Things were already looking bad for Ninjaman last week, then over the weekend came even worse news that the man born Desmond Ballentine had been arrested in the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Ricardo Johnson, aka “Ricky Trooper” (not the former Killamanjaro selector). The Don Gorgon now faces charges of murder, conspiracy to murder, and illegal possession of a firearm. But how can the man get a fair trial with album covers like this floating around on google?
Busta Rhymes just linked up with Mavado for the remix to “I’m So Special.” Like Jay-Z, G-Unit, Wyclef, Uncle Murda, Lil Kim AND Foxy Brown, Busta’s feeling the Gully God. But don’t call Busta a waggonist. He may have trimed his locks, but he’s always kept in touch with his Caribbean roots by showing love to the reggae massive—from “Wicked Act” on Buju’s Voice of Jamaica album to “Change Like The Weather” on Bounty Killer’s My Xperience album (remember the video with Spencer Christian? maaad) all the way up to Sean Paul’s “Gimme The Light” remix and how could we forget “Make It Clap”? But out of all the jewels the God MC has dropped over his long career, this is the first time we’ve heard Bussa Buss singing. Maybe he should change his new album title to Back On My BoomShots?
Run the track…
[audio:https://www.boomshots.com/tunes/MavadoBustaRhymesSoBlessedRemix.mp3]
Out Pon Bail: Ninja at Reggae Sunsplash 1996 Photo by Stella Magliore
Whether you call him Brother Desmond or the Original Front Teeth Gold Teeth Gun Pon Teeth Bad Bwoy, Ninjaman always seems to be the center of attention. But attention from the Jamaica Constabulary Force is not the sort of attention anybody wants. In the photo above, he had just been released from prison to perform at Reggae Sunsplash 1996. In 1999, he missed the premier of Third World Cop, his first big-screen role, because he was unavoidably detained in General Penitentiary. But since that time, he’s been on some mostly positive movements, most recently the “One Umbrella Movement” against violence. Looks like history just keeps repeating itself. Ten years later Ninja is about to star in a new movie called Gangstas, and at the same time he’s in a next legal mixup.
I always thought Ron Browz’s “Pop Champagne” beat sounded Bogle-ish, so it’s only right that there’s a gang of reggae remixes out.
Usually I’m not a big fan of dancers making records. Isn’t that the DJ’s job? In general, I say stay in your lane and do what you do best. But after viewing this video, I might have to revise that opinion. Don’t think these girls are actually doing the Swagga Bounce properly, but I’m okay with that. Big up Teblanc and Dammage and the Whole Duhaney Park, Kingston 20. “We don’t care about them and them freemason.” And soon, neither will you!
The year was 2006, Rihanna was 18 years old and performing in Jamaica for the first time. She had no drama with Chris Brown, just a song to sing. Can it be that it was all so simple then? Let’s go to the video tape:
While you listen to the girl sing, check out the full text of the police affidavit about the events of February 7, 2009. (more…)
The official video for Serani’s smash debuts on MTV next week. We’ve got it now:
Question: Do you like the new official Universal Music Group video better than the yard version of the “No Games” video? (more…)
Remember that LKJ poem “It Noh Funny“?
“People sayin’ dis, people sayin’ dat / bout the youth of today / how dem gone astray / And it noh funny”
Well people have been saying this and that about the decline of reggae music lately. Despite the efforts of dancehall bashers, fossilized old-school devotees, the government, the church, and assorted gay-rights organizations, despite declining record sales, the theft or embezzlement of Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation’s entire record collection, and widespread abuse and exploitation, reggae isn’t dead. No, it’s just been appropriated by R&B and hip hop. Or, put another way, Jamaican music’s influence is so pervasive as to be almost imperceptible. And it no funny. (more…)
The man called Ewart Beckford, O.D. a.k.a. Daddy U-Roy raised the art of toasting to new heights. He didn’t just spit a few phrases here and there, he rode the riddim from the starting gate to the last furlong. (more…)
Biggie Smalls & Busy Signal “Dead Wrong / Too Much Gun” The Remix
March 9 is not a day to celebrate. Today marks the 12th anniversary of Biggie Smalls’ murder in Los Angeles. Our thoughts and prayers are with Christopher Wallace’s close friends and family. Unbelievable was deep, and Notorious was heartbreaking, but as Jay-Z put it, “This ain’t a movie, dog.”
Watching the Warlord juggle on the Answer riddim at Mavado’s party got me in the mood for some Vintage Killer, so I had to take it all the way back to one of his earliest singles to touch the road shortly after he changed his name from Bounty Hunter. (more…)
The poster said Mavado and Friends, but the star power assembled onstage at SOB’s last Tuesday night was more than anybody bargained for. Serani, Bounty, Matterhorn, Wyclef, Shaggy…
NYC Superstation Hot 97 and V.P. Records sponsored the official release party for the Gully God’s new album, David Brooks: A Better Tomorrow and the venue was rammed from early with a line around the block. (more…)
Marley connoisseurs have been up on K’Naan for years now, but now that the poet/emcee/self-proclaimed “visual stenographer” is finally getting his shine, the rest of the world is starting to catch up. (more…)