Boomshots

Tag: Sizzla

  • HEAR THIS: Stephen “Ragga” Marley ft. Capleton & Sizzla “Rockstone”

    HEAR THIS: Stephen “Ragga” Marley ft. Capleton & Sizzla “Rockstone”

    Ragga Links With The Fireman and Kalonji And They Proceed To Blaze A Hotta Fire

    Brand new foundation selection off Stephen “Ragga” Marley’s highly anticipated Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life. It starts out like a tasty roots rock groove with Stephen singing a hook adapted from his dad’s “Talkin’ Blues” and inviting the Fireman and Kalonji in to blaze a hotta fire. Then Ragga steps to the mic and unleashes some ol’ Papa Levi stylee fast-chat flow while dubstep mayhem breaks out all bout. In short, a #CertifiedBoomshot. Time to leggo the album nuh man! Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Super Cat speaks on Sting “I Never Got To Finish That Show”

    Super Cat speaks on Sting “I Never Got To Finish That Show”

    “Our Music No Die,” says the Don Dada. “We A Rock of Ages and the Music Live In We Same Way”

    The Wild Apache has been missing in action for a while but Boomshots was blessed to catch up with him in NYC during a rehearsal session for his big comeback shows. Tomorrow night at Amazura NYC Cat and Junior Demus will slip into some Clarks and white linen and take NYC back to the glory days of the Biltmore Ballroom. After that Cat will forward straight to Jamaica for the 30th Anniversary staging of Sting on December 26. “I never get to finish that show,” Cat says. “Because it was a clash between me and Ninja Man.” Cat says this time around there’s no clash planned, but he’s definitely looking to deal with some unfinished business. Sounds like a can’t-miss show. But if you can’t make it Jamrock, do not despair. Just hit up BringTheSting.com to learn how you can view the show via PayPerView or webstream.  In part one off this exclusive interview Cat touches on the Maccabee Bible, the roots of sound system culture, and also speaks on his respect for Shaggy and how his old friend came to check him when he was having a rough time. “Man like you don’t stay down fe long,” Shaggy told him, they came up with a plan to bring Cat out as a surprise guest this past Labor Day—and the rest is history. The last time Super Cat worked Sting it was the biggest show in Jamaican history. This year promises to be a major event, and a fitting way to commeorate 30 years of Sting. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reggae Grammy Nominees Announced For 2013

    Reggae Grammy Nominees Announced For 2013

    The Music Industry’s Highest Honor Will Go To One of These Five Reggae Acts

    If there’s one thing reggae fans love to complain about it’s the Grammy Awards. Well today the nominees for Best Reggae Album category have been revealed, and let’s just say there’s going to be some more lively debates going on. Check out the final five after the jump—and let us know in the comments if you’d like to thank the Academy, or if they missed some of your favorites. Full List of Nominees After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Sizzla “Good Love” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Sizzla “Good Love” Official Music Video

    Love Is The Answer 

    Sizzla, one of reggae’s most prolific artists, releases his brand new video for “Good Love” off his 70th album (yes you read that correctly) “The Messiah,” released in May 2013 on Kalonji Music/VP Records. The Jay Will directed video showcases Sizzla through the years courting his lady to be along with beautiful shots of everyday jamaican life. Be sure to pick up “The Messiah” if you haven’t already and Check Out The Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Sean Kingston Talks “Back 2 Life,” Reggae Music

    Sean Kingston Talks “Back 2 Life,” Reggae Music

    The Miami-Born Jamaica-Raised Pop Star Picks His 10 Favorite Reggae Jams
    Kington isn’t just Sean Kingston’s last name, it’s also the place where he spent years growing up. The young pop star was born in Miami and grew up in Jamaica where he used to kick it with reggae artists like Buju Banton as a youth. On his new album, Back 2 Life (in stores today) SK shows his Jamaican culture more than ever. He’s even performing in Kingston JA later this month. So we asked him to run through his 10 favorite reggae and dancehall tunes—and we’re not mad at his selections. And if you happen to be in Kingston JA this September 25, get ready to catch Kingston live in Kingston!
    Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Sean Kingston Gets Back to His Jamaican Roots

    Sean Kingston Gets Back to His Jamaican Roots

    Sean Kingston’s 10 Favorite Reggae Songs—PLUS  His New Tune w Busta Rhymes 

    Ever since Sean Kingston first burst on the music scene as a teenage pop sensation with a runaway debut hit “Beautiful Girls,” we’ve been hearing how he grew up in Jamaica and his music was influenced by reggae. As hard as we listened we never really heard much evidence of that influence beyond song titles like “Fire Burning.” But that seems to be changing with his new album, Back 2 Life, SK’s first full-length project since he sustained serious insuries in a jet-ski accident. The first indication was the lead-off single “Shotta Luv” feautring 2 Chainz. And then we stopped by his record-listening in NYC and heard a straight-up dancehall track featuring Busta Rhymes. Sean seemed to like it so much he played it like three times in a row. The next day we asked him to run down his ten favorite reggae and dancehall tracks—and we are not mad at the selections. He even says he wants to work with Shabba Ranks! So hit the jump to learn the half that’s never been told about Mr. Kingston. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Sizzla Kalonji Speaks on Selassie’s Birthday

