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  • Morgan Heritage Embarks On “So Amazing” U.S. Tour

    Morgan Heritage Embarks On “So Amazing” U.S. Tour

    The Grammy Family Brings Laza Morgan & Jemere Morgan Along For Support

    After twenty-plus years making real roots rock reggae music, Morgan Heritage took home a richly deserved Grammy Award this year. Their self-produced set Strictly Roots won the award for Best Reggae Album, outpacing strong competition from the likes of Jah Cure, Luciano, Barrington Levy, and Rocky Dawuni. To celebrate with their fans, the Grammy family has announced a U.S. tour. You can call it a victory lap if you like. They’re calling it “So Amazing,” so you get the idea. They’ll be supported by family members Laza Morgan (whose tune “One by One” is a certified Boomshot) and Jemere Morgan (Gramps’ big son who’s growing into a lover’s rock force in his own right.) Plus, on select dates, UK band The Skints and/or Orange County ukelele-strummers The Wheeland Brothers. Keep up with the band on their official website, or go ahead and download their app. (Ratid!) Tour Dates After The Jump… (more…)

  • Jah 9 Announces Summer Tour Dates

    Jah 9 Announces Summer Tour Dates

    From the U.S. to Canada, Europe to Africa

    Get those steamers ready. Jah9 is taking her powerful stage show on the road this Summer in support of a new album, set to drop when the weather gets hotter. If you haven’t caught the empress live & direct she is definitely a must-see. The new dates include stops in America, Canada, Europe, and Africa—with more dates to be announced. Keep up with Jah9 Online for updates and in the meantime, check out her latest video release, a live performance of “Humble Me” recorded by BBC 1Xtra at Anchor Studios in Jamaica. Videos & Tour Dates After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Taj Francis x Green Lion Crew “Valley of Dub” (Soundtrack for Temple)

    WATCH THIS: Taj Francis x Green Lion Crew “Valley of Dub” (Soundtrack for Temple)

    T Λ J x G L C = Dubwise Animation

    Zeke Stern, who’s produced tracks with Green Lion Crew for reggae stars like Kabaka Pyramid​, ​Chronixx​, ​Collie Buddz​, and ​Beenie Man, has collaborated with visual artist Taj Francis for a psychedelic audiovisual mashup. This will be the first episode in a series called Tenfold: Opus​, in which Francis interprets the work of various musicians. “Temple” is a visual interpretation of the Fall of Mankind in the garden of Eden (Genesis Chapter 3, the part about the serpent tempting Eve to taste the forbidden fruit.) “Valley of Dub” the heavy melodica-infused dub soundtrack, is a perfect complement to this epic episode. Get your mind right before clicking. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Bongo Herman “Drum of Long Story”

    HEAR THIS: Bongo Herman “Drum of Long Story”

    Mek Rolling Stone Dem Know—Half The Story Has Never Been Told

    Just the other day Rolling Stone published a list of the supposed Greatest Drummers of All Time. Carlton Barrett of the Hippy Boys—a two-man duo comprising him and his brother Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who once backed Scratch Perry at the Black Ark and would go on to tour the world with Bob Marley as The Wailers—and Sly Dunbar of Sly & Robbie fame both made the RS list—ranking at Nos 29 and 65 respectively. Even as reggae fans give thanks for a likkle bit of recognition from a mainstream pub like Rolling Stone, we know that half the story has never been told. No Style Scott. No Horsemouth. No Santa Davis. No Lloyd Knibb. And no Bongo Herman, who sold me a copy of his own CD during a recent pass throug 56 Hope Road. Perhaps the best US$10 I ever spent. Herewith a highlight, throughout which the legendary Mr. Herman beats the skins in a percussive reinterpretation of Keith & Tex’s “Oh It’s a Long Story” produced by Derrick Harriott on his musical chariot. The intro is everything. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel “Tomorrow People”

    HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel “Tomorrow People”

    The World Boss Channels Ziggy Marley

    Described by Chronixx as a “fearless creative soul in this earth,” dancehall’s incarcerated World Boss, Vybz Kartel continues to amaze. In the past he has recorded cover versions of dancehall classics by the likes of Shabba Ranks and Grindsman, but today his cover of Ziggy Marley’s “Tomorrow People” hit iTunes. This song is perhaps even more unexpected than Kartel’s cover of The Beatles “In My Life“—since that was clearly labeled as a personal tribute. But this note-for-note cover of the 1988 breakout single from Bob Marley’s firstborn son makes a bold statement that Kartel is more than capable of performing in the reggae idiom. Depending on your age, intellect, and musical point of view, the idea of Vybz Kartel singing “if you don’t know your past you don’t know your future” may strike you as ironic, profound or both. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Chronixx Bigs Up Vybz Kartel, Burns Out Ignorant Bloggers and VICE Media

    Chronixx Bigs Up Vybz Kartel, Burns Out Ignorant Bloggers and VICE Media

    Was Di Steam Ministah Misrepresented On Noisey Jamaica?

