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  • Tune For Tune: Battle of the “Hello” Reggae Versions

    Tune For Tune: Battle of the “Hello” Reggae Versions

    Who Did Adele’s Big Tune Better: Conkarah & Rosie Delmah or Alaine?

    Big up all Boomshots massive and welcome to a new feature we call “Tune for Tune.” Today we’re going to compare different reggae versions of Adele’s 2015 chart-topped “Hello.” In Reshma B’s latest Clash Music Reggae & Dancehall Column, she points out that a reggae version of Adele’s latest sad song shot to the top of the ITunes Reggae Charts. That version was recorded by Conkarah, a British/Jamaican artist, who discovered a fourteen-year-old girl from the Solomon Islands named Rosie Delmah. The other reggae version was recorded by Alaine, Jamaica’s “reggae songbird” and produced by Shane Brown for Jukeboxx Productions. Let’s get to the tunes. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jully Black ft. Tanya Stephens “Bom Bom” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Jully Black ft. Tanya Stephens “Bom Bom” Remix

    Two Dancehall Divas Tackle The Track Sister Nancy Made “Famous”

    This weekend the Internet is buzzing about Kanye West dissing Taylor Swift on a track called “Famous.”  The song, which apparently features Rihanna and Swizz Beatz, is part of his new album, The Life of Pablo, and isn’t released yet. If you were one of the people who tuned in to last week’s big Yeezy Season 3 fashion show / album premiere, live-streamed around the world from Madison Square Garden, then you know the most-talked-about track on the most-talked-about album right now is built around Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam”—a dancehall classic on the immortal Stalag Riddim. Since it’s not much fun reading about songs you can’t hear, let’s turn our attention to another hot song that interpolates “Bam Bam.” This one was created by Toronto’s own Julky Black, who reached out to a real live Jamaican reggae star to spit some fire on the remix, riding a rough and rugged remake of the Stalag with drums that go extra hard. No more long talking. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • SABBATH MEDITATION: Tony Curtis “My God Is Real”

    SABBATH MEDITATION: Tony Curtis “My God Is Real”

    Music You Can Listen To On The Sabbath: Word Sound & Power

    There is something so great about being spiritually in tune. When we seek God first this happens. God becomes your eyes and ears in life (Mathew 6:33). God sees the heart of men (1 Samuel 16:7) and God says “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27).  Spoken words hold a lot of power. Sometimes you hear someone say something to you, that sounds as pleasant as  honey or agave to your soul. Other times you can just feel disturbed immediately upon hearing something because it upsets the spirit. Listening with the depth of one’s soul,  may act as a guide on life’s journey.  This convinces me that God is real and that the steps of the righteous are ordered (Psalm 37:23).  Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Machel Montano Rules Carnival With “Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?

    Machel Montano Rules Carnival With
    “Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?

    Trinidad & Tobago’s “Minister of Road” Takes Third Consecutive Road March Title

    Trinidadian soca superstar Machel Montano has won his third consecutive road march title. Since 1932, the Trinidad Carnival Committtee has awarded the prize to the  musical composition played most often at the “judging points” along the parade route throughout Port of Spain during the big carnival celebration. This is the eighth win of Montano’s career. Not since Tambu hit the trifecta in 1988, 89, and 1990 has one artist dominated the competition three years in a row. The winning tune, “Waiting on the Stage,” was produced by Trini production squad Badjohn Republic. But with its strong EDM influence, it almost sounds like it could be a Major Lazer record.  Check out the tune and judge for yourself. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Takashi Productions Presents Yami Bolo Tell Me You Love Me On The Slay Riddim

    Takashi Productions Presents Yami Bolo Tell Me You Love Me On The Slay Riddim

    Brooklyn Producer Takashi Suehiro Debuts New riddim with Veteran Reggae Artist Yami Bolo

    When two different worlds collide, sometimes you realize that the differences are quite subtle and may never matter at all. When this happens in music, it is a magical fusion. The artist and producer can unite in a studio and create an ecletic sound. In 2016,  Brooklyn producer, Takashi Suehiro, who mostly works with undergound local artists, is seeing an exponential rise in the number of international artists interested in his riddims. His latest riddim, the Slay riddim, caught the attention of Isasha and Yami Bolo. Yami Bolo flew to New York to lay down a track on this riddim, and the result was a lover’s rock tune, “Tell Me You Love Me, ” with a unique and invigorating sound. Audio & Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Raging Fyah “Milk and Honey” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Raging Fyah “Milk and Honey” PREMIERE

    New Music From The We Remember Dennis Brown Album

    It’s been just ten days since V.P. Records announced the highly anticipated roots reggae project, We Remember Dennis Brown, which will see a range of Jamaican and international artists paying tribute to the Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown by recording some of his classic cuts. Today Boomshots is proud to premiere the latest track from the album, an all-new version of the Rastafarian anthem “Milk and Honey” as performed by the red-hot Jamaican reggae ensemble Raging Fyah. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Cannabis Cup Band Celebrates 20th Anniversary Bob Marley Tribute in New York City

    Cannabis Cup Band Celebrates 20th Anniversary Bob Marley Tribute in New York City