    Just Before Blazing The Niyabinghi Fire, Sizzla Checked in With The Strictly Boomshots Show
    SelassieSizzlaBoomshots    Today marks the 121st anniversary of the birth of Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael, who would go on to become Haile Selassie I, emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. Selassie holds a special place for the Rastafarian faithful, and his birthday is celebrated by the blazing of the Niyabinghi fire and days of drumming and chanting. During last night’s Strictly Boomshots show, we were blessed with an exclusive telephone call from Sizzla Kalonji, who was on his way to the Niyabinghi. He took some time to speak on his new album The Messiah, broke down the importance of Haile Selassie, the meaning of Niyabinghi, and even chanted a few lines over the phone line.  All those who have ears, let them hear. Interview Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Jay-Z Samples Sizzla on “Magna Carta Holy Grail”

    Jay-Z Samples Sizzla on “Magna Carta Holy Grail”

    Jigga’s Track “Crown” is only the latest rap jam to rework Kalonji’s hit “Solid As A Rock”

    Whether or not you bought a new Samsung phone, you’re probably listening to Magna Carta Holy Grail right now. Jay-Z’s 12th studio album  leaked shortly after his exclusive app crashed, short-circuiting a multi-million-dollar promo plan. Oh well—meet the #NewRules, same as the #OldNewRules. More importantly, you may already have noticed that track #8, a song called “Crown,” opens with a long, ghostly slowed-down sample of  Sizzla’s 2002 hit “Solid As A Rock,” taken from his classic Bobby Digital–produced album, Da Real Thing. The Jay-Z tune, Produced by Travi$ Scott and 16-year-old newcomer WundaGirl, has folks buzzing about Magna Carter dissing sports agent Scott Boras. But for reggae lovers, it’s all about the continuing trend of major rap releases sampling dancehall tunes. Like many top dancehall artists, Sizzla has collaborated with rap stars in the past—most notably on his duets with Foxy Brown and Dipset. But more than any other song in Sizzla’s vast catalog, “Solid As A Rock” remains his best known release in hip-hop circles. Who can’t relate to a tune whose first words are “They can’t keep a good man down”? Click through the gallery above to revisit all the various rap versions of this Sizzla classic.

  • Reasoning With Sizzla Kalonji

    Reasoning With Sizzla Kalonji

    Kalonji Speaks On The Motherland, The Messiah, Losing Fattis and Finding Snoop Lion

    Sizzla’s new album The Messiah finds Sizzla near the heights of his creative powers. This new set of tunes harkens back to some of his greatest works Black Woman and Child and Da Real Ting among them. On “Give Them A Ride” he sang, “Words without works can’s sustain.” Now after his bike accident, the death of his mentor Phillp “Fatis” Burris, and his time in the motherland, Sizzla seems reinvigorated and more committed than ever to works—raising awareness of the conditions of the sufferers worldwide and proclaiming His Majesty as the true and living God. Kalonji took time to speak with Boomshots on the new songs, life after Fatis and his next plans. Run it: Interview by Rob Marriott After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Sizzla “Psalms 121”

    Churchical Chants For Kalonji’s Upcoming Album The Messiah
    Sizzla - The Messiah - BOOMSHOTS
    Although he can rip up a dancehall track any time he feels like it, The Messiah represents Sizzla Kalonji’s welcome return to spiritual roots reggae. Released through his Kalonji Music label, the album returns to the Afrocentric themes of clasic albums like Black Woman & Child and Da Real Thing, presented with the seasoned voice and fresh perspective of a man on a musical mission. The album drops May 28th but here’s an early preview—behold how good and how pleasant it is. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Konshens Pays Respect To 47 Reggae Superstars Who Paved the Way

    Konshens Pays Respect To 47 Reggae Superstars Who Paved the Way

    Who And Who Rates As An Icon Inna The Business?

    Remember when Shabba Ranks dropped that tune “Respect“? “Step by step you haffi climb the ladder / The elders you haffi show respect fah.” It’s plan to see that Konshens got the message. He may be on top of the game now, but he’s not one of those “likkle entertainers” who lose sight of the fact that their opportunities came from icons before him. The Dancehall artist recent single, “Icon,” on the Bad Bounce riddim, pays tribute to a long list of certified icons, all of whom helped “put the spotlight on we island” and established the worldwide success of Jamaican music.Audio & Photo Gallery After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Sizzla Performing At Sting

    WATCH THIS: Sizzla Performing At Sting

    Watch Kalonji Drop Classics Like “Dry Cry,” “Give Me A Try,” and More

    Sizzla has been on a roll lately, turning in powerful performances at major stage shows like the Sir Arthur Guiness Celebration in late September. His set at this year’s Sting was no exception, with Kalonji dipping into his vast catalog to squeeze off Boomshot after certified Boomshot. He even touched a tune based on the melody to Rihanna’s “Unfaihful.” All in all Sizzla delivered one of Sting’s strongest performances. Video After The Jump… (more…)