rolling dancehall & reggae 2014

eh, more "lovers' rock" or ska, maybe, but an authentic-sounding mid-70s vibe, for sure.

I've been listening to the Soul Jazz lovers' rock comp lately and I think you're right: this is explicitly drawing on it, especially the Bovell produced stuff (those synth strings; her sighing vocal style) mixed with a bit of the Wackies/Love Joys take on the style too. pretty nice!

do you listen to much other current roots(y) stuff? this Chronixx video/homage to Rockers is pretty fun if you're a fan of the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxh0O-MLHWE

i recently read about a "roots-reggae revival," but roots reggae is, to me, so confined to a specific era that it's hard to imagine a revival. if there's a revival, i need an education on it, and a "way into it."

Spice is killing it this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rrEmnpEHhY

this song is pretty good! i'm pleased, to be chillin' in the west indies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzqFmXZ8tOE#t=149

yeah, that's nice. I've been into this Chronixx & Kabaka Pyramid song for a while:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKS_2ZnJpDE

on a completely different note, love this buzzy Ricky Blaze track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REcsNznEksA

I mentioned Gyptian's "Stuck", which Blaze produced, upthread and it's got a video now. splits the difference between the UK pop house bubblers thread and Laza Morgan and sounds even better not that it's warming up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72k4iGJ-2ts

liking that Never Be

more goodness from Ricky Blaze. could just as easily go in the soca thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIhmvmPTVY8

pretty excited that Busy Signal has made a habit of versioning afrobeats hits, here he is on "Khona":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oewrIzf7Nw

downloading the new Popcaan right now. have to admit it's pretty nice how much attention this is getting. Fader cover wasn't too surprising, but pitchfork gave it an 8.0 today

that Fader story

What other afrobeats songs has Busy signal "covered"? That one sounds great.

have to admit it's pretty nice how much attention this is getting. Fader cover wasn't too surprising, but pitchfork gave it an 8.0 today

― rob, Tuesday, June 10, 2014 10:41 AM (40 minutes ago) Bookmark

he's got big indie rock-focused PR behind him now

http://www.npr.org/2014/06/06/318267775/first-listen-popcaan-where-we-come-from

xp
Busy also did "Professionally" on P-Square's "Personally" recently, and last year he did "Same Way" on Sarkodie's "U Go Kill Me". They're all pretty great imo.

only listened once but "Where We Come From" is something of a triumph for an artist who could easily be written off as inconsistent. the Mixpak producers are a really good fit for his voice, and his personality works better in a context that feels once removed from Kingston. and Pusha T drops a boring verse on the only dud track so it feels au courant

would be nice if the indie PR pushed this onto some people's radar even if it isn't really representative of the sound of JA dancehall.

Oh nice. Thanks for the tip.

p4k called it the best dancehall record this year. not good enough though to be "best new music"

As noted up thread Spice has been excellent this year. Her new single 'Like A Man' is terrific, particularly lyrically.

http://youtu.be/qH94HLRQMKI

yes, brilliant! video is awesome too.

i don't really follow dancehall, but i did check out popcaan because the pfork review talked up its POP ALBUM virtues

so far it's been kind of tedious, it's way overlong - 'pop album' as a big commercial proposition more than an endlessly-now earworm sort of thing

but i dunno i'll try some more

yeah, "POP ALBUM" more in the context of dancehall since it sounds closer to hip hop/r'n'b/dance stuff than dancehall mainstream. otoh, I'd be hard pressed to define that mainstream right now--nonetheless, I thought it telling that in at least two of the gyal/sex tracks Popcaan says he wants to impregnate the girl in question. maybe POP ALBUM in the sense that there's an openness to this album that's really distinct--lyrically, it's much more rootsy than I expected even with "The System" as a harbinger. that solitary steel drum sound in "Ghetto" feels really important in terms of subverting party vibe expectations. shit, maybe this is more of a PROG ALBUM.

idk, I'm pretty in love with this album right now. maybe skip to "Waiting So Long" which Matt DC correctly posted to the summer jams thread today?

i'm not into the popcaan album beyond "pleasant background vibes" yet. if it's a POP ALBUM where are the bangers?

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/16/playlist-reggae-dancehall-soca

Ocassional ilxor Erin M.'s list of summer faves

http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/VIDEO-Chronixx-Makes-US-Debut-Performs-Here-Comes-Trouble-on-TONIGHT-SHOW-20140723

Chronixx on Jimmy Fallon tv show last night

http://www.hulu.com/watch/664371

Better link if you like his more trad sound

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/07/21/_rude_by_magic_is_the_no_1_song_on_billboard_s_hot_100_why_video.html

This is #1 in the US...oh my

some excellent stuff on Erin M's list. love that Gyptian tune

Road Elf's "Tribal Touch" (the second song in this video) is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWPL5t0bs8s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmqlYjFlmgk

lol this is a top 5 hit now?! poor lea-anna

A few of my favourite tracks at the moment.

