Boomshots

Tag: Busta Rhymes

  • Spice Drops ‘Mirror 25,’ Reflects on 25 Years of Dominance and Celebrates Kartel’s Homecoming

    Spice Drops ‘Mirror 25,’ Reflects on 25 Years of Dominance and Celebrates Kartel’s Homecoming

    When Spice Pulls Up It’s Always a Movie

    The Queen of Dancehall’s third studio album Mirror 25 dropped today and like everything Spice-related it’s got the internet goin’ nuts. Lead-off single “2085 Tea” set the tone of hardcore dancehall with a dash up mix-up while the country-hip-hop hybrid “Round Round” featuring Busta Rhymes showed the album’s versatility. “Ex Boyfriend” is a masterpiece of melodic pop while her Chronic Law collab “Gangsta” shows a harder side of Grace Hamilton. Now we’ve heard the full 25 tracks it’s clear that Mirror 25 is Spice’s best body of work ever. The musical offerings range from inspirational tunes like “You Are Worthy” to mad collabs like featuring “Cry” featuring Lola Brooke and of course “Super Hero” featuring Pamputtae and Jada Kingdom aka Harley Quint, Bumpa Incredible and Tightimus Prime. Last time Spice was in NYC she sat down with Reshma B who dug into her archive and pulled out a very rare CD that brought back some emotional memories for Spice. You don’t want to miss this interiew.  Check out the full story on Complex.  Video After The Jump…  (more…)

  • Yee Haw! Spice Kicks Off Dream Weekend New York Cowgirl Style

    Yee Haw! Spice Kicks Off Dream Weekend New York Cowgirl Style

    The Queen of the Dancehall Live & Direct in NYC

    By the time Vybz Kartel shouted out Dream Weekend on his smash 2011 hit “Summertime,” the Negril-based super fete was already known as one of the biggest and wildest parties in the entire Caribbean. Catering to a sucker-free clientele who know how to tun up in style, Dream Weekend has evolved into a full-fledged festival and expanded its brand from Negril to New York City. The opening night of Dream Weekend New York 2024 was hosted by none other than the Queen of Dancehall herself, Spice. Despite the rainy weather, Manhattan’s Club Musica was packed with hardcore yet upscale party people raving to the sounds of DJ Kevin Crown and Platinum Kids Sound. The festivities happened to fall on June 29th, the same day Spice released “Round & Round,” her brand new cowboy-themed collab with Busta Rhymes. Queen Spice was in rare form, passing out cowboy hats to get everybody in the mood to shout “Yee Haw!” Photos & Video After The Jump… 

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  • WATCH THIS: Tosh Alexander Busts Her “Bubble”

    WATCH THIS: Tosh Alexander Busts Her “Bubble”

    Talking Hair Curlers And Fluffy Miss Kitty With The Reggae Girl About Town

    Born in New York and raised in Jamaica, Tosh Alexander loves the best of both worlds, shooting videos with Busta Rhymes and making tracks with Sasco, Tifa, and Wayne Marshall. Her sexy new single “Bubble” featuring Fluffy Miss Kitty dives straight into dancehall culture. Chilling on a park bench in NYC, she spoke with Reshma B about looking hot with hair curlers, the unfathomable richness of Jamaican talent, and why Buju Banton’s return is is cause for all reggae and dancehall fans to celebrate. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • The Making of Bounty Killer’s “My Xperience”

    The Making of Bounty Killer’s “My Xperience”

    Remembering A Game-Changing Album Twenty Years Later

    All Eyez On Me. The Don Killuminati. Reasonable Doubt. The Score. It Was Written. ATLiens. Nineteen Ninety Six was an epic year for hip hop album releases. It was also a decisive year for dancehall breaking through to urban America. Twenty years ago this month, Bounty Killer released My Xperience on Blunt Recordings, a new joint venture between perennial reggae powerhouse V.P. Records and TVT Records, a New York-based indie specializing in “TV Tunes.” Featuring collabs with some of the biggest rappers and producers in hip hop—The Fugees, Mobb Deep, Raekwon, RZA, Busta Rhymes, Erick Sermon, Jeru the Damaja—My Xperience did that and more. The album truly changed the game for dancehall in the hip hop space. In an exclusive Boomshots interview, Bounty Killer calls it “the greatest album” of his illustrious career and shares his memories of working on the historic project. We also spoke with Killer’s then-manager Johnny Wonder, now the V.P. of 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution to share his experiences making My Xperience. Interviews After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Beenie Man: “The music is Jamaican; the problem is, America can make it too.”

