Boomshots

Tag: Major Lazer

  • Kabaka Pyramid to Perform at SOBs for US Kontraband Tour

    Kabaka Pyramid to Perform at SOBs for US Kontraband Tour

    Kabaka Pyramid Prepares to Perform at Legendary Venue 

    From the onset of his career, Kabaka Pyramid made it clear, that he would not only make his mark as a lyricist, but also set the stage for conversations of social change. He has perfectly planned every step of his career, to show his evolution as an artist. This Thanksgiving season, specifically “Black Friday,” he will perform live with the “Bebble Rockers” band at the legendary Sounds of Brazil (Sobs) for his US Kontraband Tour. Kontraband is Kabaka Pyramid’s debut album, executively produced by Damian Marley, winner of the 2018 Grammy Award for the Best Reggae Album. More After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Major Lazer ft. PartyNextDoor & Nicki Minaj “Run Up”

    HEAR THIS: Major Lazer ft. PartyNextDoor & Nicki Minaj “Run Up”

    In Which Nicki Suffers a Patois Malfunction

    Major Lazer dropped their latest Tropical House sureshot today, a musical thing called “Run Up” featuring OVO’s resident yardman PartyNextDoor alongside Nicki Minaj.  “It’s always important for us to work with people who are on the same wave,” Diplo said in a statement. “Nicki and Party really helped us bring the classic Major Lazer style to create this perfect party record.” Nicki’s verse hints that the Trini-by-way-of-Queens pop star is now working on her fourth album. Barb’s bars include her usual femcee-baiting and designer-label-name-dropping as well as charming non-sequiturs like “I don’t put sugar in my spaghetti sauce.” Even more confusing is her foray into Jamaican patois, highlighted by the song’s official lyric video: “Fire Bun The Obea[sic] Man Church,” she spits at one point, an apparent nod to Beenie Man’s “Betta Learn,” a 1999 selection on Shocking Vibes’ Bada Bada juggling from back in the days when Capleton and Moses were going hard at each other. The original lyric is actually “Fire burn up the obeah man shirt,” a criticism of certain Rasta DJ’s tendency to “burn out” all forms of corruption. But hey, it’s 2017 —maybe obeah men now have churches which they’re setting on fire. “Run Up” did 350K+ on Youtube its first day, so who cares if Nicki’s patois is a little shaky? The tune still ah shot. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
  • HEAR THIS: Major Lazer x Bad Royale (ft. Toots & The Maytals) “My Number”

    HEAR THIS: Major Lazer x Bad Royale
    (ft. Toots & The Maytals) “My Number”

    “The Dons of Caribbean Bass” Shamelessly Jack “54-46”

    The latest Major Lazer heat rock comes courtesy of living legend Toots Hibbert, the man who popularized the term “reggae” on his 1968 song “Do The Reggay.” As such, you might think Toots would be afforded a certain amount of respect—perhaps even have his name mentioned in the song’s credits. Well, um, think again. The new release, attributed only to Major Lazer and Bad Royale (an L.A.–based crew signed to Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint whose PR reps call them “the dons of Caribbean bass”) is essentially a wicked dubplate of Toots singing his classic “54-46” over the original Leslie Kong–produced track from 1969. Then, in keeping with the time-tested Major Lazer blueprint, about 90 seconds in there’s a big, dramatic drop after which the whole song morphs into a tweaked-out EDM twerkgasm. Premiered by Ebro on Beats 1, “My Number” (whose title is borrowed from the chorus of “54-46”) went on to rack up over half a million YouTube streams in 24 hours and reportedly broke the Spotify view counter. There is no doubt that the song is a banger. Still, it’s hard not to feel some type of way that neither Bad Royale nor Major Lazer felt the need to credit Toots in some form or fashion. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Kick Out Yuh Foot: Assassin x Sam Spiegel x Ape Drums x Kenzo World “Mutant Brain” Ad Goes Viral

    Kick Out Yuh Foot: Assassin x Sam Spiegel x Ape Drums x Kenzo World “Mutant Brain” Ad Goes Viral

