Category: Riddim

  • DJ Frass Sees “No Limit” for Dancehall in 2021

    DJ Frass Sees “No Limit” for Dancehall in 2021

    Moyann & Shenseea Power The New Sunroof Riddim

    “Artists like Koffee and Shenseea are opening the door for younger artists like myself,” says rising dancehall star Moyann, who covers the March edition of Tidal’s Murda She Wrote dancehall column by Reshma B. “Everything starts from somewhere.” It’s been three years since Moyann first broke onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager, but she’s been on her musical journey for a lot longer than that. “This has always been a passion for me, from a tender age,” Moyann tells Reshma B. “I’d always be singing in the mirror, visualizing myself as an artist, performing in front of my mom, my sister, my dad.” In 2018 the Montego Bay native borrowed her sister’s phone and recorded a video of herself spitting lyrics while playing a riddim on her own phone. Thankfully she didn’t overthink anything and DM’d the homemade demo to producer DJ Frass. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m just gonna send it and if it happens, it happens.’” Frass soon hit her back and the rest is history. Her latest song, a massively catchy collab with Shenseea, lifts Moyann to a new level and defies the narrative that female artists don’t support one another. “Haters vex ca’ me bless but me nah stress,” the girls sing. “Me have one live fe live and me nah have one fuck fi give.” Say it louder, girls! Audio & Video After The Jump…

    (more…)

  • Kakaba Pyramid Torched the SOB’s Stage with Blazing Lyrics

    Kakaba Pyramid Torched the SOB’s Stage with Blazing Lyrics

    Kabaka Pyramid Kontraband Tour Hit New York City

    On Friday, November 23, New York City fans endured the frigid weather for the highly anticipated, Kabaka Pyramid, Kontraband Tour at SOB’s. New York City renowned selector DJ Gringo of Stateside Revolution and Host of Sirius XM, “The Joint,” warmed up the crowd awaiting the revolutionary artist. Next up, the Bebble Rockers excited the crowd with an electrifying, symphonic rendition of “Make Way” (the song features Pressure Buss Pipe on the Kontraband album), as Kabaka Pyramid joined the stage. More Concert Highlights After The Jump

    (more…)

  • Busy Signal “Fresh From Yaad” Album Review

    Busy Signal “Fresh From Yaad” Album Review

    The Newly Energized Entertainer Hints That A Busy Signal U.S. Tour Is In The Works

    Reanno Gordon, Busy Signal continues to stand out as an artist in 2017. He stepped out onto the musical scene in 2002, modeling his career after international reggae icon, Bounty Killer.  Now he has an even clearer vision for his future with his new VISA status. In January, Busy Signal visited New York for a quick media run with  Ebro Darden, Laura Styles, Funk Masterflex,Bobby Konders and Jabba for Hot 97 FM and Reshma B for Boomshots TV (four-part interview at the end of article) to discuss his new EP, Fresh From Yaad.  Following this, Busy embarked on an European Tour and this week he revived up his fans in the U.S. with a tweet:  “Coming to a city near you. Wherever in world you are! ASAP- Turf President.” In light of the impending tour, this article will serve to give an in-depth review of the Fresh From Yaad EP. Album Review After The Jump

    (more…)

  • Flex Masters: A Guide To Brooklyn’s Own Dancehall Hybrid Scene

    Flex Masters: A Guide To Brooklyn’s Own Dancehall Hybrid Scene

    Who’s Building The Best FDM Riddims Right Now

    It’s been over a decade in the making, but Brooklyn’s homegrown style of dance music is beginning to make waves outside of battle circles. Called FDM (short for flex dance music), the sound is a critical component of the flex dance culture that it grew up alongside. While the dancers were refining their styles into a distinct set of movements, producers were doing the same, creating their own sound fashioned out of a wealth of dancehall riddims and sound effects that would provide the soundtrack for major dance competitions. I went deep into the scene over at Pitchfork, so please go read that when you have time. Meanwhile here’s a quick guide to the producers (many of whom are also dancers) responsible for making the sound what it is today. This weekend, Boiler Room will feature its first flex dancer and FDM producer—a sure sign that big tings ah gwan—although they’re keeping the details a secret for now. They’ve also got more plans in the works for FDM later this summer, so this is just a starting point. We figured this would be a good time to provide some basic info about the scene before everything starts to blow up. Audio & Info After The Jump…
    (more…)

  • Takashi Productions Presents Yami Bolo Tell Me You Love Me On The Slay Riddim

    Takashi Productions Presents Yami Bolo Tell Me You Love Me On The Slay Riddim

    Brooklyn Producer Takashi Suehiro Debuts New riddim with Veteran Reggae Artist Yami Bolo

