Boomshots

Tag: Rastafari

  • WATCH THIS: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley “Autumn Leaves” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley “Autumn Leaves” Official Music Video

    Gongzilla In Sinatra Mode

    As the days get shorter, the weather becomes cooler, the leaves on trees begin to turn orange and red, it is clear that fall is announcing it’s imminent arrival. Coinciding with the changing season Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley dropped an appropriately titled video for the Stony Hill cut “Autumn Leaves.” Directed by Mark Pellington, the video is full of powerful images of people young and old, interpretive dancers, a string orchestra, and Marley dressed in all white that work together to convey a feeling of both melancholy and hopefulness that fits well with the songs message of navigating the ups and down of love with Zilla singing “don’t give up on me.” With its prominent string arrangement, no bass and no one drop, the song is an example of a growing trend of music that challenges the very definition of what a reggae tune sounds like. Video After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Jah9 “Prosper” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Jah9 “Prosper” Official Music Video

    “Be Confident In All We Do And Say”

    Jah9 has just released the video for “Prosper,” the fourth video from her latest album “9.” The video directed by Samo Kush-I, was shot in black and white complete with a vintage 35mm camera feel, as Jah9 sings encouraging lyrics of spirituality and empowerment in a relaxed and calming voice. “Whatever is worth doing is worth doing to the highest level,” says Jah9. “And the time we spend in service to high upful endeavors serves to build. The chorus of the song is an affirmation, a mantra, a spell that can be used daily to empower. The outside world will seem less intimidating when we feel more empowered and less insecure about our value.” Video After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Samory I “Rasta Nuh Gangsta” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Samory I “Rasta Nuh Gangsta” Official Music Video

    A Man With Locks Don’t Need No Glocks

    Not every music artist can “buss” right out the gate, sometimes it takes cultivation before they are rewarded with the fruits of their labor. After four years of slowly building a following, Samory I is primed to be a major voice in reggae music in 2017 with the release of “Rasta Nuh Gangsta,” which addresses some common misconceptions about Rastafarians. Video And Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Kabaka vs. Pyramid” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Kabaka Pyramid “Kabaka vs. Pyramid” Official Music Video

    Accurate Lyricist Drops Battle-Rap-Themed Video

    Kabaka Pyramid continues the trend of Rastafarian artists rapping over boom bap hip-hop beats. In this video, aptly titled “Kabaka vs. Pyramid,” the artist pays homage to battle rap and stages a rap battle with himself. Hip hop has a long history of alter-egos, from Tupac/Makavelli to Eminem/Slim Shady, and even T.I. vs. T.I.P. Will the Bebble Rock spitter continue the trend in dancehall? Rockin’ over Biggie’s “Gimme The Loot” riddim, one persona keeps it patois while the other is twangin’ like a youth who spent time in Miami as he was coming up. Watch the video and find out who wins. Video After The Jump…
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  • “Nothing Can Harm Me” Remembering Countryman

    “Nothing Can Harm Me” Remembering Countryman

    A Man Who Represented Rastafari In Real Life

    After battling cancer for years, the death of Edwin “Countryman” Lothan hit his friends and fans very hard. Though he passed away September 18th, obituaries are just starting to appear in the international press for this simple Rasta fisherman who appeared in a feature story in Rolling Stone magazine in 1973, a living symbol of Rastafari at a time when few Americans had even heard of reggae music. Nine years later he starred in the film Countryman, produced by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. He lived a simple life according to strict principles of Rastafari. All the obituaries mention these facts, but this is what I remember, the Countryman I knew. Essay After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Raging Fyah “Raggamuffin” Official Lyric Video

    WATCH THIS: Raging Fyah “Raggamuffin” Official Lyric Video

    How To Prepare Your Steam Chalice

    High tech vaporizers may be all the rage in Babylon, but in Raging Fyah’s new video, they focus on the proper preparation of the ital steam chalice. Celebrated in big tunes like Jah 9’s “Steamers a Bubble,” the Rastafarians’ natural vaporizer utilizes bamboo shoots and coconut shells to achieve a cool smoke-free ganja vapor without the use of microcircuitry. Now just make sure that whatever you put in it is a strong and natural as Raging Fyah’s new album Everlasting and you will be good to go. Video After The Jump…
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  • HEAR THIS: Third World “Yim Mas Gan”

    HEAR THIS: Third World “Yim Mas Gan”

    Reggae Ambassadors Revisit an Amharic Classic

    In the ancient Amharic language of Ethiopia “Igziabeher Yim Mas Gan” roughly translates to “Let H.I.M. Be Praised” (with the letters h-i-m denoting His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, JAH Rastafari). The Abyssinians cut the original version of this mystical tune back in the 1972. Fast forward to 2015 and the legendary island fusion ensemble Third World aka the Reggae Ambassadors revisit this crucial roots classic with a track produced by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. And the beat goes on—itinually. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: H.I.M. Haile Selassie’s Official State Visit To Jamaica

    Happy Birthday To The King of Kings

    Exactly 120 years ago today, Tafari Makonnen was born in the Harar province of Ethiopia. He would go on to become His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, still revered by the Rastafarian movement and countless reggae songs as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In short, a Black God incarnate. When Emperor Selassie visited Jamaica On April 21, 1966 he was greeted like a messiah. Video after the jump. (more…)

  • Politricks

    Behold the Gong at his Tuffest…

    “Never make a politician grant you a favor / They will always want to control you forever.”

    REAL TALK

  • Soul of The Rebel

    During his 36 years on planet earth, Robert Nesta Marley became one of the most photographed human beings in history. And judging by the brisk sales of Bob T-shirts, CDs, and rolling papers, nobody’s has yet grown “Tired fi see me face,” as he put it in his prophetic tune “Bad Card.”

    "From the very first time I rest my eyes on you..."

    The Gong and his customized guitar.

    Now, just in time for the Tuff Gong’s 64th birthday, comes a new view of the man behind the Legend. David Burnett was sent to Jamaica by TIME magazine in 1976 to document the roots reggae phenomenon. The following year Rolling Stone sent him on the Exodus tour. (more…)