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  • HEAR THIS: Mavado ft. Future & Ace Hood “I Ain’t Going Back Broke”

    HEAR THIS: Mavado ft. Future & Ace Hood “I Ain’t Going Back Broke”

    Real Talk From The Gully Gad

    The timing of Mavado’s latest “We The Best” banger is truly uncanny. Just days after the news broke that somebody posted a petition on the White House website demanding that he be deported to Jamaica, the dancehall superstar drops a song called “I Ain’t Going Back Broke.” Although Mavado (who has a valid U.S. visa and work permit and now lives with his American wife and kids in the U.S.A.) has since clarified that the whole thing is an attempt to sabotage his career by a bitter ex-associate, the song still seems like a response to this latest pitfall set in his path. The song, which features We The Best labelmate Ace Hood as well as Future, seems to refer to Mavado contemplating the possibility of being deported to Jamaica. But Boomshots can confirm that this song was in the works long before the whole petition controversy flared up. Regardless of that fact you can feel the passion in this tune. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Sizzla: “You Must Recognize Rasta, Else A Lightning and Thunder”

    Reasoning with Sizzla: “You Must Recognize Rasta, Else A Lightning and Thunder”

    After Closing Rebel Salute 2015, Kalonji Speaks On Truths and Rights

    Say what you like about Sizzla Kalonji, but the man nah tek back no chat. After a fiery early morning performance to cap the second day of Rebel Salute 2015, the sweat-drenched dancehall legend took time out for a brief but extremely intense interview with the Reggae Girl About Town. The two spoke about Rebel Salute’s theme, the “preservation of reggae” with Sizzla asserting that countries like England and France are “trying to take reggae from black people with pen and paper and contracts.” They also spoke on the movement to legalize ganja. “Ganja free down here man,” Sizzla scoffed. “But them wan’ make money offa the ganja. And enough people them prosecute for the ganja. So the Rastaman plan to slap them some judgment. Rastaman been agitating for marijuana as a medicinal purpose and a holy sacrament and Babylon no wan’ do that. But now they want to legalize it to sell. So now the judgment is on. You must recognize Rasta, else a lightning and thunder.” The very next week Jamaica’s parliament tabled a bill to decriminalize ganja after 68 years of prohibition, with special provisions to allow Rastfarians to cultivate their own herbs in designated areas. Coincidence? The proposed law would also clear the way for a legal medical marijuana industry, so it looks like Sizzla is right on both counts. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Rebel Salute 2015 Takes It Higher

    Rebel Salute 2015 Takes It Higher

    Roots Reggae stars shine at the 22nd staging of Rebel Salute

    Dressed in a sky blue suit, Tony Rebel took the stage at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in the parish of St. Ann on Jamaica’s north coast. “Love you like a fresh vegetable,” he sang on 16th January 2015, the first night of Rebel Salute. “Tell me if you love Tony Rebel”. Although it’s been almost a quarter century since that song was released, the answer was still clear. Yes, the crowd loved the veteran dancehall entertainer who is also the promoter of the annual show that started 22 years ago as a simple birthday party and has turned into one of the most successful music festivals in Jamaica. Read More After The Jump…. (more…)

  • Flashback Friday: Chuck Fenda “Gash Dem and Light Dem”

    Flashback Friday: Chuck Fenda “Gash Dem and Light Dem”

    Roots Reggae music did not always get a warm and friendly reception, as it is receiving today. In 2006, Leshorn Whitehead aka Chuck Fenda, was a voice for the people with his song, “Gash Dem and Light Dem.”  However the fiery tune was cited by the Broadcasting Commission and consequently banned from the local radio stations in Jamaica. More After The Jump…

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  • Mystic Reflections with Hempress Sativa

    Mystic Reflections with Hempress Sativa

    Kerida Chaka Johnson aka Hempress Sativa, followed in the path of her father, Albert “Ilawi” Johnson’s (original selector for Jah Love Muzik) musical footsteps to become a singer/songwriter. However, she’s clearly her own entity, with a deeply spiritual mind and focus.   More After The Jump…

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  • The RootsMan Riddim Roars

    The RootsMan Riddim Roars

    Its hard to believe the RootsMan Riddim, mixed by Maticalise and produced by Overstand Entertainment, is two years old. In conjunction with the lion paws of artists that used it as a canvas for musical surrealism, the riddim continues to roar. In this article, Boomshots Magazine features 5 high caliber songs on the RootsMan Riddim , still trending heavily on social media in 2015. More After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Inner Circle ft. Chronixx & Jacob Miller “Tenement Yard (News Carryin’ Dread)” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Inner Circle ft. Chronixx & Jacob Miller “Tenement Yard (News Carryin’ Dread)” Official Music Video

