Boomshots

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  • HEAR THIS: New Kingston “Life”

    Brand New Bubbler From Reggae’s Freshest Young Rhythm Section
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    New Kingston is a young trio of brothers—Tahir a.k.a. Slim on keyboards, Courtney on drums, and the eldest, Stephen a.k.a. Suki on guitar—who grew up surrounded by reggae music. Their manager Courtney Panton (who also happens to be their father) is a highly respected producer and session musician whose Brooklyn-based studio has been the birthplace of numerous reggae gems. After working with a wide range of stars from Collie Buddz to Shabba Ranks, New Kingston evolved into an act in their own right. Their fresh, eclectic take on roots rock reggae has won them a growing fanbase. “Life” is the latest single from their third album, Kingston University, which is due out this spring. Video And Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Win Tickets to See Femi Kuti Live in NYC

    The Afrobeat Legend Will Rock Webster Hall this Saturday—Don’t You Want To Catch Him Live?
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    Femi Kuti was born in London and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer and revolutionary icon Fela Anikulalpo Kuti. Femi inherited a gift for music and became a member of his father’s band, and later formed his own band, called Positive Force with Dele Sosimi, who formerly played keyboards with Fela. Like his late father, Femi Kuti plays an infectious style of music known as Afrobeat which fuses elements of jazz, funk, and traditional African music. Femi has been signed to major labels and nominated for Grammys, but like his father, he believes that “music is the weapon of the future.” In other words, he uses his music fearlessly as a means of speaking out on issues of social and political justice. He will be performing in New York this Saturday at Webster Hall, one of the city’s greatest music venues. Because we know this is a show that Boomshots readers will not want to miss, we’ve reserved a pair of tickets—and you’ve got a chance to win.  Video & Contest Details After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Noisey Jamaica “Vybz Kartel”

    The First Episode Of Snoop Lion’s Dancehall Documentary Series Goes To Gaza
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    Episode one of “Noisey Jamaica” focuses on the Werlboss. Although there’s no interview with Kartel—whose trial date was recently postponed again, this time until May—we do get a few words with Dre Skull, who produced the album Kingston Story, and some Gaza youths who want to see Kartel free. We also get a very interesting conversation about how Kartel encourages girls to “quint” their muscles during sex. All in all an entertaining start. Video After The Jump…
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  • Vybz Kartel’s Trial Postponed Again

    But The Werlboss Vows He Won’t Let The System Break Him
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    The wait is still not over. After being ordered to wait until the new year to commence his trial, The Werlboss now faces another setback. We’re starting to get the feeling that the court is not in any hurry to see this trial go forward. On Monday, officials at Kingston’s Home Circuit Court placed another postponement on Vybz Kartel’s trial date—the second one put into effect since last November. The reasons for yet another delay? “Insufficient jurors.” But Kartel isn’t letting the politricks get to him. Read More After the Jump (more…)

  • BBC 1Xtra Tells The Sting Story

    Reshma B Reports From The World’s Greatest One-Night Reggae Show – Sting 2012
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  • WATCH THIS: Popcaan “So We Do It” Official Video

    Mixpak Rolls Out Another Banger
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    When the Hotskull and Dre Skull join forces good things happen. Behold the latest example of this principle: A maaad new video of Papi on the Kling Klang riddim, showing off all types of motorbike stunts courtesy of Jamaica’s own “Crazy Bikers” crew. Ah just so them do it.
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  • HYPE TV Top 20: Mavado Takes the Number 1 Spot

     I-Octane & Bounty Killer Slip to Number 2 as Mavado Seizes the Crown
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    Mavado has slowly been creeping up the countdown for quite some time now; 14 weeks to be exact and he didn’t stop until he made it to number one. Now that he has taken the top spot, we must wait and see how long his fans can keep him there. Especially since I-Octane and Macka Diamond are not too far behind! Check out the countdown after the jump! (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Courtney John “Born To Fly”

    Ticklah Provides The Rub-A-Dub Wind Beneath Courtney’s Wings
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    From his work with the Dap Kings, Antibalas, and the Easy Star All-Stars, it ain’t hard to tell that BK’s own Victor Axelrod knows his was around a drum and bass line. On this brand-new Lion Dub production, he lays down one of his roots-rock Ticklah riddims especially designed to show off Courtney John’s delicate falsetto, resulting in sheer musical magic. And don’t forget the dub. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Elephant Man “Bad Wi Bad (The Extractors)” Official Preview

    Some Boy Only Feel Bad, But Elly Real Bad
    ExtractorsBoomshotsYou already know Truckback and Payday Music do their thing a little bit different. Like this new tune from Elephant Man—it’s not a song; it’s a flippin’ movie. So it doesn’t come with a video, it comes with a preview. When their pretty blonde agent gets kidnapped, Elly and his team have to parachute in and extract her. And of course they brought along some tall-up guns with red and green lasers on top. Get the picture? Yup—bare badness. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: ZJ Wah Wa & Wasp “Clique (Str8 Up World)” Official Video

    Wasp Stings Up Hit-Boy’s “Clique” Beat On The Madboss’s New Mixtape
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    Wasp is one of those artists who’s been doing his thing long enough to have a few hits under his belt and a little bit of buzz—yet somehow his crazy skills still go unappreciated. But sometimes a great mixtape freestyle can fix a problem like that. Check out the way Wasp deals with the “Clique” beat—”The one with the curve dem me ah observe them”—on this cut from DJ Wah Wa’s new mixtape Str8 Up World. Wasp is not the first to say “me flow ah de baddest,” but he may just have a point. It’s an eye-opener to witness an undeground dancehall artist ripping up a G.O.O.D. Music track as well as or better than Big Sean, Jay-Z or Kanye. If I had a tune this hot on my hard drive, I’d call The Untouchable Dancers and director Icey Jace to shoot a video too. Two questions: What is up with Wah Wa’s space alien motorcycle helmet? And what’s that thing Wasp puts into his boombox? A cassette!?! Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Lady Saw “Heels On” Official Video

    WATCH THIS: Lady Saw “Heels On” Official Video

    Saw Kicks Into Overdrive

    We knew this song was a hit from the first time we heard it. Like any great song it brought vivid images to mind. But rarely does a dancehall video live up to the visions of one’s own imagination. Lady Saw’s “Heels On” video, shot on location in and around Saw’s house on New Year’s Eve 2012, is a rare exception to the rule. The sexy, sophisticated Scorpio21-directed clip doesn’t just equal expectations; it exceeds them. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Christopher Martin ft. Jim Jones “Cheaters Prayer” (Official Remix)

    The Capo Spits Game Over ZJ Chrome’s Cardiac Strings Riddim… While Chris Prays For Strength
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    The power of “Cheaters Prayer” doesn’t just flow from its soaring melody and ZJ Chrome’s bubbling “Cardiac Strings” riddim, The song’s real magic lies in the delicate balance of the singer’s presumed innocence and his player tendencies. Is the guy really praying for strength or is he using God as an excuse for his wayward ways? That balance gets thrown into a whole new light on this new remix featuring Jim Jones. This isn’t one of those cut and splice mashup jobs, this is an official remix. The Dipset Capo’s hard-boiled Harlem game makes Martin’s lyrics sound even more innocent, but his stunts are brazen that ladies are going to view the whole argument with even more skepticism than normal. Unless it’s true that girls love the bad boys, in which case it’s all good.   Audio After The Jump…

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