Boomshots

Tag: Stephen Marley

  • WATCH THIS: Stephen and Damian Marley Talk Traffic Jam Tour & Brotherly Love

    WATCH THIS: Stephen and Damian Marley Talk Traffic Jam Tour & Brotherly Love

    “Real Reggae Yuh A Look For, Yuh Know Where Fi Find Us”

    Raggamuffin and Jr. Gong have been performing together for a long while, but this year’s Traffic Jam Tour is the first time they’ve officially touched the road as co-headliners. Boomshots visited their Miami rehearsal studio for an exclusive behind the scene video, where the brothers got ready with their band and explained the origins of “The Traffic Jam,” the song that started as a freestyle dubplate, evolved into an interlude on the Mind Control album, and has now inspired the tour’s name. “The bond between Stephen and Damian runs deeper than music, although they grew up in different households,” writes Reshma B in a new feature for Rolling Stone. “Steve is a big brother who really check on you when you’re little,” says Damian, who is Bob Marley’s youngest child. Stephen used to pick him up from school. “We come from tie shoelace,” Damian remembers, “how fi play football and ride bicycle, up to music too.” Check out the full story over at Rolling Stone, and check out Boomshots behind-the-scenes video below. Video After The Jump…  

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  • “Guess I’ve Been Here Before” Stephen Marley’s ‘Old Soul’

    “Guess I’ve Been Here Before” Stephen Marley’s ‘Old Soul’

    “Inside Me A Legacy Lives On,” Sings Ragga

    “Anything that sounds good is good,” says Stephen Marley, paraphrasing Duke Ellington. Don’t be surprised to hear the King of Reggae’s son referencing Harlem’s master of the jazz orchestra. Never one to limit his musical horizons, Stephen has always listened without prejudice, letting his inspiration set him free as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer—whether collaborating with his illustrious musical family, or with Lauryn Hill, Nas, or Erykah Badu. Beginning his lifelong musical journey at the age of six, Stephen shared historic stages with his legendary father and toured the world with his brother Ziggy and sisters Cedella and Sharon, The Melody Makers. The Tuff Gong instilled in all of his children a strict work ethic and an awareness that “music is way more than just music.” Review Continues After The Jump…

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  • Joseph Mersa Marley In Memoriam

    Joseph Mersa Marley In Memoriam

    Memories of a Young Lion

    “I don’t really walk around bragging about what I can and can’t do,” Jo Mersa said the first time Boomshots interviewed him, during the summer of 2013. Just the night before he had shared the stage with his father Stephen “Ragga” Marley and his uncle Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, spitting his rapid-fire lyrics to a capacity crowd at London’s Indigo O2. “I don’t talk about it,” he said. “When you hear, you hear it — and you get weh you get.” Video and Full Story After The Jump… 

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  • WTJRC 2022 Heavy Rotation Playlist

    WTJRC 2022 Heavy Rotation Playlist

    All in the Same Boat, Rockin’ on the Same Rock

    Once again it’s on. The last time we were on board the Jamrock Cruise was December 2019, before most people had ever heard the words “Covid-19.” Three years later the big ship is ready to rock with artists like Burning Spear, Shabba Ranks, Damian Marley, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, and more. Check out this Boomshots playlist featuring the latest sounds from all the artists performing on this year’s Jamrock Cruise.
    Heavy Rotation Playlist After The Jump…  (more…)

  • Junior Gong Pon Di Strong

    Junior Gong Pon Di Strong

    Reasoning With Zilla 25 Years Ago

    Damian Marley was never intimidated by great expectations. Born  on this day in 1978, the youngest son of Robert Nest Marley did not hesitate to follow in some very large footsteps, entering the music industry at an early age. He started out singing in a group called The Shepherds, along with the children of reggae stars Freddie McGregor, Judy Mowatt, and “Cat” Coore of Third World. Former Shepherd Shiah Coore still plays bass in Damian’s band to this day.

    During the mid 1990s Damian stepped out as a solo performer under the name Jr. Gong. On January 23 1995 he passed through New York City to promote the album Positively Reggae, a compilation of conscious tracks by dancehall artists like Shabba Ranks, Mad Cobra, Bounty Killer, and Patra with proceeds going to benefit Leaf of Life, a Jamaican organization for HIV-positive children.

    This photo, shot by Brian Jahn during the same press run, gives you an idea of what his hair looked like back then. Today his dreadlocks are so long he has to tuck them into a backpack when he plays soccer. I had a chance to reason with Damian that day for my Boomshots column in VIBE. He seemed like a cool youth at the time, but I had no idea this convo would be the start of such a long-lasting friendship. After all he’s accomplished since then, D remains remarkably chill. The interview has never been published in its entirely. 25 years later seems like as good a time as any. Big Up Jr. Gong. Blessings pon di strong. Interview After The Jump…
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  • Buju Banton Covers VIBE x Boomshots Collab

    Buju Banton Covers VIBE x Boomshots Collab

    A VIBE x Boomshots Collab: Redemption Songs
    Jamaica’s Undefeated Champion Returns

    “Forward ever,” the late great Jacob “Killer” Miller used to sing. “And backward never.” Reggae music has always been about forward motion, the movement of Jah people, up from downpression and forward to Holy Mount Zion, because freedom is a must. Still, every once in awhile, it doesn’t hurt to take a glance over your shoulder, if only to take the measure of one’s progress. Just to remember the long walk, and to make sure that history is not a mystery. Some stories have got to be told. Story Continues After The Jump…  (more…)

