Boomshots

Category: Video

  • Reasoning with Sizzla: “I’m a Different Sort; I Man a Rasta”

    Reasoning with Sizzla: “I’m a Different Sort;
    I Man a Rasta”

    Kalonji Speaks on U.S. Tour and Black Lives Matter

    It’s been 8 years since Sizzla Kalonji has touched down in NYC, so history was made yesterday he officially announced his big return to New York for Irie Jamboree this Labor Day weekend Sept 4, 2016. Passing through town on the way home from what he calls an “awesome” performance at Reggae on the River, Sizzla Kalonji stopped by Irie Jam Media HQ to connect with his Tristate fans and let them know that he really is back in U.S. once again after years of visa issues. Before going on the air with Jabba and Dubbmaster Chris, Sizzla sat down with Robert Cooper, doing his first interview for Boomshots TV. They spoke about Sizzla’s plans for touring and recording while in the U.S., and took time out to discuss Kalonji’s thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Christopher Martin: “I’m a Lover from Birth”

    Reasoning with Christopher Martin:
    “I’m a Lover from Birth”

    “SssMartin” Speaks on Spearheading the Sugar Reggae Movement

    Ever since winning Digicel Rising Stars way back in 2005, Christopher Martin has emerged as one of Jamaica’s premiere entertainers, topping the charts with hits like “Cheaters Prayer” and starring in the recent motion picture Destiny. But his rise to the top of the game stretches back long before he appeared on the television talent show. As he explains in an exclusive Boomshots interview, Martin started singing in church at the age of four, progressing through school choirs and glee clubs. “I sang every chance I got,” he tells Reshma B, “and it’s been niceness ever since.” The singer’s new album is due to drop on V.P. Records this October. The lead single is “Under The Influence,” a track on Anju Blaxx’s “Mildew” Riddim. He says he does in fact prefer making love under the influence—but not so much that he can’t remember the fun. Born on Valentine’s Day, Martin says he’s a “lover from birth” who understands that his core fanbase is female. “I feel like I do this type of music cause it’s real to me,” says Martin, who calls his specialty “sugar reggae” because it’s extras sweet. This coming Saturday Chris Martin will be pouring out some sugar at Reggae Sumfesr in Montego Bay. I the meantime check out the reasoning.  Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Micah Shemaiah featuring Rassi Hardknocks “Legal” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Micah Shemaiah featuring Rassi Hardknocks “Legal” Official Music Video

    Check out the new video for “Legal”  with Cameos from Yaadcore, Keida and Exile Di Brave

    The decriminalization of marijuana remains a huge topic of interest for reggae music in 2016.  Reggae has always been a medium for social commentary and these lyrics reflect global changes regarding this plant. The highly anticipated visual for the Uncle Ben (Channel One) produced song was released this week. The video directed by Sherkhan Chiffre of Raatid Magic Films features Micah Shemaiah, Rassi Hardknocks and friends handling the herb discretely. Video After The Jump…

    (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Omari Banks ft. Duane Stephenson “System Set” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Omari Banks ft. Duane Stephenson “System Set” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Omari Fights The Right Fight

    The quest for wisdom knowledge and overstanding is not about having all the answers. The real major key—shout to DJ Khaled—is asking the right questions. The Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, once sang a song that asked “Do you know what it means to have a revolution?” Elsewhere D. Brown observed “Them ah fight them mothers, them ah kill them brothers, some ah fight them sister, some a fight them father,” then he asked a musical question that was more like a challenge: “Who they gonna fight when the right fight comes?” Although Dennis passed away without receiving a good answer, there were other seekers who picked up his line of questioning. On Tarrus Riley’s seminal 2006 album Parables  Singy Singy sang a song called “System Set” (subtitled “Willie Lynch Syndrome” after a notorious speech attributed to a West Indian slave master who advised that the best way to control unruly slaves was to, in other words, to divide and rule.)  “In the race for a dollar, friends turn sour—even Mama ‘gainst Dada,” Riley’s song observed. “And I heard that gunshot ah shower over rice and flour—This we can’t allow yah. It makes no sense to fight for food. I’d rather wait for harvest.” And then he completes the thought with a powerful question: “Tell me who and what it profits?” (The modern day Willie Lynches of course, people like Donald Trump.) Today Boomshots proudly premieres the music video for Omari Banks’ song of the same name. But make no mistake, the 2016 version of “System Set” is not a cover. The melody and lyrics are completely new, although the fearless rebel spirit remains the same. This song is more like a continuation of an ongoing search for wisdom, knowledge, and overstanding—making use of word, sound, and power to ask a burning question, one that remains unanswered from that time till this time: “Do you know what  you’re fighting for?” Video After The Jump…
    (more…)

