Boomshots | Word, Sound, and Power

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HEAR THIS: Patra ft. Delus “Come Ova”

by robk007 on May 17, 2012 • 1 Comment

The Queen Of The Pack Is Back—And Well Slack!

Maddest combination we’ve heard in a minute. Patra dials up Delus—aka the brother of Konshens—and tells him she’s in need of his full attention. (Damn—some guys have all the luck.) It’s good to know Patra’s back in the mix. We’ve been feeling Patra since she was Lady Patra, straight through to her “Queen of the Pack” days. And not just because of all the “wuk” she put in to push dancehall into worldwide pop culture. Something about that husky voice and, of course, the whining skill just gets us every time.

Lovers Rock / Marley / Reggae / Video

WATCH THIS: Ilhame ft. Ky-Mani Marley “Still Waiting” Video

by robk007 on May 17, 2012 • No Comments

French Moroccan Beauty Flips The Classic Marley Love Song From A Female Point of View

Ilhame is a Paris native with Moroccan roots and an outernational vision. “Still Waiting” is the first single from her debut album Just Wish It, due this summer. llhame (pronounced Eel-um) captures the feeling of Bob’s original with her own soulful, feminine flavor. Ky-Mani Marley adds his own unmistakable touch with his sweetly scratchy vocals. And isn’t that Karen Marley sipping champagne with Ilhame on a sunny L.A. afternoon? Though she’s singing in French and Arabic, the message is clear: if you love somebody, don’t keep them waiting.

Dub / Foundation / Live / Reggae

The Wisdom Of Lee “Scratch” Perry

by admin on May 16, 2012 • 1 Comment

Win Tickets To See The Artist Formerly Known As Pipecock Jaxson in NYC This Thursday

Long before Lil Wayne started proclaiming that he was “not a human being,” Lee “Scratch” Perry had the whole self-mythologizing thing down to a science. Unfortunately Scratch the character—order your limited edition vinyl… action figure before midnight tonight!—has very nearly eclipsed Lee “Scratch” Perry the man, who just happens to be a bonafide musical genius. His influence on legendary artists ranging from Bob Marley to The Beastie Boys has been well documented, still the cult of personality persists. But when Scratch takes the stage to perform live tonight in Washington D.C., he might just remind a few people what all the fuss is about. (Check the tour dates below.) If you happen to be in New York City tomorrow night, answer our million-dollar question for a chance to win tickets to the May 17th show at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre. And even if you can’t make it to any of these gigs, read on to pick up some pearls of Perry wisdom, as reported by the man called Emch, whose Subatomic Sound System has toured the world with Scratch.

Live / Reggae / Video

WATCH THIS: Romain Virgo “Not Today” Acoustic Version & Interview

by robk007 on May 15, 2012 • 3 Comments

The Singer Celebrates The Release Of “The System” On Radio Lily’s Strictly Boomshots Show

Last night Romain Virgo celebrated the release of his sophomore album The System with a live performance on Radio Lily’s Strictly Boomshots show. Shaggy, Rayvon, DJ Kue, and 77 Klash were all in the building with the lady who put the P in V.P. Records, Miss Pat herself plus Chris Chin along with Clive Chin—not to mention the original Miss Lily’s fam (too much name, can’t call nuh name). Photos and video by the man called Gizmo after the jump. Read more »

Live / RadioLily / Reggae

Romain Virgo Album Release Party

by robk007 on May 14, 2012 • No Comments

All Roads Lead To Miss Lily’s, Where Romain Virgo Will Perform Live On The Strictly Boomshots Show

Tonight at Miss Lily’s Variety in NYC, see why the critics are raving about Romain Virgo’s new album The System, when he stops by the Strictly Boomshots show. This one is not to be missed. So if you can’t pass through, make sure you tune in to RadioLily.com. Read more »

Dancehall / Lovers Rock / Reggae / Throwback

HEAR THIS: Wilfred Limonious “Young Love”

by robk007 on May 14, 2012 • No Comments

Who Knew That Dancehall’s Greatest Graphic Artist Was A Wicked Singer Too?

When Matt Goias sent me this tune via email the subject line read simply “Peep The Singer,” I had no idea what to make of it. On first listen “Young Love” sounded like just another reggae rarity — a slightly randy lover’s rock selection about a lonely old man man who’s had his eye on a pretty young thing for years. But then Matt forwarded the seven-inch single’s label, lovingly rendered in shades of blue. No doubt about it, that’s the work of Limonious, the undisputed champion of dancehall album art. The prolific—and sadly now deceased—artist has attracted something of a cult following. And that was before we knew he could sing too.

