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  • Chronixx “Capture Land” Tour Reaches Kingston

    Chronixx “Capture Land” Tour Reaches Kingston

    Stream Chronixx Di General Alongside Zinc Fence Redemption Live Online

    This Summer Chronixx and his band Zinc Fence Redemption will tour the world, including stops at  some of the most exclusive gigs in the U.S., from NYC’s Governor’s Ball to the Roots Picnic in Philly, but tonight they’ll be rocking the hometown crowd in Kingston City. Following successful gigs in Negril and St. Elizabeth, the “Capture Land JAMAICA Tour”—named after his Dread & Terrible selection—rolls into town tonight before wrapping up tomorrow in Portland on Sunday March 15.  Good news for all those who cannot make it to Kingston tonight: the show will be streaming live (details below). This is more than a tour, it’s a mission with a message: the upliftment of Jamaica’s cultural product. “We are doing tours and events in makeshift venues,” Chronixx recently stated without apology. “Which means there is no form of movement that acknowledges the fact that we are the main export. It’s not bauxite, it’s not tourism. It’s music.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Assassin aka Agent Sasco—Rap’s Best Kept Secret Weapon

    Reasoning with Assassin aka Agent Sasco—Rap’s Best Kept Secret Weapon

    First Kardinal, Then Kanye and Kendrick—Assassin Is the Go-To DJ for Dancehall Features.

    He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite dancehall artist. But chances are you’ve never heard his name. That’s because Assassin aka Agent Sasco — his secret-agent alter-ego — has basically gone undercover for his two biggest records: Kanye West’s “I’m In It” off the Yeezus album, and Kendrick Lamar‘s latest single, the lyrical tour-de-force “The Blacker The Berry,” Although Assassin was not properly credited for either feature, word gets around and the DJ is very much in demand. Boomshots caught up with him by telephone to hold a reasoning, and wrote a piece for NPR about it. The full transcript is right here. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • “Do Owl Shit Stank?” K-Dot Drops Bomb Pon Instagram

    “Do Owl Shit Stank?” K-Dot Drops Bomb Pon Instagram

    Grappling With Kendrick’s Enigmatic Imagery & Quarrelsome Queries

    Just before 1 a.m. Wednesday morning Kendrick Lamar set all of hip-hop social media ablaze by uploading an image to his official IG account. The black-and-white photograph depicts K-Dot standing on the White House lawn surrounded by his peoples, a happy throng of young, shirtless black men clutching large wads of cash and bottles of champagne. The image was accompanied by a series of enigmatic questions attributed to “Lil Homie”—who might just represent anybody in the photo, maybe even that cute little white baby in his arms. Lil Homie’s Got Questions? Let’s find some answers.  Alarming Revelations After The Jump… (more…)

  • Ancient Future Is Now

    Ancient Future Is Now

    Diggy British Scores Big as Ancient Future debuts Pon Top of iTunes Reggae Chart

    “Sharp like the thorn crown pon Christ head,” Protoje spits on “Protection,” the opening track of his new album Ancient Future, “And you know the flow Hardo like slice bread.”  True, that. The artist’s third album, which dropped today and shot to the top of iTunes reggae chart, marks a quantum leap in his lyrical prowess, not just in terms of flows and patterns but also in thought-provoking ideas (“drastically free from hypocrisy I say yeah”). Anybody sleeping on this youth needs to wake up fast. Between Protoje’s endless cascade of pause-and-rewind punchlines and Winta James’s sophisticated soundscapes, the album stands out as a breath of fresh air in the modern Jamaican music scene—which has elders like Sizzla so deeply vexed. In Jamaica many reggae lovers use the term “Ancient” to describe artists of the 70s and 80s, and Protoje clearly taps into that era for inspiration. Mark you, this remarkable album is not a throwback, but rather a leap forward—hence the second half of its aptly chosen title. As Ancient Future week continues on Boomshots, Reshma B quizzes Diggy about the levels of meaning behind his tune “Stylin.”  Video After the Jump… (more…)

  • Protoje in the UK: Reasoning with Diggy British

    Protoje in the UK: Reasoning with Diggy British

    Kick Off Ancient Future Week With a “Bubblin’” Selection and Reshma B’s Epic Interview