  • Spice talks Culture Clash and Why She Doesn’t Want You To Call Her Queen of the Dancehall

    Spice talks Culture Clash and Why She Doesn’t Want You To Call Her Queen of the Dancehall

    Just Call The Mad Gyal “Queen of the Stage”

    One day before the Red Bull Culture Clash, Reshma B sat down with  Spice for an exclusive Boomshots interview. As usual the Mad Gyal and the Reggae Girl About Town kept it 100% real. In the first segment of their epic 3-part reasoning session, they speak about Spice’s huge international fanbase, her latest tunes to touch the road, and how to do the “Indicator” dance. In the second segment, they speak about whether Vybz Kartel is the new King of the Dancehall, what that means for Beenie Man, and why she doesn’t want to be called the Queen of the Dancehall. As usual the Mad Gyal and the Reggae Girl About Town kept it 100% real. In the third and final segment of their epic reasoning session, Spice shares her thoughts on the Red Bull Culture Clash, how she will do whatever it takes to win, and why Mixpak’s dancehall lineup should not be considered “under dogs” since Jamaica originated the whole clash culture. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Popcaan “Wicked Man Thing” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Popcaan “Wicked Man Thing” Official Music Video

    Wickedness Increase

    Whaaa?! The Unruly Boss too wicked. After clinching the Culture Clash and kickin’ it with Drizzy Drake in South Africa, Popcaan drops a black and white video for this badman anthem on YVP’s bhangra-infused “Wicked Wicked” riddim. Sparring with some bad chargies, Poppy puffs a big head spliff and bigs up all the real thugs all over Jamaica. It’s an Unruly world. Video After The Jump…
    (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Tyga “1 of 1” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Tyga “1 of 1” Official Music Video

    Tyga x Amina Kick It In Jamrock

    Tyga is the latest young money representer to catch dancehall fever, having journeyed to Kingston, Jamaica to shoot the video for his “Controlla”-flavored jam “1 of 1.” Lest we forget, “Coconut Juice” was one of Tyga’s first singles, way back before “Bedrock” in 2008. “Kingston, Jamaica—real gully,” he says in a voiceover at the start of the Shomi Patwary-directed video. Much like the ghetto back home, just more undeveloped. What some see as dirty and less fortunate we see beauty, love, and God. Of course when you say Kingston people warn you about the danger, as if the cops ain’t killing kids all over our country. Where we from, there’s danger everywhere. We wanted to come fuck with the people.” He spends most of the video kicking it with Amina Blue, the blonde Brooklyn-born Snapchat star who appears to be rocking with Mr. Rack City inna real life. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Sojah “Pon Di Corner” In Memory of Delus

    WATCH THIS: Sojah “Pon Di Corner” In Memory of Delus

    Delmark Spence Is Gone But Not Forgotten

    When people say, as they often do, that music lives on forever, they don’t mean that songs stay the same, like fossils or footprints set in cement. Music literally lives—it’s an organic, ever-changing force that unfolds within its own time and affects each listener a different way. Sometimes a song we’ve heard hundreds of times before will hit us from a whole new angle depending on the time and place and our own meds at the moment. This effect is particularly powerful after an artist passes away. Inevitably his fans will revisit that artist’s catalog, gaining new appreciation for what is often referred to as their “body of work,” a kind of audio autopsy if you will. We’ve seen it this past year with David Bowie and Prince, but the same process takes place for artists who didn’t get quite as much attention as they may have deserved. Consider, for example, “What Tomorrow May Bring” a lesser-known 2012 release by Delus, the dancehall artist born Delmark Spence who tragically and unexpectedly took his own life earlier this month. In light of recent events this severely under-rated song now rings out like an anthem. Delus’s brother—the dancehall star Konshens—recently appeared on the popular Jamaican TV program OnStage to say how much his older brother inspired him. The Spence brothers first entered the music business together as a duo called Sojah (Sons of Jah). Following the worldwide success of their debut release “Pon Di Corner” (on Cashflow Records’  “Guilty Riddim”), Konshens emerged as a major breakout star while Delus continued to do his own thing at his own pace. Still they never stopped repping Sojah, something Garfield Spence must now do on his own. Although Delus is no longer here in physical form, his music lives on forever. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Mixpak Wins Red Bull Culture Clash

