Boomshots

Tag: Lady Saw

  • Macka Diamond: Diamonds Are Forever

    Macka Diamond: Diamonds Are Forever

     Macka Diamond Keeps Getting Better With Time

    Dancehall artist Macka Diamond plans to take her career to the next level in 2017.  With the release of a new single, “25 inches,” her signature high-pitched, breathy vocals sound more fierce than ever. The dancehall arena is for the survival of the fittest and Macka shows that she is fully equipped with promotional photographs in full body paint. Collaborating with the best producers, she aspires to drop a one drop album and embark on a U.S. Tour. This diamond shows clearly shows that she is cut by a cloth of longevity. We spoke to Macka Diamond about how she became an empowered woman in dancehall. Interview After The Jump

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  • R.I.P. Sting: The End of an Era in Dancehall

    R.I.P. Sting: The End of an Era in Dancehall

    Remembering The Greatest One Night Reggae and Dancehall Show on Earth

    When the history of dancehall music is written, 2016 will go down as the year when mainstream stars took over the worldwide pop charts using Jamaican styles and sounds. It will also be remembered as the first Boxing Day in over three decades that went down with a staging of Sting. Sad to say the legendary stage show that has seen some of the most talked about performances—and lyrical clashes—in dancehall history is no more. Just three years after celebrating Sting’s 30th anniversary with a star-studded lineup that included the return of the Don Dada Super Cat, American artists 2 Chainz and Wyclef Jean, and an epic clash between Lady Saw and Macka Diamond, Sting founder Isaiah Laing has called it quits. Despite pledging in years past that “if I am alive there will be Sting,”  Laing made it official on Jamaican television’s popular show OnStage, saying that Sting has not made money in several years—despite significant investment from the likes of Josef Bogdanovich, who has since moved on to revamp another great Jamaican festival, Reggae Sumfest. Laing and his longtime partner Heavy D further noted that the artists who are big enough to draw a crowd are not willing to perform on the show. The clashes that made Sting a sort of musical heavyweight bout eventually came to be its undoing. Who can forget the time when Popcaan had to shove Blak Ryno off the stage because the other artist was “somehow” given a live microphone and allowed to rush the stage during Popcaan’s solo set back in 2012? These types of antics eventually take their toll on artist loyalty. Whether Sting will ever come back is anybody’s guess. Talk of a gospel festival sounds like a major departure from the hardcore format we have come to know and love. For the sake of those who don’t know—and the pleasure of those who do—Boomshots takes a moment to remember the best Sting had to offer. Memories After The Jump… (more…)

  • Spice talks Culture Clash and Why She Doesn’t Want You To Call Her Queen of the Dancehall

    Spice talks Culture Clash and Why She Doesn’t Want You To Call Her Queen of the Dancehall

    Just Call The Mad Gyal “Queen of the Stage”

    One day before the Red Bull Culture Clash, Reshma B sat down with  Spice for an exclusive Boomshots interview. As usual the Mad Gyal and the Reggae Girl About Town kept it 100% real. In the first segment of their epic 3-part reasoning session, they speak about Spice’s huge international fanbase, her latest tunes to touch the road, and how to do the “Indicator” dance. In the second segment, they speak about whether Vybz Kartel is the new King of the Dancehall, what that means for Beenie Man, and why she doesn’t want to be called the Queen of the Dancehall. As usual the Mad Gyal and the Reggae Girl About Town kept it 100% real. In the third and final segment of their epic reasoning session, Spice shares her thoughts on the Red Bull Culture Clash, how she will do whatever it takes to win, and why Mixpak’s dancehall lineup should not be considered “under dogs” since Jamaica originated the whole clash culture. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Healthy Heart Playlist: Popcaan, Jesse Royal, Gaza Slim and More!

    Healthy Heart Playlist: Popcaan, Jesse Royal, Gaza Slim and More!