    Margaret Qualley Wilds Out To Agent Sasco Inna Parfum Commercial

    O.G. video director Spike Jonze has a long history with The Beastie Boys, whose appreciation for Jamaican music is well known. No surprise then that Jonze’s ad spot for “KENZO World,” a new fragrance (ahem, make that “Parfum”) created by Carol Lim & Humberto Leon, is powered by the maad vibes of dancehall star Agent Sasco aka Assassin. In the commercial, Margaret Qualley, who plays Jill Garvey on the HBO television series, The Leftovers, excuses herself from a fancy award ceremony and starts bugging out to the sounds of a wicked dancehall-dubstep fusion track called “Mutant Brain.” Don’t worry dancehall queens. The HBO star is not exactly ready for Weddy Weddy. When she isn’t kicking out her foot to Sasco’s flow, she’s uncontrollably licking statues and generally acting crazy, not unlike Darryl Hannah’s malfunctioning android sexbot in Blade Runner. The track was produced by Jonze’s brother, Sam Spiegel, in collaboration with Major Lazer affiliate Ape Drums. Spiegel and Jonze have collaborated on TV ads before, including the Adidas TV commercial “Hello Tomorrow.” Spiegel also wrote the popular score for Jonze’s 2010 short film  I’m Here. WWD has now declared the KenzoWorld ad a “viral hit” so basically we’re saying Sasco has racked up another major look. Brap! Brap! Video After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Accurate” Mixtape DOWNLOAD

    HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Accurate” Mixtape DOWNLOAD

    Walshy Fire & Kabaka Pack ‘Nuff Fire

    If your summer was missing a proper mixtape that perfectly blends dancehall riddims with hip-hop instrumentals, this Major Lazer-stamped soundclash between Bebble Rock’s Kabaka Pyramid and the mighty Walshy Fire is right up your alley. Kingston’s Kabaka doesn’t shy from any banger that Walshy throws his way, coasting over everything from the Desiigner’s “Panda” to the legendary “Dipset Anthem,” and Biggie’s “Gimme the Loot,” as well as original tracks from Major Lazer, KickRaux, and Walshy himself. There’s even enough room on the mic for guest lyricists including Raekwon, Jahdan Blakkamore, and Chronixx. The combined forces of Walshy and Kabaka are massive enough to make you cop another pair of speakerboxes, as this might be too much heat for weak systems. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Major Lazer Mashes Up Mumbai

    Major Lazer Mashes Up Mumbai

    Diplo, Walshy & Jillionaire Drop Bombs in Bombay

    “India is special and its beauty absolutely humbled me,” said Diplo in the comments for Major Lazer’s “Lean On” video—one of the most popular music videos in history, with over 1.25 BILLION views. That video was shot in Mumbai aka Bombay, the booming metropolis on India’s west coast. Earlier this year Major Lazer brought the Mad Decent Block party to Mumbai and Boomshots was there to witness the magic (shout out to Jillionaire—good lookin’ out fam). “Major Lazer has always been a culture mashup,” Diplo says. “To us, India feels like some kind of special creature with one foot in history and one firmly in the future. The experience is something we’ll never forget.” Watch yah now. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Healthy Heart Playlist: Popcaan, Jesse Royal, Gaza Slim and More!

    Healthy Heart Playlist: Popcaan, Jesse Royal, Gaza Slim and More!

    The Lyrics We Listen To Affect The Beat of Our Hearts

    The music of the body is the heart beat. A healthy heart depends on good nutrition and exercise. However, in terms of overall homeostasis, emotional and spiritual factors also affect the heart. If one is scared, the sympathetic nervous system reacts in a “flight or fight” reaction to increase cardiac output by increasing the heart rate. Research shows that prayer and meditation can synchronize the vital signs (breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure and temperature) of the body. Based on these observations, one can hypothesize that the music we listen to affects the heart rate. Even more so than the loudness of the bassline, the lyrics evoke feelings and thoughts. This is a positive playlist of songs that refer to God and Love for a peaceful mediation.