    Mixpak Wins Red Bull Culture Clash

    A Big Assist From Popcaan & Drizzy Drake

    Friday night at London’s O2 Arena four sound systems representing Dancehall, Hip Hop, UK Garage and Grime battled before a 20,000 seat venue for the 2016 staging of Red Bull Culture Clash. Wiley’s Eskimo Dance and UK Garage All-Stars featuring So Solid Crew had the place rocking with the hometown hits, and Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang linked with Supa Dups and Black Chiney Sound to drop some big dubplates, but in end Brooklyn NY’s Mixpak sound who took the trophy with support from dancehall stars Tony Matterhorn, Spice, Kranium, and Popcaan. The Unruly Boss sealed the win in the final round with a Drizzy Drake dub plate of One Dance that done the place. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Rakim Bigs Up Stephen “Ragga” Marley: “He’s Keeping It Lit For The Next Generation”

    WATCH THIS: Rakim Bigs Up Stephen “Ragga” Marley: “He’s Keeping It Lit For The Next Generation”

    The Making Of Revelation Part 2

    “Doing a song with Rakim, I couldn’t do it lukewarm,” says Stephen “Ragga” Marley. “It still did haffi rock heavy.” The song in question is “So Unjust” the third track on Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life. The long-awaited sequel to Ragga’s Grammy-winning 2011 album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life picks up where part one left off, highlighting Ragga’s versatility and expanding his sonic terrain with a wide range of styles and collaborations, from roots reggae to dancehall, hip hop, soul, R&B and dance music. Complex Media enlisted acclaimed director Stephanie Black to document the process of making the album. “Something to wake up the masses,” is how Rakim describes this parrticular track. “That’s right up my alley.” The hip hop icon goes on to praise Stephen’s role as a producer and a cultural force “It’s like the Bible of music, when the Marleys speak,” says Rakim, who estimates hip hop’s current consciouness level “at zero.” Although Rakim says he means no offense to the artists who are out today, in his words “Something ain’t right…. We definitely need conscious music and it has to come from the superiors, you know what I mean? Stephen Marley is definitely one of them cats who can stand anywhere with a bullhorn, and say Hey!” says Rakim. “It’s a blessing to be part of the march.” Video After The Jump…
    (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Pritty Di General ft. Pamputtae “Sidung” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Pritty Di General ft. Pamputtae “Sidung” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    “Don’t Fall In Love,” Some Say, “Stand In Love.” But Sometimes You Have To Sidung

    Dancehall culture celebrates the female form to the max. The bigger the better seems to be the rule—and as bare as you dare. Far from being “sex objects,” strong women like Pamputtae and the dancers in this video are very much in control. In this video, directed by Robert Cooper, the  ladies call the shots and Pritty Di General plays his position. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Atumpan ft. Paigey Cakey “Watch Nobody” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Atumpan ft. Paigey Cakey “Watch Nobody” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Don’t Deal With The Haters—Just Chase That Paper

    Remember when Atumpan dropped “The Thing” back in 2013? Afrobeats was a fairly new concept at the time, but there was no denying the man’s talent—or his MOBO nomination. Three years later the Ghanaian artist (whose name meaning “Talking Drum” in Akan) is back with a warm & easy summer track produced by North London’s Delirious for Hardboy Music. Today Boomshots proudly premieres the video, courstesy of Visionniare Pictures. With UK singer, actress, and Grime MC Paigey Cakey on the hook the message comes through loud and clear: mind your own business and maybe one day you’ll have a canary-yellow Lambo just like Atumpan. (Sidebar: if you stay glued to Snapchat while in the club you’re quite possibly a wanker.) Video After The Jump…
    (more…)