Boomshots

Tag: Dub

  • Reasoning With Scientist

    A Dub Legend Speaks on King Tubby, The Roots of Dub, & The Vampire-Killing Power of Drum & Bass

    History will be made tonight at B.B. King’s in New York City when the Dub Champions Festival presents Scientist and the Roots Radics band performing their legendary 1981 album Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires live in its entirety for the first time ever. The Radics’s sessions for Henry “Junjo” Lawes at Channel One Studio became the stuff of legend, largely because the brilliant young engineer Scientist was at the controls. Born Overton Brown in Kingston, Jamaica, Scientist was just a teenager when he first began working with King Tubby’s, the originator of dub music. He managed to win Tubby’s confidence and the student soon became a master, the most in-demand studio engineer in Jamaica. With a big assist from Emch of Subatomic Sounds we caught up with Scientist for this rare in-depth interview and he had so much things to say. Suffice it to say that half the story has never been told. Q&A after the jump. (more…)

  • Dub Champions Festival Kicks Off Tonight In NYC

     The Past, Present & Future of Bass Music: From Scientist & Lee “Scratch” Perry to Kode9 & Appleblim

    These days everybody seems to be raving about electronic dance music—or “EDM.” There are too many different subgenres to list here, and more are being invented as we speak. But the true heads know that it all started with another three-letter word: dub. Subatomic Sound’s second annual Dub Champions Festival is all about rewinding back to the reggae roots of dub and then fast-forward into the future of bass music. It all begins tonight with Deadly Dragon Sounds free Downtown Top Ranking kick-off party at Happy Endings. As always, the Downtown Top Ranking session is free. For everything else, you may want to register at  www.DubChampions.com for a discount code. Full schedule of events after the jump.

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  • Interview: Reasoning With Rodigan Part 2

    The Rudeboy Gentleman’s Long & Winding Road From King Tubby’s Dub Studio To Buckingham Palace

    David Rodigan is sometimes referred to as the rudeboy gentleman, a nickname that sums up the apparent contradictions that make the veteran UK selector and radio personality such a singular character. Who else can say that they have cut dubplates in King Tubby’s studio, juggled tunes in King Jammy’s yard, and received royal honors from the Prince of Wales inside Buckingham Palace? Youth like Prince Harry will have to practice long and hard before they can test Rodigan. Because Rodigan has always been more than a DJ—he’s a cultural historian and educator who elucidates the nuances of Jamaican music to a wide audience (and whose dubplate collection is a veritable musical museum.) He’s also a rigorously trained professional actor on stage and television who might have easily chosen another path in life. Last week the selector talked about how he’s reaching the dubstep generation and paid respects to the late, great King Stitt. In part 2 of our series of exclusive interviews, the legendary selector and radio presenter reveals how his girlfriend first landed him a gig on the radio, how his background in theater helps him as a reggae DJ, and why he never talks patois on the air. OK, let’s get to it. [And if you somehow missed REASONING WITH RODIGAN PART 1, fret not thyself.]

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  • The Wisdom Of Lee “Scratch” Perry

    Win Tickets To See The Artist Formerly Known As Pipecock Jaxson in NYC This Thursday

    Long before Lil Wayne started proclaiming that he was “not a human being,” Lee “Scratch” Perry had the whole self-mythologizing thing down to a science. Unfortunately Scratch the character—order your limited edition vinyl… action figure before midnight tonight!—has very nearly eclipsed Lee “Scratch” Perry the man, who just happens to be a bonafide musical genius. His influence on legendary artists ranging from Bob Marley to The Beastie Boys has been well documented, still the cult of personality persists. But when Scratch takes the stage to perform live tonight in Washington D.C., he might just remind a few people what all the fuss is about. (Check the tour dates below.) If you happen to be in New York City tomorrow night, answer our million-dollar question for a chance to win tickets to the May 17th show at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre. And even if you can’t make it to any of these gigs, read on to pick up some pearls of Perry wisdom, as reported by the man called Emch, whose Subatomic Sound System has toured the world with Scratch.

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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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  • HEAR THIS: Clive Chin’s Pure Scorcher Mix

    Rinsing Randy’s Rarities At The Radio Lily Launch January 28, 2012

    The very first night Radio Lily began broadcasting the people’s music from Miss Lily’s Variety at the corner of Houston and Sullivan Streets in New York City, we had to come with something special. So we sent for the inimitable Mr. Clive Chin of Randy’s Records fame. The same one who designed the Impact! records logo. He showed up on a cold January night with a dapper tweed jacket and a briefcase full of dubplates and 45s. He promised to play one hour of “pure scorcher” but he ended up staying for 2 and a half hours, flinging down selections that ran the gamut from ska to rock steady to roots, rock, reggae, dubwise and otherwise. We’re talking rare and unreleased cuts from the likes of the Skatalites, Randy’s All-Stars, The Wailers Band, and Al & The Vibrators not to mention Delroy Wilson, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Errol Dunkley, I-Roy, Augustus Pablo, The Heptones and so much more. (He even previewed some new rock steady songs sung in Cantonese that he recorded during a recent trip to China.) (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Beastie Boys ft. Santigold “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win”

    Spike Jonez Sez Shot Haffi Lick—But Please Don’t Harm The Yetis

    Okay, that G.I. Joe shit was cute, but click here for the all killa, no filla version….
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  • HEAR THIS: Stephen Marley & Jr. Gong “Jah Army”

    Marley Brothers Moving Well Militant On The Big Bad Foundation Riddim

    Stephen “Ragga” Marley and his brother Gongzilla just served up another musical heatrock. Chopping up a dubbed-out slice of Black Uhuru’s extra-heavy “General Penitentiary” riddim, the brothers deal with it wicked, chasing all crazy bumpheadz out of town. Last time we heard these not-so-distant relatives rocking like this was “The Mission,” and you know that was a next Certified Boomshot. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: “Dub Echoes”

    Half the story has never been dubbed.

    This DVD came out a couple years ago, but most of these newjacks still act like they don’t know. (See quote @1:30) Respect the architects.