    Healthy Heart Playlist After The Jump (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Wild Belle’s Reggae Cover Version Megamix: “Summer Tropical Show N°3: Island Soul”

    HEAR THIS: Wild Belle’s Reggae Cover Version Megamix: “Summer Tropical Show N°3: Island Soul”

    When They’re Not Collabing With Major Lazer, They’re Collecting Reggae 45s

    The cover version is a time-honored art form in Jamaica. Pioneering sound system owner turned record producer Coxsone Dodd used to travel to the United States in search of fresh clothes and rare vinyl to play on the mighty Sir Coxsone’s Downbeat. As his focus changed from spinning records to producing his own, he would sometimes pick up albums with certain recording artists in mind. It’s no accident that The Wailers’ classic “One Love”—which was first recorded at Coxsone’s Studio One—interpolates large parts of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions’ “People Get Ready.” Throughout the evolution of dancehall culture there was a strong tradition of karaoke-style reinvention as great Caribbean vocalists refashioned foreign soul and pop songs over the latest riddims out of Kingston. Many of those versions were cut on 45, reverberating back through the minds, bodies, and souls of music lovers in the U.S., Great Britain and beyond. Case in point: Wild Belle. The brother and sister band who collaborated with Major Lazer on the touching tune “Be Together”  also incorporate reggae and Afrobeat into their own music. (Their second album, the follow-up to Isles, drops next month on Columbia Records.) They’re also known for their reggae DJ sets. Today Boomshots premieres “Summer Tropical Show N°3: Island Soul,” an all-45 mix of reggae cover versions curated by Natalie and Elliott Bergman, an avid vinyl collector. Audio Afrer The Jump…
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  • Machel Montano Rules Carnival With “Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?

    Machel Montano Rules Carnival With
    “Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?

    Trinidad & Tobago’s “Minister of Road” Takes Third Consecutive Road March Title

    Trinidadian soca superstar Machel Montano has won his third consecutive road march title. Since 1932, the Trinidad Carnival Committtee has awarded the prize to the  musical composition played most often at the “judging points” along the parade route throughout Port of Spain during the big carnival celebration. This is the eighth win of Montano’s career. Not since Tambu hit the trifecta in 1988, 89, and 1990 has one artist dominated the competition three years in a row. The winning tune, “Waiting on the Stage,” was produced by Trini production squad Badjohn Republic. But with its strong EDM influence, it almost sounds like it could be a Major Lazer record.  Check out the tune and judge for yourself. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Full Moon Playlist II

    Full Moon Playlist II

    Ten Multi-Genre Selections for Your Halloween Party Playlist

       This year, Halloween was preceded by a Supermoon, making this holiday extra spooky. On September 27, 2015, a total lunar eclipse occurred and the moon passed into the Earth’s shadow. The moon appeared  close to the earth with a bright red illuminance. The last time this happened was 1982. Many believe that this type of moon brings about badness in people. The Full Moon Playlist II highlights songs that unleash the dark side of human nature in reggae, pop, dancehall, hip hop and soca. The playlist contains ten tunes focusing on an intrinsic baddness theme, while others go beyond the theme and comment on social issues, and a few are highlighted for a wicked production. Playlist After The Jump…

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  • Cultural Explosion with Major Lazer

    Cultural Explosion with Major Lazer

    The masterminds of Major Lazer: Diplo, Walshy Fire and Jillionaire fuse music and culture in, “Lean On, ” a collaboration with french producer, DJ snake. Danish singer, MO, adds a pop flair to the  indian hip hop fusion, resulting in a funky dance song with a pulsating symphonic interlude. This song ranked as number 1 in several countries and reached a peak at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. “Lean On”  continues to shine this summer as  the lead single to Major Lazer’s third studio album, Peace is the Mission.

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  • Take A Sudden Flight Back to The Future

    Take A Sudden Flight Back to The Future

    Protoje & Jesse Royal Bridge the Gap Between 1980s and 2015

    Every now and then, a special tune hits the tympanic membrane, laden with both pearls of wisdom and music history. “Sudden Flight” by Protoje featuring Jesse Royal (from Protoje’s third studio album, Ancient future), lyrically advises the youth to use their God given talents and mind to overcome stress and oppression; instead of  guns. From it’s opening line, La Di Da Di , we don’t join nah party, “Sudden Flight” puts us in a time capsule and shoots us back to 1985 when  Bally’s, Adidas, Gucci suits, Kangol hats, Gold teeth and Rope Chains were in fashion and the Get Fresh Crew were the Kings of  1980’s Hip Hop. The song entitled “La Di Da Di” on Slick Rick’s Album, “The Art of Storytelling,”  had people break dancing and spinning on their head tops. The combination of the narrative poetry and humor of Slick Rick and classic beat boxing of Doug E. Fresh in this song, solidifies its spot as one of the top 10 Classic Hip Hop songs of all time. More After The Jump… (more…)