Boomshots

Category: Reggae

  • HEAR THIS: Jasmin Karma “Brand New Second Hand”

    Stephen Marley’s Lovely Protégée Re-Interprets A Peter Tosh Classic

    There’s something undeniably erotic about hearing a Peter Tosh classic sung over by a sexy Costa Rican girl. Miss Karma’s breathy coo meshes perfectly with Stephen Marley’s typically flawless production. The Lion Roars again. Keep clicking to listen for yourself…
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  • WATCH THIS: Pinchers “Ancients Of Days” Video

    The Bandelero Takes Up His Bible And Chants Down Babylon

    Island Rock productions just dropped a brand new Pinchers video. But this ain’t no Bandelero business. Over an easy-skanking riddim laid down by legendary session players Sly & Robbie, Chinna Smith, Christopher Meredith—plus  Nambo & David Madden on horns—the legendary dancehall singer delivers perhaps the rootsiest tune of his career. And just in case you didn’t get the point, video director Stereo Belly even dressed him in white robes with a Bible in hand. Is this gonna end up like that scene with Preacher in Pulp Fiction?

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  • HEAR THIS: Protoje ft. Romain Virgo “Reggae Revival”

    Corleon, Diggy & Virgo Connect For A Rebirth, Not  Funeral

    Protoje always comes fresh, and when he joins forces with a vocalist like Romain Virgo it’s a reggae rebirth—not a funeral. Diggy bigs up Coxsone Dodd, Winston Riley, & Junjo Lawes while Don Corleon keeps the vibes alive. “How dem fi say reggae dead, when we ah carry on?” (more…)

  • Johnny Osbourne “We Need Love” Live

    Reggae Legend Rocks Out In Harlem Backed By The Full Watts Band
    Photograph by Paul Holgerson

    Ten-thirty p.m., Saturday, May 19, in Harlem. I’m sitting at a table in Ginny’s Supper Club below the Red Rooster, 125th and Lenox. Across this art deco revival Harlem nightclub, the funky rounded edges of the window to the deejay booth frames esteemed reggae producer Clive Chin and his operator Fidel ‘Twice’ Luna. My friend Sam leans to me and says, “Can you believe we’re sitting in a place like this, listening to music like this?” Ginny’s stands in obvious contrast to the Brooklyn basements and warehouses and lofts with bare walls and bare lightbulbs where we usually have to stay up until 3 a.m. to hear reggae from the vinyl deep. Twice drops the needle into a Clive Chin-produced cover of “Mission Impossible,” the right track played at the right time. The pot is bubbling… (more…)

  • Busy Signal Releases First Statement Since His Arrest

    “I have never admitted that I was involved in any drug deal”

    Along with Busy Signal’s brand new “Kingston Town” Remix featuring Jr. Gong, we just received this statement tonight from Busy’s management:

    In this a time of reflection, I would like to thank my fans who have supported me through this difficult situation and who will continue to support me. Your messages and prayers via social networks and via
    members of my team are what have brought light to the darkness of my cell… (more…)

  • Interview: Reasoning With Rodigan Part 3

    Sir RamJam’s Royal Recognition, His Radio Clash With Barry G, And His Fears For Reggae’s Future

    David Rodigan‘s trophy case must be getting mighty crowded. This year alone the veteran UK selector and radio personality has won the World Clash, received Member of the British Empire honors at Buckingham Palace,  and earlier this month he bagged the Sony Radio Academy Gold Award for Best Specialist Music Programme in recognition of his recent BBC Radio 2 reggae series. But even as his accolades accumulate, Rodigan wastes no time resting on his laurels. He is fully booked through next year with gigs all around the world. And he seems genuinely concerned about the future of the music he loves—as he explains in the third and final installment of our “Reasoning With Rodigan” series… In the first of our exclusive interviews, Rodigan spoke about how he has been able to reach the dubstep generation, and paid respects to the late, great King Stitt. In part 2, the rude boy gentleman recounted his “baptism by fire” at King Tubbys, revealed how his background in theater helped him become a reggae DJ, and explained why he never talks patois on the air. [In case you somehow missed REASONING WITH RODIGAN PART 1 or PART 2, fret not thyself.] In our third and final installment, Rodigan details the roots of his legendary radio clash with Barry G, talks about receiving MBE honors from Prince Charles earlier this year, and voices his concerns that reggae music may have lost its way. OK, let’s get to it. (more…)

  • Interview: Reasoning With Rodigan Part 2

    The Rudeboy Gentleman’s Long & Winding Road From King Tubby’s Dub Studio To Buckingham Palace