    Reasoning with Beenie Man: “The music is Jamaican; the problem is, America can make it too.”

    The Doctor Talks Drake, Popcaan & Kartel

    “Drake from Canada—Beenie Man from Jamaica—dah one yah a murda! Zagga.” When Drake’s album Views dropped at the end of April, Popcaan fans were surprised to hear a new voice on “Controlla”—a vintage Beenie Man sample appeared where Popcaan’s lyrics used to be. With Drake’s album topping the charts and breaking sales records this was obviously a big deal, and it set off all sorts of debates about why the 6 God made that move—and whether he truly respected reggae and dancehall or was just tapping into the flavor of the moment. But Beenie Man is not bothered. Having collabed with the likes of Wyclef and Janet Jackson the Grammy-winning DJ who dropped the single “King of the Dancehall” back in 2004 is taking the whole situation in stride and focusing on his new album Unstoppable, which features collabs with Sean Paul and Busta Rhymes among others. We caught up with Beenie near the end of his European tour to talk about Drake, Popcaan and his thoughts about Vybz Kartel’s new album title. (In case you missed the memo, Kartel’s dropping an album tomorrow provocatively titled King of the Dancehall.) “The name of an album and the name of a person different,” said Bounty Killer during a recent appearance On Stage. “But me know say it provoking still. Him provoke Beenie fe true, just like when Beenie Man say him ah de king, him did provoke Yellow Man. And tell you what: is not one king. You have the king of all kings, but there are several kings. Kings come down different generations. So I guess Kartel is trying to say that him ah the king of this generation.” Pressed on the point Killer admitted that his former protege Kartel (who he’s definitely had some issues with over the years) is now ruling the dancehal. “He is the king of this generation, you can’t deny that. Weh you ah go do, fight it? For the last ten years, ah him. Me can’t say nuttin’—him ah de young king deh. If him wan’ piece of the king ting—him can hold on pon the young king. He’s not no prince anymore, after a decade. I’m not being biased. Him a young king, mon.” Let’s see what Beenie has to say about that. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • Remembering “The People’s Champion” -Muhammad Ali

    Remembering “The People’s Champion” -Muhammad Ali

    A Champion of All Champions

    According to Matthew 22:14, “many are called but few are chosen.” Born in the first month of the year, in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. seemed to be destined for greatness. He began his boxing journey at 12 years old and by 22 years old, he was the World HeavyWeight Champion (1964). The “People’s Champion” was kingly by nature, and his confidence was inspiring especially for people of African descent, because his title was preceded by the passing of the Civil Rights Act in the same year. His accomplishments left an indelible mark on history, culture and the globe. More After The Jump…

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  • Spice Speaks on “So Mi Like It,” Rappin’ with Busta Rhymes and Ragga Ragga Ragga 2014

    Spice Speaks on “So Mi Like It,” Rappin’ with Busta Rhymes and Ragga Ragga Ragga 2014

    Reshma B Kicks It With Spice And Gets To How Grace Hamilton Likes It

    Mad Gyal Spice is on top of her game right now. With the official video for her sexy smash hit “So Mi Like It” racking up millions of Vevo views, rap legend Busta Rhymes jumping on the official remix, and not one but three cuts on VP’s latest Ragga Ragga Ragga compilation, the DJ born Grace Hamilton is breaking records and making history that any dancehall artist—male or female—would be proud of. The last time she was in NYC Spice linked up with The ReggaeGirlAboutTown to chat ’bout “So Mi Like It” and explained why she decided to rap on the remix with Busta. She also revealed that the real Grace Hamilton is very different from her onstage image as Spice. Grace is a family woman who’s really “a nice calm girl at home reading who doesn’t drink or smoke.” Spice, on the other hand, was born as a fearless competitor. “Spice is the person to tek on everybody,” she explains. “I was born to do that.” And when it comes to hardcore dancehall shows like Sting, she says “Me govern it.” Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Spice ft. Busta Rhymes ”So Mi Like It” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Spice ft. Busta Rhymes ”So Mi Like It” Remix

    You know how Spice likes it.  After all this is the girl who collaborated with Kartel on “Rampin’ Shop.” So when she chats about “Skin out my pum pum….” you’d best get to work fast.  And while her new remix to “So Mi Like It’ has Spice showing off her rappin’ skills: “I like it when a man go in between & buss it like a M16.” Meanwhile she’s got Bussa Buss deejaying in patois ”Ben’ ova dash weh/wine pon the buddy gyal.” Busta  has been on the on Island  in support of Vybz Kartel and his family in the run up to the verdict—during his downtime he was  spotted hanging out with Spice on her instagram—which she used to keep her fans updated on their exciting new collab produced by NotNice. Well it’s finally dropped so check the sounds right here. Audio After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Bunji Garlin ft. Busta Rhymes “Differentology” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Bunji Garlin ft. Busta Rhymes “Differentology” Remix

    Vikings And Conglomerates Connect. Axes Up!

