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  • FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Phillip Fraser “God of My Righteousness”

    FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Phillip Fraser “God of My Righteousness”

    Reggae Music Legend in the Mecca of Music and Culture, Brooklyn

    The sun was shinning bright as I walked along New York Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York. I was greeted by a Rastafarian King, left hand over the heart,  wearing a sunny yellow hat with a  polo to match. I tipped my black shades to take a closer look at the face of the person greeting me and it was the living legend himself, Phillip Fraser!  He was shocked that I recognized who he was. I said “Great music is great music!” Known for albums  like “Come Ethiopians” (1974, Freedom Sound Label), “Back to Africa” (1978, Different Records, original recording with Busta Riley, Winston Riley’s brother) featuring Earth and Stone, “Blood of the Saint” (1983), “Never Let Go” (1991, Razor Sound Records), “Phillip Fraser: Sharp Like Razor” (1993, Razor Sound Records),  “More Phillip Fraser” (2015, Razor Sound Records) and a plethora of complication albums and productions. If you appreciate roots reggae and lovers rock, you have to know this artists’ anthology of music. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Red Fox & Screechy Dan “Skylarking”

    HEAR THIS: Red Fox & Screechy Dan “Skylarking”

    Ruff Entry Crew Revisits A Horace Andy Classic

    To skylark is to flitter about aimlessly, making no progressive movements and then begging somebody five cents to eat a food. Although the real-life birds may be very hard-working, their reputation for fuckery has inspired some nice reggae tunes. The metaphor was first employed by Horace “Sleepy” Andy, who cut classic versions of the tune for Studio One and Wackie’s, among others. Encouraging the youths to “earn your bread honestly” lest they “end up—up up in jail.” Some messages just never get old. Fast forward to 2015 and the great Screechy Dan and his lyrical sparring partner Red Fox have revamped the tune with Sting International on the production. You already know this one is a certified Boomshot. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • ReshmaB Chains Make Runway Debut at Caribbean Fashion Week 2015

    ReshmaB Chains Make Runway Debut at Caribbean Fashion Week 2015

    The Reggae Girl About Town Flexes Her Design Skills

    Reshma B, the UK-based music journalist, showed off her design skills at Caribbean Fashion Week in Kingston, Jamaica. ReshmaB Chains—recently included on Mass Appeal‘s round-up of New Streetwear Brands Who Are Killing it Right Now—made their runway debut at CFW’s Friday kick off. Pulse top model Oraine Barrett walked the runway, while three-time Vogue cover girl Jeneil Williams was spotted wearing a pair of ReshmaB earrings in the front row. Designer Reshma B capped the night by taking to the catwalk rocking a bright orange Day-Glo “Wah Gwan” chain, flashing her trademark peace sign, and snapping shots of the experience with a selfie stick. Article Continues After the Jump; Photo Gallery Above… (more…)

  • OMI “Cheerleader” May Be The Song of the Summer

    OMI “Cheerleader” May Be The Song of the Summer

    First Jamaican Release To Crack Top 10 Since Sean Paul’s “Get Busy”

    What could be a more natural combination than reggae and summertime? Last year the Canadian band MAGIC! made the connection with their pop smash “Rude.” But it’s been quite a while since a Jamaican reggae song was the anthem of the Summer—twelve years ago, to be exact, when Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” was on its way to the top of the U.S. pop charts. But according to the latest Billboard Hot 100 chart, OMI’s 2012 jawn “Cheerleader”—which has been dominating the charts in Europe on the strength of a tasty remix by German DJ Felix Jaehn—is now a Top 10 single. And Billboard is already talking about OMI sneaking in to become 2015’s official “song of the summer.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Dada Playlist: 10 Songs Dedicated to Fathers

    Dada Playlist: 10 Songs Dedicated to Fathers

    Boomshots Magazine Presents Multi-genre Playlist for Father’s Day 2015

    In honor of the wonderful fathers who present themselves as role models for their children, Boomshots Magazine brings you the finest selection of tunes dedicated to Dada. This 10 song playlist covers several genres including reggae, hip hop, gospel, dub,  rhythm & blues and jazz. Countdown After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kat DeLuna ft. Trey Songz “Bum Bum” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Kat DeLuna ft. Trey Songz “Bum Bum” Official Music Video