    The Lyrics We Listen To Affect The Beat of Our Hearts

    The music of the body is the heart beat. A healthy heart depends on good nutrition and exercise. However, in terms of overall homeostasis, emotional and spiritual factors also affect the heart. If one is scared, the sympathetic nervous system reacts in a “flight or fight” reaction to increase cardiac output by increasing the heart rate. Research shows that prayer and meditation can synchronize the vital signs (breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure and temperature) of the body. Based on these observations, one can hypothesize that the music we listen to affects the heart rate. Even more so than the loudness of the bassline, the lyrics evoke feelings and thoughts. This is a positive playlist of songs that refer to God and Love for a peaceful mediation.

    Healthy Heart Playlist After The Jump (more…)

  • Sumfest 2015 Dancehall Night Preview: Will Thursday Be Ladies Night?

    Sumfest 2015 Dancehall Night Preview: Will Thursday Be Ladies Night?

    Do The Ladies Run This M@th@f@CK@?

    Yes, it’s that time again. The Summer blockbuster, the Greatest Reggae Show on Earth, Reggae Sumfest is about to go down in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Although international headliner Rick Ross was unavoidably detained due to a little pistol-whipping incident at his multimillion-dollar estate, word is that T.I. will be stepping in to fill his shoes. Meanwhile there’s no danger of Common or Jennifer Hudson pistol-whipping anybody between now and this weekend. But the reality is that people visit Jamaica to hear Jamaican music. As Morgan Heritage has pointed out, there isn’t even a reggae night at Reggae Sumfest, but the final two nights—previously known as International Nights 1 & 2, and this year renamed Show Time and Star Time—feature a blend of overseas rap, R&B, and pop stars mixed with legendary Jamaican acts like Beenie Man and Cocoa Tea, as well as artists like Jesse Royal and Kabaka Pyramid, representing Jamaica’s “Roots Revival” movement that’s been gaining momentum at home and abroad.  But if you ask us, Reggae Sumfest is all about Dancehall Night—which always seems to draw the biggest crowd. This years should be no excpetion, with stars like Capleton, Popcaan, and Dexta Daps on the bill. But this year, for the first time, Lady Saw will be headlining the biggest night of the festival. She is the first woman to close Dancehall Night, and it’s only fitting since she was officially crowned Queen of the Dancehall on this stage. But Saw is not the only dancehall diva who will be rocking the mic at Catherine Hall this year.  Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Lady Saw “Summer Love” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Lady Saw “Summer Love” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Muma Saw Gets Her Groove Back

    You already know whenever Muma Saw drops a track it’s going to be hot. But this Summer Saw is on fire. When the first line of a tyne is “I wanna fall deeply in love”…soon followed by “I wanna get so damn drunk!”—well, you get the picture. “This summer me ah touch ‘pon the beach” Saw spits on her latest track. “A new boyfriend me ah cop fe the summer.” After all the catfights, clashes, heartbreaks, and high-heel shoes, she’s just trying to exhale and show she’s still the baddest B in business. It seems like Saw is on some YOLO vibes at the moment. Listeners rarely have to do much reading in-between the lines with Saw’s lyrics and this song is no exception. Let’s just say the Queen of the Dancehall is out and about and she don’t care who knows it. Oh, and the summer heat has got her needing a new man in between the sheets. Saw proudly shows off her her beach bod in the video, surrounded by some very fit semi-naked males or effortlessly chilling in the sunset with the likes of the new legendary duo Bounty and Beenie. #NotMad Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • The Queen of the Dancehall In NYC

    The Queen of the Dancehall In NYC

    Lady Saw His The Big Apple, Announces New Album Alter Ego, And Speaks on Jay Z & Solange

    Who keeps it realer than Muma Saw? The Queen of the Dancehall passed through NYC the other day to announce her upcoming double album Alter Ego. This record will show off both sides of Saw’s creativity, from the hardcore dancehall cuts to rap—including her big “Heels On” remix with Flo-Rida—soul, pop, and even a touch of gospel. Saw has been toying with the idea of retiring from the dancehall for some time now and exploring her “Marion Hall” side, but judging by her latest releases there’s no danger of that happening any time soon. Songs like “I Don’t Care” and “Pretty Little Fingers” show that Muma Saw is still reigning in the dancehall and still putting clues about her personal life in between the lines of her music. Reshma B and Saw have had some classic interviews before, but this one might just be the best yet. They spoke about whether “Pretty Little Fingers” describes what’s going on in her home, why she’s decided to stick with her existing relationship for now, and what she thinks really happened between Jay Z, Beyonce, and Solange in that elevator. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Lady Saw “Pretty Fingers”