Foundation / Reggae / Video

HEAR THIS: Sizzla “Mama Mek Me Deya So”

by robk007 on May 13, 2012 • No Comments

For Sizzla Kalonji Every Day Is Mothers’s Day

Who bigs up the mothers of creation more than Sizzla? From his mid ’90s breakthrough album Black Woman & Child straight straight through to his latest cut on Breadback Productions’ crucial “Long Life” Riddim, Sizzla represents for the divine empresses every time. Read more »

Africa / Foundation / Fresh Cut / Hip Hop / Reggae / Video

WATCH THIS: Stephen Marley ft. Wale & The Cast of Fela “Made In Africa” Video

by robk007 on May 13, 2012 • No Comments

Ragga Marley Takes It Back To The Motherland In His Epic New Video

Walking back through Goree Island’s infamous Door of No Return, Stephen Marley flips the script on his epic video for “Made In Africa,” the opening track from his Grammy-winning album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life. Shot on location in Ethiopia and Senegal, the cinematic video blends historic and modern footage to majestic effect. If this is the Root, we can’t wait for the fruit. Read more »

Dancehall / Sexiness / Slackness

HEAR THIS: Vybz Kartel & Gaza Slim ”Marry & Done” / ”F*ck it & Cum’

by Reshma B on May 12, 2012 • No Comments

Dancehall Bonnie & Clyde Flip It Two Ways On The Coolie Gal Riddim

No pre-nups, pretty outfits, or rings and tings. Kartel is getting down, dirty and romantic with his Soulja Girl on the Coolie Gal riddim! They might be dancehall’s most notorious pair-up, but The Werl Boss & Gaza’s own Slim are tearing up the new coolie Gal riddim in more ways than one.

You already know the Werlboss does his thing different, so of course he dropped a raw edit and a radio edit with completely different lyrics. Which one you prefer says a lot about you—but in the long run, maybe they both climax to the same thing?

Cupid’s bow is about to shoot something—if it’s wedding bells it’s “Married and Done.” If it’s somefing else, then flick the switch and it’s “F*ck it & Cum.” Whichever comes first there’s always a chance one may lead to the other, right?

As for Kartel & Slim—who reps so hard for Kartel she even did time for the Werlboss—they say behind every great man… Well, you know the rest!

Interview / Outernational / Reasoning / UK

Interview: Reasoning With Rodigan Part 1

by robk007 on May 11, 2012 • No Comments

Sir RamJam Talks About Getting Sampled On Dubstep Tracks And Bigs Up The Late Great King Stitt

2012 has been a great year for David “RamJam” Rodigan, the veteran UK selector and radio personality. Last month he won Irish & Chin’s World Clash, defeating Bass Odyssey in the final round. The month before that he was invited to Buckingham Palace to be proclaimed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his work as a reggae disc jockey. Not bad for a man who never intended to pursue a career in music. But Rodigan has always been a music lover, and a passionate historian and educator about Jamaican music. In this first of a series of exclusive interviews, the legendary selector and radio presenter speaks about how he’s connecting with a whole new generation of reggae fans since having his unmistakable voice sampled by dubstep producers. He also recalls the first time he saw Jimmy Cliff perform live, and pays respects to the original reggae DJ, the late great King Stitt aka The Ugly One—Who was, among other things, one of the unheralded pioneers of rap music. OK, let’s get to it. Read more »

Dancehall / Fresh Cut / Video / World Premiere

WATCH THIS: Loudspeaker Riddim Preview

by robk007 on May 11, 2012 • No Comments

Walshy Fire Represents For Mixpak Records’ New Juggling

Dre Skull’s hard-driving Loudspeaker Riddim percolates through waves of echo laying a solid foundation for Beenie Man, Natalie Storm, Machel Montano, and Popcaan to come through and do what they do. Mixpak Records just dropped a preview video to introduce the juggling, which is due for a May 22 release. This Popcaan tune is about to be a problem. Video & tracklist after the jump. Read more »

Uncategorized

HEAR THIS: Patexxx “Wine & Go Dung”

by robk007 on May 10, 2012 • No Comments

Patexxx checks in with the 10 millionth dancehall song instructing girls how to “Wine.” But he wins with humorous lines like “Da wine deh a hold me / Mek me buy a fridge weh a Sony.” Bonus points for Echo One productions’ use of the Leland truck horn. Patexxx’s flow is reminiscent of Early Black’s “Stuck,” which was of course an homage to the Skullman classic “Stop.”
Read more »

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