Tag: Dancehall

  • DOWNLOAD: Munga Honorable “SlapWeh” Mixtape

    The Gangsta Ras Has Something Special He Wants To Give You

    Every gallis go through this… Ah the gallis dem tune dis. “SlapWeh” is the name of the tune, and the big bad new mixtape from DJ Kitt and the 007 Sound family. Munga’s always been an eclectic artist, so it’s no surprise that the beats on here range from cutting-edge dancehall to one-drop and hip-hop. Guest spots from Chi Ching Ching, Supahype, and the trio G.M.C. (Gyptian, Munga & Chi Ching Ching) round out the package nicely. In other words, the ting tun up. Links after the jump…

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  • Johnny Osbourne “We Need Love” Live

    Reggae Legend Rocks Out In Harlem Backed By The Full Watts Band
    Photograph by Paul Holgerson

    Ten-thirty p.m., Saturday, May 19, in Harlem. I’m sitting at a table in Ginny’s Supper Club below the Red Rooster, 125th and Lenox. Across this art deco revival Harlem nightclub, the funky rounded edges of the window to the deejay booth frames esteemed reggae producer Clive Chin and his operator Fidel ‘Twice’ Luna. My friend Sam leans to me and says, “Can you believe we’re sitting in a place like this, listening to music like this?” Ginny’s stands in obvious contrast to the Brooklyn basements and warehouses and lofts with bare walls and bare lightbulbs where we usually have to stay up until 3 a.m. to hear reggae from the vinyl deep. Twice drops the needle into a Clive Chin-produced cover of “Mission Impossible,” the right track played at the right time. The pot is bubbling… (more…)

  • Interview: Reasoning With Rodigan Part 3

    Sir RamJam’s Royal Recognition, His Radio Clash With Barry G, And His Fears For Reggae’s Future

    David Rodigan‘s trophy case must be getting mighty crowded. This year alone the veteran UK selector and radio personality has won the World Clash, received Member of the British Empire honors at Buckingham Palace,  and earlier this month he bagged the Sony Radio Academy Gold Award for Best Specialist Music Programme in recognition of his recent BBC Radio 2 reggae series. But even as his accolades accumulate, Rodigan wastes no time resting on his laurels. He is fully booked through next year with gigs all around the world. And he seems genuinely concerned about the future of the music he loves—as he explains in the third and final installment of our “Reasoning With Rodigan” series… In the first of our exclusive interviews, Rodigan spoke about how he has been able to reach the dubstep generation, and paid respects to the late, great King Stitt. In part 2, the rude boy gentleman recounted his “baptism by fire” at King Tubbys, revealed how his background in theater helped him become a reggae DJ, and explained why he never talks patois on the air. [In case you somehow missed REASONING WITH RODIGAN PART 1 or PART 2, fret not thyself.] In our third and final installment, Rodigan details the roots of his legendary radio clash with Barry G, talks about receiving MBE honors from Prince Charles earlier this year, and voices his concerns that reggae music may have lost its way. OK, let’s get to it. (more…)

  • Vybz Kartel Disbanding Portmore Empire

    Official Statement From Adidjaheim Records: Tommy Lee and Gaza Slim Moving On To PG13

    This morning Boomshots received an official communique from Vybz Kartel’s record label announcing the end of an era. “Adidjahiem Records would like to announce that the outfit known as the Portmore Empire is being disbanded.” After contacting reputable sources to confirm, it appears that the statement is legit. Although producers have continued to release new Kartel songs recorded before his arrest last October, there is no infrastructure in place to keep up with the day-to-day management of artists. The release also included the following statement from Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer…  (more…)

  • Brigadier Jerry Live & Direct

    On This Monday’s Strictly Boomshots Show, RadioLily.com Welcomes The Original Dancehall General

    This past Monday Romain Virgo niced up the Strictly Boomshots show with some sweet vocals and slick selecting skills. Virgo was a hard act to follow, but we found somebody who’s up to the challenge. And so this coming Monday we’re taking it back to the foundation as we welcome the original dancehall General, Brigadier Jerry. When you talk about the greatest, most influential DJs in dancehall culture, Briggy’s name has to appear right up near the top of the list. And for all the great records he’s made, Briggy is at his best when he’s flinging down lyrics live & direct. There’s no telling exactly what will happen this Monday, but it’s sure to be crucial. (more…)

  • Ninjaman Declares Dancehall “Dead”

    The Front-Teeth-Gold-Teeth-Gun-Pon-Teeth Don Gorgon Has Spoken

    “Reggae/dancehall music is dead,” Ninjaman told the Jamaica Observer last week. “As a matter of fact it is holding on to a tiny string,” declared the notorious Don Gorgon who coined the immortal phrase “anything test dead.”
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  • WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Hottest Hothead” Video

    Gappy Ranks Directs Busy’s Herbalicious New Video

    Busy starts the month off right with this wake & bake video directed by the multi-talented UK artiste Gappy Ranks. The track—Hot Coffee Music’s “Throw Me Herb” riddim—has a nice easy skankin’ vibe, and of course the visuals are the highest grade—especially when Busy starts blowing smoke rings in reverse. Busy promised he was not giving up on dancehall, and here’s your proof. He also says he’s “higher than Wiz Khalifa” and I don’t doubt him on that either. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Elephant Man & Lady Saw “Sidung”

    Backshot Did Nice, But Nothing Sweeter Than When She “Sidung Pon It”

     

    Elephant Man and Lady Saw have joined forces for a crazy combination called “Sidung.” When it comes to slackness, nobody can touch Muma Saw, and she’s definitely been on a roll after tearing up not one but two tracks off Truckback’s “Sex Tape” riddim. Sounds like Elly’s hanging on for dear life on this blazing track produced by Jazzwad. Selectors take note—”Sidung” is the song to get the party started, or maybe the after-party.

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  • HEAR THIS: Chino “Rich 2Morro”

    When The Big Ship Comes In, Everybody Wins

    You already know Big Ship productions is a family thing. Chino and his brother Stephen McGregor have been holding each other down from birth. But on their latest tune “Rich 2Morro” Chino makes it clear that the when his ship comes in, he’s planning to share the love. Gotta love that.
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  • Busy Signal Drops “Reggae Music Again” Today… But Will He Do Dancehall Again?

    Reshma B Interviews Busy In Penthouse Studios, Kingston Jamaica
    Today Busy Signal dropped his critically acclaimed album Reggae Music Again. You already know Busy is a versatile artiste. He’s equally adept at reggae, dub, and he can even do country—but don’t worry dancehall massive, Busy is not turning his back on the raggamuffin style. In fact he’s already working on a new dancehall album for the summer, tentatively titled Lyrics Museum. And word on the street is that there may be a crazy dancehall remix on the way from one of our favorite cuts off Reggae Music Again. For the full story check out the Reggae Girl About Town‘s exclusive interview after the jump.
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  • What’s Hot In Kingston?

    Mr. Vegas, Konshens, and Potential Kidd Have The Girls Flippin’

    We’ve done some intensive research on the streets of Kingston, and from the street dances to the nail salons to the schoolers, the verdict is unanimous: three songs have the streets of Kingston on lock at the moment. Is there a common theme here? Peep the videos and you tell us…

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  • WATCH THIS: I-Octane “My Story” Video

    Octane Drops A Big Video With A Simple Message “Man A Suffer Too Long”

    Got to love when I-Octane kicks that realness. The video for “My Story,” a song produced by DJ Frass, keeps it extra-real, representing for struggling people in Jamaica and all over the world.
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