Boomshots

Category: Roots & Culture

  • Flashback Friday: Tenor Saw “Lots of Sign”

    Flashback Friday: Tenor Saw “Lots of Sign”

    Tenor Saw Dies Tragically, Leaving Behind An Anthology of Dancehall Poetry

               Clive Bright aka Tenor Saw was a prominent Jamaican singer with an exceptional voice and a conscious, spiritual vibe to his music. Discovered at 19 years old by dancehall legend, Sugar Minott of YouthMan Promotions, who describes the first time hearing Tenor Saw’s voice as powerful. The late icon speaks about this magical moment and the excitement of cutting the Pumpkin Belly Dubplate which ended up on Vinyl:  More After The Jump…

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  • 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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  • HEAR THIS: Major Lazer x Walshy Fire Present Jesse Royal “Royally Speaking”

    HEAR THIS: Major Lazer x Walshy Fire Present Jesse Royal “Royally Speaking”

    The Small Axe Jesse Royal collaborates with Major Lazer to premiere a hot new summer mixtape

    The Small Axe, better known as Jesse Royal, is chopping up new tunes for the upcoming  BRAND NEW mixtape Royally Speaking. Jamaican star Jesse Royal and Internationally renowned DJ Walshy Fire of Major Lazer are putting a fresh spin on previously released singles including tracks from Royal’s EP In Comes The Small Axe. The two creative forces  have been working diligently to produce new material and plan to launch the mixtape July 14. The last up-and-coming reggae artist Walshy linked with to make a mixtape was somebody named Chronixx—and we all know how that turned out.  Audio After The Jump
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  • HEAR THIS: Kelissa ft. Chronixx “Winna”

    HEAR THIS: Kelissa ft. Chronixx “Winna”

    Kelissa alongside Chronixx makes for a winning combination

    Your two favorite reggae revival vocalists Kelissa and Chronixx team up to present a brand new single called “Winna”. Just in time for the summer, this motivational music brings purpose to the mundane, giving listeners a reason to get up, get out, and go get the day started. The smooth introduction crescendos into a full-force pop beat as Kelissa starts off “Good morning Mr. Obstacle, how ya doing today?” Chronixx isn’t too far behind as he responds with “If I am living…” and Kelissa completes the thought: “Live It Up!” Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Junior Reid “Undeniable” Mixtape

    HEAR THIS: Junior Reid “Undeniable” Mixtape

    Junior Reid drop Undeniable mixtape with remixes of his hottest Hip-Hop collabs

    “Undeniable” is the official Junior Reid mixtape brought to you by The Wu World Wide DJ Coalition mixed by their own selector “DJ Flipcyide”. The collection includes some of Junior Reid’s major collaborations with popular artists Fabolous, Bun B, Swizz Beats, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, and more. Born as Delroy “Junior” Reid, the roots reggae artist made a name for himself as the lead singer for Grammy award-winning band Black Uhuru. As an independent vocalist, Junior Reid has enjoyed crossover success with songs “One Blood” with The Game and “This Is Why I’m Hot” alongside rapper Mims and Jamaican emcee Cham. “Undeniable” is a fitting title considering the artist’s elaborate roster of top tracks. This collection of greatest hits is exemplary of his latest work with mainstream talent in Hip-Hop, Reggae, and R&B. Reid’s undeniable voice and signature chant is synonymous with over 30 years of Dub music and culture. Audio after the jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Chronixx Passes Through The Hot97 Morning Show

    WATCH THIS: Chronixx Passes Through The Hot97 Morning Show

    Dread & Terrible Tour Frontman Talks About The State Of Reggae Music

    While in NYC doing promo for his Dread & Terrible EP and Tour, Chronixx swung by Hot97 studios and paid a visit to the morning show. Hosts Ebro and Cypha Sounds sat down with the rising reggae star and picked his brain on topics like the current state of reggae music and  its connection to Hip Hop. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Aidonia “80s Dancehall Style” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Aidonia “80s Dancehall Style” Official Music Video

    Aidonia Salutes Veterans and Vinyl

    Many of Jamaica’s musical legends never predicted the millions of fans, felt the weight of money or received instant gratification through social media the way today’s artists do. These musical soldiers earned their stripes the real way, with unquestionable authenticity. One must remember , as Supercat indicated in his recent interview with Rob Kenner, the days when a DJ drew the crowd into the dancehall with nothing but a big sound system combined with sheer vocal talent and lyrical ammunition. In a cultural tradition that predates Amateur Night at the Apollo, the crowd would decide whether it was worthwhile to pay admission and enter the party. There was no hiding behind good promotion, Auto-Tune or computerized production and deejaying. Born in 1981, Aidonia may not have been old enough to hang out in dancehall sessions during that time, but he represents for the newer generation, aware of their roots and culture. Aidonia (Didi) pays tribute to this era with his new video for “80’s Dance Style.”   Video After The Jump…

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  • 10 Things You Don’t Know About Jimmy Cliff

    10 Things You Don’t Know About Jimmy Cliff

    In Honor of Jimmy Cliff’s 70th Birthday Author David Katz Drops Knowledge on the Reggae Legend

    David Katz is no stranger to the world of reggae and documenting it. In 2006, he got hold of Lee “Scratch” Perry and released the widely-received biography People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee ‘”Scratch” Perry. He then got the story of icon, Jimmy Cliff to pen Jimmy Cliff: An Unauthorized Biography. Though Cliff was not heavily involved in its production, Katz relied on his previous interviews with the star and stories from artists who collaborated with him to bring forth the biography. In his travels and through countless reasonings, he gathered some interesting (and previously unknown) tidbits about JC. Scroll Through Gallery Above… (more…)

  • FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Rita Marley “One Draw” Original 12” Mix

    FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Rita Marley “One Draw” Original 12” Mix

    Build One Spliff An Take A Whiff

    The legalization of marijuana is a topic on many a person’s lips. States like Colorado and Washington are spearheading the legal marijuana trade and basically showing the U.S and the rest of the world how profitable and how positively it affects the economy. So why dem nah fi legalize di herb?! We’ve been asking that question for years. With the legalization and medical usage of marijuana seemingly reaching a tipping point, Rita Marley felt it was the right time to re-issue the original extended 12″ hit version of “One Draw.” In 1981 she released an upbeat ode to herb-smoking with a memorable tongue-in-cheek dialogue between a “teacher” and some of her “students” with names such as “Herbie,” “Smokie” and “Mila” (short for “sensimilla”). Even though at its core “One Draw” was reggae song, it was leaps and bounds over the majority of what was being recorded and released in Jamaica at that time. On why she felt it was the right time to re-issue the classic, Rita said: (more…)

  • FLASHBACK FRIDAY: I-Octane “Stab Vampire”

    FLASHBACK FRIDAY: I-Octane “Stab Vampire”

    Octane A Bad From Long Time

    His new album “My Journey” dropped this week and is already getting rave reviews. I-Octane has been burning up charts for a while now, but when did it all start? Let’s take it all the way back to 2007 right after I-Octane previously known as Richie Rich dropped this bun out pagan tune “Stab Vampire.” It was with this tune that people began to take notice and realize that I-Octane wasn’t just a flash in the pan. Tune After The Jump… (more…)