Boomshots

Month: May 2012

  • HEAR THIS: Papa San Names Out 106 DJs

    Live & Direct From The Big Firgo Digital vs. King Addies vs. King Kustom Clash @ Biltmore Ballroom 1989

    In those bygone days when sounds used to carry dubplates instead of laptops, three champion sounds collided at Brooklyn’s legendary Biltmore Ballroom. Big tunes were brandished, but the competition was not only limited to the turntable. In keeping with tradition, live DJs were also repping for each sound system. And none hit harder that night than Papa San. People sleep on San these days, but back in 89 nobody was touching his rapid-fire flow. As Sleepy Wonder points out “Bwoy San you talk fast, you talk slow, you talk frontway, you talk backway—what else leave?” Of all the styles Pupa San flung down that night, this one stands out. We’re still trying to calculate whether he mentioned all 106 DJ names as promised. Hey kids! Get ready for some real live dancehall culture. Audio after the jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Sean Paul “Find It”

    DuttyPaul Bruises Up Big Ship’s Brand New Bassline Riddim

    Late last night Di Genius blasted out his new Bassline riddim and this one’s a banger. Of course Stephen and Chino have tunes on the riddim, as do Mavado, Busy, Aidonia, Spragga, Sasco, Fambo, Gyptian, Laden, Bramma—even Singing Sweet. Trust that you’ll be hearing all those tunes in heavy rotation this Summer, but this Sean Paul cut kinda jumped out from the rest. Sean’s new album Tomahawk Technique is his first to emphasize outernational production, but Jah know we still love the yard ting. Don’t take our word for it, though. Listen for yourself….
    (more…)

  • DOWNLOAD: Munga Honorable “SlapWeh” Mixtape

    The Gangsta Ras Has Something Special He Wants To Give You

    Every gallis go through this… Ah the gallis dem tune dis. “SlapWeh” is the name of the tune, and the big bad new mixtape from DJ Kitt and the 007 Sound family. Munga’s always been an eclectic artist, so it’s no surprise that the beats on here range from cutting-edge dancehall to one-drop and hip-hop. Guest spots from Chi Ching Ching, Supahype, and the trio G.M.C. (Gyptian, Munga & Chi Ching Ching) round out the package nicely. In other words, the ting tun up. Links after the jump…

    (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Mr. Vegas “Bruk It Down” Live Pon Radio Lily

    Live From The Sweet Jamaica Album Launch, Vegas Bigs Up Buju And Busy and Fire Blaxx
    Just in time for the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, Mr. Vegas launched his new double album Sweet Jamaica in fine style last night at Miss Lily’s Variety in NYC—broadcast live pon RadioLily.com. While Max Glazer and Spliffington juggled tracks from the new album plus a murderous selection of computer riddims, industry players like DJ Norie of 105.1FM, Johnny Wonder of 21st Hapilos, Neil Robertson of VP, and Radio Lily’s own DJ Autograph, DJ Select, Night Nurse, Micro Don, and the whole Miss Lily’s fam turned out in force, with strong media presence from LargeUp, Tempo, and of course Boomshots in the building. After a fifteen-minute interview by Rob Kenner, Vegas blessed the place with a quick live performance, building up to his current smash hit “Bruk It Down.” Video & photos by the man called Gizmo after the jump…
    (more…)

  • Johnny Osbourne “We Need Love” Live

    Reggae Legend Rocks Out In Harlem Backed By The Full Watts Band
    Photograph by Paul Holgerson

    Ten-thirty p.m., Saturday, May 19, in Harlem. I’m sitting at a table in Ginny’s Supper Club below the Red Rooster, 125th and Lenox. Across this art deco revival Harlem nightclub, the funky rounded edges of the window to the deejay booth frames esteemed reggae producer Clive Chin and his operator Fidel ‘Twice’ Luna. My friend Sam leans to me and says, “Can you believe we’re sitting in a place like this, listening to music like this?” Ginny’s stands in obvious contrast to the Brooklyn basements and warehouses and lofts with bare walls and bare lightbulbs where we usually have to stay up until 3 a.m. to hear reggae from the vinyl deep. Twice drops the needle into a Clive Chin-produced cover of “Mission Impossible,” the right track played at the right time. The pot is bubbling… (more…)

  • Busy Signal Releases First Statement Since His Arrest

    “I have never admitted that I was involved in any drug deal”

    Along with Busy Signal’s brand new “Kingston Town” Remix featuring Jr. Gong, we just received this statement tonight from Busy’s management:

    In this a time of reflection, I would like to thank my fans who have supported me through this difficult situation and who will continue to support me. Your messages and prayers via social networks and via
    members of my team are what have brought light to the darkness of my cell… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Busy Signal ft. Damian Marley “Kingston Town” Remix