    When two different worlds collide, sometimes you realize that the differences are quite subtle and may never matter at all. When this happens in music, it is a magical fusion. The artist and producer can unite in a studio and create an ecletic sound. In 2016,  Brooklyn producer, Takashi Suehiro, who mostly works with undergound local artists, is seeing an exponential rise in the number of international artists interested in his riddims. His latest riddim, the Slay riddim, caught the attention of Isasha and Yami Bolo. Yami Bolo flew to New York to lay down a track on this riddim, and the result was a lover’s rock tune, “Tell Me You Love Me, ” with a unique and invigorating sound. Audio & Interview After The Jump (more…)

  • Take A Sudden Flight Back to The Future

    Take A Sudden Flight Back to The Future

    Protoje & Jesse Royal Bridge the Gap Between 1980s and 2015

    Every now and then, a special tune hits the tympanic membrane, laden with both pearls of wisdom and music history. “Sudden Flight” by Protoje featuring Jesse Royal (from Protoje’s third studio album, Ancient future), lyrically advises the youth to use their God given talents and mind to overcome stress and oppression; instead of  guns. From it’s opening line, La Di Da Di , we don’t join nah party, “Sudden Flight” puts us in a time capsule and shoots us back to 1985 when  Bally’s, Adidas, Gucci suits, Kangol hats, Gold teeth and Rope Chains were in fashion and the Get Fresh Crew were the Kings of  1980’s Hip Hop. The song entitled “La Di Da Di” on Slick Rick’s Album, “The Art of Storytelling,”  had people break dancing and spinning on their head tops. The combination of the narrative poetry and humor of Slick Rick and classic beat boxing of Doug E. Fresh in this song, solidifies its spot as one of the top 10 Classic Hip Hop songs of all time. More After The Jump… (more…)

  • Dancehall Nice Again: Aidonia, Busy Signal and Konshens Turn Up The Vibes In Trinidad

    Dancehall Nice Again: Aidonia, Busy Signal and Konshens Turn Up The Vibes In Trinidad

    Jamaican artists shine bright  on 96.1 WEFM and at Together As One Concert in Trinidad

    Last night’s, July 4th, Together As One Concert (T.A.O) in Trinidad,  featured the top headliners in dancehall and soca. The line up included chart toppers from Barbados, Leadpipe & Saddis; Trinidadian popular artists Roy Cape All Stars, Squeeky Ranking, Blaxx, Darnella Simmons, Orlando Octave and Ricardo Drue; and Jamaican dancehall artists Charly Black, Aidonia, Busy Signal and Konshens. Just like the Olympics, the flag for Jamaica waved high.  Aidonia, Busy Signal and Konshens, delivered  high caliber performances before and during this music festival. More After The Jump… (more…)

  • The RootsMan Riddim Roars

    The RootsMan Riddim Roars

    Its hard to believe the RootsMan Riddim, mixed by Maticalise and produced by Overstand Entertainment, is two years old. In conjunction with the lion paws of artists that used it as a canvas for musical surrealism, the riddim continues to roar. In this article, Boomshots Magazine features 5 high caliber songs on the RootsMan Riddim , still trending heavily on social media in 2015. More After The Jump…

    (more…)

  • Quarantine Inna Dancehall: The Ebola Riddim Is So Sick

    Quarantine Inna Dancehall: The Ebola Riddim Is So Sick

    When Current Events Meets Dancehall: How important is the name of a riddim?

    The Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, claiming numerous lives since 1976. Just recently, two Americans died from the deadly virus, upon returning from Africa. Health care workers returning to the US from altruistic service in Africa, with viral symptoms have been quarantined in isolation. Luckily,  many received treatment which proved life saving, however, Africans continue to die  in alarming numbers from the deadly virus. Since its release in November 2014, the “Ebola” riddim has become a topic of controversy in dancehall.   The infectious riddim by renowned producer, Andrew “Anju Blax” Myrie of UIM  records, features a dozen top-rated dancehall artists. In the  riddim cover art, a micrograph of an Ebola virion appears superimposed over an animated image of  Anju Blax with supinated palms. Many on social media believe the riddim should be quarantined because of the “insensitivity,” in regards to its naming. Opposers refute this argument, stating that social commentary in dancehall is a norm, What’s in a name? While the jury is still out on this complex issue,  we present six songs featured on the Ebola riddim, because from a musical stand point,  the riddim itself is well produced.  Audio After The Jump…

    (more…)