with a drum roll and a saxophone tendril that laid the foundation for the textured tenor to plead his case with a lady who didn’t seem to know he was alive. It was full-on lovers rock reggae with R&B and soul sensibilities made by a man who dreamt of crooning like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. The music was accessible—at least more so than the Sugar Minott, Burning Spear, and Culture records that spun in my New Jersey home on Sunday mornings over cornmeal porridge. Beres may not have had any honorific titles laid onto him, like the Crown Prince of Reggae, but for my money he’s every bit as legendary as any of the greats that came before him.

    You can start with his voice, which is as strong as it is soulful and soothing. When he belts out a tune, even when his grainy vocals are pushed to the limits, it feels effortless. The voice works with the music to emphasize the words, always telling a story about real people, inflecting meaning where there previously was none.  Hammond sings like he’s wrenching the emotion from each word. My mother once told me one of her favorite songs was “Ain’t That Loving You” by Alton Ellis until she heard Beres sing it. On the other hand you can start with his songwriting. The best Beres Hammond songs distill relatable situations and feelings into clever, meaningful couplets wrapped in sticky melodies.

    Relevancy is a tough coin to spin for a lot of artists, but throughout his thirty-year career Beres has managed to glide his distinctive voice through the dancehall revolution, partnering with wicked up-and-comers like Buju Banton. In high school, when all my friends were blasting Sean Paul’s Alton remix, I was hanging tough with “Who Say.” Hammond has lasted while maintaining his trademarked effortless cool. That’s why it was such a thrill to speak with him about his latest album One Love, One Life. To me, he’s like the reggae version of Jay-Z—so it’s fitting that he’ll be performing with The Roots tonight on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and that he’ll take the stage tomorrow night at Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets. Sure, many great artists have come before him, but to paraphrase Hov: No one’s been this good for this long, or this pop or this hot, with so many different styles. For that reason, Beres Hammond will continue to have my full attention. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HYPE TV Top 20: Vybz Kartel Grabs the Crown

    The Werlboss Surges as Christopher Martin Slips 3 Spots;
    Vybz Kartel may still be battling murder charges but that doesn’t mean he isn’t holding it down for his fans musically. The Werlboss’s tune “Back To Life” stepped up to the top spot on the HYPE TV countdown after 15 weeks on the chart—but how long can his fans keep him there? I-Octane and Bounty Killer have been on his heels since the beginning; let’s see how long Vybz can hold the crown. Videos And Full Countdown After The Jump. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jah Cure “World Cry” Video

    Iyah Cure’s Long-Awaited Album Drops This Week
    People pay attention! The pushbacks are over and the time is here. Three years in the making, Jah Cure’s album World Cry is finally set to drop this coming Tuesday. In case you missed his reworking of the title track, it’s time to get familiar all over again. Last year’s version of the song featured Keri Hilson & MDMA but with all due respect to those artists, the new version—featuring Jah Cure and nobody but Jah Cure—sounds way better.  Not only are the lyrics updated to reflect humanity’s latest struggles, from natural disasters to political unrest, but the melody soars higher—showing off one of the greatest voices to be heard in any genre of music today. Sounds like this albums’s gonna be something special. Listen up. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Mojo Morgan ft. Peetah Morgan “New Dawn”

    After A Medical Scare The “Rasta Rock” Chanter Has Got His Mojo Back

    This past October Mr. Mojo, the youngest member of Morgan Heritage, collapsed during a Miami recording session and was rushed to the hospital. After recuperating from his illness, he’s back with newfound energy and a new record deal at Krian Music Group, the same indy label that’s now home to dead prez and Richie Loop. “After fighting through a near life threatening encounter, as I did last month, you tend to revamp your outlook on life,” Mojo said in a statement. “My single ‘New Dawn’ has become more relevant in my personal life. I hope to provide listeners with a vehicle to always look on the brighter side of a bad situation and the song gives me a second chance at doing just that.” Mojo calls his sound “Rasta Rock,” a blend of reggae, alternative, and hip-hop with a Top 40 twist. “New Dawn” samples Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” and features an uplifting hook from Mojo’s big brother Peetah. Audio & Lyric Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: I-Octane ft. Queen Ifrica “Wonderful Feelings”

    Octane & Ifrica Sing About Love Inna Rootical Style

    When’s the last time your lover told you “Ask me for anything”? That’s the kind of love I-Octane and Ifrica are singing about on their new duet “Wonderful Feeling,” which adapts the hook from the reggae classic “Joy In The Morning” and chips in some dancehall delivery from the Rasta singjays. “All day long me glowing from simply knowing later tonight me ah go see you,” Ifrica sings. Remember that feeling? Yeah. Total niceness. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Ninjaman Interview “We Create This, And We Set This”

    Ninjaman Talks Strictly Business with Winford Williams of OnStageTV

    Minutes after firing up an impromptu lyrical clash with Diamond during her own performance, dancehall legend Ninjaman took a seat across from Winford Williams for an unscheduled but typically awesome interview. The front-teeth-gold-teeth-gun-pon-teen Don Gorgon has lyrically “killed” many opponents over the years, as he says: “I still rule and will forever rule.” After many years of musical experience under his belt and a pending murder charge, Ninjaman has decided to slow it down a bit and focus on building a new business venture, an entertainment complex called Central Park by White River in Ocho Rios—to stabilize his future. But he’s still looking forward to this year’s Sting stage show. “Any war you ah bring, send valuable killers to face me.” As for facing a younger artist like Tommy Lee? “Me no fraid of no demon, caw me have five crocodile, two alligator, seven lion, seven tiger, and twelve hog… And me name Uncle Jesus.” Video after the jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Macka Diamond Wants Her Respect

    The Veteran DJ Chats With Winford Williams and Battles Ninja Man on OnStageTV

    Macka Diamond is one dangerous dancehall diva! The former Lady Mackerel has been shutting down dancehalls for quite some years now. But on her path to musical success, she has encountered some bumps in the road, including friction with top dancehall artist Lady Saw, who was officially crowned Queen of the Dancehall this summer. Macka says she tried to ignore Saw’s jabs because she thought they were friends and it wasn’t worth fussing over. But since Macka started speaking out about it, she has caused quite a fuss. In fact Lady Saw recently said she was getting out of the business because she can’t bother with the stress from other artists. Although she mentioned no names, many people she was speaking about Macka Diamond. Well Macka recently sat down with Winford Williams of OnStageTV to tell her side of the story. She also performed her newest single and got a surprise guest appearance. Interview and Performance Video After the jump…

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  • 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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