Boomshots

Tag: Reggae

  • MoBay Artists Shine at Sumfest 2018

    MoBay Artists Shine at Sumfest 2018

    Rygin King, Teejay, and Tommy Lee Rip Dancehall Night In Front Of Hometown Crowd Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest has been a world-class music festival since its inception in 1993, but the 2018 edition of the Greatest Reggae Show on Earth was more than that: it was a chance for redemption in Montego Bay. Since January of 2018, Jamaica’s tourist mecca had been under a state of emergency due to a spike in gang violence. While the military crackdown did manage to reduce the killings, it wasn’t great for the tourism industry. Sumfest has traditionally provided a boost to the local economy each summer, but this year they did more than that—they brought hope back to the Second City. A stellar performance by three of MoBay’s most promising artists—Tommy Lee, Teejay, and Rygin King—sent a message to the streets that there is another way to progress in life. In the words of Downsound Entertainment CEO Josef Bogdanovich. “It’s really about stop the killing and let’s get real and try to make some money and live a good life.” Video, Photos, and Full Story After the Jump… (more…)
  • Are You Ready For Phocas?

    Are You Ready For Phocas?

    Roots And Culture Singer Says Its’s “Time For Change”

    Phocas aka LT honed his musical talents within the studios of Jamaica, and has been doing shows throughout the island while being featured on Irie FM as well as many  stations in England and France. He was first recorded on Manatee Records’ famous “Sattamasagana” Riddim, along with hits like Anthony B’s “Dreader Than Dread” along with a track from original Abysinnian Bernard Collins, making Manatee’s the only Satta riddim personally endorsed by the Abysinnians. The new Phocas album, R U Ready For Me, consists of tracks like “Guide Me oh Jah,” “Clean Out your Heart,” “Living Dead,” and “Dark And Miserable”—all on the ManateeRecords imprint. More strong sounds from the globally charted reggae artist include cuts like “Real Rasta” and “Time For Change.” Additional production talent can be heard on “R U Ready For Me” and “Who Jah Bless.” Touted as the comeback of a talented artist, Phocas continues working dilingently, laying down fresh tracks for release throughout 2018. Video After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Estelle ft. Tarrus Riley “A Love Like Ours” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Estelle ft. Tarrus Riley “A Love Like Ours” Official Music Video

    What do you get when you combine British R&B singer Estelle with reggae artist Tarrus Riley? You get new lovers rock anthem in the song “A Love Like Ours,” which is featured exclusively on VP Records Reggae Gold 2017 compilation album. The video for the song directed by Denzel Williams features a beautifully green forest as the backdrop, with Gabbi Neal and Guy Peel Jr. portraying a couple in love, while Estelle and Tarrus both dressed in white by stylist Shani James trade verses over a silky one drop riddim. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Jah Cure “Lion In The Jungle”

    HEAR THIS: Jah Cure “Lion In The Jungle”

    New Music From Reggae’s High Priest

    Jah Cure has been hypnotizing the soul of all who have listened to his universal healing voice, through putting out boatloads of romantic cuts and testimonials of inner city struggles, all done in his signature rasp. His records have shattered the global airwaves, and as he’d put it, “his only remaining goal for the rest of his life is to spread love and to promote peace and healing, universally through his music”  But what makes this new song particularly stand out from previous works is how commanding and strong it is. In some ways, it plays like the aural equivalent of a chest pound. Listening to the song, his authority yet humble duality sticks out and sees Cure making some strong claims, but finding comfort within the reverence of His Majesty as “the Lion in the jungle.” The shackles that defined his early career, with noted multiple run-ins with the law, sort of represented the themes his music was confined to. This is his new liberation, and its not just taking place in the music; it’s in his life as well. This new side of Jah Cure’s material will only fuel his new music overall vibe. Cure again! Audio & Video After The Jump…

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  • Three Female Reggae Artists To Watch In The U.S.

    Three Female Reggae Artists To Watch In The U.S.

