Remembering Culture’s Armagideon Theme Song
Thirty-five years ago was July 7, 1977—a numerological cataclysm of epic proportions in a year of turmoil and great music. (Seven/seven/seventy-seven was sorta like the original 12.21.12.) But none of the the apocalyptic anthems released during that fraught year could touch Joseph Hill’s inspired ravings on the classic Culture selection “Two Sevens Clash.” Before the late great Mr Hill’s passing, we had a chance to reason with him about the tune. Here’s what he had to say… (more…)
Category: Reggae
-
Joseph Hill Speaks on “Two Sevens Clash”
-
WATCH THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Free From Chains” Video
Tough Roots Tune From The Rebel Music EP
Even if you never heard of him before, Kabaka Pyramid’s name lets you know he is a not a small artist. Nor is he lacking confidence: “Me ah de baddest lyricist so watch me prove it,” he boasts near the top of this tune, then proceeds to make his case. The video for the first single off his Rebel Music EP was directed by Pierce McLean and Andrew Jackson of Road Block Films. Gotta love the big Protoje cameo.
(more…) -
WATCH THIS: Christopher Martin “Chill Spot” Video
It’s Always Best To Release Your Stress
Following up on last year’s massive hit “Cheaters Prayer,” Christopher Martin shifts gears from the anguish of infidelity to a song about releasing your stress. Sometimes it’s the simple things that get us through the day. (more…) -
WATCH THIS: Yami Bolo “True Love” Pon Radio Lily
The Roots Reggae Legend Nices Up Miss Lily’s Variety
Yami Bolo has been singing classic reggae cuts since his days at Sugar Minott’s Youth Promotions. You already know his tunes like “When A Man’s in Love” on the Stalag riddim, which Mad Lion sampled for his 90s hip-hop banger “Take It Easy.” What you may not know is that he also wrote and recorded the song “True Love” before his bredren White Mice made it a big hit in the dance. This week Mr. Bolo passed through the Strictly Boomshots show for an in-depth interview and blessed the place with some selections off his album Crucial Duets Vol. 1—and he even did a crucial duet with yours truly. Ka-Boom. Video by the man called Gizmo after the jump…
(more…) -
HEAR THIS: Reggae Gold 2012
The 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Reggae Gold Is In Stores Now. Stream The Full Double CD Here.
For the past 20 years, VP’s Reggae Gold series has been the 24-karat standard for dancehall and reggae compilations. To celebrate the anthology’s anniversary, VP has pulled out all the stops with a deluxe double disc combining this year’s hottest hits with a selection of the biggest boomshots of the past 20 years. Check the selections after the jump. (more…) -
Mr. Vegas Not Feeling “On A Mission”
Singjay Says His Own Tune Would Be A Better Choice; Blames “Bias and Favoritism”
Never one to hold his tongue, Mr. Vegas has made his feelings known about “On A Mission,” the song Shaggy produced to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence. “No disrespect to the producers or artists on this 50th anniversary song,” the singer wrote in an online message board, “but if this is the music that best represent our 50 years of independence, then I need to fall back to sleep & don’t wake up.” (more…) -
Flinging Down Father’s Day Selections
Big Request To All The Daddies Round The World
Reggae music has no shortage of tunes bigging up the mothers of creation. So whappen to the fathers? No love for Papa? With Father’s Day right around the corner, we did some digging and the results were mixed. Most of these sound like they’re really more about God than dear old Dad, but work with it father… (more…) -
HEAR THIS: Freddie McGregor “You Won’t See Me”
First Single From The New Big Ship Album “The Captain”
These days the name “Big Ship” brings to mind the cutting-edge dancehall productions of Stephen and Chino McGregor, but make no mistake, father Freddie is the captain of the ship. In case you didn’t know, the studio was named for one of Freddie’s best loved hits—”Big ship sailing on the ocean / We don’t need no commotion.” Just in time for Father’s Day, Freddie has come back with a nice new reggae-matic cover of a classic Beatles selection. Check it out after the jump. (more…)
-
HEAR THIS: Shaggy & Friends “On A Mission”
Shaggy, Assassin, Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Damian Marley, Romain Virgo, Chevelle Franklyn, Wayne Marshall, Tifa & Tessanne Chin Join Forces To Sing Jamaica’s Praises
A new song celebrating Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence just dropped. Shaggy brought together an all-star lineup for the tune, which joins Mikey Bennett’s “Find a Flag” as the second “official” song of the golden anniversary. Audio after the jump. (more…) -
Interview: Reasoning With Clive Chin
Remembering Randy’s Records, Bob Marley, And Playing Rhythms On A Cheese Grater
Tonight in Brooklyn NYC, legendary reggae producer Clive Chin will premiere some exclusive scorchers from deep inside the vaults of Randy’s Records that have scarcely been heard since they were first laid down inside the studio at 17 North Parade in Kingston, Jamaica. “I unraveled around pretty close to 600 odd tapes that were buried in the studio during the exodus coming to New York back in 1977—So hold tight, whole heap of good tunes. When I say good tunes, solid tunes, authentic tunes. Some of them have never been released. Tunes from Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Max Romeo. A couple Wailers too. Just to let you know that there is plenty arsenal in the Randy’s vaults—Ha-ha-ha-ha!” (more…)
-
WATCH THIS: Reasoning With Ed Sheeran
Reshma B Interviews The UK Phenom Who’s Redder Than Red
Ed Sheeran played a little gig today at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Playing 300 gigs a year is nothing unusual for the 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Suffolk, England first whose single “The A-Team” lodged in the UK Top 10 for three months in 2011. His follow-up tune, “You Need Me I Don’t Need You” reached No. 3 on the British pop charts. Now signed to Atlantic, Sheeran has a dozen or so EPs under his belt, including Slumdon Bridge with Yelawolf, whose rapid-fire flow Ed likens to UK Grime artists. “I don’t think anyone has a specific sound anymore,” says Sheeran, whose music draws on a plethora of sounds and styles. He spent years gigging with his cousin’s reggae band Laid Blak, and often interpolates their ganja tune “Red” into his live set, as well as snatches of Damian Marley’s “Welcome To Jamrock” and 50 Cent’s “In Da Club.” Sheeran’s debut album, titled simply +, is already a hit in England, and will be released in America one week from today on June 12. After blazing a solo acoustic version of “You Need Me I Don’t Need You,” Ed sat down with the Reggae Girl About Town…
(more…) -
HEAR THIS: Rayvon “Selecta”
As Shaggy Launches His Ranch Entertainment Label, Rayvon’s Shooting A Video For This Tune Tonight
Remember Rayvon? Of course you do. He’s the ackee to Shaggy’s saltfish, the smooth crooner heard alongside Shagsman on certified Boomshots like “Big Up” and the #1 Pop smash “Angel.” Rayvon’s got a bad new solo tune on the Kingston 13 Riddim, released by Shaggy’s record label Ranch Entertainment. Audio after the jump. (more…)