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  • Spice talks Culture Clash and Why She Doesn’t Want You To Call Her Queen of the Dancehall

    Spice talks Culture Clash and Why She Doesn’t Want You To Call Her Queen of the Dancehall

    Just Call The Mad Gyal “Queen of the Stage”

    One day before the Red Bull Culture Clash, Reshma B sat down with  Spice for an exclusive Boomshots interview. As usual the Mad Gyal and the Reggae Girl About Town kept it 100% real. In the first segment of their epic 3-part reasoning session, they speak about Spice’s huge international fanbase, her latest tunes to touch the road, and how to do the “Indicator” dance. In the second segment, they speak about whether Vybz Kartel is the new King of the Dancehall, what that means for Beenie Man, and why she doesn’t want to be called the Queen of the Dancehall. As usual the Mad Gyal and the Reggae Girl About Town kept it 100% real. In the third and final segment of their epic reasoning session, Spice shares her thoughts on the Red Bull Culture Clash, how she will do whatever it takes to win, and why Mixpak’s dancehall lineup should not be considered “under dogs” since Jamaica originated the whole clash culture. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jah 9 “Humble Mi”

    HEAR THIS: Jah 9 “Humble Mi”

    Tune in to Jah9’s Frequency

    A few months ago, Jah9 performed a new song for one of BBC 1Xtra’s Jamaica live sessions, voicing out at Anchor Studios in Kingston. The official version of the song is here and it’s evey bit as powerful as that version. “Try to be humble cause blessed are the meek,” Garnet Silk once sang. But there’s nothing meek about Jah9 when she’s plugged in to the source of the sacred. If this song is any indication her forthcoming album 9 is sure to be a scorcher. Audio After The Jump…
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  • Sean Paul Signs With Island Records

    Sean Paul Signs With Island Records

    Dutty Paul Has The Last Laugh

    Two years after parting ways with Atlantic Records, Grammy-winning dancehall superstar Sean Paul has signed a new contract with Island Records, according to Kevin Jackson at the Jamaica Observer. After making history with a series of chart-topping releases for VP/Atlantic, Sean has stayed Gettin’ Busy as an independent artist, recording hit features with acts ranging from Enrique Iglesias to Major Lazer and most recently Sia. The Australian-born star’s Dutty Paul duet “Cheap Thrills,” has already topped Billboard’s Dance Music Club Play chart and now sits at #6 on the Hot 100. Video & Full Story After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Popcaan “Wicked Man Thing” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Popcaan “Wicked Man Thing” Official Music Video

    Wickedness Increase

    Whaaa?! The Unruly Boss too wicked. After clinching the Culture Clash and kickin’ it with Drizzy Drake in South Africa, Popcaan drops a black and white video for this badman anthem on YVP’s bhangra-infused “Wicked Wicked” riddim. Sparring with some bad chargies, Poppy puffs a big head spliff and bigs up all the real thugs all over Jamaica. It’s an Unruly world. Video After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Tyga “1 of 1” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Tyga “1 of 1” Official Music Video

    Tyga x Amina Kick It In Jamrock

    Tyga is the latest young money representer to catch dancehall fever, having journeyed to Kingston, Jamaica to shoot the video for his “Controlla”-flavored jam “1 of 1.” Lest we forget, “Coconut Juice” was one of Tyga’s first singles, way back before “Bedrock” in 2008. “Kingston, Jamaica—real gully,” he says in a voiceover at the start of the Shomi Patwary-directed video. Much like the ghetto back home, just more undeveloped. What some see as dirty and less fortunate we see beauty, love, and God. Of course when you say Kingston people warn you about the danger, as if the cops ain’t killing kids all over our country. Where we from, there’s danger everywhere. We wanted to come fuck with the people.” He spends most of the video kicking it with Amina Blue, the blonde Brooklyn-born Snapchat star who appears to be rocking with Mr. Rack City inna real life. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Stylez “Whine Fi Me (Don’t Stop)” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Stylez “Whine Fi Me (Don’t Stop)” PREMIERE

    The Yawdie Aubrey Mashes Up The 86 Riddim

    In comes a fresh cut from Juss Kool Productions brand news “86 Riddim” a timeless hardcore dancehall riddim that just dropped today as a timely reminder of what the game’s been missing. Many years in the making, the riddim’s title is something of an homage to Dave Kelly’s immortal “85 Riddim” (of “Ghetto Story” fame) and really to the hard-edged digital sound pioneered by the Madhouse maestro. Having honed his craft working alongside the likes of Philip Smart and Bobby Konders, Juss Kool took his time to perfect this bone-cracking track, which the Jamaica-born Drake of Dancehall aka “Yawdy Aubry” (formally known as I Am Stylez Music) tears to shreds. This Stylez selection “Whine Fi Me (Don’t Stop)” has the Instagram dancehall queens going wild—and that can’t be a bad thing. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • NO LONG TALK: Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor on the Red Bull & Guinness Decade

    NO LONG TALK: Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor on the Red Bull & Guinness Decade

    Dancehall’s First Podcast Hits #10 In Fine Style

    To commemorate the series tenth episode, Man Like Marvin Sparks drew for the decade’s defining producer, Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor. 2016 marks ten years on from his classic breakthrough riddim, Red Bull & Guinness. The riddim boasted voicings from Vybz Kartel, Wayne Marshall and Sizzla to a then-emerging singjay called Mavado. “Weh Dem A Do” went on to become an immovable anthem which still draws gun fingers and pull-ups as it did all those years ago. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Sojah “Pon Di Corner” In Memory of Delus

