Barrington Celebrates And Boomshots Appreciates
It is Barrington Levy birthday bash here at Boomshots. We are celebrating the musical icon for his accomplishments in Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and transcending music barriers. His distinctive ad-libs make his music enjoyable for people of all ages from various walks of life. Barrington Levy’s 52nd Birthday is today, April 30th. Read more after the jump… (more…)
Boomshots Selects The Year’s Essential Reggae Discs
As reggae lovers mark the 70th anniversary of Bob Marley’s birth, the music that the Tuff Gong spread around the globe has come full circle. While dancehall permutations from Major Lazer to Justin Bieber reverberate throughout pop culture, and Brits from Joss Stone to Keith Richards try their hands at Jamaican sounds, the land of this music’s birth is rediscovering its roots. Billboard enlisted Boomshots to pick this year’s best reggae albums, and the results may surprise you: Almost all are Jamaican productions, and almost none have anything to do with dancehall. And just because Bob’s latest live album takes the top ranking spot doesn’t mean this music has any less bright of a future than it did when he walked the earth. As the dreads say: Nothing before the time. Audio After The Jump…
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Trouble Double Double
Yesterday we gave you a listen to Barrington’s latest entitled “Rosie.” If you haven’t noticed, Barrington has been dealing with Rosie since the beginning of his career, most notably on his 1985 classic “Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway).” Take a trip down memory lane – Tune After The Jump… (more…)
Barrington Hasn’t Lost A Step When It Comes To The Ladies
Barrington Levy has been to the rodeo a couple times, so any trick you try to pull against him, he’s probably already saw it coming. All he’s looking for is a little romance, not the bag of long talking and game playing, so Rosie, stop beating around the bush and give the man some loving. Tune After The Jump… (more…)
Singers and Players of Instruments Pay Tribute to the Late Great South African Hero
Despite his advanced age, the news of Nelson Mandela’s passing came as a terrible shock today. Perhaps that is because the South African leader had become a living icon of human rights and endurance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The thought that he might be a mortal man hardly crossed our minds. Long before he became the subhject of major motion pictures, Mandela’s name had become a one-word prayer, a mantra to give strength to those engaged in the universal struggle. And if there’s one genre of music that has consistently kept Mandela’s name in heavy rotation, that would have to be reggae. From the UK to Africa to Jamrock, reggae singers and players of instruments have been beating the drums of freedom for the late great Nelson Mandela. And so on this sad day we present some of the best, in a spirit of honor and respect in all aspect. Ten Crucial Selections After The Jump… (more…)
The Grammy-Winning R&B Star Is A Bashment Girl At Heart
Melanie Fiona is best known for heart-wrenching hits like “It Kills Me” and “4 A.M.,” which have made the soulful singer a major star among American R&B fans. The two-time Grammy winner grew up in Toronto as the daughter of first-generation Guaynese immigrants. Her Caribbean influences have always been clear to the educated ear, from her dramatic vocal delivery to specific songs like “Somebody Come Get Me,” which was released under her old nom-de-reggae Syren Hall, as well as “No Cigarette Smoke,” her smoldering duet with Stephen Marley. Melanie continues to flaunt her Caribbean colors on “All My Love,” a new reggae-flavored duet with Toronto soul singer Glenn Lewis. Listening to the song there’s no mistaking the fact that Melanie’s Caribbean roots run deep. So we thought it would be cool to ask her to pick her top 10 reggae and dancehall tracks. Her picks speak volumes about her musical taste, her artistic temperment, and (dare we say it?) MF’s wild side. Click through the gallery above to check out Melanie’s selections and then read her candid conversation with Reshma B. Video And Interview After The Jump… (more…)
Mr. Vegas New Album Review and Interview
Just after leaving the Strictly Boomshots show on September 23, 2013, Mr. Vegas headed uptown to host a listening event at Rosewood in New York City to preview his new release Bruk It Down 2.0 and celebrate what’s sure to be one of the biggest releases of the year. This 16-song album simmers with a culture gumbo, blending ingredients of pop, soca, reggaeton and raw dancehall vibes. Track-by-track Review and Interview After the Jump…!
Reggae History In The Making At SOBs
History was made at SOBs last night when rising reggae star Chronixx made his first-ever New York City appearance in front of a packed-to-the roof 100% sold out house. Those who could not make it inside stood out on the sidewalk rocking to the sounds of Zinc Fence Redemption band as they backed Chronixx and his opening act Kelissa. The young roots lion gave an impressive performance, reasoning with the crowd between songs about life in New York City and absorbing energy from the crowd and kickin’ up his heels as they sang along to his catalog of modern reggae classics. At the end of the night, he was joined by the legendary Barrington Levy, who sang one of Chronixx’s father’s songs and then got into a tune-for-tune segment with Chronixx before declaring that he would be a “big artist.” If that’s not a powerful co-sign then what else do you want? If you missed the show, you missed something special. But don’t fret—Chronixx will be playing in New Jersey tonight and this weekend he comes to C-Pac in Brooklyn. Here Comes Trouble! Video After The Jump… (more…)
Dancehall Nights Kicks Off Tomorrow—Who is Going to Shell Down Sumfest This Year?
