HEAR THIS: Chronixx “Out Deh”
Straight Outta Spaintown Teased on the masterful Roots & Chalice mixtape released earlier this year, the official full length version of the latest Chronixx single to touch the road is here. “Out Deh” showcases Di Steam Ministah hitching a ride upon the Shiah Records’ rugged “Lion Paw” riddim with a true king of the jungle […]
HEAR THIS: Protoje “Can’t Feel No Way” DOWNLOAD
New Music From Diggy British! First things first: Protoje’s debut album Ancient Future was a masterpiece. The fact that it did not receive a Grammy nomination was a grievous oversight, but then again the Grammys have a long history of fuckry. Ancient Future joins a distinguished group of reggae albums that were slept on by […]
Reasoning with Beenie Man: “The music is Jamaican; the problem is, America can make it too.”
The Doctor Talks Drake, Popcaan & Kartel “Drake from Canada—Beenie Man from Jamaica—dah one yah a murda! Zagga.” When Drake’s album Views dropped at the end of April, Popcaan fans were surprised to hear a new voice on “Controlla”—a vintage Beenie Man sample appeared where Popcaan’s lyrics used to be. With Drake’s album topping the […]
WATCH THIS: Atumpan ft. Paigey Cakey “Watch Nobody” Official Music Video PREMIERE
Don’t Deal With The Haters—Just Chase That Paper Remember when Atumpan dropped “The Thing” back in 2013? Afrobeats was a fairly new concept at the time, but there was no denying the man’s talent—or his MOBO nomination. Three years later the Ghanaian artist (whose name meaning “Talking Drum” in Akan) is back with a warm […]
Super Cat Confirmed for Reggae Sumfest 2016
The Don Dada Will Headline Reggae Night Super Cat will make his Reggae Sumfest debut on July 23, 2016, headlining the festival’s Reggae Night in Montego Bay, Jamaica. “Our headline act on Saturday night—which is Reggae Night—will be none other than the Don Dada himself,” said Josef Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Records, which took over the […]
WATCH THIS: Delly Ranx “No Limit (Money Nuff)” Official Music Video PREMIERE
The World General Stays On That Paper Chase When it comes to living out one’s dreams, there’s nothing quite like money to make a vision turn to reality. Just ask Delroy Isaac Foster, the dancehall artist and producer known as Delly Ranx. His latest juggling for his Pure Music Productions team is a slow-burning riddim […]
HEAR THIS: Damian Marley “Caution”
When The Fire Starts, Don’t Say Gongzilla Didn’t Warn You He’s given us three Set Up Shop compilations and one classic collaborative album with Nas, but it’s been a minute since Damian Marley’s last solo album, the multi-Grammy winning Welcome To Jamrock. Now here comes the first single, a hardcore slice of ghetto life reminiscent […]
Remembering “The People’s Champion” -Muhammad Ali
A Champion of All Champions According to Matthew 22:14, “many are called but few are chosen.” Born in the first month of the year, in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. seemed to be destined for greatness. He began his boxing journey at 12 years old and by 22 years old, he was the World […]
HEAR THIS: Derrick Morgan “Black Superman (Muhammad Ali)”
Big Big Request To The Greatest Forget what you heard. Muhammad Ali will never die. Ali may be one of the few larger-than-life icons to challenge even Bob Marley for nearly universal respect. We’ve all seen photos of The Greatest with Elvis, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan—he was even Prince’s hero—but what’s his connection to […]
Reggae Sumfest Announces Newly Re-Focused 2016 Lineup: Strictly Reggae Night and Dancehall Night
Message Sent In True Downsound Fashion: By Wrapping an 18-Wheeler Semi Truck After announcing earlier this spring that Jamaica’s leading music festival, Reggae Sumfest, was under new management, Josef Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Productions, has now revealed the newly re-focused two-night lineup for Sumfest 2016, rolling out with the slogan “our music, our festival.” This […]
HEAR THIS: Bim Sherman & Dub Syndicate “Haunting Ground Dub”
Previously Unreleased Music From Adrian Sherwood, Style Scott & Bim Last year’s Sherwood at the Controls Vol. 1 compilation served as a timely re-introduction to the UK dub genius and electronic music visionary Adrian Sherwood. The even wickeder second edition, focusing on works from 1985 to 1990, arrives later this month. Having worked as a […]
HEAR THIS: Ape Drums ft. Major Lazer & Busy Signal “The Way We Do This”
H-Town Riddim Master At Work While Major Lazer might be the biggest names in EDM to flex dancehall riddims and vibes in their tracks, they’re far from the only ones. Houston, Texas’ Ape Drums has been at this for a bit, describing his sound as essentially taking his EDM projects and making them into bigger […]