    Not only was “Differentology” the top-ranking soca jam of 2013 and winner of MTV Iggy’s song of the year compeition, it’s an undeniable outernational smash that’s ready for the road around the world. Now just in time to wrap up the year, “Differentology” gets an outernational refix courtesy of the Dungeon Dragon himself. Vikings—Axes Up! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: A$AP Ferg ft. Shabba Ranks, Migos & Busta Rhymes “Shabba Remix”

    HEAR THIS: A$AP Ferg ft. Shabba Ranks, Migos & Busta Rhymes “Shabba Remix”

    We Requested It, And Now Ferg Delivers The Big Dutty Stinkin’ Reeeeeeemix

    From the moment we heard the Trap Lord goin’ in about the Dancehall Emperor, we knew there was just one way to make this tune better. And when we saw the Ranks up in the video, we started thinking maybe it was about to happen. But when RGAT chopped it up with Ferg and mentioned the idea of doing a remix with the Rankin, Ferg seemed lukewarm on the idea. But we kept patiently waiting until we almost gave up hope and then, this weekend—pow! And not Shabba but BussaBuss and Migos too! Thank you Trap Lord. Audio After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Smif N Wessun ft Junior Reid “Solid Ground” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Smif N Wessun ft Junior Reid “Solid Ground” Official Music Video

    Boot Camp Vets Stand Firm With Mr. “One Blood”

    In the past couple of months, a wave of reggae collaborations has surfaced across genres of music—from the lover’s rock of Shaggy’s “You Girl” featuring Ne-Yo to A$AP Ferg saluting “Shabba Ranks” to Nicki Minaj and Busta Rhymes providing dance lessons with “Twerk It” to Selena Gomez trying to walk “Like A Champion” in Buju Banton’s footsteps. Some collaborations represent sheer genius while others lean on loud yelling and Ja-fakin’ accents. The best usually feature a reggae artist’s vocals, giving the tracks authenticity. Case in point: Boot Camp Clik’s Smif N Wessun (General Steele & Tek) have paid homage to reggae music ever since their inception. Their classic “Sound Bwoy Bureill,” from their 1995 debut album, Dah Shinin, painted on a canvas of echoes from old-school dancehall verbal artillery. The verbal brushstrokes of Fuzzy Jones’s  intro and Smif N’ Wessun’s use of Jamaican patois-infused rap, create a masterpiece of hip-hop reggae fusion that could only have been birthed in Brooklyn. This warning was also sampled on Kanye West smash hit, “Mercy” in 2012. “Sound Bwoy Buriell” also features lyrics from Buju Banton’s “Boom Bye Bye” making it a BoOM tune by far! Video After The Jump…

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  • Sean Kingston Gets Back to His Jamaican Roots

    Sean Kingston Gets Back to His Jamaican Roots

    Sean Kingston’s 10 Favorite Reggae Songs—PLUS  His New Tune w Busta Rhymes 

    Ever since Sean Kingston first burst on the music scene as a teenage pop sensation with a runaway debut hit “Beautiful Girls,” we’ve been hearing how he grew up in Jamaica and his music was influenced by reggae. As hard as we listened we never really heard much evidence of that influence beyond song titles like “Fire Burning.” But that seems to be changing with his new album, Back 2 Life, SK’s first full-length project since he sustained serious insuries in a jet-ski accident. The first indication was the lead-off single “Shotta Luv” feautring 2 Chainz. And then we stopped by his record-listening in NYC and heard a straight-up dancehall track featuring Busta Rhymes. Sean seemed to like it so much he played it like three times in a row. The next day we asked him to run down his ten favorite reggae and dancehall tracks—and we are not mad at the selections. He even says he wants to work with Shabba Ranks! So hit the jump to learn the half that’s never been told about Mr. Kingston. Videos After The Jump… (more…)