First Came The Song, Then The Video, And Now The Website… Next Up? The Book
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But when your woman gives you bun, what do you do with that? In the case of Captain Barkey it led to a tragic double homicide followed by a suicide. But in the case of Mr. Vegas he turned his real-life pain into a hit song and music video. Yesterday the singer took things a step further with the launch of BareTingz.com. More Details After The Jump…
Bay-C Squashes T.O.K. Breakup Rumors, Explains Jr. Gong Collabs, And Bigs Up Snoop Lion
Ever since 1999, when they dropped “Eagles Cry” on Dave Kelly’ Xtra Large label, T.O.K. brought has a completely fresh sound to dancehall, merging Jamaica’s great tradition of male harmony groups with the cutting-edge digital dancehall sound. They went on to become a dancehall supergroup, blazing a trail of hits around the world—and becoming bonafide pop stars in Japan. T.O.K. has not released an album since 1999, and they have pursued solo projects in recent years, but Alistaire “Alex” McCalla, Craig “Craigy T” Thompson, Xavier “Flexx” Davidson, and Roshaun “Bay-C” Clarke are still very much united, as Bay-C makes clear in this exclusive Boomshots interview. During a recent trip through London, the ReggaeGirlAboutTown caught up with the deep-voiced DJ in the studio and they sat down to reason about a wide range of topics, from his latest collaboration with Christopher Ellis “Don’t Change Ur Number” to his work with Damian Marley, Tarrus Riley, and Wayne Marshall and his thoughts on Snoop Lion and the Americanization of Jamaican music. Video After The Jump…
Old School Legends Dominate The Best Reggae Album Category
In a year when Jamaica celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, legends of roots rock reggae took four of five nomination for the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award—reaffirming the powerful legacy of Jamaica’s musical legacy even as it left its future clouded in relative obscurity. Despite outstanding releases by Busy Signal (Reggae Music Again), Mr. Vegas (Sweet Jamaica), Vybz Kartel (Kingston Story), Konshens (Mental Maintenance) and Romain Virgo (The System)—to name a few glaring oversights—the only reggae artist under the age of 50 to make the cut this year was Sean Paul, whose album Tomahawk Technique stands as the sole nominee representing the dancehall genre. Full List of Nominees After The Jump… (more…)
Pusha Meets Hotskull Inna Raggamuffin Style
You’ve seen flicks from the video shoot, now check the tune. Pusha T, Popcaan, and Travis Scott. Young Chop on the beat. Early heat from The Wrath of Cain mixtape. This type of shit happens every day? If only… Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Shabba Ranks Endorses The Turf; The Turf Pays Tribute To The Ranks
Twenty years ago, Shabba dropped a banger called “Bedroom Bully” off his Xtra Naked album. Now Busy has paid tribute to the dancehall emperor with a 2012 update of the tune, produced by Kirkledove/Jukeboxx/Turf Music. Shabba has expressed his respect for Busy’s lyrical prowess in recent interviews. Wonder what he’s saying now? Busy definitely did the Rankin’s tune justice. #CertifiedBoomshot Audio After The Jump…
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Behind The Scenes Flicks From The “Blocka” Video Shoot
Long before “Mercy,” we knew Pusha T loved that dancehall sound. Remember his verse on the “Half On a Baby” remix with Vybz Kartel? Last week, Pusha and his crew took a trip to Kingston, Jamaica for the video shoot of “Blocka,” the Young Chop–produced single of his upcoming Wrath of Cain mixtape. We hear there’s another big dancehall star Popcaan featured on the track, which debuts soon is hard as f**k. While you let your imagination run wild, check out some exclusive behind-the-scene photos of the shoot. Photographs After The Jump… (more…)
Yummy Mummy Hots Up The Corner Shop Riddim
There’s plenty of fish in the sea—and according to Cecile there are some better ones. Apparently! Looks like the Yummy Mummy is back to her bad gyal self. This tune on finds her on the prowl for a man who “want the key to her likkle padlock.” She’s not just hotting up 21st Hapilos’ crucial Corner Shop riddim, she’s causing a four-alarm fire. Cecile’s advice to the guys is straight up: “No need to stay if you aint getting enough.” The facts, as she lays them out, are this: it’s a 10 to 1 girl-to-man ratio. So there’s no need to go to jail for a girl when another one is just round the corner right? Not sure if this is a tune for the boys or the girls but it’s definitely a reminder for both sides: Guys ‘if it nah work so jus move on then’, girls don’t sleep on your duties because if your man come across a girl like Cecile he might just ‘Upgrade’! Audio After The Jump… (more…)
