Tag: Reshma B

  • Watch The Documentary ‘Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes’

    Watch The Documentary ‘Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes’

    New Doc Tells the Truth About Jamaica’s Recording Industry

    Lee “Scratch” Perry has seen it all. The notoriously eccentric reggae producer, vocalist, and visionary has created classics with artists ranging from Bob Marley & The Wailers to The Clash and The Beastie Boys. A literal living legend, he may be the only person on earth to have collaborated and quarreled with such iconic Jamaican producers as Coxsone Dodd, Joe Gibbs, and King Tubby—and outlived them all. When he burned his own Black Ark studio to the ground in 1979, people called him a madman, but Scratch just has his own way of doing things.

    One rainy night in the English countryside, the British filmmaker Reshma B sat with Scratch in a spooky old mansion, interviewing the man who’s also known as The Upsetter, The Super Ape, and Pipecock Jackxon for her film Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes, which has its worldwide debut today on Quincy Jones’s Qwest.TV and Jay-Z’s Tidal. Video and Full Story After the Jump…
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  • Buju Banton and Stephen Marley Speak on “Duppy Conqueror (Yes Mi Friend)”

    Buju Banton and Stephen Marley Speak on “Duppy Conqueror (Yes Mi Friend)”

    A Celebration of Real Friendship, 50 Years After The Wailers Original

    “Yes me friend, we deh pon street again.” 50 years after The Wailers’ original “Duppy Conqueror,” Stephen Marley and Buju Banton lift up their voices and join together in one harmony to create a crucial selection off Buju’s highly anticipated new album ‘Upside Down.’ After watching them perform the song together for the first time on the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise, Reshma B reasoned with Ragga about the story behind the song. A few monthe later she caught up with Buju at Gargamel Studios in Kingston to hear his perspective on this powerful new song with a timeless vibration. Let the reasoning begin. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Aidonia Keeps It Real: “A Lot Of These People Are Afraid Of The Streets”

    Aidonia Keeps It Real: “A Lot Of These People Are Afraid Of The Streets”

    Genna Boss Gets In Depth With Reshma B, Talks Dat’s A Trap Mixtape

    “Growing up, ’80s, ’90s dancehall was all about the street,” Aidonia tells Reshma B in a brand new interview for BoomshotsTV. “Most of the artists them no inna the streets no more.” The Genna Boss has been heating up the streets of Jamaica with smash hits like “Breeze” and he’s now preparing to drop a new genre-busting mixtape called Dat’s A Trap, featuring his futuristic flows over trap-style beats. Passing through NYC for Hot 97’s Summer Jam stage show, Aidonia also speaks on the disappointment of having his set cut short due to scheduling problems. “It hurts because we came all the way from Jamaica to come perform for the fans,” he says. “But at the end of the day you have to take a positive out of a negative… We still deh ya say we wan’ reach the next level.” Check out the full interview for Aidonia’s thoughts on the impact of Bounty Killer and the Alliance to his own career, the importance of unity within dancehall, and why he thinks rivalry is mashing up the business. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Boomshots and Mix Master J Presents – The Baba Mix-A Father’s Day Playlist

    Boomshots and Mix Master J Presents – The Baba Mix-A Father’s Day Playlist

    The Official 2018 Father’s Day Playlist for Boomshots Magazine 

    In 2015, Boomshots Magazine premiered a multi-genre playlist of songs, entitled “Dada Playlist,” which included songs from reggae, hip hop, gospel, dub, rhythm & blues and jazz, dedicated to fathers.  This year, the magazine’s staff took on the challenge of creating a “strictly reggae” playlist dedicated to Fathers. We also took into consideration, the readers request to make the playlist accessible through a music application. We recruited one of the Top Tier dee-jays out of London, Mix Master J, the brother of reggae legend, Shinehead (Kingston 12), to add his expertise in sound mastery. The result is the “Baba Mix,” a unique reggae and Father- themed playlist.  Baba means father in Ki-Swahili and this mix considers various aspects of “The Father.” The mix begins and ends with reverence to the Almighty Father with songs like Buju Banton -“Our Father,” AJ Brown- “Father Friend, ” Luciano- “Father I Love Thee” and two Dennis Emmanuel Brown selections. The playlist then addresses the importance of the Father’s role in society, with songs like Konshens-“Original Daddy,” Jahmiel-“Real Father,” and Christopher Martin- “Just Like You.”  The juxtaposition of songs discussing a Father’s sex appeal such as Buju Banton-“Stamina Daddy” and the father-in-charge, with songs like Supercat – “Don Dadda” and Johnny Osbourne- “Dancehall Daddy,” adds playfulness to the mix. We sincerely hope that this will be a memorable Father’s Day Playlist for all who listen to it. Playlist After The Jump…

