Boomshots

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  • HYPE TV Top 20: Vybz Kartel Grabs the Crown

    The Werlboss Surges as Christopher Martin Slips 3 Spots;
    Vybz Kartel may still be battling murder charges but that doesn’t mean he isn’t holding it down for his fans musically. The Werlboss’s tune “Back To Life” stepped up to the top spot on the HYPE TV countdown after 15 weeks on the chart—but how long can his fans keep him there? I-Octane and Bounty Killer have been on his heels since the beginning; let’s see how long Vybz can hold the crown. Videos And Full Countdown After The Jump. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Chino “Touch Your Body”

    Sounds Like The Big Ship Bigger Bredda Wants To Ruff It Up

    The last tune we heard from Chino was some lovey-dovey stuff, but enough of all that. This tune finds him feeling rude, telling the girls to “take the dancefloor and get naughty.” Girls from “all bout” are welcome—though Chino seems partial to the yardie gal dem—and he doesn’t care if she has a man. “Me ah no yuh man, but I can be one who turn your bow leg inna bandy.” Ah whoah. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “God Me Say”

    Busy Speaks On His Incarceration, And Makes A Point To Burn Out Demons From Early
    It seems that not a day goes by without Busy Signal dropping another heatrock in our inbox. But today’s tune stands out above for several reasons. First, it’s the most detailed account of Busy’s incarceration yet—aside from the refrain “Jailhouse no nice, bare chink and lice”—Busy speaks on his legal strategy (“Waive the rights to me extradition, caw me know me an innocent man”) as well as his decision to go straight home to Jamaica after his release rather than putting in a little work Stateside first (“Me couldn’t wait fi the damn plane land; me freedom worth more than gold and diamond.”) Apparently Busy enjoys an open rapport with Riff Raff Notice, the same producer responsible for his sexy homecoming tune “Jail Juice.” The other thing that jumps out on this song is the fourth line: “Me no mix up with no evil nor no demon.” Was that intended a warning shot at Tommy Lee? Guess  we’ll have to wait until Sting to find out for sure. Audio After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Jah Cure “World Cry” Video

    Iyah Cure’s Long-Awaited Album Drops This Week
    People pay attention! The pushbacks are over and the time is here. Three years in the making, Jah Cure’s album World Cry is finally set to drop this coming Tuesday. In case you missed his reworking of the title track, it’s time to get familiar all over again. Last year’s version of the song featured Keri Hilson & MDMA but with all due respect to those artists, the new version—featuring Jah Cure and nobody but Jah Cure—sounds way better.  Not only are the lyrics updated to reflect humanity’s latest struggles, from natural disasters to political unrest, but the melody soars higher—showing off one of the greatest voices to be heard in any genre of music today. Sounds like this albums’s gonna be something special. Listen up. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Mojo Morgan ft. Peetah Morgan “New Dawn”

    After A Medical Scare The “Rasta Rock” Chanter Has Got His Mojo Back

    This past October Mr. Mojo, the youngest member of Morgan Heritage, collapsed during a Miami recording session and was rushed to the hospital. After recuperating from his illness, he’s back with newfound energy and a new record deal at Krian Music Group, the same indy label that’s now home to dead prez and Richie Loop. “After fighting through a near life threatening encounter, as I did last month, you tend to revamp your outlook on life,” Mojo said in a statement. “My single ‘New Dawn’ has become more relevant in my personal life. I hope to provide listeners with a vehicle to always look on the brighter side of a bad situation and the song gives me a second chance at doing just that.” Mojo calls his sound “Rasta Rock,” a blend of reggae, alternative, and hip-hop with a Top 40 twist. “New Dawn” samples Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” and features an uplifting hook from Mojo’s big brother Peetah. Audio & Lyric Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Prezident Brown & Axx of Jahpostles “Be Careful” Video

    The Preszident Trods To Paris For His Latest Visuals

    In the era of Auto-Tune and demonic dancehall shock jocks, Prezident Brown is one of those uncompromising microphone chanters who keeps the foundation style alive, channeling the one sound from the days of U Roy and U Brown and all them man deh. The under-rated but never out-dated rootical dancehall DJ linked up with Axx of Jahpostles for his new album on Tads Records, aptly titled I Sound Is From Creation. As you would expect the sound is 100% organic ital roots rock inna fine style, with words of wisdom to match. Long long time we don’t hear sounds like these. From creation, you know? Video After The Jump…
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  • HEAR THIS: I-Octane ft. Queen Ifrica “Wonderful Feelings”

    Octane & Ifrica Sing About Love Inna Rootical Style

    When’s the last time your lover told you “Ask me for anything”? That’s the kind of love I-Octane and Ifrica are singing about on their new duet “Wonderful Feeling,” which adapts the hook from the reggae classic “Joy In The Morning” and chips in some dancehall delivery from the Rasta singjays. “All day long me glowing from simply knowing later tonight me ah go see you,” Ifrica sings. Remember that feeling? Yeah. Total niceness. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Cuban Government Cracks Down On Reggaeton

    Are Officials Trying to Put Out Fire With “Gasolina”?