Sign Up This Week If You’re Ready For Some Higher Education
Remember “Babylon System,” that cut off Bob Marley’s Survival album, in which the Tuff Gong sings about how the downpressor man is forever “Building church and university / Deceiving the people continually /Graduatin’ thieves and murderers / Suckin’ the blood of the sufferers.” Well chances are he wasn’t singing about the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts—and he definitely wasn’t singing about Vivien Goldman, aka the @PunkProfessor. She is one of the few Marley experts who actually spent significant time with Bob, both in her native London and in Jamaica. She’s also the author of The Book of Exodus, a definitive study of one of Marley’s most seminal works. She’s even gotten props from Bunny Wailer. Yes, the Honorable Neville Livingstone called her an “esteemed journalist of this time.” So if any university prof is gonna “tell the children the truth,” she’s a good bet. Goldman will be teaching a course on Bob Marley starting next month, and it’s open to all students—not just NYU enrolees. But the deadline to sign up is at the end of this week, so don’t sleep! This Monday she passed through the StrictlyBoomshots show on Radio Lily.com to drop some knowledge on Marley and post-colonialism. Those who have ears, let them hear. [Photograph by Kate Simon] Audio and Registration Links After The Jump…
The Lion’s Latest Reincarnation With A Positive Vibration
Berhane’s brand new musical biscuit blends distressed dubstep bass tones with a steppers drumbeat and royal melodies from the empress Angela Hunte—all courtesy of the Major Lazer posse. When the Lion roars the whole jungle trembles. UPDATE: Snoop Lion has inked a deal with RCA Sony to release the album Reincarnated in Spring 2013. “Major Lazer and I had a special opportunity to focus on recording REINCARNATED from top-to-bottom with no interruptions in Jamaica. From my time spent with the people and in the streets, these songs are based on peace, love, and the struggle.” said Snoop Lion. “‘Here Comes The King’ is a taste of what’s to come off that REINCARNATED album and movie. It’s going to be an exciting 2013. Bless up.” Audio After The Jump…
Lady Chann Reminds Us How Love Really Feels
When you think of Chann you think, “what lyrics is she murdering now?!” Back when we reasoned with her in the summer she spilled the beans on getting into it with the girls, bad choices of boyfriends, how she went from a Baby to a Lady—and then some! Last month the UK’s finest dancehall Lady released part 3 of her mixtape trilogy “Dun Dem Season,” and vouching from personal experience the launch showed her at her best—on fire—and witnessing her doing her thing LIVE is a whole next experience. The girl sure can spit some lyrics but she forgot to tell us she has a sweet voice too! Singing over the riddim for Gyptian’s “Hold Yuh” she tells a tale of a man who’s down for his lady no matter what—and how that makes her feel. If you ain’t got the track already download it below. In the meantime, check out the visuals for “Feel Calm.” Sit back & take the edge off—we all need to do that sometimes. Video after the jump… (more…)
Congorock + Stereo Massive + Sean Paul = Vibes
Italian DJ/Producer Congorock teams up with Stereo Massive and Mr. Dutty Rock himself Sean Paul on his new single “Bless Di Nation.” A hypnotic mix of pulsating synths and thumping bass kicks paired with Paul’s signature vocals will have you bobbing your head in no time. “Turn up the bass an bless up di nation” after the jump. (more…)
Skinny Fabulous & Machel Montano Unleash Madness With Their New Tune “Monstrosity“
We are barely into the 2013 Carnival season, but so far it’s shaping up to be one to remember. We’ve already heard what Bunji had to offer with his appropriately titled “Differentology” (currently ripping up the airwaves) now Skinny Fabulous throws himself into the fray. Enlisting Soca heavyweight Machel Montano, Skinny’s “Monstrosity” track grips hold and pretty soon you’ll jumping up and down, or as Machel put it, getting “mad and crazy.” If this doesn’t get you excited for Carnival I don’t know what will – Take a listen after the jump. (more…)