Boomshots

Tag: Salaam Remi

  • WATCH THIS: Super Cat and Salaam Remi “Push Time” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Super Cat and Salaam Remi “Push Time” Official Music Video

    The Wild Apache Rides Again

    Between the viral pandemic, murderous police, and corrupt politricksters shamelessly fanning the flames of racial hatred, the first eight months of 2020 have been absolutely dreadful. In times such as these it helps to hear from people who have survived hard times before. People who know what it means when the “Ghetto Red Hot.” People who know that when times get rough, Some tan so back while others Rally back.” People like William Maragh aka the Don Dada aka the Wild Apache aka Super Cat. One of the first dancehall legends to link with hip hop superstars like Heavy D, Puff Daddy, and Biggie Smalls, Super Cat made an indelible impact on both cultures with his charismatic style, rude boy demeanor, and cultural lyrics. Just in time for Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn—and elections in Jamaica— Super Cat has joined forces with producer extraordinaire Salaam Remi to release his first  new music in over a decade. “Since the 90s Super Cat and I have always been able to reason,” says Remi, who’s renowned for his work with artists as diverse as Nas, Amy Winehouse, and The Fugees. “And recently reasoning about the state of the communities and worldwide unrest led to this song.”

    The new single, “Push Time”—set to Remi’s adaptation of the Wild Apache classic “Cabin Stabbin“—speaks eloquently to the political climate which surrounds us. The song will be featured on Remi’s upcoming LP Black on Purpose which also features NaS, Jennifer Hudson ,Case, Teedra Moses, Bilal, Busta Rhymes, Chronixx, Spragga Benz, MuMu Fresh, and Doug E Fresh along with more from Black Thought, Stephen Marley, Cee-Lo Green, and Anthony Hamilton. As Mr. Maragh once told me, “It’s not like we just get up this morning and start sing about gun. It’s something that we LIVE through and survive, and who didn’t survive DIE, and who didn’t die go to prison.” Super Cat has had to learn the hard way, but he’s vowed to share the fruits of his experience so that others will not make the same mistake twice. “I & I graduate from GHETTO-ology,” he says. “In my time I had to stop go to school because the politics friction was breaking out in the school. Even TEACHER was shot in the school compound. Guns was swinging around like crazy. It’s not that we go to rude boy school and groom to become rude boy,” says Cat. “Rude boy ting it come to WE in the ghetto.” Check out the new video, shot in the streets of Hollis Queens under the watchful eye of Jam Master Jay, Tenor Saw, and Nico Demus, and the whole of the DJ in shut eye country. Respect in all aspect. Video After The Jump… (more…)
  • WATCH THIS: Salaam Remi x Mumu Fresh “EmOG’s” Viral Video

    WATCH THIS: Salaam Remi x Mumu Fresh “EmOG’s” Viral Video

    #StayYoAssInside

    Salaam Remi is a creative force who specializes in timeless sounds—but as fate would have it, the visuals in his directorial debut are extremely timely. Never one to chase trends, the producer who’s collaborated with iconic artists like Nas, Amy Winehouse, The Fugees, Spragga Benz, Miguel, and J Cole prefers to Do It For The Culture. Appropriately enough, the most recent full-length release on Remi’s own Louder Than Life imprint is entitled Do it for the Culture 2 —a collection of 25 singles that showcase the producer’s mastery of diverse musical styles ranging from Hip Hop to Jazz, and of course Dancehall. His latest collab, a lilting R&B joint called “EmOGs,” showcases the yearning vocal stylings of Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh. Recorded back in November—just as the Corona Virus was first wreaking havoc in China—the song’s original concept was the familiar dilemma of a loyal girlfriend pleading with her man to stay off the corner. “You’d rather hug the block than hug me,” Mumu sings. “This ain’t Paid in Full in the 80s / You see what that did to DC / That Ain’t work out good for them OG’s emOG’s.” Fast forward to mid-April, and the song is dropping just as America has become the epicenter of a global Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, discussions about whether to step outside have led to life and death decisions in a whole new way. Remi recognized the opportunity to share an urgent and message and decided to flip “Em OGs” to “emojis,” creating a viral video about the importance of self-quarantining. The visuals were created in one day via iPhone whilst artist, actors, and producer/director were all socially distanced in their respective bunkers. The music video has morphed into a PSA that’s been shared by celebrities including Nas, Common, and Niecy Nash with the no-nonsense hashtag #StayYoAssInSide. Spoiler alert: fans of The Wire should watch the video until the very end! Video After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: Super Cat “Ever Ready”