    Last week Orlando Vistel Columbié, who runs the official Cuban Music Institute, gave an interview to the government-run Granma newspaper that has local reggatoneros up in arms. Effective immediately, artists are not allowed to perform music with anything the government deems to be obscene lyrics. Vistel Columbié made clear that the new ban on expression may affect other genres as well: “We are not just talking about reggaeton. There is vulgarity, banality and mediocrity in other forms of music too,” Vistel Columbié said. “But it is also true that reggaeton is the most notorious. “On the one hand there are aggressive, sexually obscene lyrics that deform the innate sensuality of the Cuban woman, projecting them as grotesque sexual objects. And all that is backed by the poorest quality music.” The penalties include taking musicians off government-approved lists that would make it difficult to get gigs. Radio and TV stations are also being forced to stop playing reggaeton, and new laws are in the works to limit what can be played at public events. This isn’t the first time Cuban officials have lashed out at the sexy hybrid of dancehall, hip-hop, and Latin sounds. The government criticized local reggaetonero Osmani Garcia’s hit song “Chupi Chupi” last year, saying that it “put the soul of the nation in the balance.” Check it out and judge for yourself.  Video After The Jump…

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  • Obama Administration May Block Marijuana Legalization

    Will Barack Kill The Buzz Of Colorado and Washington Voters?

    This morning’s New York Times reports that the celebration over marijuana legalization in the states of Washington and Colorado may be premature. Senior White House and Justice Department officials have been planning a backlash against ganja legalization. Options include federal lawsuits against the states, cutting off federal grants, raids on marijuana dispensaries and possible prosecution of low-level dealers and users, similar to the ones sometimes seen in states where medical use of marijuana has been legalized. The Justice Department hinted at its intentions by issuing a statement this Wednesday—one day before marijuana became legal in Washington state—signed by the United States attorney in Seattle, Jenny A. Durkan, who warned that the herb was still illegal. “In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance,” she stated. “Regardless of any changes in state law, including the change that will go into effect on December 6 in Washington State, growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law.” More Details After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Ninjaman Interview “We Create This, And We Set This”

    Ninjaman Talks Strictly Business with Winford Williams of OnStageTV

    Minutes after firing up an impromptu lyrical clash with Diamond during her own performance, dancehall legend Ninjaman took a seat across from Winford Williams for an unscheduled but typically awesome interview. The front-teeth-gold-teeth-gun-pon-teen Don Gorgon has lyrically “killed” many opponents over the years, as he says: “I still rule and will forever rule.” After many years of musical experience under his belt and a pending murder charge, Ninjaman has decided to slow it down a bit and focus on building a new business venture, an entertainment complex called Central Park by White River in Ocho Rios—to stabilize his future. But he’s still looking forward to this year’s Sting stage show. “Any war you ah bring, send valuable killers to face me.” As for facing a younger artist like Tommy Lee? “Me no fraid of no demon, caw me have five crocodile, two alligator, seven lion, seven tiger, and twelve hog… And me name Uncle Jesus.” Video after the jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Macka Diamond Wants Her Respect

    The Veteran DJ Chats With Winford Williams and Battles Ninja Man on OnStageTV

    Macka Diamond is one dangerous dancehall diva! The former Lady Mackerel has been shutting down dancehalls for quite some years now. But on her path to musical success, she has encountered some bumps in the road, including friction with top dancehall artist Lady Saw, who was officially crowned Queen of the Dancehall this summer. Macka says she tried to ignore Saw’s jabs because she thought they were friends and it wasn’t worth fussing over. But since Macka started speaking out about it, she has caused quite a fuss. In fact Lady Saw recently said she was getting out of the business because she can’t bother with the stress from other artists. Although she mentioned no names, many people she was speaking about Macka Diamond. Well Macka recently sat down with Winford Williams of OnStageTV to tell her side of the story. She also performed her newest single and got a surprise guest appearance. Interview and Performance Video After the jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Snoop Lion “Reincarnated” Extended Trailer

    Check The Brand New Trailer For The Film That Tells How The Dogg Became A Lion

    Earlier this week, the Snoop Lion documentary Reincarnated was screened for a small group of media at the Sony headquarters in midtown Manhattan. After seeing the movie in full, an old Wailers lyric came to mind: “Half the story has never been told.” It may seem strange to see a gangsta rap icon from the LBC saying Jah Rastafari and singing over reggae beats. Some have even called it a gimmick. (And when Snoop released his “Hot Pockets” video with showers of pepperoni raining from the sky, it was hard to argue with them—unless there’s an ital version of Hot Pockets on the way.) But despite the apparent contradictions, don’t make up your mind until you see this film, which will hit theaters in 2013. Snoop’s visit to Alpha Boys School in Kingston, freestyling over a live version of “Rockfort Rock,” or his impromptu session with Cutty Corn in a hole-in-the-wall studio near Tivoli Gardens (not to mention his Mind Gardens project) puts this whole Snoop Lion thing in a new light. And as for his baptism as Berhane in a Niyabinghi temple (seen above), well you’ll have to judge for yourself. Who says you can’t teach an old Dogg new tricks? Video After The Jump…

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