  • Buju Banton and Stephen Marley Speak on “Duppy Conqueror (Yes Mi Friend)”

    Buju Banton and Stephen Marley Speak on “Duppy Conqueror (Yes Mi Friend)”

    A Celebration of Real Friendship, 50 Years After The Wailers Original

    “Yes me friend, we deh pon street again.” 50 years after The Wailers’ original “Duppy Conqueror,” Stephen Marley and Buju Banton lift up their voices and join together in one harmony to create a crucial selection off Buju’s highly anticipated new album ‘Upside Down.’ After watching them perform the song together for the first time on the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise, Reshma B reasoned with Ragga about the story behind the song. A few monthe later she caught up with Buju at Gargamel Studios in Kingston to hear his perspective on this powerful new song with a timeless vibration. Let the reasoning begin. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Marley Brothers Ready to Blaze at Third Annual Kaya Fest

    Marley Brothers Ready to Blaze at Third Annual Kaya Fest

    Born on 420, Stephen “Ragga” Marley Invites You To A Blazing Birthday Celebration

    Now in its third year, Kaya Fest was launched with a mission that goes beyond music. Don’t mistake this event for just a “smoke out.” Yes the festival kicks off on April 20, which is also Stephen Marley’s birthday—and just happens to coincide with 4/20, the official herbalists’ holiday. But Kaya Fest’s stated purpose is “Education before Recreation.” More specifically, the festival’s goal is “to educate the people of the many uses of this plant as well as to inspire and encourage positive public awareness.” But of course music and herb is a perfect combination, and nobody pairs them better than the Marley family. Story Continues After The Jump… (more…)
  • Kakaba Pyramid Torched the SOB’s Stage with Blazing Lyrics

    Kakaba Pyramid Torched the SOB’s Stage with Blazing Lyrics

    Kabaka Pyramid Kontraband Tour Hit New York City

    On Friday, November 23, New York City fans endured the frigid weather for the highly anticipated, Kabaka Pyramid, Kontraband Tour at SOB’s. New York City renowned selector DJ Gringo of Stateside Revolution and Host of Sirius XM, “The Joint,” warmed up the crowd awaiting the revolutionary artist. Next up, the Bebble Rockers excited the crowd with an electrifying, symphonic rendition of “Make Way” (the song features Pressure Buss Pipe on the Kontraband album), as Kabaka Pyramid joined the stage. More Concert Highlights After The Jump…

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  • An Evening with Stephen Marley… On a Mission

    An Evening with Stephen Marley… On a Mission

    Tonight’s NYC Meet & Greet Will Benefit Ghetto Youths Foundation

    Stephen Marley’s acoustic tour stops in New York City tonight, and the evening at Sony Hall is shaping up be a real “Revelation Party.” Not only will Ragga be performing selections from his newly released album One Take: Acoustic Jams, but following the Nov. 15th stop of the multi-city U.S. tour, “An Evening with Stephen Marley,” the mutiple-Grammy-winning artist, second son of Bob and Rita Marley, will take part in an exclusive Meet and Greet to benefit the Ghetto Youths Foundation’s global mission to provide aid and opportunity. This is your chance to meet Ragga up close and personal. Details After The Jump… (more…)

  • Boomshots 420 Playlist (2018)

    Boomshots 420 Playlist (2018)

    A Playlist with Smoking Hot Chalice Chunes 

    California was the first state to launch a program for the use of medical marijuana, with Proposition 215 in 1996. This was followed up with the groundbreaking Senate Bill 420 in 2003, to clarify the provisions for medical use and protect those with authorized medical prescriptions from criminalization. This gave way to the 420 movement that is celebrated on April 20 for cannabis culture. Now 29 states allow for the medical use of marijuana, while only 8 states (California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas and Montana) have legalized recreational use in the United States. On a Federal level, marijuana is illegal and viewed as a highly addictive Schedule I drug, with no therapeutic properties.

    Reggae music, as a genre, has always produced music with a high level of consciousness and significant social commentary. Throughout the years, there have been many marijuana anthems promoting freedom of choice, which are highly revered by smokers and non-smokers of this plant. On this 420, also Earth Day we hope to take you on a natural musical and mystic high with the Boomshots 420 Playlist.  Boomshots 420 Playlist After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Christopher Ellis “Here We Are” Official Music Video

    WATCH THIS: Christopher Ellis “Here We Are” Official Music Video

    :Alton’s Big Son Sings Songs Of Praises On a Foundation Riddim

    “It’s a lineage thing,” says Christopher Ellis, the youngest son of legendary Jamaican vocalist Alton Ellis, of his link with the Ghetto Youths International crew. “It stems back to when I met Stephen and Damian Marley. And more than that, it stems to our fathers and the whole Trenchtown thing.” Trenchtown, of course, is the economically downpressed but musically blessed area of downtown Kingston immortalized by The Wailers in their song “Trenchtown Rock.” Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer all hailed from Trenchtown, as did many other Jamaican musical heroes including the aforementioned Alton Ellis, a soulful vocalist who made his name with countless rock steady classics, including “Rock Steady” and “I’m Still In Love.” Carrying on his father’s legacy, Ellis is currently recording his debut album, slated for release on the Ghetto Youths label later this year. MASS APPEAL has just premiered Ellis’ latest reease, “Here We Are,” on Stephen Marley’s “All Natural” Riddim. Ellis uses his silky voice to deliver words of wisdom and inspiration. Directed by Jay Will (Game Over), “Here We Are” video was filmed in Portland, where the UK native seems right at home amidst the country vibes. Audio After The Jump…
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