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  • No Long Talk: Spice “The Dancehall Heiress”

    No Long Talk: Spice “The Dancehall Heiress”

    Whenever You Hear “Scorrrrnnnn Dem!” You Know The Deal

    No long talk has been out of action for a bit but they live by the quotes: “If you’ve got nothing constructive to say, say nothing” / “Better to say nothing than chat shit.” And no long talk has their first female. And who better than the hottest female out right now, Spice! “Scorrrrnnnn Dem!” Ahead of the #MoreLife2016 show in London’s o2 Brixton Academy (alongside Tarrus Riley and Assassin aka Agent Sasco), Spice speaks to No Long Talk about her gospel beginnings to X-rated dancehall, almost quitting, why her daughter “does not know who Spice is”, whether dark skin hinders progression in showbiz, and the importance of social media. Audio & Video After The Jump.. (more…)

  • Barrington Levy Is Broader Than Broadway

    Barrington Levy Is Broader Than Broadway

    Barrington Celebrates And Boomshots Appreciates

    It is Barrington Levy birthday bash here at Boomshots. We are celebrating the musical icon for his accomplishments in Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and transcending music barriers. His distinctive ad-libs make his music enjoyable for people of all ages from various walks of life. Barrington Levy’s 52nd Birthday is today, April 30th. Read more after the jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Shawn Storm “True Story” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Shawn Storm “True Story” PREMIERE

    Exclusive Preview From The EP Word, Sound, Power
    Rastafarian tradition speaks of the ancient precepts and principles that govern the lives of mankind. Among these is the concept of “Word Sound and Power,” a phrase that refers to the many ways language in general and music & lyrics in particular can bring about change within the lives of those who transmit or receive these words. Shawn Storm’s debut EP, Word, Sound, Power bears witness to the mental, musical and spiritual growth of an artist who remains steadfast despite his incarceration. Distributed by the mighty 21st Hapilos Digital, the EP (which is scheduled for release on May 6) features 10 tracks that received the stamp of approval from Shawn’s inner circle. “This is my first EP and my fans and I are both anticipating the outcome and the acceptance of new level of growth in my music—mentality and lyrically,” says the artist (who previously made a mark with the single “My Life”). “This EP  consist of a list of songs that were hand-picked by great people, mixed and organized by great minds and approved by my realest brother and mentor the greatest “World Boss.” From me to my fams and fans, I give you WORD SOUND POWER—my greatest creation yet.” Boomshots is proud to premiere this exclusive preview of the autobiographical lead single, “True Story,” a slice of life from the man called Shawn Storm.  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • SPECIAL REQUEST: Willi Williams “Armagideon Time”

    SPECIAL REQUEST: Willi Williams “Armagideon Time”

    Don’t Mix Up The Studio One Star With The First Black LAPD Chief, Who Passed Away Today

    What’s in a name? Willie L. Williams became Los Angeles’ first African American police chief in the aftermath of the 1992 riots,  died today of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72, reports the L.A. Times. Williams stepped into the top job at the LAPD at a sensitive time, as the department reeled from criticism over its handling of the riots and Los Angeles struggled to mend racial divides. He replaced Daryl Gates, who had long been criticized for running a department that mistreated minority groups, particularly blacks, in Los Angeles. Williams helped usher in a series of reforms in the wake of the Rodney J. King beating. Under him, the department grew by 2,000 officers and the LAPD adopted more “community policing” strategies that were designed to be less confrontational than Gates’ methods. He won credit for restoring confidence to the department. “I was the guinea pig” he once told a Times reporter. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Lost In Translation: Does Drake’s Dancehall Obsession Benefit Anyone But Himself?

    Lost In Translation: Does Drake’s Dancehall Obsession Benefit Anyone But Himself?

