Boomshots

Tag: Vybz Kartel

  • READ THIS: Vybz Kartel “Thank You Jah”

    Buy Kartel’s Remarkable Book, The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto, At A 60% Discount For Black Friday

    “I pray this book helps to change Jamaica forever,” writes Vybz Kartel on the cover of The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto. Like most everything else with Kartel, the publication of this book has been clouded with controversy. How could a dancehall artist who’s known for outrageous lyrics and who sits behind bars accused of murder publish a book criticizing society? How dare he include the subtitle “Incarcerated But Not Silenced” on said book? And is the man who advocated bleaching his skin really posing as Malcolm X on his book cover? While these questions may be understandable, they seem to have distracted many people from the old saying that “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” If folks would actually take the time to read Adidja Palmer and Michael Dawson’s work, they might realize that the authors have anticipated the questions, providing answers to these and many more. If you haven’t had a chance to read Kartel’s book until now, Black Friday is your lucky day. Visit the official book website today to order your copy at a 60% discount. During this time of Thanksgiving, we thought it appropriate to allow readers a chance to actually read Kartel’s words and judge for themselves. So we present to you the first three paragraphs of Chapter 1, “Thank You Jah.” Book Excerpt After The Jump… (more…)

  • Top 10 Ganja Legalization Tunes

    Legalize It And I Will Advertise It

    Why is Peter Tosh smiling? The ongoing struggle to repeal the prohibition of marijuana has inspired countless great records—and earlier this month it inspired a historic moment at the ballot box. Starting December 6 in the state of Washington and January 1 in Colorado, the dream of legal ganja will become a reality. Many questions remain: Will California be the next American state to free up the herbs? Will the Federal government sit back and let west coasters puff in peace? Will Jamaica ever embrace its number-one cash crop? While we ponder those issues, let’s take a look back at some of the greatest reggae songs ever sung in defense of ganja decriminalization. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Ninja Man Meets Tommy Lee at Sting Offices

    The Don Gorgon Drops Knowledge On The Gaza Spartan

    “Me no come yah fi kill you. Me wan’ see you rise,” Ninja Man told Tommy Lee yesterday when visited the Supreme Promotions, the promoters of the annual boxing day stage show Sting. Of all the artists to work Sting over the years, Ninja has to be considered the year-to-year crowd favorite, so it was fitting that he take time out to school Tommy Lee as he prepares for his first appearance on the big stage. The Don Gorgon offer the young DJ all sorts of advice: “You have to straighten out that Demon ting yah.” Flipping into Brother Desmond mode, Ninja advised Tommy of his social responsibility: “Youth you have a responsibility to guide the young generation to the right destination.” Ninja also spoke on Tommy Lee’s lyrics: “Go back go listen listen Ninja Man dem and Papa San dem inna the years and hear how much lyrics them put in song. Ah that music short of right now.” Ninja even reminisced about his epic clashes with Super Cat (“The ting with me and Super Cat. That night is the first night my foot ever shake on the stage”) and even the infamous clash with Vybz Kartel (“That was of the past and let bygones be bygones.”) Video After The Jump…

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  • Bounty Killer Hearing Whispers About Tommy Lee

    The Warlord Does Not Like What He’s Hearing—Sting Promoters Respond On Twitter

    With the diss records flying back and forth and anticipation building about the big clash at this year’s Sting, it seems like fans of Tommy Lee and Bounty Killer are getting overexcited. Earlier today Bounty Killer took to Twitter to speak on whispers he’s hearing from Tommy Lee’s hometown of Montego Bay. It seems that Sparta loyalists are talking reckless about what will happen to the Warlord when he comes to MoBay. It doesn’t help matters that Tommy Lee went on Hype TV and talked about physically attacking Killer on the stage at Sting, just like his mentor Vybz Kartel (and his entourage) did to Ninja Man in 2003. That was an infamous moment in dancehall history that nobody wants to see happen again—least of all the promoters of Sting, who have been struggling to confirm the main attractions for this year’s show. Needless to say they are doing their best to tamp down the hostilities, while still promoting a show that’s known for epic clashes. It’s a fine line to walk. Find out who said what to who After the Jump… (more…)

  • Vybz Kartel Murder Trial Postponed Again

    The Werlboss Won’t Have His Day In Court Until Next Year

    “No time for no jail time that a waste time,” Kartel sang back in 2009 so you can bet that spending over a year awaiting a trial date is not Adidja Palmer’s first choice of activities. But unfortunately, Kartel doesn’t have much say over his current predicament. On trial for not one but two murders, Kartel learned yesterday that he will have to wait until 2013 for his day in court. Read More After the Jump  (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel & Tommy Lee “Betray Di Gaza Boss”

    Shots Fired? Kartel And Tommy Lee Unleash Some Harsh Words For All Those That Goes Against Gaza


