Boomshots

Tag: Runkus

  • WATCH THIS: King Cruff x Runkus “FallBack” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: King Cruff x Runkus “FallBack” Official Music Video

    “From Yuh Say Yuh Stand In Love You Never Can Trip”

    “Remember that the sword has a double edge,” King Cruff rapped on his 2022 breakout hit “Samurai Chop.” Raised in Jamaica and based in Toronto, Cruff was born Solomon Marley-Spence—his mother is Stephanie Marley, daughter of Bob and Rita. Yet despite his royal reggae lineage, Cruff’s creative focus is future fast forward. Along with Kendrick Lamar, André 3000 and MF Doom, Cruff counts new-generation Jamaican stars like Chronixx and Runkus as inspirations. So it was only natural for him to link Runkus—the similarly versatile son of dancehall legend Determine—on his latest collab “FallBack.” (Boomshots been rocking with Runkus for some time now—he first popped onto our radar at a Reshma B Chains pop-up shop alongside Popcaan.) Springing forth from Cruff’s forthcoming project intriguingly titled The Ackee Metaphor Part II, “FallBack” is one of the year’s most exciting collaborations. The hard-driving riddim was crafted by Jordan McLure and David Hayle of Kingston’s own Chimney Records and Banx & Ranx, a Montreal-based duo comprising Soké and KNY, who are best known for world-pop bangers like “Answer Phone.” Analyzing the creative alchemy is fun after the fact, but if the shit don’t slap nothing else matters. Press play to overstand why this one is a certified BOOMSHOT. Video After The Jump… 

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  • HEAR THIS: Runkus ‘IN:SIDE’ Album PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Runkus ‘IN:SIDE’ Album PREMIERE

    When We’re Not Outside, Take Care of In:Side

    One of the few redeeming aspects of the year 2020 was the emergence of Runkus as a force to be reckoned with at the forefront of Jamaica’s vibrant music scene. As with many so-called “overnight success” stories, most of the rise of this multitalented singer, deejay, rapper, and producer has occurred under the radar. Or, as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow so memorably put it:

    The heights by great men reached and kept
          Were not attained by sudden flight,
    But they, while their companions slept,
          Were toiling upward in the night.

    Back in the Christmas season of 2014, Runkus popped up on the Reshma B Chains pop-up shop at Manor Park Plaza in Kingston. Identifying himself as “Paula’s son, aka Determine bwoy, aka Joyce grandson, aka Pam nephew” the tall, slim dreadlocks youth with a wide-brimmed hat proceeded to unleash a lyrical barrage alternating between dreamy spliff-fueled melodies and furious fast-chat syllables that promised greater things to come. Flash forward to this past November, when Runkus rolled out his witty “Quarantine Slide” visuals with Boomshots. Today he blesses us with a full album on the Delicious Vinyl Island label, aptly entitled IN:SIDE. “The project came about simply from the times,” says the artist and producer who lists Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Vybz Kartel—not to mention his brilliantly inventive father Determine—as musical influences. “Being locked down in my home city, Portmore, under order of the Government,” he says, “I took to the only thing I knew, music. In a trying time, it was my salvation.” Album & Videos After The Jump… 

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  • WATCH THIS: Runkus “Quarantine Slide” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Runkus “Quarantine Slide” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    Facetime Flexin’ with the Ladies

    Fresh off the success of his futuristic posse cut “5Gz,”—which featured the lyrical onslaught of Kabaka Pyramid, Jesse Royal, Royal Blu, and Munga Honorable—Runkus returns on a solo flex with fresh sounds called “Quarantine Slide.” Son of the brilliant if under-rated dancehall DJ Determine, Runkus was surrounded by music from an early age, and raised in an era where Jamaican youth were exposed to diverse outernational influences. “Our generation grew up on MTV and BET, so anything the international market showed us is what we drew to,” he told The Gleaner last year. “The first rapper I loved on my own was Missy Elliott, then I got into Timbaland productions, Lil Wayne, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac… At the same time, I got into other sounds, like Erykah Badu, Nina Simone, Justine Timberlake, all while listening to Vybz Kartel.” The dreamy synth-driven production on his latest release—courtesy of Runkus and Universal Zinc Fence from the Soul Circle family—bears traces of those diverse influences, including shout-outs to the WorlBoss and Shawn Storm. “The song was just an inspiration of the times,” says Runkus. “For those who are stuck inside with their significant others and for those who are stuck inside on their own, wanting to slide [lol]. We have to move forward but I wouldn’t advise anyone to get used to this as the ‘new normal’ but to create a new normal for themselves and loved ones, cause we only have each other.” Today Boomshots proudly premieres the brand new music video from Runkus. “The video was inspired by just being stuck inside,” says the artist / producer, “and thinking of the best most efficient way of displaying wanting to slide in the quarantine time — hence the constant calls.” Video After The Jump… (more…)