    WATCH THIS: Sojah “Pon Di Corner” In Memory of Delus

    Delmark Spence Is Gone But Not Forgotten

    When people say, as they often do, that music lives on forever, they don’t mean that songs stay the same, like fossils or footprints set in cement. Music literally lives—it’s an organic, ever-changing force that unfolds within its own time and affects each listener a different way. Sometimes a song we’ve heard hundreds of times before will hit us from a whole new angle depending on the time and place and our own meds at the moment. This effect is particularly powerful after an artist passes away. Inevitably his fans will revisit that artist’s catalog, gaining new appreciation for what is often referred to as their “body of work,” a kind of audio autopsy if you will. We’ve seen it this past year with David Bowie and Prince, but the same process takes place for artists who didn’t get quite as much attention as they may have deserved. Consider, for example, “What Tomorrow May Bring” a lesser-known 2012 release by Delus, the dancehall artist born Delmark Spence who tragically and unexpectedly took his own life earlier this month. In light of recent events this severely under-rated song now rings out like an anthem. Delus’s brother—the dancehall star Konshens—recently appeared on the popular Jamaican TV program OnStage to say how much his older brother inspired him. The Spence brothers first entered the music business together as a duo called Sojah (Sons of Jah). Following the worldwide success of their debut release “Pon Di Corner” (on Cashflow Records’  “Guilty Riddim”), Konshens emerged as a major breakout star while Delus continued to do his own thing at his own pace. Still they never stopped repping Sojah, something Garfield Spence must now do on his own. Although Delus is no longer here in physical form, his music lives on forever. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Morgan Heritage “Modern Man” (Umberto Echo Dub Mix)

    HEAR THIS: Morgan Heritage “Modern Man” (Umberto Echo Dub Mix)

    The Mad! Sick! Riddim Is Pretty Much Exactly That

    Our peoples over at Reggaeville linked up with Munich-based production team Oneness Records to drop an energetic roots rock juggling called the Maad! Sick! Riddim that mixes well with the Rootsman and other top-shelf culture cuts. The lineup is stocked with the likes of Exco Levi, Perfect Giddimani, Gappy Ranks, and Kelissa. Herewith we present an exclusive mix of Morgan Heritage’s “Modern Man” dubbed within an inch of its life by the man called Umberto Echo. Not to be confused with Mr. Eco—the linguist, philosopher, semiotician and author of Foucault’s Pendulum and many more—nor with the Bunnymen—the audio phenomenologist Mr. Echo adds his H for hextra echo.   Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Accurate” Mixtape DOWNLOAD

    HEAR THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Accurate” Mixtape DOWNLOAD

    Walshy Fire & Kabaka Pack ‘Nuff Fire

    If your summer was missing a proper mixtape that perfectly blends dancehall riddims with hip-hop instrumentals, this Major Lazer-stamped soundclash between Bebble Rock’s Kabaka Pyramid and the mighty Walshy Fire is right up your alley. Kingston’s Kabaka doesn’t shy from any banger that Walshy throws his way, coasting over everything from the Desiigner’s “Panda” to the legendary “Dipset Anthem,” and Biggie’s “Gimme the Loot,” as well as original tracks from Major Lazer, KickRaux, and Walshy himself. There’s even enough room on the mic for guest lyricists including Raekwon, Jahdan Blakkamore, and Chronixx. The combined forces of Walshy and Kabaka are massive enough to make you cop another pair of speakerboxes, as this might be too much heat for weak systems. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Mixpak Wins Red Bull Culture Clash

    Mixpak Wins Red Bull Culture Clash

    A Big Assist From Popcaan & Drizzy Drake

    Friday night at London’s O2 Arena four sound systems representing Dancehall, Hip Hop, UK Garage and Grime battled before a 20,000 seat venue for the 2016 staging of Red Bull Culture Clash. Wiley’s Eskimo Dance and UK Garage All-Stars featuring So Solid Crew had the place rocking with the hometown hits, and Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang linked with Supa Dups and Black Chiney Sound to drop some big dubplates, but in end Brooklyn NY’s Mixpak sound who took the trophy with support from dancehall stars Tony Matterhorn, Spice, Kranium, and Popcaan. The Unruly Boss sealed the win in the final round with a Drizzy Drake dub plate of One Dance that done the place. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Rakim Bigs Up Stephen “Ragga” Marley: “He’s Keeping It Lit For The Next Generation”

    WATCH THIS: Rakim Bigs Up Stephen “Ragga” Marley: “He’s Keeping It Lit For The Next Generation”

    The Making Of Revelation Part 2

    “Doing a song with Rakim, I couldn’t do it lukewarm,” says Stephen “Ragga” Marley. “It still did haffi rock heavy.” The song in question is “So Unjust” the third track on Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life. The long-awaited sequel to Ragga’s Grammy-winning 2011 album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life picks up where part one left off, highlighting Ragga’s versatility and expanding his sonic terrain with a wide range of styles and collaborations, from roots reggae to dancehall, hip hop, soul, R&B and dance music. Complex Media enlisted acclaimed director Stephanie Black to document the process of making the album. “Something to wake up the masses,” is how Rakim describes this parrticular track. “That’s right up my alley.” The hip hop icon goes on to praise Stephen’s role as a producer and a cultural force “It’s like the Bible of music, when the Marleys speak,” says Rakim, who estimates hip hop’s current consciouness level “at zero.” Although Rakim says he means no offense to the artists who are out today, in his words “Something ain’t right…. We definitely need conscious music and it has to come from the superiors, you know what I mean? Stephen Marley is definitely one of them cats who can stand anywhere with a bullhorn, and say Hey!” says Rakim. “It’s a blessing to be part of the march.” Video After The Jump…
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