    HEAR THIS: Lady Saw “Pretty Fingers”

    OMG!!! I am f@cking lost for words. Muma Saw always takes it to the next level and she damn sure did it AGAIN! When this track turned up in my inbox my laptop was playing up. No storage space —so I left it and was like, ‘OK I will deal with this tomorrow.’ Three days later, after some file data transfer, I get to open it at the Mac store. Holy crap! how could I have been sleeping on this? You really have to salute this woman. She basically does whatever the hell she wan’. The Queen of the Dancehall—who gave us a song about her “Pretty P@$$y”—is back with something even madder than that. “Can You Be with me and no one else? Tell me now cause I can love myself…. My pretty fingers they do know me well” Oh gosh! Saw has always been that independent woman and people look up to her for keeping real. In this track she combines the two. What’s more independent than taking care of your own needs? If her man can’t handle the job those fingers are ready to step up! And it don’t get any more real than making a song about your personal masturbataion process—with a detailed account of what takes place. Whatever was going through her head at the time she decided to put this out I guess there’s a load of people going don’t stop now Saw. Audio After The Jump…

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  • Mama’s Playlist: Top 12 Reggae Songs Saluting Mothers

    Mama’s Playlist: Top 12 Reggae Songs Saluting Mothers

    We recognize the global struggle for women all over the world and hope that we will all work towards ending human trafficking, domestic violence, child hunger and poverty to make a better earth for humanity to thrive in.   Mothers breastfeed the world with knowledge, hope and love; while music creates  limitless opportunities for change. In honor of Mother’s day and with a plethora of songs dedicated to mothers, Boomshots selected our favorite mama songs in reggae.

    Play List After The Jump…

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  • Wyclef Jean “The Truth Is The Truth, And We Gonna Speak It”

    Wyclef Jean “The Truth Is The Truth, And We Gonna Speak It”

    “I was born in Haiti,” said Wyclef Jean shortly after rocking a tough Jamaican crowd at Sting. “I was born in a hut. I used to eat dirt off the floor if you read my book All we had was the music.” Although Clef was raised in New Jersey amidst a streetwise soundscape of hip-hop, soul, and reggae music, his affinity for Jamaican sounds the multi-multi-platinum 3-time-Grammy-winning rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and former member of The Fugees. After he stepped off stage in his dapper black tux, Clef took a moment to chat with Reshma B. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Macka Diamond Defiant After Lady Saw Clash “You’re A Hater”

    Macka Diamond Defiant After Lady Saw Clash “You’re A Hater”

    Defiant Miss Dye Dye Resfuses to Say Die

    Beaten but unbowed, Macka Diamond was chilling in the parking lot outside Jamworld following her highly anticipated clash with Lady Saw. Although the audience chose Muma Saw as the decisive winner, Macka explained that she felt victorious because she proved she was not a coward by stepping onstage to face the Queen of the Dancehall after all the diss records and Twitter beef. Macka vows that their lyrical war is just beginning, but it looks like she may not be in such a rush to get that crowd after all, as she says… “If that crown make me so unhappy, me no want it.” Video After The Jump…

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  • Lady Saw Speaks on Sting Clash “Bye Bye Macka”

    Lady Saw Speaks on Sting Clash “Bye Bye Macka”

    The Queen Defends Her Crown

    The 30th anniversary staging of Sting offered many highlights, from the return of Super Cat to Tommy Lee’s courageous comeback after a near-fatal car crash and international stars like Wyclef Jean and 2Chainz. In the clash department, Kiprich battled Blak Ryno for a US$30,000 prize, but nothing could match the raw energy and excitement of Lady Saw’s long-awaited head-to-head confrontation with Macka Diamond. After weeks of diss songs, Twitter beef, interviews and speculation, these two dancehall stars put on their solider gear and war paint and launched into lyrical combat. Shortly after her decisive triumph, the Queen of the Dancehall sat down with Boomshots to share her thoughts on the clash—and why she says it will be her last. Video After The Jump… (more…)