    More Lionesses On The Rise

    Recently there has been a rise in the number of female dancehall and reggae artists in Jamaica. On the roots and culture side you have Jah9, Kelissa, Hempress Sativa and Xana Romeo garnering international attention, and on the dancehall side there is Spice, Shensea, and Ishawna setting dances and stages shows on fire. But that rise in female artists is not limited to Jamaica, here in America there are three talented young women from the Tri-State area of NJ, NY, and CT ready to make their mark in the music industry. Half The Story Has Never Been Told… (more…)

  • The Worst of the ‘Best Of The Best’ Instagram Comments After Epic Mavado Fail

    The Worst of the ‘Best Of The Best’ Instagram Comments After Epic Mavado Fail

    How Them Fi Deal With The Gully Gad So?

    This past Memorial Day Weekend the Best Of The Best music festival put on their 11th annual stage show at Miami’s Bayfront Park. Just like every year the show kicked of in the early afternoon and went on until midnight presenting many of “the best of the best” acts in the reggae and dancehall fraternity. Over they years BOTB has brought some amazing musical moments. However this year’s show ended on a rather sour note. When midnight rolled around without Mavado—the show’s headliner—setting foot on stage to perform. Acts billed for this year’s show included the likes of Jahmiel, Spice, Konshens, Aidonia and Christopher Martin—not to mention veteran acts like Barrington Levy, Mad Cobra, Josey Wales and Brigadier Jerry. However the Gully Gad’s non-performance was a major disappointment to say the least. During the final hour of the show, MC and promoter Jabba paced the stage as Mavado’s band tried to set up as the final moments ticked down. Then at just a few minutes to midnight he called Mavado to the stage, then after a few moments returned to the stage to announce that due to Miami Police and  curfew regulations Mavado would be unable to perform. Confused?! Most of the thousands of patrons in the park were definitely unhappy. (One eyewitness spotted a heated argument going down backstage after the unpopular announcement.) Everybody including artists, promoters, and fans and patrons (who paid as much as $170 for VIP tickets) wasted no time taking to social media to vent their frustrations. Team Boomshots was in the park too. Here’s how the drama unfolded. More After The Jump… (more…)

  • 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…)

  • Half Pint Speaks on the Making of “Greetings”

    Half Pint Speaks on the Making of “Greetings”

    “You may be raggedy and poor, but you are still rich in spirit”

    If you’ve ever been to a reggae party, it’s pretty much impossible that you’ve never heard “Greetings,” Half Pint’s raggamuffin anthem. Released in 1985 on George Phang’s legendary Powerhouse label, the song finds Half Pint representing for poor people over a hard-driving Sly & Robbie digital remake of the immortal “Heavenless” riddim. While preparing this year’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise Zeen, we reached out the singer who gave us the story behind this classic dancehall anthem. Audio & Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Jah9 “Unafraid” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Jah9 “Unafraid” Official Music Video

    Lioness Order Lays Down The Law

    A lot of times when an artist starts to grow in popularity they tend to avoid rocking the boat and shun material that some may find controversial. That isn’t the case with Jah9 who has just released a video for the song “Unafraid,” which deals with the taboo subject of child molestation. When she sings “Nasty likkle teacher bwoy touching on my nephew, stirring up the dragon in my head,” the outrage is understandable. But lines like “Willing to stick a head ‘pon a fence” will definitely make some people uncomfortable. Boomshots reached out to the artist for some insight. “We’re not promoting violence,” she explained, “but we’re not promoting complacency about such a serious thing.” Video and Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Lutan Fyah “Sweet Trichomes” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Lutan Fyah “Sweet Trichomes” Official Music Video

    Brand New Visuals Fi Di Ganja Man Dem

    Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica Lutan Fyah studied architecture and played professional football before launching into a music career in 1999. Cutting early records for Buju Banton’s Gargamel label, he would go on to collab with such culturally inclined artists as Lucinano and Turbulence. On his latest release, produced by Tim Dub, Fyah goes beyond the usual ganja tune cliches, giving a botanical lesson on the definition of “trichomes” and how these small glandular hairs growing from the epidermis of herb buds relate to the cultivation of the cannabis plant. Video After The Jump…
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  • 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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