rolling dancehall & reggae 2014

let's start things off with this 2013 round-up from The Large: http://shimmyshimmy.co.uk/2013/12/31/2013-round/

For Jamaican music, this year’s newest and perhaps most impactful contribution was the flourishing of new reggae artists like Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Protoje, Dre Island and Jah9. With a huge European fan base to boot, new reggae has never seemed as invigorated.

anyone into this stuff? Chronixx has some great tracks, but the Kabaka and Protoje I've checked out hasn't done much for me. The idea of this stuff being what goes over big in Europe is very interesting.

This sums up the year for me pretty well:

On reflection, much of 2013 was driven by usual dancehall fare – a collection of strong uptempo tracks (read 120+), big ‘gal wine’ tunes, new dances (One Drop), as well as the welcome addition of African dancehall artists (particularly Burna Boy, who released a strong LP) and afrobeats artists making exciting waves in the UK scene.

Burna's Yawa Dey is great if you missed it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O0tJQxZeWw

Cham "Hustle All Day"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOQ7YoYtUW4

Kartel's vocals suffer as usual here, but I quite like this one w/Gaza Slim:

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

this isn't particularly groundbreaking but Skinny Rapture seems promising:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2hjTkMkUp4

Di Genius getting soulful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsBOwErT1FY

well this is something of a surprise: Sean Paul sounded energized over a great buzzing riddim (plus Konshens doing his usual good work):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpmyoSUER54

new QQ, who could have a very big year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOl9Q_Mq7U

Tanya's best work in a long while. I haven't listened to "Guilty" yet but this bodes really well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QQFLHX3PiY

really like the drone-y production on this Macka Diamond soca collab:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Iw0p-IZ6NY

I want to love this Vybz Kartel & Denyque track, but Kartel just doesn't sound present (obvs, of course):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M5p5m8_amQ

eh, after replaying it, Denyque basically makes up for any deficiencies. they definitely got the credit backwards

yep

this new Gyptian (produced by Ricky Blaze of "Hold Yuh") is smoooooth: https://soundcloud.com/fmerecordings/gyptian-stuck

catching up on Kalado who I've totally overlooked until now. that's looking like a terrible mistake

Good Good Life shows off his voice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLqSf127tuc

And this combo video for Pree Money & Gyal plus Pay Dem Nuh Mind gives a sense of his range:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeerQk8_ZVQ

omg "mosquito net" >>>>>

love the denyque/vybz too. denyque is really someone i hope gets huge

me too! hopefully she doesn't repeat what she did last year: release a bunch of good stuff right at the top of the year and then go silent for the remaining 10 months

**air siren.wav**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayaVzR5OAYU

that's J Capri's "Reverse It" if you've got images off. Heard this on Robbo Ranx the other day. If you liked her features at all last year, this is even better

it's pretty rare I think this about a dancehall track, but this is TOO SHORT

another rarity: I really like the art for this

http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music4/v4/52/a4/ac/52a4ac8f-8ce7-36ef-4686-7d195752abd9/887158719509_Cover.255x255-75.jpg

omg that j capri track

Blak Ryno's Sting victory lap is quite fun:

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

this kind of classic riddim is almost a gimme for a veteran like Mavado, but this is nice and there's a lot of cool little touches going on in the production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQCDc2Talj8

From the bottom to the top with Demarco:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6miNuKYB9E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vin7HinNBTo

the pinch of guitar really makes "Rise" work. "Wine Down Low" is produced by Daseca who did Konshens' "So Mi Tan" . The arrangement here is unsurprisingly elegant.

Rvssian's eponymous riddim is unsurprisingly excellent--no one else seems to even be touching him right now. Vybz Kartel f. J Capri "Mamacita":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6wlNb4AgXQ

Sean Paul's pretty good too: http://youtu.be/Iw9-NunoTNI. I think we're about one more good Sean P song away from him having a good year

love this Busy Signal "All Night Long" cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ckcuwy52G4

Beenie Man's consistency almost feels underrated right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8zwgAQGGXU

there's about three dozen ideas going on in this Tifa track produced by Di Genius:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3pMvo1ptQw

I like this Denyque/Di Genius song, but I get a little distracted by thinking about how the dude's interjections sound a lot like Drake on Beyonce's "Mine" (though this doesn't resemble that song otherwise):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMTi7AyylP0

listening to Body Up and Loyal Girl back to back and it's striking how complex Di Genius's work has gotten. On the one hand he seems to have left behind the simple pleasures of dancehall usually offers, but no one is stuffing this many ideas into a single track.

this is kinda, sorta real reggae. and it's good.

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

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.

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"!

the sample here is almost sacrilege, but it's a fun rework of stylo g's 2011 hit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmO9LmvLVyM

xxpost

I think we check out the same chart because i was surprised to see one of my summer jams from last year show up on it. Although 'Back It Up' by Tifa cracked the Top 25 this week so i hope it is at least some indicator of popularity.

I've been obsessed Ishawna's 'Restraining Order' recently. The lyrics are fantastic as she eviscerates a possessive ex while questioning why women have to put up with these controlling influences with very little cause for redress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJUiP9mTej4

J Capri's new track 'Lyrics To The Song' is great as well. Initially i thought it a step down from the other tracks she's been involved with, but its really clicked with me after a few listens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5J2_PJoDtw

I quite like that J Capri! much better than the other ones she's done since "Reverse It". not that those were terrible, just not as special.

This is the chart I look at: http://www.reggae-vibes.com/jamtop20/jamtop20.html. No idea how legit it is, but I want to believe.

Full version of "Overrated" is out: https://soundcloud.com/fmerecordings/ricky-blaze-feat-kranium-shaggy-overrateddirty.

"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