Unruly Boss Don’t Trust No Bwoy Or Gyal
Andrae Sutherland is a family man. That includes his mom and dad, grandma, brothers, sisters, youths, as well as the “real real bredda dem” who know how struggle feel. “Can’t trick me and kill me,” Popcaan sings over this warm-and-easy bubbler, “No way, you mussi bloodclaat mad!” Delly Ranks’ full “Cotton Swab Riddim” drops on iTunes November 17. In the meantime hold on to this one. Audio After The Jump…
(more…)
This past Monday night Busy Signal blew away the annual Hummingbird gala crowd with a performance that got every single attendee shaking it out on the dancefloor as the Turf Prez threw down classics from “One More Night” to “Watch Out For This.” The American Friends of Jamaica is a charitable organization founded in 1982 that works in a collaborative effort with Jamaican organizations and stakeholders to bring about change in the lives of people in need. Their annual Hummingbird Gala is an opportunity for the Diaspora community, supporters and friends with an interest in Jamaica to give back in the areas of education, healthcare and economic development. Sponsors of this year’s event included title sponosr ICD Group, Caribbean Food Delights, Quality AutoMall, JetBlue and Carimed Ltd. “I am honored to share with these friends of the AFJ. I consider myself very blessed to be able to give back,” said Busy Signal. Continues After The Jump…
(more…)
The Turf Prez Represents Yard A Foreign
The annual Hummingbird Gala hosted by The American Friends of Jamaica will take place this Monday 23rd October at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle. This year all attendees will have the pleasure of a live performance by the Turf President, Busy Signal. Supporting the foundation’s important philanthropic work on behalf of Jamaica, Busy is carrying on a long tradition of giving back. Continued After The Jump… (more…)
Octane & Ginjah Keep It Real Amongst Real People
Fans of I-Octane will never forget his tune that begins with the words “Hustle round a Coronation Market.” For the video that BOOMSHOTS proudly premieres today—a big conscious combination tune featuring Octane and Ginjah—the artists visited May Pen Market in Clarendon with director BlingBlang. What better way to tell a story of real people with ambition seeking an opportunity to overcome the trials and tribulations of day-to-day life? The “One Chance” riddim was produced by BigA of Irie FM fame. Check the visuals and take the chance to count your blessings. Video After The Jump… (more…)
What do you get when you combine British R&B singer Estelle with reggae artist Tarrus Riley? You get new lovers rock anthem in the song “A Love Like Ours,” which is featured exclusively on VP Records Reggae Gold 2017 compilation album. The video for the song directed by Denzel Williams features a beautifully green forest as the backdrop, with Gabbi Neal and Guy Peel Jr. portraying a couple in love, while Estelle and Tarrus both dressed in white by stylist Shani James trade verses over a silky one drop riddim. Video After The Jump… (more…)
New Music From Reggae’s High Priest
Jah Cure has been hypnotizing the soul of all who have listened to his universal healing voice, through putting out boatloads of romantic cuts and testimonials of inner city struggles, all done in his signature rasp. His records have shattered the global airwaves, and as he’d put it, “his only remaining goal for the rest of his life is to spread love and to promote peace and healing, universally through his music” But what makes this new song particularly stand out from previous works is how commanding and strong it is. In some ways, it plays like the aural equivalent of a chest pound. Listening to the song, his authority yet humble duality sticks out and sees Cure making some strong claims, but finding comfort within the reverence of His Majesty as “the Lion in the jungle.” The shackles that defined his early career, with noted multiple run-ins with the law, sort of represented the themes his music was confined to. This is his new liberation, and its not just taking place in the music; it’s in his life as well. This new side of Jah Cure’s material will only fuel his new music overall vibe. Cure again! Audio & Video After The Jump…
Rumble Series Winners Get Their Shot At The World Title
Irish & Chin shook the world when they announced the move of their preeminent sound clash brand, World Clash, to Canada. In an even bigger surprise, fans are now faced with a whole new formula for this famed 19-year-old event, which will see World Clash held on the winner’s home turf each year, instead of in New York. This long awaited event arrives in Toronto, Canada this weekend—Saturday, October 14, home of defending champion King Turbo. Each staging of the preliminary Rumble Series in United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom and Germany have decided which hungry contenders will take the World Clash stage to face off against King Turbo. With anticipation building throughout the year clash fans will converge to see Platinum Kids, King Attarney, Fujiyama, Platinum Cartel, and Northern Lights, in what has been dubbed “the super bowl of sound clash.” In typical Irish and Chin fashion they’ve upped the ante with the wild card entrant Poison Dart from Antigua, as the Caribbean representative adding to more excitement. A Rumble Series was not staged for the Caribbean, so this shocker has sparked a frenzy amongst clash fans! Story Continues After The Jump…
Three Stars Align to Change the Game
Toronto’s Woodbine Shopping Centre and Fantasy Fair has never seen anything quite like this. Thousands upon thousands of Rexdale yutes—hood-fresh guys in their best kicks, chains, and jackets; bashment girls sporting multicolored hairstyles and dressed in garments ranging from skin-tight to see-through—flood the massive mall’s parking lot on Saturday, August 19 for Fresh Fest.
