Boomshots

Category: UK

  • INTERVIEW: Reasoning With Stylo G

    Stylo Tells The ReggaeGirlAboutTown All About “Dash Out”

    In the midst of all London Olympics madness, Boomshots UK Correspondent Reshma B caught up with Stylo G at the Puma Yard in London’s Brick Lane, where he and his bredren Stamma Kid were set to perform. The Jamacican-born UK artist told the ReggaeGirlAboutTown all about his future projects, including his hot new single with Chip, “Dash Out.” The sexy new “Dash Out” music video will premiere on Boomshots.com later today. In the meantime check out the reasoning with Reshma B. Video interview after the jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Stylo G ft. Chip “Dash Out” Behind-The-Scenes Video Teaser

    Official Music Video Premieres Tomorrow on Boomshots.com

    Last seen swagging out with Usain Bolt at the Puma Yard in London’s Brick Lane, Stylo G is styling on all the competition. Fresh off the success of “Call Mi a Yardie,” Stylo teamed up with South London production duo Time Takers to create “Dash Out,” a crazy collabo with Chip that blends house, rap, dancehall and grime sounds. Stylo and Chip previously joined forcees in 2007 on the song “Hit Maker,” and this time around they’ve kicked their creative chemistry up a notch. “Dash Out” is already booming on the UK club scene and with the sexy video premiering September  7 on Boomshots.com they’re poised to take the tune to the next level. This one is all about the girls—as usual. As Stylo says “we style them; they can’t style we.” Video teaser after the jump. (more…)

  • INTERVIEW: Reasoning With Gappy Ranks

    The Big Bad UK DJ Tells The ReggaeGirlAboutTown Why He Loves Dancehall

    This week Gappy Ranks debuted a brand-new world exclusive with Federation Sound. The tune is called “Love Dancehall” and if you haven’t heard his plea to free Kartel from the prison cell, you might want to get familiar. Gappy’s been keeping the dancehall full of niceness for a good likkle while now. His first two albums, Put The Stereo On for V.P. and Thanks & Praise for his own Hot Coffee Music imprint, are both must-haves for any respectable reggae collection. This year he added the herbalicious Cookies EP. And as he told Reshma B just after stepping off stage at London’s IndigO2, he’ll soon begin working on his third album, to be called Breakfast in Jamaica. So what’s he gonna cook up next? Video interview after the jump…
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  • Interview: Reasoning With Storm Saulter

    The Director of Better Mus Come Talks New Caribbean Cinema

    After apprenticing with Lil X and attending film school in Los Angeles, Storm Saulter returned to Jamaica to jump-start a movement that he calls “New Caribbean Cinema.” His first feature length film, Better Mus Come, is a gritty period piece is set within the politically charged turf wars of 1970s, when Kingston, Jamaica was on the front lines of the Cold War and poor ghetto dwellers were manipulated like pawns on a much larger chess board. The film tells the story of a young father who must choose between turning his back on the gangster life and making a better life for his five-year old son. It’s also a story of forbidden love that entices a boy and a girl to tempt fate and cross over the borderlines that crisscross the streets of Kingston. Loosely based on real events, the film courageously breaks an unwritten code of silence about depicting controversial events like the Green Bay Massacre—a landmark event in Jamaica’s political history during which government forces ambushed and shot to death a group of gunmen aligned with the opposition political party. This do not go unnoticed by the powers that be in Jamaica, who closely monitored the production and even sent spies to the set.

    But all the drama was well worth it. After a successful run in Jamaica, Better Mus Come went on to win the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at both the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival and the Bahamas International Film Festivals. It’s been screened at the Toronto international film festival, L.A.’s Pan-African film festival and at Lincoln Center in New York. Tomorrow Better Mus Come will be seen for the first time in the UK at the British Film Institute. (The following day BFI will host the world premiere of Ring Di Alarm, a compilation of seven short films that Storm calls “a true experiment in guerilla film making in the Caribbean.”) Reshma B caught up with Storm to talk about his first film and how the movement is coming along. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Reasoning With Christopher Ellis

    Alton Ellis’s Youngest Son Links With The Marley Brothers To Carry On His Own Musical Mission

    Right after his performance with the Ghetto Youths International Crew at London’s IndigO2, Chris Ellis spoke with Reshma B about how he linked with Stephen and Damian Marley, his new music through the Ghetto Youths International crew, and his relationship with his legendary father, Alton Ellis, the godfather of rock steady. “It was like a lineage thing. It was more than that. Our fathers were in Trenchtown and Bob Marley was in Trenchtown. It’s that kind of ordained kind of angle I’m coming from. It was there.” Video after the jump.

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  • WATCH THIS: Live Stream Notting Hill Carnival

    Just Because You’re Not In London Doesn’t Mean You Have To Miss All The Madness

    The biggest street fair in Europe is raging right now. And you feel like you’re missing all the action cause you’re not there. Well fret not. The Red Bull Music Academy is streaming all the action right now. So what you waiting for? (more…)

  • DOWNLOAD: Heatwave Carnival Bashment Megamix 2012

    Which Tunes Will Control Notting Hill Carnival This Weekend?

    This just in from the Heatwave UK massive: “We literally spend ALL YEAR going mad splashing rum and dancing to incredibly loud bashment and soca… FINALLY the time has come for the rest of London to jump on our wave. Wherever you live and whoever you live next door to, you need to download this mix and learn it off by heart, and make sure you and all your neighbours know the biggest tunes for carnival.”
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  • Jillionaire’s Guided Tour of The Puma Yard

    The Reggae Girl About Town Checks Out The Chillest Spot In London, Hails Up Stylo G & Stamma Kid With Usain Bolt racking up Olympic Gold and Jamaica celebrating its golden anniversary, today’s a beautiful day to hit up The Puma Yard. But if you can’t make it all the way to London, don’t worry—Boomshots has got your back. UK Correspondent Reshma B, aka “The Reggae Girl About Town,” trekked over to Brick Lane in East London, where all the cool kids are taking in the games whilst enjoying some reggae music, fresh gear, rum cocktails, and veggie curry. Reshma’s guide for this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour is none other than our favorite Trini Bad Bwoy Jillionaire of the Major Lazer posse. (By the way 2012 also marks 50 years of independence for Trinidad & Tobago—if ya don’t know now ya know you Imps!) Along the way, Reshma gets the scoop on the next Major Lazer single “Bubble Butt,” and even runs into two of the hottest artists in the UK right now. (more…)

  • Junior Gong To Set Up Shop at London’s Indig02 TWICE

    Damian, Stephen, and Julian Marley—With The Whole Ghetto Youths Crew—Kick Off Respect Jamaica 50

    The UK’s gonna be ram-a-jam this summer. Not only will London be hosting the 2012 Olympics but it’s also the site of 12 consecutive nights of reggae shows at the Indig02 in celebration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence. Kicking off the string of concerts on Wednesday July 26th will be Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, who will be joined by his brothers Stephen and Julian as well as the Ghetto Youths crew—Wayne “Go Hard” Marshall, Christopher Ellis, Black Am I, and Joe Mersa. They recently added an extra show on Thursday the 27th due to popular demand. If you were at the Marley concert at the Best Buy Theatre in NYC this Spring, then you already know this show is going to be A-Mazing!  (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Chipmunk ft. Mavado “More Money More Gyal”

    Brand New Combination From The London Boy and the Starbwoy

    First they teamed up for “Every Gal,” now Chip & Mavado are after “More Gyal.” Their strategy to get them is a simple matter of supply & demand. Supply more money and you’re sure to be very much in demand. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Reasoning With Ed Sheeran

    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…
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  • 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…)