    Bringing the Spirit of the Tuff Gong to the Concrete Jungle

    On Saturday, February 6, 2016, reggae lovers around the world celebrated the life and music of Robert Nesta Marley, the undisputed King of Reggae. In Times Square, the heart of New York City, the Cannabis Cup Band (CCB) of all-stars, paid tribute to one music’s greatest legends. This year marked the  20th Anniversary of this band coming together to celebrate the music of Bob Marley. Furthermore, it was also the 8th year that the evening event was preceded by a Kids’ Concert—all of which attracted a record-breaking  turnout. More After The Jump… (more…)

  • Marley Natural Mystic Blowing Through The Air

    Marley Natural Mystic Blowing Through The Air

    Excuse Me While I Light My Spliff

    Just last Friday in Los Angeles, Marley Natural announced the launch of their highly line of premium cannabis products. “We are fortunate to be living during a promising time of positive change, especially with regard to cannabis and how people understand it,” said Cedella Marley, Bob’s firstborn child, who heads up the family’s business affairs. “My dad would be so happy to see so many people appreciating the natural, healing power of the herb. We are thrilled to be sharing Marley Natural products with the world just in time for his 71st birthday.” The family-owned company, which has been in the works for more than a year, attracted investment from major players like Peter Thiel, the founder of Paypal.  Marley Natural’s inaugural product line includes four different strains of all-natural, locally-sourced, sun-grown cannabis flower (aka buds) and oil, which will be available in California for starters, but is expected to roll out nationwide as marijuana laws. (Last year legal cannabis sales exceeded $5 billion in the U.S. alone) Marley Natural also offeres a line of body care products made from hemp seed oil and other Jamaican botanicals as well as a collection of “smoking, storage and preparation accessories”—what Babylon used to call “drug paraphernalia.” More Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • Ten Great Bob Marley Songs You Probably Never Heard

    Ten Great Bob Marley Songs You Probably Never Heard

    The Songs That Made The Gong A Legend Are Not All On Legend

    Bob Marley’s greatest hits collection Legend is the top-selling reggae album of all time, with at least 15 million copies sold—according to the RIAA website. It’s a good bet the actual numbers are a lot higher, but let’s just say that the 15 tracks on that album have served as most people’s introduction to the Tuff Gong—and to reggae music overall. But like the song says, “Half the story has never been told.” Even if you’ve collected all of Marley’s albums for Island Records you could still spend a lifetime exploring his work with Scratch Perry, Coxsone Dodd, Leslie Kong, Danny Sims, or Randy’s Studio 17. In honor of Robert Nesta Marley’s 71st Birthday, we’ve gathered some of our favorite rarities and under-rated Marley classics. Most will come as a revelation to your average Legend listener. A serious reggae fan will have heard at least a few before. If you know all ten of these already, nuff respect. Rock on, Tuff Gong. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Gyptian ft. Lady Leshurr “All On Me” (Diztortion Remix) Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Gyptian ft. Lady Leshurr “All On Me” (Diztortion Remix) Official Music Video

    Gyppy Links The UK Queen—Zeen?

    You don’t need to be a reggae fan to be familiar with Gyptian’s mega-smash “Hold Yuh,” and if you ain’t up on Lady Leshurr’s Queen’s Speech freestyles, well, you probably need to “Brush Your Teeth.” The two stars joined forces on The Diztortion’s nasty remix of Gyppy’s latest boom tune “All On Me,” and Lady L was more than happy to jet from from chilly Great Britain to sunny Port Antonio for this fun-loving video shoot. As her parents hail from St. Kitts, and she grew up surrounded by the sounds of Bob Marley and Sister Nancy, it’s no surprise how well she and Gyptian jelled on this track. The chemistry is undeniable. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Cham Exclusive “When I’m In The Studio I’m Floating—And I Don’t Smoke”

    WATCH THIS: Cham Exclusive “When I’m In The Studio I’m Floating—And I Don’t Smoke”

    Live From The Reggae Cruise, The Kid Chops It Up With The Reggae Girl About Town

    On board the second annual Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise, Boomshots caught up with Cham for an exclusive in-depth interview. We got the inside scoop on Lawless, his first album since the classic Ghetto Story, scheduled to drop in early 2016. (In the meantime you can download the Lawless mixtape after the jump.) “When I’m in the studio I’m floating,” says Cham. “And I don’t smoke—I go wherever I want to go, musically.” Cham also gave us a sneak preview of his latest tunes live—and found out why he and legendary producer Dave Kelly are returning to hardcore dancehall.  He also spoke about his classic cut “Ghetto Story,” and why it resonates all around the globe. Cham broke down how he and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley came to collaborate on the song “Fighter,” what their link means for both artists in the future. Finally Cham gave us some guidelines for living lawless pon di cruise: “No time for resting in the days,” he says. “And in the night we go all flippin’ night.”  Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Mr. Easy “Bashment Gal” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Mr. Easy “Bashment Gal” Official Music Video

    Classic Dancehall Throwback Co-Starring Tanto Blacks aka Reel Rich

    Anytime Mr. Easy and Ricky Blaze link up, they always bring out the best in each other. In the first video from Easy’s  forthcoming EP, The Don, director Jay Will takes us back to the dancehall days of yesteryear. From Mr. Easy’s furry Kangol bucket hat to Tanto Blacks’ mesh marina, this is strictly a throwback vibes. But as the song makes clear, this tune is all about the girls. No long talking, let’s get into it. Video After The Jump… (more…)