    “I will never dignify untrue and twisted publications made by a media who only seek to create headlines which drag artistes and their supporters through the valley of disunity and division,” said Chronixx in a new Instagram post. “It is all a part of the overall effort to divide our music, divert our creative focus and incarcerate the legends of our music- ‘To divide and rule is their only plan,’ he continued, quoting Sizzla Kalonji and Jah Cure. ‘I a nuh fool.’” The post was apparent response to media reports that Chronixx compared Kartel to a “cannibal” in a recent TV program called Noisey Jamaica. “Vybz Kartel himself has done a lot of good things in life, I must say,” Chronixx was quoted as saying in the program, which aired on the new network VICELand. “Gangsterism, cannibalism… because Vybz Kartel over time became a cannibal. When you listen to his music it is very cannibalistic.” Chronixx took to IG to clarify his remarks and to castigate “ignorant bloggers” and media outlets that sow discord rather than overstanding. Full Statement After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: I-Octane “Nuh Badda Dan Jah” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: I-Octane “Nuh Badda Dan Jah” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Octane Comes Before The Almighty With A Humble Heart

    You have some bwoy who feel like they’re wicked and dreadful. They march through the streets with the tallest tall-up and claim to run the road like tire. I-Octane’s thought-provoking tune on Good Good Production’s Cure Pain Riddim points out the folly of mortal men who seek comfort in mass destruction and exalt themselves because they have the power to brutalize their brothers and sisters. At the end of the day, who is really badder than God himself? Today Boomshots proudly premieres the visual interpretation of this tune, a hard-hitting video that might just have the power to change lives. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Dre Island “M-16” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Dre Island “M-16” Official Music Video

    Rise The Machine And Rinse It Clean

    Dre Island is a youth we’ve been checking for from time. He rolled into 2016 as one of Mass Appeal’s 16 Artists to Watch and today he drops what may be his most anticipated release yet, the first video off his “Now I Rise” project on E5 Records. Big up the Mass Appeal massive every time. In comes a musical thing called M-16 so just rock and come een. This yah one badder than a laser beam—Zeen? Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • British Police Try To Ban Bashment

    British Police Try To Ban Bashment

    Cops In Croydon Claim Sean Paul’s Music Causes Crime

    Police in Croydon have reportedly instituted a ban on dancehall music—known in the UK as “bashment”—claiming that it causes crime and disorder. The latest Clash Music Reggae and Dancehall column reports that police in the London borough wrote a letter criticizing at least one nightclub for playing “what this borough finds unacceptable forms of music.” Dice Bar owner Roy Seda says he has had undercover cops in his club monitoring the music and has been forced to sack DJs for playing dancehall, even though customers often request songs by artists like Sean Paul. “They think I’m a racist,” he told a local newspaper. “All I can say is I am really sorry but the Metropolitan Police has told us [not to play bashment] and, if we do, I will lose my license. Someone has to stand up and say this isn’t right.” Full Story After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Keznamdi “Herbs” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Keznamdi “Herbs” Official Music Video

    Kez & Keida Work The Ital Steamer

    Ever since RiRi and Drizzy touched up the Pot O Gold “Sail Away” riddim with the chart-topping tune “Work,” Jamaican artists have been inspired to reimagine the tune in their own style and pattern. The latest “reworking” is a wicked ganja tune called “Herbs” by the rootical DJ Keznamdi.  “I wanted to put a little more roots in there, so you see a lot more Jamaican culture,” he told The Fader, who premiered the video earlier this week—which features noted herb advocate Keida in a crucial supporting role: keeping the ital steamer hot. “Marijuana advocacy is very special to me,” says Kez, “so whatever way I can get the message to people I try to.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Dre Island “M-16” Video Shoot Behind-The-Scenes

    Dre Island “M-16” Video Shoot Behind-The-Scenes

    The Official Music Video Premieres Tomorrow on Mass Appeal

    Named one of Mass Appeal’s “16 Artists To Watch in 2016,” the Jamaican artist and producer Dre Island is known for a lyrical attack that’s both “hard and heartical, streetwise and sensible.” On “M-16,” the first track from his highly anticipated Now I Rise project, Dre uses his rapid-fire lyrics like an automatic weapon to inspire his listeners to eradicate the negative energies that support and uphold the Babylon system. Tomorrow he will premiere the music video for the track, directed by Steezy for RD Studios, on Mass Appeal. In the meantime, pree this mini documentary about the track, produced by E5 Records, and check Nickii Kane‘s behind-the-scenes photographs from the video shoot at Old Theatre in Harbour View, Jamaica. Photos After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jahmiel “Where Were You” x “Great Man” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Jahmiel “Where Were You” x “Great Man” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Oh Why Oh Why? You Get a Fight When You Start Try

    The road to “overnight success” is usually longer than it seems, and it’s not without pitfalls and stumbling blocks along the way. Just ask Jamiel Foster, aka Jahmiel, a youth known to true dancehall fans as one of the music’s most promising new voices. After years of tirelessly writing, voicing, and promoting his music by all means necessary, last year’s tune “Gain The World” for Quantanium Records elevated Jahmiel to stardom. Ever since we caught his show-stealing guest spot on this year’s Rebel Salute, we’ve been big supporters of the artist. We know he’s not frightened fe Benz and Beamer—but what about badmind and bandwaggonist?  Videos After The Jump… (more…)