    “We radically transforming the landscape of Jamaican Music on March 10th,” reads the official IG feed for the man called Protoje aka Diggy British. Well, so much for managing expectations. But that’s Protoje for you. Every since he first began bubbling under the reggae radar around 2010 or so, it was clear he was on some next next level movements—even if, especially if, they weren’t perfectly in tune with what everybody else was doing at that moment. He was always himself up on stage, never playing a role, never pretending to be too cool, fearlessly blending sincerity and complexity and militancy and rock-solid roots and dub sonics. Long before folks were chatting about a “reggae revival,” Diggy was quietly putting in work. From the Seven Year Itch to the Eight Year Affair it’s been a long journey. Recently he and several other like-minded bredrens formed like Voltron and started making noise as a collective, combining old school musical values with state-of-the-art social media savvy to wage asymmetrical musical warfare. Then last year Diggy and his longtime parring-p Chronixx dropped a certified Boomshot known as “Who Knows.” From that point it was on and popping. “Now is our time to govern the music,” Diggy told us late last year. We’re expecting big things, so we’ve declared Ancient Future week on Boomshots. Keep it locked. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Legalize it! Wiz Khalifa, Queen Ifrica, Jr. Gong, Chronixx, Sizzla, Tarrus Riley and Lee “Scratch” Perry Chat ‘Bout Ganja Legalization and the Healing of the Nation

    Legalize it! Wiz Khalifa, Queen Ifrica, Jr. Gong, Chronixx, Sizzla, Tarrus Riley and Lee “Scratch” Perry Chat ‘Bout Ganja Legalization and the Healing of the Nation

    Could Legalizing Ganja Really Make It The Healing of The Nation At Last?

    Four decades ago Peter Tosh sang “Legalize It” and countless Rastafarians have suffered at the hands of the law for the sake of the holy sacremental herb. Now the Jamaican government is taking steps to decriminalize ganja with an eye to full legalization and industral production of medical marijuana. At this historic moment the Boomshots crew caught up with a few musicians in Jamaica who have been spreading the message on behalf of the “Healing of the Nation” to get their views on this big news for the Legalization movement Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with ZJ Liquid: “Resent Is Part of the Game”

    Reasoning with ZJ Liquid: “Resent Is Part of the Game”

    Reshma B Chats With The Zip Jock Whose Fix Up Riddim Has Got The Dance on Lock

    ZJ Liquid does it all—he’s a seletor, producer, and microphone chanter whose “Good Book” riddim was one of the biggest for 2014. Earlier this week he dropped a new juggling called “Fix Up” and it’s got the dancehall on fire. Reshma B caught up with Liquid at 21st Hapilos Digital HQ in Kingston, Jamaica for an in-depth reasoning on how the H2O Records CEO stays ahead of the game—and how he deals with haters. He even blessed us with a freestyle and the story behind the making of one of this biggest tunes. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise Doubles Up for 2015

    Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise Doubles Up for 2015

    Cabins Going Fast As Barrington, Maxi , Elly, Popcaan, Capleton Confirmed

    Due to overwhelming demand, the second annual Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise will offer two back-to-back cruises in 2015, from November 30th to December 10th. According to the cruise’s official Facebook page, the newly confirmed talent for 2015 includes Ky-Mani Marley, Protoje, Barrington Levy, Capleton, Elephant Man, Popcaan,  and Maxi Priest. They will perform Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Julian “JuJu Royal” Marley, Bounty Killer, Busy Signal and other returning members of the Ghetto Youths International family. Representing the best of sound system culture, the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise 2015 proudly present the original Saxon Studio posse from London including Philip “Papa” Levi of “Mi God Mi King” fame. They will join King Jammy’s Super Power, whose performance on last October’s cruise was legendary. Stay tuned for more breaking news about sound system action the cruise. All aboard! Full Lineup and Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Free Up The Herbs: 40 of Reggae’s Highest-Grade Ganja Anthems

    Free Up The Herbs: 40 of Reggae’s Highest-Grade Ganja Anthems

    Marijuana Laws May Be Changing, But These Rebel Music Selections Will Keep Playing Forever