    David Rodigan is sometimes referred to as the rudeboy gentleman, a nickname that sums up the apparent contradictions that make the veteran UK selector and radio personality such a singular character. Who else can say that they have cut dubplates in King Tubby’s studio, juggled tunes in King Jammy’s yard, and received royal honors from the Prince of Wales inside Buckingham Palace? Youth like Prince Harry will have to practice long and hard before they can test Rodigan. Because Rodigan has always been more than a DJ—he’s a cultural historian and educator who elucidates the nuances of Jamaican music to a wide audience (and whose dubplate collection is a veritable musical museum.) He’s also a rigorously trained professional actor on stage and television who might have easily chosen another path in life. Last week the selector talked about how he’s reaching the dubstep generation and paid respects to the late, great King Stitt. In part 2 of our series of exclusive interviews, the legendary selector and radio presenter reveals how his girlfriend first landed him a gig on the radio, how his background in theater helps him as a reggae DJ, and why he never talks patois on the air. OK, let’s get to it. [And if you somehow missed REASONING WITH RODIGAN PART 1, fret not thyself.]

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  • WATCH THIS: Ilhame ft. Ky-Mani Marley “Still Waiting” Video

    French Moroccan Beauty Flips The Classic Marley Love Song From A Female Point of View

    Ilhame is a Paris native with Moroccan roots and an outernational vision. “Still Waiting” is the first single from her debut album Just Wish It, due this summer. llhame (pronounced Eel-um) captures the feeling of Bob’s original with her own soulful, feminine flavor. Ky-Mani Marley adds his own unmistakable touch with his sweetly scratchy vocals. And isn’t that Karen Marley sipping champagne with Ilhame on a sunny L.A. afternoon? Though she’s singing in French and Arabic, the message is clear: if you love somebody, don’t keep them waiting.

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  • The Wisdom Of Lee “Scratch” Perry

    Win Tickets To See The Artist Formerly Known As Pipecock Jaxson in NYC This Thursday

    Long before Lil Wayne started proclaiming that he was “not a human being,” Lee “Scratch” Perry had the whole self-mythologizing thing down to a science. Unfortunately Scratch the character—order your limited edition vinyl… action figure before midnight tonight!—has very nearly eclipsed Lee “Scratch” Perry the man, who just happens to be a bonafide musical genius. His influence on legendary artists ranging from Bob Marley to The Beastie Boys has been well documented, still the cult of personality persists. But when Scratch takes the stage to perform live tonight in Washington D.C., he might just remind a few people what all the fuss is about. (Check the tour dates below.) If you happen to be in New York City tomorrow night, answer our million-dollar question for a chance to win tickets to the May 17th show at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre. And even if you can’t make it to any of these gigs, read on to pick up some pearls of Perry wisdom, as reported by the man called Emch, whose Subatomic Sound System has toured the world with Scratch.

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  • WATCH THIS: Romain Virgo “Not Today” Acoustic Version & Interview

    The Singer Celebrates The Release Of “The System” On Radio Lily’s Strictly Boomshots Show

    Last night Romain Virgo celebrated the release of his sophomore album The System with a live performance on Radio Lily’s Strictly Boomshots show. Shaggy, Rayvon, DJ Kue, and 77 Klash were all in the building with the lady who put the P in V.P. Records, Miss Pat herself plus Chris Chin along with Clive Chin—not to mention the original Miss Lily’s fam (too much name, can’t call nuh name). Photos and video by the man called Gizmo after the jump. (more…)

  • Romain Virgo Album Release Party

    All Roads Lead To Miss Lily’s, Where Romain Virgo Will Perform Live On The Strictly Boomshots Show

    Tonight at Miss Lily’s Variety in NYC, see why the critics are raving about Romain Virgo’s new album The System, when he stops by the Strictly Boomshots show. This one is not to be missed. So if you can’t pass through, make sure you tune in to RadioLily.com. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Wilfred Limonious “Young Love”

    Who Knew That Dancehall’s Greatest Graphic Artist Was A Wicked Singer Too?

    When Matt Goias sent me this tune via email the subject line read simply “Peep The Singer,” I had no idea what to make of it. On first listen “Young Love” sounded like just another reggae rarity — a slightly randy lover’s rock selection about a lonely old man man who’s had his eye on a pretty young thing for years. But then Matt forwarded the seven-inch single’s label, lovingly rendered in shades of blue. No doubt about it, that’s the work of Limonious, the undisputed champion of dancehall album art. The prolific—and sadly now deceased—artist has attracted something of a cult following.  And that was before we knew he could sing too.

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