Denyque - How To Rave
This should probaly go in the summer jams thread, seemingly explicitly designed to sound perfect in the sunshine. As usual Denyque is great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAYQxL1OnG4

Tifa - Back It Up
A banger. Up there with 'Mamamcita', 'Reverse It' and 'Snake Charmer' as one of my favourite tracks of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmdHAyUMAVg

Aidonia - Coco Powda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0opd8kS4dFw

Denyque track is very nice (thought I'd posted it here already but it was tumblr). working my way through this epic mix, I might have a few more to share too: https://soundcloud.com/so-shifty/summer-cyaan-done

Gyptian's "Stunta" deserves more than an offhand mention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzQo80LlSHE

missed this groove-y Popcaan song in spring:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahplg8hq4vs

can't believe I missed that Tifa track, gregus! thanks for posting that

Mr Vegas holds such an interesting, hard to define place in dancehall right now, he's really channelling the recycle everything to make it new reggae ethos. really dig "Pop One":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwbSWOO1KA

Yeah its great isn't it. She's got an American record deal now so it would be nice to see her get the same level of coverage that Popcaan is currently receiving and hopefully crossover.

'Stunta' is great, I also love that Zoelah track that you posted upthread that uses the same riddim.

I really like that Mr. Vegas track as well. That's the first thing I've heard by him, is there anything else you'd recommend.

His Sweet Jamaica album is awesome.

i did not know TIfa had been signed to an American label--that's great, I can't think of someone I'd be more excited to see break out right now since Natalie Storm is taking a break.

that Stunta riddim (Uptown Julie) is by Ricky Blaze, who I've like basically everything I've heard from so far this year. annoyingly "Stunta" is the only track not available on itunes, though the Zoelah and Kes the Band versions are. Blaze also did a nice remix of Omi's "Cheerleader" (http://youtu.be/iCB8riHVV7U) which iirc we were talking about on one of these threads.

I actually still need to check out the whole of Sweet Jamaica, but I can recommend its single "Bruk It Down":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5EBrftUKBY

and this duet with Latty J that's an homage to an amazing late 80s Lady G & Papa San track called "Round Table Talk" (if you don't know that one be sure to seek out the video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1y9TWWYG6w

i've only just noticed that lea-anna's three-year-old "kisses for breakfast" became a top ten hit last week, except by someone called melissa steel and with a popcaan verse? great song obv buttttt why

oh uberweiss mentioned it already

xposts

thanks for all the recommendations i'll check them all out

I love the Burna Boy track at the top of the thread

feeling pretty stannish about Ricky Blaze this year: https://soundcloud.com/fmerecordings/ricky-blaze-n3xt-lin3

the Fader have been putting out so much good stuff this week I don't even know what to link. Definitely check out the Bunji and Lady Saw pieces

Alaine's "Better Than This" (previously seen on the summer jams thread) has a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0rQDET4-3k

I've mentioned him throughout the year, but ftr Chronixx's Dread and Terrible EP is terrific. all the singles have been great, and the video for "Capture Land" was just released today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoHzqwLxk_Y

this is just a teaser for Ricky Blaze's "Overrated" but damn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeoYTnp6hkU

"Nobody Has to Know" came out over a year ago, but just showed up on the (somewhat dubious) Jamaican music chart I check:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxuDYFAKB7g

Wau @ "Overrated"!

that Beenie Man is great! no idea about any samples though, sorry. basically co-sign everything else you said. I like Sasco's "Sekkle and Cease" and "Woman We Seh" but yeah, neither are as good as "Tell Unuh" or "Shell". He should

Has Ishawna done anything else worth checking? I had relegated her to "don't bother" status a while back, but that track is nice.

Spice has been amazing this year. I wish her she and VP had put a few more tracks on her EP ("Back Bend" would have been smart addition). It's a nice little set, but it could have stood alongside Where We Come From and Dread & Terrible for me. Good cover though:

http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music5/v4/51/58/c2/5158c2a0-db8c-5193-3922-6d59b41d2069/cover170x170.jpeg

Not sure how to go about listening to Vybz Kartel these days. I might have been less conflicted if "Addi Innocent" hadn't been appended to his name, cuz come on. "Mamacita" is still one of my favorites this year though.

this Ishawna track is #1 on that Reggae Vibes chart I posted a while ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXv4cMx77hU

Beenie Man's 'Rifle Behaviour' sampling Usher 'Good Kisser', right? Is that what we're talking about?

could be. think I only ever heard that once

Thank you MikoMcha, that's exactly it, I kept thinking it was a Justin Timberlake song.