    Even behind bars Vybz Kartel remains a force to be reckoned with. In this cominbation with the Sparta Psycho Tommy Lee, Addi reminds everybody who really runs Di Gaza—and what happens when you cross the boss. It’s been said before, but worth saying again, how incredibly productive Addi must have been before getting locked up almost a full year ago. The tunes just keep coming, and somehow they still sound pretty topical. Loyalty and betrayal have been eternal themes in most showbiz careers and Kartel is certainly no exception. Loaded with subliminals, this snippet can’t help but get you wondering who it was directed at. Given Gaza Slim’s comments about Popcaan, many have jumped to the conclusion that this song might be directed at him. But then again Gaza Slim later relayed another statement in which Kartel supposedly questioned Tommy Lee’s loyalty. Whatever the truth may be, you can bet that any artist who ever broke away from the Empire—and there are quite a few—will be listening very carefully to this tune. (more…)

  • Interview: Mavado Talks We The Best Projects, “Suicidal” Video, Shuts Down Haters & Shouts Out Vybz Kartel

    The Gully Gad Reasons With Reshma B In This Boomshots Exclusive

    Last week we got our first look at Mavado’s latest video, “So Suicidal” off DJ Khaled’s new album, Kiss The Ring. Tonight at 6pm, the Gully Gad will appear with Khaled and a bunch of other hip-hop stars on BET’s 106 & Park, then he’ll jet back to Miami, where he’s been working on some collabos with Birdman—not to mention Fabolous, Busta Rhymes, French Montana, and the list goes on. Why is he grinding so hard since signing with We The Best Music Group? As one of the few dancehall artists in the game with a major label deal, Mavado feels as though he’s carrying an entire genre on his back right now. And even though he’s been away from home while he handles his biz, trust and believe that Jamaica is never far from his thoughts. The Reggae Girl About Town caught up with Mavado last night for an exclusive half-hour interview, and he had a lot on his mind. And you’ll never guess which fellow dancehall artist he keeps in his prayers.
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  • HEAR THIS: Max Glazer and Dre Skull Pon Radio Lily For The “Kingston Story Deluxe” Release Party

    A Vybz Kartel Dubplate Barrage Followed By A Strictly Boomshots Interview & A Dre Skull Megamix

    This past Tuesday at Miss Lily’s Variety NYC, VICE Records and Mixpak celebrated the launch of Kingston Story Deluxe, the record Kartel once described thusly: “I’m so excited about the album, I feel like it’s my first album.” Max Glazer set the tone with a Federation station dubplate barrage, followed by Rob Kenner’s interview with Dreskull and Max about working with Kartel. Audio after the jump. (more…)

  • Dre Skull Speaks On The Making Of Vybz Kartel’s “Kingston Story”

    The Mixpak Records Boss Talks About Recording An Album With The Werlboss

    Earlier this week VICE Records released Kingston Story Deluxe, Vybz Kartel’s first full album with a single producer. That producer is Dre Skull, the founder of Brooklyn-based Mixpak Records, which released the album digitally last year. Boomshots caught up with Dre Skull to get the lowdown on how broke into the game and his reflections on working with dancehall’s most wanted. (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Vybz Kartel “My Crew” Video

    The Latest Visuals From Kingston Story Deluxe, In Stores Today

    Here’s the brand new video for “My Crew” from the deluxe edition of Vybz Kartel’s Kingston Story, which just dropped today. Judging by this footage, The Gaza youths still have mad love for the Werlboss. And they can tun it up anytime they feel like it. But you already knew that. Video after the jump.
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  • WATCH THIS: Orange Hill ft. Vybz Kartel “Pon Time”

    Brand New Video Gives Werlboss The Grand Theft Auto Treatment

    When Dr. Dre played Coachella this summer, Tupac couldn’t make it so they brought out a hologram. It’s 2012 after all. So it’s no surprise Orange Hill wanted to highlight their tune with Vybz Kartel they stayed “Up 2 Di Time” and went the CGI route as well. Replete with helicopyers, speed boats, and bloodthirsty ninjas, the clip for “Pon Time” looks like a new episode of Grand Theft Auto (shout to Coolie and Seeborn!) except the beats are even crazier.
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  • Interview: Wayne Marshall Talks “Go Hard,” Ghetto Youths Link

    Mr. “Go Hard” Steps Off Stage at London’s Indig02 & Chops It Up With Reshma B

    This past weekend, Damian Marley and the Ghetto Youths International crew set up shop in London, England to kick off the Respect Jamaica 50 shows at the Indig02. After blazing the stage, Wayne Marshall took a moment to kick it with the Reggae Girl About Town. Reshma B asks Wayne about his big new posse cut “Go Hard” and how he really got Kartel on the track. (more…)