    Every day brings new headlines about voters in the U.S.A. passing medical marijuana laws and American states decriminalizing reefer—even as the Federal government reserves the right to swoop in and prosecute whoever however whenever. Meanwhile venture capitalists continue to align themselves with the Bob Marley estate in order to build a global ganja brand. It feels like a bright new day in the long-running batttle to legalize Jamaica’s national herb. But don’t sleep: the Governor General has yet to sign the proposal that would allow Rastas to cultivate for personal use and corporations to cultivate for profit. And Jamaica’s Governor General still answers to the Queen of England, so there’s no telling what will happen. Meanwhile youths all over the world are still getting locked up for illegal possession of the wisdom weed. So the binghi drums have to beat and songs like these have to play, words sounds and power. These are not just “weed tunes” but songs about the real-life struggles surrounding ganja prohibition. say are they just one-line shout-outs, like the tune where Bounty and Cham said “tell the government free up the weed policy,” as wicked as that was. These are the rabble-rousing songs dedicated to defending marijuana growers and sellers and smokers from all forms of downpression. Some relate to the nitty-gritty details of the hustler’s life, others focus on police efforts to fight against the weed, while others make the case for legalization. Any topic that could inspire so much great music has to be important. Just like Josey Wales said on track #20, “It Haffi Bun.” And these songs have to play. Audio After The Jump; Countdown Continues Above (more…)

  • PREMIERE: John Brown’s Body “Pulsing Dub”

    PREMIERE: John Brown’s Body “Pulsing Dub”

    U.S. Reggae OGs Link w Yesking To Dub It Inna Dry & Heavy Stylee

    Two years after the release of their album Kings And Queens, NorthEast reggae rulers John Brown’s Body are back with KINGS AND QUEENS IN DUB on Easy Star Records. Inspired by classic dub discs like Burning Spear’s Garvey’s Ghost and Aswad’s New Chapter of Dub, the new release reprises the entire sequence from Kings And Queens mixed by a who’s who of dub champions including Ticklah, Dubmatix, Dubfader (of 10 Ft. Ganja Plant), UK legend Dennis Bovell, Yesking, Michael G (of Easy Star All-Stars), Lord Echo (of The Black Seeds), and more. Boomshots is proud to premiere the first track today.   Audio After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Protoje “Answer to Your Name”

    HEAR THIS: Protoje “Answer to Your Name”

    Diggy Dips Back to UK 1971 On This Ska-Style Skorcha

    A breath of fresh air on the reggae scene, Protoje blends classic Jamaican sounds with up-to-the-minute energy—plus a winning sense of humor but not one drop of the posing and posturing that can turn cool into cliche. “Like to tell you a story about a girl I know,” he says at the top of this ska-tempo rave-up, “or should I say a girl I used to know.” Set in England circa 1971 (around the time ska was killing it in the UK) the tale concerns one of those beautiful British girls who can turn ice-cold at the drop of a hat. Taken from Diggy’s highly anticipated album Ancient Future with frequent collaborators Winta James and Lewis Planter on the track. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Jahdan Blakkamoore “Order of Distinction” Album Art and Tracklist

    Jahdan Blakkamoore “Order of Distinction” Album Art and Tracklist

    BK Field Marshall Reveals Details On His Third Studio Album
    The Guyanese-born, Brooklyn-bred, Grammy-nominated songwriter Jahdan Blakkamoore has just revealed all the details about his third studio album. Order of Distinction is set to be released on the Lustre Kings Productions label on March 25th. The album features guest spots by Lutan Fyah, Pressure Busspipe, Kabaka Pyramid, and Illuminati Congo, to name a few.  Following the high-energy track “Ting Tun Up,” the official first single will be a lovers rock selection, “Smooth Black Skin.” The follow-up to Mr. Blakkamoore’s 2010 Lustre Kings release, Babylon Nightmare, Distinction features mainly production by Paper Stars, the production and writing duo forged between Jahdan Blakkamoore and Andrew Moon Bain (Lustre Kings) after years of prolific practice in the studio and receiving a Grammy nod in 2013 for Major’s Lazer’s & Snoop Dogg’s, Snoop Lion Reincarnated. Dre Skull also steps in to produce “Sky’s the Limit”. Details After The Jump… (more…)