    EXCLUSIVE GENIUS EXCERPT: Please Don’t Call Drake “King of the Dancehall”

    While revealing the release date of his long-awaited album, Views From The 6, on Beats Radio, Drake sought to evoke the denseness, complexity, and overall quality of the record by stating that “It’s not a short ting.” His use of patois, although not surprising for any native of Toronto—a city where Caribbean culture has seeped into many aspects of mainstream language, food, and music in much the same way it has in London, Miami, or Nigeria—was no accident. Excerpt Continues After The Jump…

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  • Reasoning with Chronixx: “I’m Not Ashamed of My Weaknesses”

    Reasoning with Chronixx:
    “I’m Not Ashamed of My Weaknesses”

    Di Steam Ministah Talks Coachella, Roots & Chalice Mixtape, and Controversy With his “Big Brother” Vybz Kartel

    Just after his historic performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Di Steam Ministah sat down with Reshma B for an exclusive interview. They speak about the challenges of being an artist in a material world, the joy of performing live, and how he sees himself as only being in his “infancy” as an artist, as he puts it: “baby stage.” Chronixx talks about being booked on Damian Marley’s 2016 “Welcome to Jamrock Cruise” and goes on to name some of his “Big Brothers” in the reggae music fraternity, mentioning names like Jr. Gong, Mavado, and Vybz Kartel. Chronixx also addresses the controversy surrounding his comments on a recent VICELAND TV show “Noisey Jamaica,” explaining that he overstands the fact that the media is more concerned with clicks and views than with telling a fair and balanced story. “Artists have to be artists, media have to be media. I can’t make the media determine how I feel.” Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: OriEL “Medicated” + Video PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: OriEL “Medicated” + Video PREMIERE

    A Dominican Herbs Anthem For 4/20

    Oriel Barry was born in Wesley, a village in the small Caribbean island of Dominica. Growing up, he was part of a drum band and his school and church choir. Upon migrating to Pittsburgh, Pa he formed the sound system Vybz Machine with friends in 2005. Oriel became a popular club DJ, Studio Engineer, and Graphic Designer before becoming a recording artist. Describing his music as ‘’Reggae/Fusion’’ which is mostly reggae fused with the sound of Jazz, R&B, Rock, Blues & Hip Hop. He’s worked with Richie Stephens, Bugle, Raine Seville, RDX, Voicemail, Anthony Cruz, Konshens, Wayne Wonder and Chris Martin. Oriel has performed as the opening act for the likes of Ziggy Marley, Shaggy, Luciano, and New Kingston. This song is an herbalist’s anthem with a relatable chorus: “They don’t know what we go through.” Linval ‘Shem’ Brown of Afar Music Group says: “The song was produce by ORieL and Ludwig and yours truly. We wanted to put out a special song on this day of herb celebration in America and the world.The songs is about the benefits  of the herb, medically, spiritually and financially—contrast with the opposition that Babylon puts up against it.” No wonder they call OriEL fans “Revoluters.” Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “We Get High” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “We Get High” PREMIERE

    Blaze Up the Haze And Me Calm Fe Me Nerve

    In comes a crucial herbalist anthem for 4/19 to tide you over until tomorrow. The 4/20 Riddim was produced by Dev Kutta of Livity Movements and DRWTHVN (a new recruit from Guyana) released on LMI Records, managed by the one Paul Parris. “This is our 3rd release for the year, Octane’s ‘Fallin’ EDM mix was first and we are part of the Noise Cans/Dim Mak remix pack for the “Bucka” record that came out last week.” Boomshots proudly premieres something new from the Turf Prez: The plump squelchy bass notes on this joint signal that we’re in for bare madness. Audio After The Jump…

    “You know say me fly… me nah lie…” Blaze it…

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  • Reasoning with Capleton: “Music Is A Mission”

    Reasoning with Capleton: “Music Is A Mission”

    Throwback Q&A with The Prophet • New York City 2000 A.D.

