Tag: Brooklyn

  • Flex Masters: A Guide To Brooklyn’s Own Dancehall Hybrid Scene

    Flex Masters: A Guide To Brooklyn’s Own Dancehall Hybrid Scene

    Who’s Building The Best FDM Riddims Right Now

    It’s been over a decade in the making, but Brooklyn’s homegrown style of dance music is beginning to make waves outside of battle circles. Called FDM (short for flex dance music), the sound is a critical component of the flex dance culture that it grew up alongside. While the dancers were refining their styles into a distinct set of movements, producers were doing the same, creating their own sound fashioned out of a wealth of dancehall riddims and sound effects that would provide the soundtrack for major dance competitions. I went deep into the scene over at Pitchfork, so please go read that when you have time. Meanwhile here’s a quick guide to the producers (many of whom are also dancers) responsible for making the sound what it is today. This weekend, Boiler Room will feature its first flex dancer and FDM producer—a sure sign that big tings ah gwan—although they’re keeping the details a secret for now. They’ve also got more plans in the works for FDM later this summer, so this is just a starting point. We figured this would be a good time to provide some basic info about the scene before everything starts to blow up. Audio & Info After The Jump…
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  • Anthony Weiner Lickin’ Shots Pon The Parkway

    Turns Out The Ja-Fakin’ Mayoral Candidate Is a Big Capleton Fan
    AnthonyWeinerBoomshots

    It’s not unusual to see politicians pandering at “ethnic” events like yesterday’s West Indian Day parade in Brooklyn NYC. What is more unusual is to see mayoral candidates shouting Bo! Bo! Bo! pon the Parkway (even without the gun-finger in the air). Or to hear them singing along to dancehall tunes that say “all sodomite dem fi dead.” But then again, when the mayoral candidate in question happens to be Anthony “Dick Pic” Weiner, can anyone say they are truly surprised? Still he keeps finding ways to redefine “reckless.” Video after the jump…

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  • Gallery: Ajamu Photographs The West Indian Day Parade

    Brooklyn We Go Hard

    From Port of Spain in Trinidad to Notting Hill in London, Carnival is a worldwide phenomenon. We all need a time and place to get on bad, right? Of course every city has their own unique way of wilding out—but you already know nobody goes harder than Brooklyn USA. You’ve got zombies and stilt walkers and bugged out Brooklynites and hot girls in their barely theres as Grand Marshalls Harry Belafonte and Machel Montano rub shoulders with Andrew Cuomo and police commissioner Ray Kelly. Unfortunately this year’s event was marred by violence—with two people stabbed to death and two others wounded by gunfire. Despite those tragedies, the rest of us had a great time. Marlon “Ajamu” Myrie has been shooting (with a camera) on Eastern Parkway for years, and he’s not only got an artist’s eye, he’s got a special gift for charming the ladies, as you’ll notice in this massive 2012 gallery. Photo Gallery after the jump.

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  • WATCH THIS: Meta & The Cornerstones featuring Peter Morgan “Somewhere In Africa” (Remix)

    Jamaican And African Voices, Singing From BK To The Motherland

    Peter and Gramps Morgan recently linked up with Meta Dia at Coptic’s Brooklyn soundlab, headquarters of The Black Star Line Movement. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Meta & The Cornerstones “Cornerstone”

    Roots Rock Reggae Straight Outta Senegal By Way of Brooklyn

    The realest video we’ve seen in a long while comes from Senegal-born Meta Dia and his BK-based ensemble The Cornerstones. Refreshing, upful, truthful in so many ways. But it’s not for the ADD generation. Got to give this one time… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Barrington Levy Live in NYC

    Tell Them Already Have To Tell Them Again, Him A Murrrrdera!


    This year’s Hot 97 On Da Reggae Tip showcase was all about singers: From Gyptian, the man with the big tune of the moment, to the young veteran Mr. Vegas, to a surging Serani, the Alliance’s top pop threat. But when it comes to legendary dancehall singers, Barrington Levy has few living rivals. (more…)

  • “I’ve Got The Handle, You’ve Got The Blade”

    Neighborly Dispute in BK Becomes A Case of Mackerel vs Machete

    Major Mackerel, dancehall’s undisputed champion of bugged-out sound effects, wound up on the wrong end a swinging sword yesterday morning in Brooklyn. (more…)

  • DUNGLOAD Screechy Dan & Red Fox “Fall In Love”

    Flatbush Connection Links Up To Represent For The BK Dancehall Massive


    All through the 90s, Screechy Dan & Red Fox kept Brooklyn’s dancehall scene on the map along with producer Sting Intl and sparring partners like Bajja Jedd, Nikey Fungus, Rayvon, and a Boombastic youth named Shaggy.

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  • DUNGLOAD: “Birthday Sex” Rub-A-Dub Remix

    Guaranteed 100% Less Annoying than the Original!

    Jeremih’s inescapable R&B bump-n-grinder gets a much-needed upgrade courtesy of rising reggae producer Jon FX. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: 3 Canal “Boom” & More Trinibadness

    Trinidad’s Baddest Rapso Crew Sets It Off

    For all those who thought Trini music was nothing but soca and steel pan, think again. 3 Canal have been on some Public Enemy ish for 12 years now and they’re still out here making history every day. “Rapso man want to right the wrongs; Rapso man bring Babylon down.” Let off…

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  • VIDEO PREMIERE: Duane Howard “Your Stage”

    D-Wayne is Brooklyn youth of Jamaican descent who sings like he might have had to croon his way out of a a sticky situation once or twice before. The sparkle in his eye is matched only by that sparkling voice. Plus Dude’s got game. Says he wants to go to the future only so he can reminisce. (more…)

  • REMIX: Biggie & Busy

    Biggie Smalls & Busy Signal “Dead Wrong / Too Much Gun” The Remix

    March 9 is not a day to celebrate. Today marks the 12th anniversary of Biggie Smalls’ murder in Los Angeles. Our thoughts and prayers are with Christopher Wallace’s close friends and family. Unbelievable was deep, and Notorious was heartbreaking, but as Jay-Z put it, “This ain’t a movie, dog.”

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