    Gongzilla Alongside Busy Signal—The Reggae Mission Continues

    Music alone shall live. We just received this brand new remix of our favorite cut off Busy Signal’s Reggae Music Again album. Busy & Jr. Gong on the same track would be a big deal regardless, but given the circumstances, this tune and its message hit just a little bit harder. (more…)

  • Interview: Reasoning With Rodigan Part 3

    Sir RamJam’s Royal Recognition, His Radio Clash With Barry G, And His Fears For Reggae’s Future

    David Rodigan‘s trophy case must be getting mighty crowded. This year alone the veteran UK selector and radio personality has won the World Clash, received Member of the British Empire honors at Buckingham Palace,  and earlier this month he bagged the Sony Radio Academy Gold Award for Best Specialist Music Programme in recognition of his recent BBC Radio 2 reggae series. But even as his accolades accumulate, Rodigan wastes no time resting on his laurels. He is fully booked through next year with gigs all around the world. And he seems genuinely concerned about the future of the music he loves—as he explains in the third and final installment of our “Reasoning With Rodigan” series… In the first of our exclusive interviews, Rodigan spoke about how he has been able to reach the dubstep generation, and paid respects to the late, great King Stitt. In part 2, the rude boy gentleman recounted his “baptism by fire” at King Tubbys, revealed how his background in theater helped him become a reggae DJ, and explained why he never talks patois on the air. [In case you somehow missed REASONING WITH RODIGAN PART 1 or PART 2, fret not thyself.] In our third and final installment, Rodigan details the roots of his legendary radio clash with Barry G, talks about receiving MBE honors from Prince Charles earlier this year, and voices his concerns that reggae music may have lost its way. OK, let’s get to it. (more…)

  • Busy Signal Won’t Fight Extradition To U.S.

    The Artist Who Sang “Nah Go A Jail Again” Gets Entangled With U.S. Law Enforcement

    Not so long ago, Boomshots was in Kingston chopping it up with Busy Signal. He was in great spirits, riding high on his critically acclaimed album Reggae Music Again. Now instead of preparing his next release, Busy is facing extradition to the U.S. on drug charges. Avah Taylor reports on the latest reggae star to run afoul of the law:

    For Glendale Goshia Gordon, better known to reggae fans as Busy Signal, it was all good just a week ago. Prior to getting word that the U.S. government had issued an extradition warrant for him, he had performed at the Reggae Splash Tour in Paris and the Amsterdam Reggae Festival last week. Following his performance in Amsterdam, Busy travelled to London, where he was reportedly denied entry and detained by Immigration officials for attempting to enter the country under the assumed name “Reanno Devon Gordon.”  (more…)

  • Salaam Remi on the Making Of Nas’ “The Don”

    The Ace Producer Tells How A Super Cat Classic Evolved Into A Hip-Hop Banger

    Ever since Nas dropped “The Don,” he’s had the streets on fire. We knew it was a Salaam Remi production, based on a classic Super Cat sample, and “Heavy D gave this beat to Salaam for me to rap on.” But the details surrounding the creation of this modern-day classic have remained murky until now. As part of their big Nas cover story, Complex scribe Rob Marriott spoke with Remi about the making of “The Don.” Read on to learn the half that’s never been told…

    Salaam Remi: We were talking about reggae stuff, and Hev was like, “Yo, here’s this Cat record, ‘Dance Inna New York.’ You ever heard it?” I’m like, “Nah.” He’s like, “Yo, I’ve never heard it before either. I’m going to send it to you. If you could find some way to flip this, I’m telling you, it would be crazy.” (more…)

  • Vybz Kartel Disbanding Portmore Empire

    Official Statement From Adidjaheim Records: Tommy Lee and Gaza Slim Moving On To PG13

    This morning Boomshots received an official communique from Vybz Kartel’s record label announcing the end of an era. “Adidjahiem Records would like to announce that the outfit known as the Portmore Empire is being disbanded.” After contacting reputable sources to confirm, it appears that the statement is legit. Although producers have continued to release new Kartel songs recorded before his arrest last October, there is no infrastructure in place to keep up with the day-to-day management of artists. The release also included the following statement from Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer…  (more…)

  • Brigadier Jerry Pon Radio Lily

    The Original Dancehall General Passes Through Radio Lily To Nice Up The Strictly Boomshots Show

    Brigadier Jerry has more lyrics in his big toe than most DJs have in their whole catalog. This living legend of dancehall culture blessed Miss Lily’s last night with an hour-long reasoning and lyrics session. But if you missed last night’s show, fret not thyself—you can check out a small taste after the jump. Photos and video by the man called Gizmo. (more…)