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  • Flexing with Mad Cobra at Reggae Sumfest 2017

    Flexing with Mad Cobra at Reggae Sumfest 2017

    Ewart Brown Nuh Press People Button

    During the early 1990s Mad Cobra was one of the hottest new stars on Kingston’s dancehall circuit. And then his 1992 hit single “Flex,” recorded for Shang Productions and distributed worldwide by Columbia Records, made him an international star. Suddenly the voice of the youth born Ewart Brown was heard round the world on mainstream radio, becoming part of global pop culture, and yet he never lost his hardcore appea thanks to lyrics like “Press trigger we nuh press people button.” It’s been a long time since the Snake  touched the stage at Reggae Sumfest, so Mad Cobra returned to Montego Bay for the 25th anniversary edition, delivered a jolt of that hardcore 90s dancehall energy. After blazing the Catherine Hall stage Cobra took time out to kick it with the Reggae Girl About Town. They remarked on Sumfest’s renewed energy, and on the enduring power of his song “Flex.” Then Cobra explained why he used his time on stage to take a stand against domestic violence and child abuse. Real people, real talk, real things. Video After The Jump…
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  • Busy Signal “Fresh From Yaad” Album Review

    Busy Signal “Fresh From Yaad” Album Review

    The Newly Energized Entertainer Hints That A Busy Signal U.S. Tour Is In The Works

    Reanno Gordon, Busy Signal continues to stand out as an artist in 2017. He stepped out onto the musical scene in 2002, modeling his career after international reggae icon, Bounty Killer.  Now he has an even clearer vision for his future with his new VISA status. In January, Busy Signal visited New York for a quick media run with  Ebro Darden, Laura Styles, Funk Masterflex,Bobby Konders and Jabba for Hot 97 FM and Reshma B for Boomshots TV (four-part interview at the end of article) to discuss his new EP, Fresh From Yaad.  Following this, Busy embarked on an European Tour and this week he revived up his fans in the U.S. with a tweet:  “Coming to a city near you. Wherever in world you are! ASAP- Turf President.” In light of the impending tour, this article will serve to give an in-depth review of the Fresh From Yaad EP. Album Review After The Jump

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  • HEAR THIS: Konshens ft. Chris Brown “Bruk Off Yuh Back” Remix

    HEAR THIS: Konshens ft. Chris Brown “Bruk Off Yuh Back” Remix

    Remix adds R&B Flavor to Dancehall Smash Hit

    The ladies received a special treat on March 21, 2017. Two heartthrobs in the genres of R&B and Dancehall, respectively, collaborated on a remix for a song released in 2016. Konshen’s  incendiary hit “Bruk Off Yuh Back” on the Moskato riddim produced by Christopher Birch, begins:  “Wah dis make you feel like do? / Wah dis make you feel like do? / Wah dis make you? For most dancehall lovers, this song makes you want to break into dance moves. The song merged into mainstream music culture and remains an international hit.  More After The Jump…

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  • Out and Bad: Elephant Man Teaches His Top 10 Dance Moves

    Out and Bad: Elephant Man Teaches His Top 10 Dance Moves

    Getting Jiggy With Di Energy God

    With Notting Hill Carnival coming up next weekend—and Brooklyn’s Labor Day parade the weekend after that—it’s time to brush up on your dance steps. You love the vibes and you want to bust some moves like Usain Bolt celebrating a gold medal, but you don’t know your “Willie Bounce” from your “Gangsta Rock.” Well fret not thyself. Reshma B linked up with Elephant Man in Kingston, Jamaica. Elly is known for spreading Kingston street dance choreography around the world with hit songs like “Pon Di River Pon The Bank” and “Signal Di Plane.” Di Energy God himself  taught The Reggae Girl About Town how to do each and every one of his Top 10 Dance Moves. He also took time out to reason about his early King Jammy’$ days, and big up the elders in the business from Shabba Ranks to Bounty Killer and Buju Banton. Videos After The Jump… (more…)