    HEAR THIS: Super Cat “Ever Ready”

    In Comes A Classical Wild Apache Selection Produced By Jah Thomas

    A few years ago the Boomshots massive bucked up Jah Thomas chilling backstage at Reggae Sumfest 2012. The foundation reggae DJ and pioneering producer said he was the “happiest man on the planet” because his production, “Dance in New York” by Super Cat, had recently been sampled by Salaam Remi for the hit Nas tune “The Don.” [Check the full story behind the making of that song HERE.] During the interview Jah Thomas casually mentioned that he still had some unreleased Super Cat joints on tape. This came as a revelation to Wild Apache fans who haven’t a new Cat tune since 19-how-long… Well, good news: one of those 1984 Midnight Rock masterworks has now surfaced on the Internet. Give thanks & praise. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Full Moon Playlist

    Full Moon Playlist

     

    Ten Scary Selections for Your Halloween Party Playlist

    With fall comes one of the most festive holidays, Halloween. Elaborate costumes emulate scary and fictional characters; superheroes and sexy alter-egos. Children trick or treat for sweet candies and visit pumpkin patches. However, the holiday was created to remember the dead saints or “hallows.” This Boomshots full moon playlist highlights songs that comment on the dead rising theme in reggae, dancehall and soca. The playlist contains ten tunes, some focusing on the Halloween/horror theme, while others go beyond the theme and comment on social issues, and a few are highlighted for a wicked production. Audio After The Jump…

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  • Spragga Benz’s Bongo Bash in Jamaica

    Spragga Benz’s Bongo Bash in Jamaica

    The Dancehall Icon Celebrates A Career Without Compare

    With 22 years in the music industry, Carlton Errington Grant aka Spragga Benz, tours the world, on long journeys from his home in Dunkirk, Kingston, Jamaica. However, despite his worldwide success, the dancehall icon remains deeply rooted to his humble beginnings with LA Benz sound. This weekend,  he will return home for his Bongo Bash at “LA Benz Corner” in Duhaney Park, Lessing Avenue, Kingston 20 on Saturday, May 31, 2014.  Ricky Villa, owner of LA Benz, who has now passed on, encouraged Spragga to first enter the studio and this followed with a big break, when he voiced some dubs for Buju Banton. More After The Jump…

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  • Salaam Remi on the Making Of Nas’ “The Don”

    The Ace Producer Tells How A Super Cat Classic Evolved Into A Hip-Hop Banger

    Ever since Nas dropped “The Don,” he’s had the streets on fire. We knew it was a Salaam Remi production, based on a classic Super Cat sample, and “Heavy D gave this beat to Salaam for me to rap on.” But the details surrounding the creation of this modern-day classic have remained murky until now. As part of their big Nas cover story, Complex scribe Rob Marriott spoke with Remi about the making of “The Don.” Read on to learn the half that’s never been told…

    Salaam Remi: We were talking about reggae stuff, and Hev was like, “Yo, here’s this Cat record, ‘Dance Inna New York.’ You ever heard it?” I’m like, “Nah.” He’s like, “Yo, I’ve never heard it before either. I’m going to send it to you. If you could find some way to flip this, I’m telling you, it would be crazy.” (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Nas “The Don”

    Heavy D Flips a Classic Super Cat Sample, Salaam Remi Tees It Up and Nastradamus Spits Fire

