rolling dancehall & reggae 2014

"Lyrics to the Song" has become one of my favorites of the year

also quite like Agent Sasco's Badman Declaration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olEhom3AhVA

this from him too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPN_87Qamjw

Spice & Vybz Kartel's "Conjugal Visit" is pure O_O

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INAqa1PUfTk

'Conjugal Visit' is really something isn't it. Even if you leave aside the moral questions, the song is just an incredibly poor relation to 'Ramping Shop'. Although in saying that i would be of the opinion that the art created should separated from the the artist themselves and i do like Kartel's 'Miami Vice Episode', although I've refrained from posting it, because i wasn't sure how posting a track by a convicted murderer would be received.

Conjugal Visit aside, Spice has been incredible this year. 'Back Bend' is another great track from her.

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

I've been generally been pretty disappointed with Agent Sasco this year, after he was probably my favourite dancehall artist of last year, but 'Woman We Seh' is pretty good.

I really like Beenie Man's 'Rifle Behaviour', but i can't figure out where the sample is from. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4C97WNV91g

I thought i'd repost 'Restraining Order' as it now has a video and is one of my tracks of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422QJFDfXmg

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