Tag: NYC

  • 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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  • WATCH THIS: Ding Dong “Syvah” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Ding Dong “Syvah” Official Music Video

    Ricky Blaze x Ravers Clavers Buss The New Dance Worldwide—Oh My Daaaays

    Ding Dong is known for always bringing the big new dance anthems that get the whole world bouncing. But his brand new illectro boomshot—produced by the man called Ricky Blaze—he also separates the thugs from the bait. What else do you expect from the team that brought you “Badman Forward Badman Pull Up?” The song is maaad and this new video is oh so bad. Pull up! Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Caribbean Fever Music Fest Brings Reggae and Soca Beat To Barclays

    Caribbean Fever Music Fest Brings Reggae and Soca Beat To Barclays

    Shabba Ranks, Damian and Stephen Marley, I-Octane, Bunji Garlin, Fayann Lyons, and Alison Hinds Headline As Caribbean Fever Music Festival Celebrates Caribbean Music at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center This Labor Day

    “This concert is a collaborative effort between Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Media and Caribbean Fever” Dahveed Levy, CEO of Caribbean Fever, draped with Caribbean beauties wearing elaborate headpieces and vibrant body paint, confirmed at the press conference held at Milk River.  He went on to describe the concert theme for each night. Friday, August 30  “International Night” will feature music predominately from the French Caribbean with artists such as Wyclef Jean, Kassav, Tabou Combo and Djakout #1.  Saturday, August 31 “Carnival Mania Night” will have acts like Allison Hinds, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, Edwin Yearwood, Iwer George and Tallpree “preparing the massive for Eastern Parkway and the true culture of Carnival.” Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • A$AP Ferg NYC Listening Event

    Ferg Previews Trap Lord And Yams Burns Out the Nonbelievers
    ASAPFergLast night A$AP Ferg held a listening event for his new album, Trap Lord. The Darby NYC was ram-jammed with A$AP Mob members and hip-hop tastemakers. The album sounds crazy—from the street single “Shabba” to abum cuts like “Cocaine Castle” and “Fuck Out My Face”—and A$AP Yams had a few choice words for all those who did not believe in his vision. Damn it feels good to see people up on it. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Red Bull Music Academy Takes Over NYC

    Red Bull Music Academy Takes Over NYC

    Some of music’s greatest minds in one of the world’s greatest cities

    The Red Bull Music Academy pitched up to NYC this year for their annual musical extravaganza. If you’re not familiar with the RBMA then it’s one event to note for the diary. Practically each year since 2002 they have set up shop all over the world for one month to provide a handful of fortunate students who applied for the program to learn the ins and outs of the music biz. Cities so far have ranged from Capetown-South Africa to Spain’s Madrid.

    Trust and believe that the energy drink giants (who in 2011 sold 4.6 billion cans of Red Bull) nah cut corners at all! Everyone in NYC knew the team had arrived. Taking over coolest spots in NYC for their events, advertising their entire 31-day schedule in the New York subway (and on giant walls in Williamsburg), not to mention supplying a stand of in-house newspapers filled with quality stories by some of the best journo’s in town, printed fresh to pick up every morning.

    So of course we went down to see wha gwan… Full Report Plus Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • REVIEW: Major Lazer Live At Terminal 5 NYC

    You Have Never Seen A Lazer Show Like This

    The veteran of the secret Zombie War of 1984 hopped on his rocket powered skateboard and descended upon the unsuspecting inhabitants of New York City and made the spacious Terminal 5 his headquarters before the Frankenstorm’s arrival. (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 Aidonia “Bolt Action” mix

    Federation Sound, Business Class, & Equinoxx Longside J.O.P. So Sick!

    Pree the preview, then click through for the brand new mix from the DJ who spits strictly rapidfire lyrics. (more…)

  • NYC Labor Day Weekend Recap

    Beenie Man Mashing Up On Da Reggae Tip Hammerstein Ballroom

    Shout To LonestarSound. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jay-Z feat. Santigold “Brooklyn”

    Santigold & Jigga Go Hard For BK With A “Boom Bye Bye like Buju.” Brap.

    It should have come as no surprise when Jay-Z jumped on that Mavado track. First of all, Brooklyn is damn near Jamaica’s 15th parish, and its dancehall scene is a cosmos unto itself—impossible to overlook. Ever since Jay came out with that rapidfire diggity-Das-EFX flow, we knew he had to have heard those sound system cassettes that used to pass hand to hand from Jamdown to BKNY: (more…)