Only a few minutes’ drive from Pearson International Airport, this venue sits in the working class Scarborough district of Ontario. Nearby neighborhoods like Rexdale have their fair share of government housing projects and experience more crime and violence than most of this relatively peaceful city. Putting on a dancehall show here means a lot to this community. Especially an outdoor concert featuring three of dancehall’s biggest stars—Mavado, Alkaline, and Jahmiel. Story, Photo & Video After The Jump… (more…)
Just in time for Fall
Born in the Bay Area and based in London, Natty has carved out his own lane, first as a go-to producer and then as a soul-reggae crossover star. His 2008 major label debut Man Like I made a big splash on Atlantic Records, with the single ‘Badman’ topping the charts in Japan. He’s also spent time trodding the earth, building with Rasta elders and spiritual shamans, and supporting the work of erasefoundation.org. This year he’s back with a new album titled Release The Fear recorded with his new band The Rebelship, blending African beats, and analog acoustic sounds. Today Boomshots proudly premieres the visuals for his new single “Seasons Change” featuring the Turf Prezident and Albo. Big tune. Video After The Jump…
Zilla Joins Hov to Perform “Bam” and “Jamrock”
Last night at the Meadows Festival in Queens, NYC, Jay-Z brought only one guest out on stage. Tidal shareholder Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and his trust flag waver Donovan stepped out in front of a massive crowd to perform “Bam” with Jay-Z. The song went over so well that Damian stuck around to perform his signature smash “Welcome to Jamrock,” with Hov serving as his hypeman. The two previously performed together at the Made in America festival in Philadelphia, but somehow everything just feels bigger in NYC. Video After The Jump…
(more…)
Featuring Mr. Easy, Mr. Lexx, Cecile, and Majah Hype as “Mitzy”
Everything about Ricky Blaze’s brand-new Boom Riddim, which Boomshots proudly premieres today, screams classic dancehall. Just take a look at the artwork. If you don’t know why the yellow coloring is lighter at the corners of the square then you don’t know much about true dancehall culture. When you carry mad disco 12-inches inside your crate, and spend years flipping through them in the heat of the dance, sometimes the corners will get a little bit worn. As a matter of fact, that worn look is actually a badge of respect. Just as long as the disc inside stays nice and crispy, you’re good. Speaking of which, let’s get to the music itself, which is reminiscent of the late 80s early 90s that used to rock BK’s Biltmore Ballroom, fresh from yard. Ricky Blaze cooked up this particular digital riddim in his East Flatbish basement studio—the same humble soundlab that birthed timeless sounds like Gyptian’s “Hold Yuh,” Kartel’s “Touch a Button Nuh” and Ding Dong’s “Badman Forward”—and he knew just the right artists to voice for this particular mood and feel. So he reached out to veterans like Mr. Easy “Like Sunday Morning” himself as well as Mr. Lexx aka Lexxus and dancehall’s original Bad Gyal, Cecile. There’s also a next bad gyal in the juggling—she goes by the name of Mitzy. You’re just going to have to listen with your own ears to see what she’s dealing with. No more long talking, time to let Mr. Blaze Blaze it up. Audio After The Jump…
Just Living That Star Life