Reggae Sumfest has been taking place for 20 years and every year has out done the last. Last year, Reggae veteran, Shabba Ranks, wowed fans with his first performance in a decade. Trey Songz brought his sex appeal to Sumfest 2012 and had fans swooning in the crowd. R. Kelly performed his ultimate hit, “Bump N’ Grind,” in a rare acapella style. Quite the event, it may seem as if Reggae Sumfest 2o12 can’t be topped but this 21st year of Reggae Sumfest is already turning to be unforgettable and it hasn’t even begun yet.
With a line-up that includes returning artists, Damian Marley, Aidonia, Popcaan and newcomers, Miguel, Flo Rida, Ashley Martin and many more, there’s no telling what will be in store for the concert-goers. It has already been confirmed that I-Octane will be closing Dancehall Night and Jah Cure will be closing International Night One. Macka Diamond and Lady Saw will both be at Reggae Sumfest so there might be some healthy competition between the two for fans to enjoy. Popular Reggae artist, Beres Hammond, is also in the line-up and concert attendees are excited to see him perform tracks off of his newest album, One Love, One Life. And then there is always the special guests, surprise performances and unexpected stage antics. Reggae Sumfest 2013 has a line-up that will have thousands of fans anxiously waiting for the next Sumfest.
Though Reggae Sumfest is this week, it isn’t too late to buy yourself a ticket to join in the festivities! Check out the entire line-up in the photo gallery.
BK Rapper Reps For Trayvon Over a Barrington, Beenie, Buju Mashup
The tragedy of Trayvon Martin’s murder and subsequent miscarriage of justice has inspired much outrage and more than a few good songs, the latest being this heatrock from The Incomparable Shakespeare, a young rapper from Brooklyn’s Vandevere housing projects. His use of various dancehall “murder” anthems helps drive home the point behind his lyrics of fury. Shaky baby is spitting that murder murder murder. Tun it up. Loud. Audio & Download Link After The Jump… (more…)
How HC&F Studio Helped Lay The Foundation of NYC’S Reggae Scene
Reggae Producer Philip Smart, has produced some of the biggest Reggae hits around and those hits have helped Reggae music flourish in so many ways. Not to mention, he created HC&F, the studio that become a national landmark for Reggae artists to make music. Many well known artists made HC&F a frequent pitstop while visiting New York including Shaggy, who recorded his first single there and Shabba Ranks who recorded, “Mr. Loverman,” there.
Amongst others, Smart’s received lessons from King Tubby but he took his learnings and made them his own. Smart created his own sound and he mixed hit singles like Johnny Clarke’s, “None Shall Escape the Judgment.” 30 years later, Smart is still pushing the Reggae sounds that we all love out of HC&F. Red Bull Music Academy has recognized the great contribution that Smart has made to Reggae music and has paid tribute to him in their latest daily note issue. As Shaggy has said, “Philip Smart is the man who made the whole New York reggae scene really come alive.” Full Story and Videos AFter The Jump… (more…)
Win Tickets To See Barrington Perform Tomorrow
Actions speak louder than words, and when it comes to teaching the youths, Barrington Levy is a man of action. His 80s dancehall classic on Witty’s digital lick of the “Mr Bassie” riddim expressed Barrington’s hearfelt desire to see music “teach the youths them how to live, teach the youths them how to survive.” At the same time Mr. Levy’s song was a rebuke of artists who choose to use the gift of music to spread slack irrelevant teachings: “No put it deh no put them no weh / No bend down just keep them to the ground,” he sang with righteous indignation. “Can’t you see the time we’re living in, the people are suffering?” This Thursday June 6th Barrington Levy will continue his mission to teach the youths by performing live to benefit the Rockhouse Foundation. The foundation transforms the places where Jamaica’s children learn and supports the people who teach them. 2013 marks the Rockhouse Foundation’s ten-year anniversary. To date, the Foundation has entirely transformed and modernized four schools – Negril All Age School, Negril Basic School, Little Bay All Age and the Bunch of Stars E.C.I. – along with a complete renovation and expansion of the Negril Community Library. All projects combined, the Rockhouse Foundation directly impacts the lives of thousands of young people and their families. You can win free tickets to the show (and why not use the money you save to make a donation?). Video And Contest Details After The Jump… (more…)