Joseph Mersa Marley In Memoriam
Memories of a Young Lion “I don’t really walk around bragging about what I can and can’t do,” Jo Mersa said the first time Boomshots interviewed him, during the summer of 2013. Just the night before he had shared the stage with his father Stephen “Ragga” Marley and his uncle Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, spitting […]
WTJRC 2022 Heavy Rotation Playlist
All in the Same Boat, Rockin’ on the Same Rock Once again it’s on. The last time we were on board the Jamrock Cruise was December 2019, before most people had ever heard the words “Covid-19.” Three years later the big ship is ready to rock with artists like Burning Spear, Shabba Ranks, Damian Marley, […]
Post-Millennium Memories: On Tricky
Story By Michael A. Gonzales In 1997 I was a Tricky fiend. Over a two-year period beginning with his debut Maxinquaye in 1995, Tricky and his musical partner Martina Topley-Bird were recording and releasing some of the most innovative material of that era. And what an era the ’90s were for reggae, hip hop, and […]
WATCH THIS: Baby Cham x Bounty Killer “BLOOD CLXXT” Official Music Video PREMIERE
Nobody Nah Talk, So Madhouse Haffi Cuss BLOOD CLXXT The term “BLOOD CLXXT” has a rich and complex history in the Jamaican vernacular. “You can’t get more authentic Jamaican than blood claat,” says dancehall star Baby Cham. “Blood claat is the only word we use for joy, frustrations, stress, happiness.” Officially considered a profanity on […]
Tanya Stephens & Patra Reason About Their New Collaboration “50”
When Two Legends Connect As a wise woman once said, “Nothing before the time.” Two of Jamaica’s most respected recording artists—Tanya Stephens and Patra—recently joined forces for the first time on a new song called “50.” The result? “Revolutionized big woman shenanigans.” Their historic collaboration will be featured on Tanya’s 10th studio album Some Kinda […]
WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Watch Gyal” Official Music Video PREMIERE
The Turf Prezident & Young Pow Connect in the Vegas Desert Boomshots proudly presents another exclusive world premiere from dancehall’s most versatile hitmaker. Last time we checked in with Busy Signal he was “Cruisin‘” with his girl in a vintage droptop on some smoothed-out soul vibes. This time Busy’s racing through the windswept desert in a […]
Damian Marley, Shabba Ranks, and Burning Spear Speak on the Return of the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise
All In The Same Boat, Rockin’ On The Same Rock “All in the same boat, rockin’ on the same rock,” Bob Marley sang on the Wailers’ 1971 classic “Don’t Rock My Boat.” Produced by the late great Lee “Scratch” Perry, the song is a plea for unity in keeping with the time-honored values of reggae […]
WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Cruising” Official Music Video PREMIERE
The Turf President Takes A Smokey Robinson Classic To The Dancehall Busy Signal is dancehall’s most versatile hitmaker. Ready for some roughneck reality? Cue up “Stay So” and watch every badman in the place buss a blank. When it’s party time, drop “Watch Out For This (Bumaye),” his outernational Major Lazer collab, and watch the […]
WATCH THIS: Morgan Heritage ft. Rytikal, Jahshii & I-Octane “Headline Fi Frontpage” Lyric Video PREMIERE
The Truth Must Reveal It’s been a long time since we’ve heard new music from Morgan Heritage, but today the Grammy-winning brothers Peetah, Gramps and Mr. Mojo came through with a hard-hitting new track featuring guest verses from some of the freshest young voices in the dancehall. Rising stars Rytikal aka Puryti—fresh off his victory […]
WATCH THIS: Jo Mersa Marley “Eternal” Visual Mixtape PREMIERE
A Day in the Life of a Young Lion “I don’t really walk around bragging about what I can and can’t do,” Jo Mersa told us the first time Boomshots interviewed him, during a London studio session in 2013. “I don’t talk about it,” he said. “When you hear, you hear it — and you get weh […]
Rygin King and U Roy Collab on “Stop That Train”
New Generation Meets Foundation “Me get a dream last night,” Rygin King sang, flashing across the stage at Reggae Sumfest 2018, “and the dream tell me things ah go change.” At that precise moment, three years ago this July, the young reggae star’s life changed forever. Rygin was chosen as one of three Montego Bay […]
Blessed Earthstrong Super Cat
Big Up The Wild Apache Every Time On this day in 1963 a dancehall legend was born in the Kingston neighborhood of Cockburn Pen. The child of a Black mother and an Indian father, William Anthony Maragh was given the nickname Wild Apache by his lyrical mentor Early B the Doctor. He is best known […]