    In comes the official music video for the big bad certified Boomshot, Inner Circle featuring the young general Chronixx alongside Jacob Killer Miller with the musical thing called “Tenement Yard (News Carryin’ Dread).” The video was directed by produced by Inner Circle and directed by Gil Green for 305 Films. Forty years after Jakes first sang it, Chronixx message is essentially the same—but instead of watchy watchy tenement yard dwellers, it’s watchy watchy cellular phone owners. No more long talkin’ let’s get to the photos by (by Bones Vision) and peep RGAT‘s behind the scenes report.  Video After The Jump…
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  • Busy Signal In Beast Mode

    Busy Signal In Beast Mode

    Busy Signal’s “All In One,” stands as the only dancehall freestyle  fused over 12 classic hip hop beats. In this 2014 song, Busy chops it up vocally and lyrically over each beat, as if competiting for a black belt.   The song trending heavily on social media, a year later, really highlights Busy Signal’s talent. He adds, “Don’t try this at home or the studio or you will have to do it live too,” reminding the music community that each artist in the dancehall genre is an individual; no need for Stereo-Types. More After The Jump…

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  • Eddie Murphy Roots Reggae

    Eddie Murphy Roots Reggae

    Edward Regan “Eddie” Murphy ranks as the 4th highest paid actor in the United States. Making people laugh out loud, comes second nature to this comedian. The actor from Bushwick, Brooklyn, even masters the art of playing multiple roles in the same movie; including fan favorite, “Coming to America.” He’s dabbled in music for years, but Murphy gets serious with  reggae in 2015.  More After The Jump…

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  • Reasoning with Tony Rebel before Rebel Salute: “I Rebel against things that are Wrong”

    Reasoning with Tony Rebel before Rebel Salute: “I Rebel against things that are Wrong”

    The Rebel With a Cause Looks Back Over 22 Years of Roots & Culture

    No meat, no alcohol, but plenty vibes. No hip-hop, no EDM, but nuff niceness. No stampedes, no slackness, but total niceness. Over the past 22 years, Rebel Salute has stuck to a winning formula and evolved into the people’s choice as Jamaica’s top-ranking reggae festival. Last year the Rebel Salute stage transformed Bounty Killer into Rodney Price as he delivered one of the greatest performances of his career. This year the Boomshots crew dropped by Flames Productions HQ in Kingston, Jamaica to reason with Mr. Tony “Fresh Vegetable” Rebel who explained how a humble birthday celebration grew into a musical phenomenon—complete with its own foundation that awards scholarships to educate Jamaica’s youth. Check the reasoning as Rebel tells Reshma B about the roots of Rebel Salute, right down to the great food (and brain food) availabe at the show. And if you can’t make it there in person, Rebel breaks down the best way to enjoy the show from the comfort of your own yard… Video & Full Lineup After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Popcaan “Fix Tings”

    HEAR THIS: Popcaan “Fix Tings”

    PopSkull Buss Some Bwoy Head Inna Many Style

    Over the past four years Popcaan’s artistry has grown by leaps and bounds. Not so long ago he was considered one of Kartel’s more promising proteges, poppin’ off with “Clarks” and moving forward into “Raving” and “Party Shot” before the big buss that was “Only Man She Want.” Since that time the Unruly Boss has been in fast forward mode #TR8. Although his 2014 debut album was criminally slept on by Grammy voters, Where We Come From is our consensus pick for dancehall disc of the year. And on newer cuts like “R.I.P.” Andrae Sutherland revealed a more sensitive side. But do not get it twisted. This is the same youth who used to name Fry Yiy. And Just in case you forgot why him name “Unruly,” Popcaan linked with Baby G to flex some wicked bad- man lyrics over a tasty update of one of King Jammy’s vintage digi riddims that’s dripping with delicious delay.  As Poppy explains on “Fix Tings,” he will still “crawl pon him belly like a crocodile / Fi buss bwoy head inna many style.” He relates his tales of murderous mayhem with a light-hearted touch of good humor, but the message comes through loud and clear. Don’t make him pick you up pon dah telescope yah. Him have links all over. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Queen Ifrica: “When You Speak You Become an Enemy of the State”

    Reasoning with Queen Ifrica: “When You Speak You Become an Enemy of the State”

    Reshma B Links The Fyah Muma at Flames Productions HQ in Kingston, JA

    On the last day of 2014, the Reggae Girl About Town dropped by Flames Productions HQ in Kingston, Jamaica to see wha gwan. She had a nice chat with the Fyah Muma about her new album and her hot new collaboration with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. Ifrica also expained how she came to sing “Lioness on the Rise,” which Tony Rebel originally wrote for Marcia Griffiths but which became one of the Fyah Muma’s signature songs.  Queen Ifrica also explained the real reason why her show in New York was canceled last year—and no it wasn’t really because of protests from gay community. She also takes a moment to big up all who fight for freedom of speech—the Mandelas and the Gandhis. She also talks about the growth of Rebel Salute over the years. Finally Ifrica lets everybody know how they can keep up with all the action at this year’s festival—going down in St. Anne, Jamaica January 16th & 17th—no matter where in the world they might be.  Video After The Jump… (more…)