    I had been listening to Capleton for years before I got the chance to interview him at Def Jam Records offices on Varick Street in Manhattan. He sat smoking beedies and a spliff with his manager Stuart Brown a.k.a. African Star in the record label conference room. Capleton’s first album for Def Jam, Prophecy, consisted of pretty much straight hardcore tracks from Jamaica, although the new one, I Testament, was a bit more “smooved out” shall we say, showing more influence from label A&Rs. But King Shango’s mental state was the same irresistible force it has ever been. He was named after a well-known local barrister, the lawyer Capleton, and the DJ’s reasoning is always forceful, like a prosecutor giving the closing argument on the biggest case of his life. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: ZJ Liquid x Vybz Kartel “Forever” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: ZJ Liquid x Vybz Kartel “Forever” PREMIERE

    A Brand New Modern Classic Off The Producer’s MSquared Album

    ZJ Liquid’s career has progressed through many stages. The “Zip Jock” who’s famous for his next-level mixes on the top Jamaican radio station Zip FM was once known as “Lippo” when he was coming up in Montego Bay. Every Wednesday he used to hold a vibes at Pier One, chatting on the mic with various local sound systems. Eventually he got the chance to play music on Hot 102 radio in MoBay. He took the name Liquid when he relocated to Kingston 13 years ago with the inception of Zip. Since then he’s evolved into more than just an internationally known DJ—who has spun all over the world and live on BET—he’s also a top producer and an artist in his own right. “Some people may say ‘You ah do too much,’” Liquid told Reshma B in an exclusive interview. “But Jah bless we to do it or we woulda falter along the way.” Since establishing the H20 label in 2004 with the French Vanilla riddim, Liquid has emerged as one of Jamaica’s top producers, with top riddims like “Good Book” and “Fix Up” running the dancehall. But this April 15 he will celebrate another career milestone when he releases his debut album, MSquared via the mighty 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution. “It’s not a juggling, with all the songs on the same riddim,” Liquid explains. “It’s a compilation album putting together some of Jamaica’s best artists and I myself have two songs on it.” Today Boomshots proudly premieres one of the album’s standout tracks, a  romantic, melodic, energetic tune from the dancehall World Boss Vybz Kartel. Over a dreamy rhythm track, Kartel demonstrates his songwriting prowess, singing about his everlasting love for a girl who “moves so smooth, like acrobat” inspiring such deep feelings that he wants to give her “more love than you mama.” Flipping a line from Shakespeare’s As You Like It Kartel sings “The world is a stage; it’s all an act” over a relentless beat whose energy builds from a hard-hitting drum pattern, strings, and shimmering chord progressions. “Just live in the moment,” he sings euphorically, “It’s all we got.” Although Kartel remains one of the most prolific artists the world has ever seen, this sounds like a special song, with the potential to go around the world and back.  Like the song says, this one’s gonna “be here Forever.” Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Unified Highway ft. Busy Signal “My Only” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Unified Highway ft. Busy Signal “My Only” Official Music Video

    Cali Reggae Duo Taps The Turf Prez

    Rebelution frontman, Eric Rachmany, and DJ/producer Amp Live are definitely on to something with their side project Unified Highway. Ever since Boomshots premiered their video for “My Space” in January the response to their genre-bending sonic alchemy has been overwhelming. “This album is actually pretty diverse,” Eric told us back then. “Every song is a little bit different from the other, so we are excited for people to hear the diversity.” His words are borne out by their latest video, the sun-and-bikini-bonanza called “My Only” featuring sixteen blazing bars from Busy Signal. “Honestly, I’m not saying this to brag or anything but I really feel like this project is groundbreaking. It’s different from anything I’ve ever heard or been a part of.” Leggo. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Vanessa Bling “Worst” + Instagram Video

    HEAR THIS: Vanessa Bling “Worst” + Instagram Video

    Gaza Slim Takes “Work” Remix To The Next Level With Instagram Video

    Rumor has it that Rihanna’s chart-topping dancehall smash “Work” was inspired by a certain ex boyfriend who “took the heart on her sleeve for decoration.” In her new yardstyle refix (produced by Markus) the artist formerly known as Gaza Slim takes Rihanna’s “Work” to the next level. Just a few of the choice quotables: “Me have another man him like it / Him have a bigger better joystick.” “Every minute gal a breed / When me waan fi wuk you ah sleep.”  “Money me need me nuh need no sufferation / Gimme the keys fi mi car you a wasteman / Yuh mussi wan’ fi go sleep up ah the station.” “Pack your clothes them please / I want you to leave / Me ah go dash them out on the street.” “I know AIDS will get to you” Audio After The Jump… (more…)