Ninjaman may have changed his “gun pon teeth Don Gorgon” ways, but yesterday Desmond Ballentine was charged with murder + conspiracy in Kingston for a gun slaying that took place on Marl Road on Monday (March 16th). Assistant Police Commissioner and Head of the Major Investigations Task force, Les Green, thinks the police have a “good” case against Ballentine, according to the Jamaica Observer. ([More →])

It seems like only yesterday our little monster was rampaging around the Bay Area like a bass wave on a sugar high. Hard to believe this will be the 5th time the loosely associated autonomous mobile soundsystems of the mutant variety have convened on an undisclosed, secret underground location for maximum sound reinforcement and fun times. That’s right – 2 monstrous walls of sound will be erected, combining the earth-trembling bassbins of 5lowershop & Army of Love with the massive mid-range towers of HAVOCSOUND, crowned by Czech-technology rocket tweeters of the notorious S.P.A.Z. soundsystem for ONE MASSIVE MONSTER OF LOVE 5!!!

Deets: ([More →])

…DJ C + Ripley + Kid Kameleon – Surya Dub in San Francisco – May 24, 2008…

DJ C performed an incredible set – full of treats and surprises – at Surya Dub, San Francisco’s BEST dubstep event. The monthly party, held at Club 6 in SF, is hosted by 2 of DJ C’s long-time pals (almost as far back as his Toneburst days in Boston!) – Ripley and Kid Kameleon. Most of the night, I was too busy dancing to remember my duties as a reporter. The string of Top Rankin Selectahs kept the energy high with a mix of dubstep, ragga, jungle and other bass-loaded sounds.
([More →])

South Rakkas Crew – San Francisco, CA – June 7, 2008

The South Rakkas show in San Francisco last Saturday night was HOT! It’s been years since I’ve seen so many hot ladies at a show (I think there were close to 10 ladies for every 1 guy in the house), everyone was having a great time and South Rakkas were BLAZING! They truly brought the spirit of Miami with them, especially the energy of the dancehall. It was a beautiful night, and I don’t really have much of a review coz you really just had to be there! But, here are a few photos anyway and I’ll be adding a short video and more photos soon:
([More →])

GREENSLEEVES RELEASES ‘THE JOURNEY – THE VERY BEST OF SIZZLA’ THE ULTIMATE CD/DVD COLLECTION OF THE REGGAE ICON’S MOST PRIZED WORK AVAILABLE JUNE 26, 2008
([More →])

REGGAE SOUNDS TAKE OVER GRAND THEFT AUTO IV AIRWAVES
([More →])

See if you can find these geezas:

and this guy:

in this new Toddla T video – “Sound Tape Killin”:

([More →])

Jr Gong Damian Marley premiered his new video this week for “One Loaf Of Bread (Something For You)”. The tune is off the Gang War riddim compilation on Tuff Gong Records and the video is beautifully shot on 8mm film. The black and white super 8mm footage was all shot in Haiti, while the color super 8mm footage was all shot in South Africa.

Damian Marley – One Loaf Of Bread (Something For You)

Gang War riddim is becoming a favorite of mine this year. Every tune I’ve heard on this militant production is heart-felt and serious. The music brings a real conscious vibe that made even Damian sound good!
([More →])

The Energy God gets to know the “Gully Creepa” in his new video. Elephant Man told the Observer, “We just release the video and it bad. We have the dance lock and throw way di key.” The song is off Elephant Man’s loooooong awaited LP Let’s Get Physical and the video was directed by Julia Braham.

Elephant Man – “Gully Creepa/BOOM!”:

([More →])

The new Mavado vid for “Last Night” is finally here! Little X directed this gully tale from Mavado’s debut album Gangsta For Life.

We also have this mash-up of Mavado and Jay-Z on the Mission riddim – the tune is called “The Rock”:

([ Click To Add Mavado & Jay-Z "The Rock" To Player ])

(I’m still working on this ^ new feature, so let me know if it works for you or not. Thanks! )

A Heatwave mash-up of General Levy and Lily Allen titled “Mad LDN”:

([More →])

A new song called “Serious” features the combined powers of Sean Paul, Busy Signal and Busta Rhymes (audio only):

Energizer Medley featuring Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia, and G Mafia:

A new compilation from Ninja Tune – You Don’t Know: Ninja Cuts – is filled with 50 tunes that map the sonic territory the label has explored during it’s 2 decades in the biz and adds sonar imagery of what lies ahead. The 3 CD set features tracks all the way 1998 reppin for the label’s early days (Mike Ladd’s rare classic “Blah Blah”) and big hits from every year since plus 9 tunes slated for release later this year! (Yet-to-be-dropped tunes like John Matthias’ fragile and ethereal “Evermore”, The Bug’s toxic dancehall slayer “Poison Dart”, and Pop Levi’s superb, princely “Dita Dimone”…) To celebrate such an amazing audio history, the Ninja Tune extended family is hosting a 3-room banger at Electrowerkz this month that features many of the artists on the 3CD collection!
([More →])

Ninja Tune is releasing an epic compilation album called You Don’t Know: Ninja Cuts that drops March 11th. It weighs in at 3 CDs, stacked with 50 Big Tunes from 1998-2008, from Mike Ladd to Pop Levi and from Roots Manuva to Wiley! Last year, HearingTest featured a few of the tracks that made the cut:

The version of “Free” by DJ Kentaro on You Don’t Know: Ninja Cuts is actually an “Armani XXXChange Remix” and the version here is the original edit from Kentaro’s Ninja Tune LP Enter. (I don’t have the remix yet)