From Handsworth to Haiti—The Song Remains The Same
On this MLK Day, let us pause to reflect on the words of the man who sacrificed his life to the struggle for equal rights and justice:
“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.“
Nigerian Afrobeat Pioneer Declared “Music Is The Weapon Of The Future”
All these so-called pop music rebels need to sit their ass down and soak up some Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who reached planet earth 71 years ago today.
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Winston Rodney Dashes Another Fire Under The Genovese Explorer
It might not be his favorite holiday, but this Monday may be Burning Spear’s best Columbus Day ever. The roots reggae legend has been calling Christopher Columbus “a damn blasted liar” since 1980, when he dropped Hail H.I.M. (more…)
From Studio One To Studio 2000, Dancehall’s Dynamic Duo Did It All
Steely’s untimely death this week leaves an enormous void that can only be filled by more tunes. At times like these all we can do is say a prayer for the man’s family and loved ones, and honor his legacy by returning again and again to the music he loved so deeply. (more…)
“Much Better Than The Swine Flu” says Tarrus, a Singer On A Mission
Today’s Sunday New York Times calls Tarrus Riley a “Reggae Singer With A Legacy, A Following, And A Mission.” I know this because I wrote the blasted piece. (more…)
Singy Singy licks out against spousal abuse and domestic violence.
Live footage from Tarrus Riley’s album launch event in Montego Bay last month. (more…)
Singy Singy Reasons About His New Album. The Future of Reggae is Now.
Tarrus Riley’s third album Contagious is both his strongest release to date and one of the best reggae records of the past decade. (more…)
Tomorrow, May 2, 2009, would have been Carlton “Carlyle” Grant Jr.’s 18th Birthday. The firstborn son of the veteran dancehall star Spragga Benz, Carlyle was a talented youth with a world of possibilities before him. (more…)
Queen Ifrica at Flames Yard Kingston, JA. Photography by Wayne Lawrence.
Born Ventrice Latora Morgan in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Queen Ifrica aka the Fyah Muma is the daughter of ska legend Derrick Morgan. She grew up in the Rastafarian community of Montego Bay, and burst onto the local music scene in 2007 with a humorous tune called “Below The Waist” that she followed up with a string of hits that established the DJ’s name as a force to be reckoned with. While putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited debut album, Ifrica recently released an EP called Road To Mobay, which includes a new song that might as well be her official anthem called “Lioness On The Rise.” As she says in the tune, “When the roll is call up / we’ll be standing tall up.” Run the track…
[audio:https://www.boomshots.com/tunes/LionessOnTheRise.mp3]After vibesing the new music, we linked Ifrica for some reasoning. Come in Fyah Muma…. (more…)
Twenty Nine years ago today, Bob Marley and the Wailers took the stage at Zimbabwe’s Independence Day ceremonies in Harare’s Rufaro Stadium. Prince Charles was on hand to witness the renaming of the former British colony Rhodesia and to see the British flag lowered for the last time, only to be replaced by the new Zimbabwean colors. Marley had declared solidarity with the African rebel forces on his 1979 album Survival in a song called “Zimbabwe” that he composed during an earlier trip to Ethiopia. “So arm in arms, with arms, we’ll fight this little struggle,” he sang—so it seemed fitting that he should make a joyful noise at the conclusion of said struggle. (more…)