    It’s well known that Salaam Remi and Nas have a very special creative chemistry—as seen when the producer and MC collaborated on classics like “Made U Look.” What’s less well known is that both are big reggae fans. The track was actually built by the late great Heavy D, whose collabos with Super Cat are well known. Hev passed the track to Remi—who  produced Spragga Benz’s epic Shotta Culture album. Nas of course collaborated with Damian Marley on the album Distant Relatives, so Remi felt it was only right to put him on the record. During the Distant Relatives promo run, Nas spoke about his early reggae and dancehall musical menu: “It was the 80s,” he recalled. ‘Who was the dudes? Pass the Dutchie Pon the Left.’ [Musical Youth] It was a lot of old-school cuts. You had Yellowman, of course Bob Marley, Peter Tosh. A lot of the early dudes. We listened to everything. Shabba Ranks, all a that. I was Supercatted-up… I studied the battles with Supercat and Ninjaman.” Now Nas and Remi have brought their mututal interests together on this blazing new cut called “The Don.” Remi’s track is built around a sample from a rare Super Cat single “Dance Inna New York.” Nas’s rap is built on Henny, blunts, and sheer genius. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Amy Winehouse “Our Day Will Come”

    The Lioness Roars So Sweetly On This Romantic Cover Version

    “Amy always said, ‘Hey we need a reggae song for this album,’” the singer’s longtime friend and producer Salaam Remi said earlier this week at a listening session for the forthcoming album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, which kicks off with a bright & bouncy reggae version of the dreamy Ruby & The Romantics chart-topper from 1962. “This is a vocal that she did early in her career, but in true Amy form. And when I was playing different songs for her family, everybody was like ‘That’s it, the reggae one.’” The same song was covered in 1971 by The Heptones in a dreamy Rock Steady stylee, but Remi’s 2011 remix is steppin’ it hotter this year. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Christopher Ellis “Willow Tree”

    Fresh Sounds From Christopher, Son Of The Late Great Alton Ellis

    “My dad did a lot for music, but he didn’t really boast about it like he could have,” said Alton Ellis’s 23-year-old son Christopher shortly after his death in 2008. “He’s got a lot of respect, and his name is really big, but financially he’s been robbed over the years. He told me, ‘Son, do not let them rob you like they robbed me.’ ” But weep not. Christopher Ellis is making music with the Ghetto Youths International family, and that’s a very good thing. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Spragga Benz featuring Marcia Griffiths “No Way No How”

    Spragga Benz Still Ah Work While Dem Ah Procrastinate

    The second cut from Spragga’s epic Shotta Culture album is a royal combination with Empress Marcia Griffiths called “No Way No How.” Love to see how the DJ has Marcia singing pon sound system in the big new video. Let it go…
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  • WATCH THIS: Spragga Benz, Jazmine Sullivan & Stephen Marley “Stay The Same”

    Spragga Benz and Family Remember Carlyle R.I.P. 8/23/08

    On the second anniversary of his son’s tragic murder, Spragga the Benz issued the following statement: “Us the Family and Friends of Carlton Kimani Grant aka Carlyle, do sincerely appreciate all the Love and Generous Support that was afforded Us during our time of great grief and sorrow.

    Being that the situation is of such that always stays and is universal, we do share our Love and Strength with others experiencing similar pain of loss at this time… The journey continues,the joy is less but still giving thanks for the time spent which makes us know we are blessed…”

    And speaking of blessings, in comes a brand new musical blessing called “Stays The Same” featuring Jazmin and Ragga—something new from Spragga’s long-awaited magnum opus Shotta Culture. Run The Track…

  • WATCH THIS: Spragga Benz “Livication”

    Spragga Puts Trust In The Most High, Says to H.I.M. Leave All Vengeance.

    A spiritual tune from a consistently top-notch DJ who suffered a life-changing tragedy just over a year ago. On August 23, 2008, Spragga’s first-born son Carlton Grant Jr., aka Carlyle, was shot dead by police in Kingston, Jamaica . “By right the whole place shoulda red,” Spragga chants as Stephen “Ragga” Marley beats the Binghi drum. “But me still ah hold a higher meds.” Let it go…

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