Month: April 2009

  • HEAR THIS: Queen Ifrica “Lioness On The Rise”

    Queen Ifrica at Flames Yard Kingston, JA. Photography by Wayne Lawrence.

    Born Ventrice Latora Morgan in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Queen Ifrica aka the Fyah Muma is the daughter of ska legend Derrick Morgan. She grew up in the Rastafarian community of Montego Bay, and burst onto the local music scene in 2007 with a humorous tune called “Below The Waist” that she followed up with a string of hits that established the DJ’s name as a force to be reckoned with. While putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited debut album, Ifrica recently released an EP called Road To Mobay, which includes a new song that might as well be her official anthem called “Lioness On The Rise.” As she says in the tune, “When the roll is call up / we’ll be standing tall up.” Run the track…

    [audio:https://www.boomshots.com/tunes/LionessOnTheRise.mp3]

    After vibesing the new music, we linked Ifrica for some reasoning. Come in Fyah Muma…. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Sizzla “Gwaan Bear”

    Sizzla’s new album Ghetto Youth-Ology drops today, and it’s one of his best efforts in a while. All tracks were laid by the Firehouse Crew and there are lots of gems—”Premeditate” on the “Arena” riddim and “Stop It Right Now” come to mind—but “Gwaan Bear” is hitting me real hard today. Kalonji’s in the zone on this one. Just check the lyrics:

    “From me navel string cut me nah lef’ the ghetto / Nuff ah them think in deh easy, but ah no really so / When we mind fi touch the gun me bredren holler no no no / Have we life inna we hand and we can’t too leggo / No touch the weapon we no ready fi dead yet / It won’t be too long for us to enjoy the best.”

    Run the track…

    [audio:https://www.boomshots.com/tunes/GwaanBear.mp3]

    Want more? Check my full album review on VIBE.com

  • Damian Marley and Nas on Rap Radar

    Junior Gong and Gods’ Son in the lab working on their album, Distant Relatives. (more…)

  • Bob in Zimbabwe, 29 Years Later

    Twenty Nine years ago today, Bob Marley and the Wailers took the stage at Zimbabwe’s Independence Day ceremonies in Harare’s Rufaro Stadium. Prince Charles was on hand to witness the renaming of the former British colony Rhodesia and to see the British flag lowered for the last time, only to be replaced by the new Zimbabwean colors. Marley had declared solidarity with the African rebel forces on his 1979 album Survival in a song called “Zimbabwe” that he composed during an earlier trip to Ethiopia. “So arm in arms, with arms, we’ll fight this little struggle,” he sang—so it seemed fitting that he should make a joyful noise at the conclusion of said struggle. (more…)

  • VIDEO: Tarrus Riley & Konshens “Good Girl Gone Bad”

    The tune tough from long time, and now the video’s tight too. Better keep an eye on this one…

  • NOW HEAR THIS: Buju & Wyclef “Bedtime Story”

    “Daddy won’t be coming home tonight” sing Buju Banton and Wyclef Jean on this touching Wyclef and Jerry Wonder production, taken from Buju’s latest album on the Gargamel label, Rasta Got Soul. (more…)

  • NOW HEAR THIS: DJ Power Remix Clash

    The homie DJ Power a.k.a. “The Soul Controller” just dropped his latest mixtape, Press Play 4.0 Dancehall 2K9, and as usual it’s packed with crazy juggling—new music from Kartel, Mavado, Serani, Junior Reid, Elephant, Beenie & more—plus nuff exclusive remixes. But which one of them is the wickedest? You make the call in this Boomshots webclash. (more…)

  • NOW HEAR THIS: Jovi Rockwell “Tonight”

    Remember when Rockwell sang “I always feel like somebody’s watching me”? Well I’ve had my eye on Jovi Rockwell for a minute now. (more…)

  • Las Lap T&T Carnival 2009

    Happy Easter everybody. Now that we’ve made it through the desert of shame that is Lent, what better time look back at the delicious debauchery of Trinidad & Tobago carnival one last time—especially after 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and atonement for our sins? (more…)

  • VIDEO: Asa “Jailer” live

    Asa is the truth. The Nigerian singer and songwriter sets justice to music and makes bitter truths sound sweet, evoking the best of Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, India Arie, Joan Armatrading… I could go on and on; the full has never been told. But Asa is telling it one song at a time. Listen well…

    “Let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone Mr. Jailer.”

  • VIDEO PREMIERE: Etana & Alborosie “Blessings”

    Etana is The Strong One with a voice to make you shed eye water.
    Alborosie is The Jamaican Sicilian with lengthy locks and versatile vibes.
    Ras Kassa is The Guru. Top shotta nah miss. (more…)

  • NOW HEAR THIS: “Blame It On The Weed”

    Jamie Foxx and T-Pain say “Blame it on the Alcohol,” but you dun know what Wayne Marshall’s gonna blame it pon already. “Listen to the drama… Weed make Chris Brown get mad with Rihanna.”

    Run tune…

    [audio:https://www.boomshots.com/tunes/BlameOnDaWeed.mp3]

    Mr. Marshall nah stop wave the weed banner. And Hot 97 nah stop blaze the tune.