Well I'm a sucker for supernatural vengeance, which, added to that incredible delivery, made it a song totally impossible to resist for me. 'Sparta send some cyanide and 'bout two drum a gunpowder' is a line that's been in my head loads this year - 'unhinged' was the word I think you used - good word for it. Will check out those other two. Haven't really been keeping up with... anything really, so was good to go through a load of recs on this thread this eve.
― Fizzles, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 22:00 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, I love that "cyanide" line too: a weirdly refreshing change of pace from gunman lyrics.
There's probably a really good essay to write about how Lee's use of Jamaican/Caribbean folklore about the undead (duppies, Haitian zombies, demons, etc). If nothing else, the youtube comments for his videos are always interesting--I have no special knowledge of JA culture, but Lee does seem to be pressing some buttons in genuinely shocking ways, not unlike Vybz Kartel's skin-bleaching but easier to stomach from a US perspective.
― rob, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 22:09 (eleven years ago) link
And he's got a new one out. Surprised to find myself really into the second half. Swerves from horrorcore to goth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip3IQ6cbduM
― rob, Friday, 21 December 2012 03:25 (eleven years ago) link
cheers rob. yeah i was thinking about Psycho - there's something about that attenuated bo diddley beat and the claustrophobia of a community populated with ghosts and duppy and zombies and general fear that makes it very atmospheric. didn't really realise Jamaican horrorcore was a thing - is there anyone else aside from Tommy Lee doing it? Oh yeah, it's just got to the second half in that vid - that's great! Like you say, it makes a change from gun stuff - and with the supernatural so close it feels a bit more vulnerable, man diddling about with powers that will kill him for temporary gang supremacy/survival - like another favourite line from Psycho 'Mmm, duppy worst thing you can see, dem send duppy for me'.
And yes, continuation of the whole duppy/supernatural strand in reggae is interesting.
― Fizzles, Friday, 21 December 2012 05:46 (eleven years ago) link
LargeUp's Top 10 tracks of the year (their album list is awful):1. Konshens -- "Gal a Bubble"2. Mavado -- "Cyaa Hold Me Again"3/4. Cham -- "Tun Up"/"Lawless" 5. Popcaan -- "The System"6. Potential Kidd -- "Yah Suh Nice"7. RDX -- "Jump"8. Konshens -- "So Mi Tan"9. Tommy Lee -- "Psycho"10. Bounty Killer & Cecile -- "Ride"
Honorable mentions: Mr. Vegas -- "Bruk It Down" and "Party Tun Up"Busy Signal -- “Kingston Town,” “Come Shock Out” and “Artiste”
http://largeup.okayplayer.com/2012/12/21/toppa-top-10-the-best-dancehall-singles-of-2012/
Great list, though definitely too male-dominated--I have 3 Tifa songs alone on my 2012 favorites playlist. I hadn't caught that Mavado/Di Genius tune (came out last December apparently), and I've been ignoring Busy's new roots album but that Kingston Town song is niiice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHCDW60cIM
― rob, Sunday, 23 December 2012 00:09 (eleven years ago) link
I checked out "Shook" and "Uncle Demon" which are both pretty great and in the same vein as "Psycho."
ha, those are actually the same song. I think I meant "Goat Head" though it's << "Uncle Demon/Shook" and "Psycho"
didn't really realise Jamaican horrorcore was a thing - is there anyone else aside from Tommy Lee doing it?
I'm not aware of anyone mining the same territory as Tommy Lee. After listening to a bunch of his stuff over the past couple of days because of your posts, I'm hoping he's got good management that can steer him well. I almost never like hearing him on a riddim that has lots of other versions--he really benefits from tracks that are as chilly and warped as his lyrics. It could be comparable to the way Cham has made such a big impact this year by sticking to a very particular style of riddim, or, as more of a cautionary tale, how Mavado pretty much only sounded good working with Di Genius.
― rob, Sunday, 23 December 2012 02:41 (eleven years ago) link
Buss a Blank also worth your time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qaml2SbnPI
― rob, Sunday, 23 December 2012 02:48 (eleven years ago) link
new thread, all welcome: rolling dancehall & reggae 2013
― rob, Friday, 4 January 2013 02:42 (eleven years ago) link