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  • HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel “Back To Life”

    A Jail Record So Real, You’d Swear It Was Recorded Behind Bars

    VYBZ KARTEL HAS NOT BEEN RECORDING MUSIC IN JAIL read the official statement from Kartel’s record label: “Adidjaheim Records would like to make it clear, that Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer has not recorded any material since his arrest in 2011. Any songs containing material from Vybz Kartel that were released after his arrest, were recorded by the artist in previous years.” The reason for the press release? U.I.M. Records’ latest boomshell “Back To Life,” whose compellingly raw details about life behind bars have sparked rumors that Kartel has been recording at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre. Check out the audio after the jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Reasoning With Ed Sheeran

    WATCH THIS: Reasoning With Ed Sheeran

    Reshma B Interviews The UK Phenom Who’s Redder Than Red
    Ed Sheeran played a little gig today at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Playing 300 gigs a year is nothing unusual for the 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Suffolk, England first whose single “The A-Team” lodged in the UK Top 10 for three months in 2011. His follow-up tune, “You Need Me I Don’t Need You” reached No. 3 on the British pop charts. Now signed to Atlantic, Sheeran has a dozen or so EPs under his belt, including Slumdon Bridge with Yelawolf, whose rapid-fire flow Ed likens to UK Grime artists. “I don’t think anyone has a specific sound anymore,” says Sheeran, whose music draws on a plethora of sounds and styles. He spent years gigging with his cousin’s reggae band Laid Blak, and often interpolates their ganja tune “Red” into his live set, as well as snatches of Damian Marley’s “Welcome To Jamrock” and 50 Cent’s “In Da Club.” Sheeran’s debut album, titled simply +, is already a hit in England, and will be released in America one week from today on June 12. After blazing a solo acoustic version of “You Need Me I Don’t Need You,” Ed sat down with the Reggae Girl About Town…
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  • HEAR THIS: Rayvon “Selecta”

    As Shaggy Launches His Ranch Entertainment Label, Rayvon’s Shooting A Video For This Tune Tonight

    Remember Rayvon? Of course you do. He’s the ackee to Shaggy’s saltfish, the smooth crooner heard alongside Shagsman on certified Boomshots like “Big Up” and the #1 Pop smash “Angel.” Rayvon’s got a bad new solo tune on the Kingston 13 Riddim, released by Shaggy’s record label Ranch Entertainment. Audio after the jump. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jasmin Karma “Brand New Second Hand”

    Stephen Marley’s Lovely Protégée Re-Interprets A Peter Tosh Classic

    There’s something undeniably erotic about hearing a Peter Tosh classic sung over by a sexy Costa Rican girl. Miss Karma’s breathy coo meshes perfectly with Stephen Marley’s typically flawless production. The Lion Roars again. Keep clicking to listen for yourself…
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  • HEAR THIS: Junior Demus “Talk Too Much”

    The Original Ruffneck Chicken Is Back With A Vengeance

    Junior Demus is one of dancehall’s greatest larger-than-life characters. Both menacing and hilarious, with a voice like a gravel-crusher, he can mash up a stage show without uttering a word—all he needs to do is strike one of his patented poses in front of the right crowd and the whole place will erupt. By his name you can tell he’s a student of Nicodemus, and while his flows might be similar but his dress code and vocal syle are way more raw. Junior Demus is a master of the “talk and stop” flow, which he employs to perfection on his signature track “Ruffneck Chicken.” He goes even harder on the classic Jammy’s cut “Bank Haffi Lick” and the Phillip  Smart-produced “Shot Make You Wiggle.” His records may not always be lyrically profound, but they are never boring. Just last night we got hold of a new Jr. Demus track on the “Rock & Stop” riddim released by the Belgian label, Big Bout Ya Records. Check it out after the jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Pinchers “Ancients Of Days” Video

    The Bandelero Takes Up His Bible And Chants Down Babylon

    Island Rock productions just dropped a brand new Pinchers video. But this ain’t no Bandelero business. Over an easy-skanking riddim laid down by legendary session players Sly & Robbie, Chinna Smith, Christopher Meredith—plus  Nambo & David Madden on horns—the legendary dancehall singer delivers perhaps the rootsiest tune of his career. And just in case you didn’t get the point, video director Stereo Belly even dressed him in white robes with a Bible in hand. Is this gonna end up like that scene with Preacher in Pulp Fiction?