'Restraining Order' is the only Ishawna track I really love, although she has impressed me a lot more recently. I like her in full on tearing exes to shreds mode. You can add her version of 'Loyal' to all the great female responses to the original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5V_hJ6I7Q

With regards to Kartel, I've really liked quite a few of his songs this year, and in terms of that debate i'd always be on the side of separating the quality of the art from the character of the artist. That said, I've still refrained from posting the songs I've loved since his conviction, Miami Vice Episode, Bubble Up Yuh Body, because, as great as they are, i'm uncomfortable promoting them. It is also very strange that a man who is serving 35 years for murder can be so prolific in his musical output. He released a 7 track EP this week.

yeah, it seems basically impossible at this point that he's not recording in prison, which is troubling. I have no problem separating art/character -- I've listened to music by lots of terrible people knowingly and un throughout my life; I have also voted for American presidents -- but dude managing to still promote (and sell? that seems unlikely, but idk) his music career from behind bars feels like a degree more fucked up. but hell, I like Miami Vice Episode too.

Spice's EP is fantastic by the way. I especially love that the last track "Whine Inna Di Dance" uses the Real Rock riddim in a pretty straight dub/roots style, but then is just as aggressively slack as the rest of the tracks. it's kind of the spiritual opposite of Kabaka Pyramid jumping on the not-at-all-reggae Elastic riddim (Alkaline is also on this, for ex) to call out other deejays for being hedonistic perverts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmoGQ7IAin0

Yeah, 'Whine Inna Dance' is brilliant. Spice is in the position for me that Nicki Minaj was a couple of years ago, where any track she appears on is automatically improved by her presence.

I've been wondering if any dancehall will make it onto the ILM tracks poll. I seem to remember that nothing placed last year, and i really cant see that being any different this time. I do not like political voting in these things; however, i wouldn't mind rallying round a specific track, although it has hardly been a classic year, dancehall still deserves some recognition. My suggestion would be 'Snake Charmer' by Spice, although i'm open to alternatives.

I don't think there's been any dancehall in the EOY poll for a few years. iirc, last time was that Konshens song "Nuh Pull It Up", which is a great track but also music nerd catnip. Popcaan maybe has a shot at the albums list (it'll be my #1)? There was also some enthusiasm for "Waiting So Long" in the Popcaan thread. "Reverse It" might be a stronger horse to back than "Snake Charmer". I don't really get why (even though I posted it here), but I've noticed QQ's "Mosquito Net" show up a couple times in the rolling favorite tracks thread.

Popcaan and Chronnix could possibly make my album list

"Mosquito Net" is ecstatic. will be on my list along with one of those Kartel jams. not sure about the rest (I'm bored with "Reverse It")

yeah imo "Mamacita" >>> "Reverse It"
I do like "Mosquito Net" and I loved "Ghetto Gal" and am generally very pro-QQ -- I really like this Fader profile where he says "I'm not a homophobe. If you're gay and you support my music, I respect you", which could be interpreted uncharitably, but any progress in that arena is welcome.

other 2014 faves in no order:
So Mi Like It -- Spice
Never Be -- Ricky Blaze
Who Knows -- Protoje & Chronixx
Fall In Love -- Popcaan
Pop One -- Mr Vegas
Stuck -- Gyptian (also Stunta, though it hasn't been released properly yet)
How to Rave -- Denyque
Better than This -- Alaine

like a lot of Equiknoxx, this is a little overproduced but still pretty great, Charly Black "Bike Back"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OpWySdOtp0

Daniel Esq just nominated the Kartel track on this riddim, which reminded me I've been meaning to post this Christopher Martin version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8re2F3K9zBg

Large Up's top 10 riddims of the year:

1. Boom Box
2. Happy Hour
3. Gwaan Bad
4. Promiscuous
5. The Good Book
6. Wul Dem
7. Rvssian
8. Greatest Creation
9. Nuh Fraid
10. Work Permit

Leans a little too hard on 90s-ish throwback stuff, but some good stuff there. They've got albums, mixtapes, and soca lists too, with the dancehall tracks one presumably to come.

And here's that track list:

2/1. Spice -- “Like A Man”/”So Mi Like It”
3. Popcaan -- “Everything Nice” (Remix feat. Mavado)
5/4. Vybz Kartel -- “Miami Vice Episode”/”Do Di Maths (Wah Do You?)”
6. Kranium -- “Nobody Has To Know”
7. Popcaan -- “Where We Come From”
8. I-Octane -- “Wi Bad”
9. Major Lazer feat. Sean Paul -- “Come On To Me”
10. Alkaline -- “Gyal Bruk Out”
11. Aidonia -- “80s Dancehall Style”
12. Assassin -- "Sekkle and Cease"
13. Vybz Kartel featuring J Capri -- “Mamacita”
14. Gully Bop aka Countryman -- “Body Specialist”

obviously pleased at that 1/2 tie for Spice. kind of surprised they've got three cuts on the Boom Box riddim on here, but that's a lot more interesting than their kinda boring predilection for anything retro.

rolling dancehall & reggae 2015