French production duo Bost & Bim have for the past 15 years continuously put out new and exciting reggae music. They have managed to gain respect from all around the world and collaborated with top-notch singers and deejays like Sizzla, Capleton, Chronixx, Gentleman and Alborosie.
Bost & Bim have never been huge fans of genres and they have put an effort into blending organic rootsy riddims with digital dancehall-fused reggae, hip-hop and soul. Sometimes sophisticated and grand, at other times minimalist and hard. They have also been pioneering reggae mash-ups with their acclaimed Yankees a Yard mixtapes, on which they give new life to well-known hip-hop and R&B by transforming them into groovy reggae.
Their latest project is on the verge to jazz. Special Blend – Ladies First is in a press release described as a more personal project, a project that has come to mind from meeting various artists around the world. Special Blend will become a series and Ladies First is its first volume. It collects six vocal cuts from U.S. singers Brisa Roché, MoZella and Rosey, Mariama from Sierra Leone/Germany, Jaqee from Uganda/Sweden and Ellen Birath from Sweden.
These six singers are based in the jazz, soul and pop traditions and Bost & Bim give them a reggae treat on this very exciting project. The set ranges from the rootsy Sweat King to the sweet Tiny Little Oranges. There’s also the heartfelt Intangled Situation and the somewhat more dancehall-oriented No Way.
The vocals are accompanied by tough dub versions and minimalist remixes from themselves along with Fabwize, Left Lane and Masta.
I’ve been a huge fan of Bost & Bim for a long a time and they were one of the first interviews I did. I was overwhelmed by Yankees a Yard and needed to find out more and I’ve been hooked on their music ever since.
Reggaemani 