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  • HEAR THIS: Protoje ft. Romain Virgo “Reggae Revival”

    Corleon, Diggy & Virgo Connect For A Rebirth, Not  Funeral

    Protoje always comes fresh, and when he joins forces with a vocalist like Romain Virgo it’s a reggae rebirth—not a funeral. Diggy bigs up Coxsone Dodd, Winston Riley, & Junjo Lawes while Don Corleon keeps the vibes alive. “How dem fi say reggae dead, when we ah carry on?” (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Papa San Names Out 106 DJs

    Live & Direct From The Big Firgo Digital vs. King Addies vs. King Kustom Clash @ Biltmore Ballroom 1989

    In those bygone days when sounds used to carry dubplates instead of laptops, three champion sounds collided at Brooklyn’s legendary Biltmore Ballroom. Big tunes were brandished, but the competition was not only limited to the turntable. In keeping with tradition, live DJs were also repping for each sound system. And none hit harder that night than Papa San. People sleep on San these days, but back in 89 nobody was touching his rapid-fire flow. As Sleepy Wonder points out “Bwoy San you talk fast, you talk slow, you talk frontway, you talk backway—what else leave?” Of all the styles Pupa San flung down that night, this one stands out. We’re still trying to calculate whether he mentioned all 106 DJ names as promised. Hey kids! Get ready for some real live dancehall culture. Audio after the jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Sean Paul “Find It”

    DuttyPaul Bruises Up Big Ship’s Brand New Bassline Riddim

    Late last night Di Genius blasted out his new Bassline riddim and this one’s a banger. Of course Stephen and Chino have tunes on the riddim, as do Mavado, Busy, Aidonia, Spragga, Sasco, Fambo, Gyptian, Laden, Bramma—even Singing Sweet. Trust that you’ll be hearing all those tunes in heavy rotation this Summer, but this Sean Paul cut kinda jumped out from the rest. Sean’s new album Tomahawk Technique is his first to emphasize outernational production, but Jah know we still love the yard ting. Don’t take our word for it, though. Listen for yourself….
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  • DOWNLOAD: Munga Honorable “SlapWeh” Mixtape

    The Gangsta Ras Has Something Special He Wants To Give You

    Every gallis go through this… Ah the gallis dem tune dis. “SlapWeh” is the name of the tune, and the big bad new mixtape from DJ Kitt and the 007 Sound family. Munga’s always been an eclectic artist, so it’s no surprise that the beats on here range from cutting-edge dancehall to one-drop and hip-hop. Guest spots from Chi Ching Ching, Supahype, and the trio G.M.C. (Gyptian, Munga & Chi Ching Ching) round out the package nicely. In other words, the ting tun up. Links after the jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Mr. Vegas “Bruk It Down” Live Pon Radio Lily

    Live From The Sweet Jamaica Album Launch, Vegas Bigs Up Buju And Busy and Fire Blaxx
    Just in time for the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, Mr. Vegas launched his new double album Sweet Jamaica in fine style last night at Miss Lily’s Variety in NYC—broadcast live pon RadioLily.com. While Max Glazer and Spliffington juggled tracks from the new album plus a murderous selection of computer riddims, industry players like DJ Norie of 105.1FM, Johnny Wonder of 21st Hapilos, Neil Robertson of VP, and Radio Lily’s own DJ Autograph, DJ Select, Night Nurse, Micro Don, and the whole Miss Lily’s fam turned out in force, with strong media presence from LargeUp, Tempo, and of course Boomshots in the building. After a fifteen-minute interview by Rob Kenner, Vegas blessed the place with a quick live performance, building up to his current smash hit “Bruk It Down.” Video & photos by the man called Gizmo after the jump…
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  • Johnny Osbourne “We Need Love” Live

    Reggae Legend Rocks Out In Harlem Backed By The Full Watts Band
    Photograph by Paul Holgerson

    Ten-thirty p.m., Saturday, May 19, in Harlem. I’m sitting at a table in Ginny’s Supper Club below the Red Rooster, 125th and Lenox. Across this art deco revival Harlem nightclub, the funky rounded edges of the window to the deejay booth frames esteemed reggae producer Clive Chin and his operator Fidel ‘Twice’ Luna. My friend Sam leans to me and says, “Can you believe we’re sitting in a place like this, listening to music like this?” Ginny’s stands in obvious contrast to the Brooklyn basements and warehouses and lofts with bare walls and bare lightbulbs where we usually have to stay up until 3 a.m. to hear reggae from the vinyl deep. Twice drops the needle into a Clive Chin-produced cover of “Mission Impossible,” the right track played at the right time. The pot is bubbling… (more…)