    Bam Bam Inna Different Stylee

    Born in the Bronx to parents from the Dominican Republic, Kat DeLuna’s music has always shown a strong Jamaican influence. Her 2007 breakout single, “Whine Up,” featuring dancehall’s “Energy God” Elephant Man, has racked up 43 million views on Vevo. Eight years later she’s back on that sexy raggamuffin flex, sampling Sister Nancy’s Stalag riddim classic “Bam Bam” and flipping the lyrics from a female empowerment anthem—”MC is my ambition”—into a celebration of her (remarkable) “Bum Bum.” Trigger Trey joins in the fun, throwing in a little Shaggy “It Wasn’t Me” to seal the deal. The video is definitely NSFW because, really, what else could it be? True dem nuh know it’s from creation. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • A$AP Rocky Picks His Favorite Reggae Rappers

    A$AP Rocky Picks His Favorite Reggae Rappers

    Pretty Flacko Bigs Up Buju Banton’s “Boom Bye Bye” …And Others

    A$AP Rocky reps Harlem all day as one of the biggest rap stars in the world, but his dad was born in Barbados and he grew up loving dancehall reggae. While he was doing press for his new album ALLA. Rob Kenner of Boomshots asked him to pick his favorite reggae artists, which led to an interesting discussion of Buju’s controversial hit “Boom Bye Bye” as well as a very interesting chat about M.I.A. Rocky also spoke about directing A$AP Ferg’s video for “Shabba Ranks” and what it was like meeting the Big Dutty Stinkin’ Dancehall Emperor on the set. Apparently Shabba’s so turnt up, even the A$AP Mob can’t keep up. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Third World “Yim Mas Gan”

    HEAR THIS: Third World “Yim Mas Gan”

    Reggae Ambassadors Revisit an Amharic Classic

    In the ancient Amharic language of Ethiopia “Igziabeher Yim Mas Gan” roughly translates to “Let H.I.M. Be Praised” (with the letters h-i-m denoting His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, JAH Rastafari). The Abyssinians cut the original version of this mystical tune back in the 1972. Fast forward to 2015 and the legendary island fusion ensemble Third World aka the Reggae Ambassadors revisit this crucial roots classic with a track produced by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. And the beat goes on—itinually. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Dexta Daps “7Eleven” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Dexta Daps “7Eleven” Official Music Video

    Dexta Daps Advises All Gallis To Stay Focused

    All year long Dexta Daps has been keeping his female fanbase fully laced with big tunes, whether “Jealous Ova,” his combination with Tifa, or “7Eleven,” his breakout hit on Troyton’s Intoxxicated Riddim (with a fresh new video directed & edited By Robin Chin, courtesy of 21st Hapilos). Born and raised in Seaview Gardens—the same Kingston area where Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer got their start in life—Daps now seems to be the people’s choice for next to buss big and broad. Fresh off a massive performance at the Oracabessa Festival in Jamaica Queens, Dexta took a moment to chat with the Reggae Girl About Town about the real-life situations behind his tunes.   Video & Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Cadenza ft. Stylo G & Busy Signal “Foundation” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Cadenza ft. Stylo G & Busy Signal “Foundation” Official Music Video

    UK 2 JA Link-Up Inna Real Rock 2o15 Stylee

    Back when Cadenza was an intern at Gee Jam Studios in Port Antonio, he was inspired to update the classic Studio One instrumental “Real Rock.” Not that he was the first to have this idea—and he surely won’t be the last. But his version boasts some amped-up drums and a couple of hot verses from two of our favorite DJs: UK Yardie Stylo G and the Turf Prezident. A crazy new video for the tune just dropped today and it’s got us feeling like it’s time to hop a plane to Jamaica.  Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Stephen Marley ft. Bounty Killer & Cobra “Ghetto Boy” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Stephen Marley ft. Bounty Killer & Cobra “Ghetto Boy” Official Music Video

    Ragga, Killa & Snake Star Inna Brand New Story As Old As Babylon

    Year in, year out, the cycle continues. From Cabrini Green to Cidade de Deus to Tivoli Gardens, somebody is out there manipulating the minds of the ghetto youths and pressing their buttons on a divide-and-rule mission to spread misery and violence and disunity in the community. Like his father before him, Stephen Marley reveals the inner workings of the Babylon system with music as his only weapon and Killa and Cobra as his lyrical henchmen—because that’s what Ghetto Youths do. The visuals pick up where the tune left off. No long talking. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Kranium Talks Ty Dolla $ign Collab, Major Label Deal, and Repping JA from NYC

    Kranium Talks Ty Dolla $ign Collab, Major Label Deal, and Repping JA from NYC

    Everybody Haffi Know Bout Kranium

    The rising dancehall star responsible for the worldwide smash “Nobody Has To Know” chats with the Reggae Girl About Town shortly after his performance at the RBMA Yardcore show. They discuss his signing to major label Atlantic Records, his collab with L.A. rapper Ty Dolla $ign, what he learned from his uncle Screwdriver, and how he reps Jamaican music as a youth raised in NYC. Video After The Jump… (more…)