  • ReshmaB Chains Make Runway Debut at Caribbean Fashion Week  2015

    ReshmaB Chains Make Runway Debut at Caribbean Fashion Week 2015

    The Reggae Girl About Town Flexes Her Design Skills

    Reshma B, the UK-based music journalist, showed off her design skills at Caribbean Fashion Week in Kingston, Jamaica. ReshmaB Chains—recently included on Mass Appeal‘s round-up of New Streetwear Brands Who Are Killing it Right Now—made their runway debut at CFW’s Friday kick off. Pulse top model Oraine Barrett walked the runway, while three-time Vogue cover girl Jeneil Williams was spotted wearing a pair of ReshmaB earrings in the front row. Designer Reshma B capped the night by taking to the catwalk rocking a bright orange Day-Glo “Wah Gwan” chain, flashing her trademark peace sign, and snapping shots of the experience with a selfie stick. Article Continues After the Jump; Photo Gallery Above… (more…)

  • Ancient Future Is Now

    Ancient Future Is Now

    Diggy British Scores Big as Ancient Future debuts Pon Top of iTunes Reggae Chart

    “Sharp like the thorn crown pon Christ head,” Protoje spits on “Protection,” the opening track of his new album Ancient Future, “And you know the flow Hardo like slice bread.”  True, that. The artist’s third album, which dropped today and shot to the top of iTunes reggae chart, marks a quantum leap in his lyrical prowess, not just in terms of flows and patterns but also in thought-provoking ideas (“drastically free from hypocrisy I say yeah”). Anybody sleeping on this youth needs to wake up fast. Between Protoje’s endless cascade of pause-and-rewind punchlines and Winta James’s sophisticated soundscapes, the album stands out as a breath of fresh air in the modern Jamaican music scene—which has elders like Sizzla so deeply vexed. In Jamaica many reggae lovers use the term “Ancient” to describe artists of the 70s and 80s, and Protoje clearly taps into that era for inspiration. Mark you, this remarkable album is not a throwback, but rather a leap forward—hence the second half of its aptly chosen title. As Ancient Future week continues on Boomshots, Reshma B quizzes Diggy about the levels of meaning behind his tune “Stylin.”  Video After the Jump… (more…)

  • Protoje in the UK: Reasoning with Diggy British

    Protoje in the UK: Reasoning with Diggy British

    Kick Off Ancient Future Week With a “Bubblin’” Selection and Reshma B’s Epic Interview

    “We radically transforming the landscape of Jamaican Music on March 10th,” reads the official IG feed for the man called Protoje aka Diggy British. Well, so much for managing expectations. But that’s Protoje for you. Every since he first began bubbling under the reggae radar around 2010 or so, it was clear he was on some next next level movements—even if, especially if, they weren’t perfectly in tune with what everybody else was doing at that moment. He was always himself up on stage, never playing a role, never pretending to be too cool, fearlessly blending sincerity and complexity and militancy and rock-solid roots and dub sonics. Long before folks were chatting about a “reggae revival,” Diggy was quietly putting in work. From the Seven Year Itch to the Eight Year Affair it’s been a long journey. Recently he and several other like-minded bredrens formed like Voltron and started making noise as a collective, combining old school musical values with state-of-the-art social media savvy to wage asymmetrical musical warfare. Then last year Diggy and his longtime parring-p Chronixx dropped a certified Boomshot known as “Who Knows.” From that point it was on and popping. “Now is our time to govern the music,” Diggy told us late last year. We’re expecting big things, so we’ve declared Ancient Future week on Boomshots. Keep it locked. Audio & Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with ZJ Liquid: “Resent Is Part of the Game”

    Reasoning with ZJ Liquid: “Resent Is Part of the Game”

    Reshma B Chats With The Zip Jock Whose Fix Up Riddim Has Got The Dance on Lock

    ZJ Liquid does it all—he’s a seletor, producer, and microphone chanter whose “Good Book” riddim was one of the biggest for 2014. Earlier this week he dropped a new juggling called “Fix Up” and it’s got the dancehall on fire. Reshma B caught up with Liquid at 21st Hapilos Digital HQ in Kingston, Jamaica for an in-depth reasoning on how the H2O Records CEO stays ahead of the game—and how he deals with haters. He even blessed us with a freestyle and the story behind the making of one of this biggest tunes. Video After The Jump… (more…)