rolling dancehall & reggae 2017

I have entertained the thought, yes, but at the same time, there is also the line "me deh behind bars inna di General Pen" - which seems pretty 2017. He's got access to a proper studio now, obviously.

http://www.salon.com/2004/03/13/riddim/ SATURDAY, MAR 13, 2004 08:52 PM +0000
In real life, both have indeed served prison time; Kartel’s December arrest on weapons and assault charges was reggae’s talk of the town for weeks.

victoria's secret fixation is what rly gave it away tbh

Well, it's hardly impossible. I'm still on the fence though.

It is definitely the one vocal track that does sound closer to "young" kartel than to present day Vybz, I'll give you that.

Christ that Salon article is quite a document...sob

The vocal melody and voice on Portmore City definitely sound like old Kartel to me. I've been ignoring the latest war since I found "Microwave" to be the least interesting track Alkaline has put out in a while, but I love the riddim on "Closed Casket"--so many movements (produced by Daseca?).

While we're on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSm2KWEX2sg

Good to hear Rvssian not resting on his dembow laurels.

I only just realized Shenseea is on VP which explains the size of her push. Fully sold on her now too: Jiggle Jiggle is great, Reverse is pretty good, collab with Jahmiel upthread is nice, and I even dug her freestyle over "oouuu".

maybe it's because I was listening to Chrome riddim after reading that Salon piece, but the minimalist groove on this Busy Signal "Company" suddenly seemed really fresh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZXh8yMu1UM

Yeah I heard Company on a mixshow recently after quickly dismissing it in the context of the EP and was surprised by how fresh it sounded.

ha exactly, robbo ranx led off with it and it sounded so big--I might have heard a bass-less youtube the first time. Beenie Man's version on that Black Peppa riddim w/ the dubious Kartel voicing currently sounding great in that context too. I am v ready for the post-47th Floor brasswave

Yep, that was it, lol. And yeah, Beenie Man's version is easily the only other version I'm keeping - but mostly because of the brass. If Portmore is indeed a cut n paste it's crazy that Kartel still manages to interact with the beat musically in ways that no one else can, apparently.

Disappointed that the announced Kartel & Wizkid collabo turned out to be Wizkid adding some adlibs, a hook and a short verse to a song that wasn't in need of his input.
http://djstefanomusic.com/article/vybz-kartel-wizkid-releases-new-single-titled-wine-top

hi! i don't usually post in these threads but i've been dipping into 1Xtra's jamaica trip and it's fun. i have learned one thing: I love the Crown Love riddim!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04s2kr9

Crown Love is great! very hard to pick a favorite: Tarrus Riley's and Vybz Kartel's are great, but I think I most like Christopher Martin's "My Love" (which is on his new quite good album btw) for the way he sings "sweet coconut r-r-r-rum" plus he tells the girl he wants her to be his Guantanamo lol

Yep, those three are my favorites too. Great riddim that somehow got slept on a little?

maybe a little as a riddim qua riddim. I feel like the Riley track especially broke through though? Idk I guess it depends on what context we're talking about

speaking of that Martin album, this collab with Busy Signal was the stand-out among the new tracks for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt2wBwU1NyI

Steppin was from last year, actually. I always liked it, though! And yeah, there's a certain sweetness to Martin's approach that sets him apart imo. I loved his two versions on 47th Floor as well.

Slept on is relative, of course. I just remember thinking it would totally rule the summer but then Moskato turned up and kind of took over everything.

ha I seem to have slipped into constantly posting older tracks on the rolling threads. I really like Martin too and the album is strong if maybe a little exhausting as a single listen, but it would serve as a great intro for anyone not too familiar with him.

ok yeah that's true about the summer/Moskato. I wonder if Rvssian being in Miami (iirc) rather than JA has anything to do with it? that said he seems well poised to take advantage of the massive lane opened up to south america by "Party Animal". the intl audience for dancehall is super interesting right now--I just looked up the video for the Riley track and all the commenters are Kenyans!

lol yeah. The good thing about Justin going dembow and this major lazeresque pop era is that you can mix in just about everything. The lanes are open.

production on this new Chronixx dancehall track is p incredible:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlM1X1_Cams

Reggaeville claims it's self-produced too. I suppose there's no chance that all of Chronology will sound like this

Just came here to say I've been enjoying the hell out of the Vybz x Wizkid. Wizzy adds so many extra happy vibes to it.

Well, also to post two hot new tracks by Busy Signal:

https://soundcloud.com/vpal-dist/busy-signal-dangerous-bam-bam-stainless-music-vpal-music

"Dangerous Bam Bam" (the hottest)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Brk0ci8U1E

"Wifey vs. Matie" (also-hot)

Yeah, the Vybz & Wiz has grown on me. I do wish it had sounded a bit more... organic, but Wizkid does soften it in the right places.

To me it sounds organic enough, but then, you knew the original already and I only heard it afterwards, so matter of perception perhaps?

probably, yes. To me it sounds a bit too much like a cut and paste but i've pretty much replaced the original with the wizkid version so by now so i'm not really complaining.

My favourite dancehall track this year comes from a UK rapper:

Stefflon Don - 16 Shots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TIDDx57-0

http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/10022-the-50-best-dancehall-songs-of-all-time/

wau:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHx6vM4iCw

(Alkaline, "Fast")

Popcaan's "Addictive" has been around for a while, is good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4Me1Hv8AxI

yes, very.

oh man, best thing Tifa has done in an age and this whole riddim could really grow on me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Wq5d0g-Z8

Yeah, I love the Humbug. The Chris Martin is my fave at the moment though.

Ooh, haven't heard that yet, looking forward. The "Daniella Whine" remix is pretty hot--I've always loved that tune and Elephant Man sounds pretty fired up on the remix. In other good news, Alklaline just dropped this tune too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKe8Lk9pOOQ

Actually, every version on the Humbug Riddim is a winner. The Kartel version is probably my favorite though. He's so deliciously dirty and super specific, lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR-4i3sigiI

I love what Chris Martin does with the melodies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_STMQG5wL4

Also, Mavado reminding us to wear a condom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg2H7d3EsmU

ILM's 2017 Rolling Dancehall and Reggae Thread Spotify Playlist

really like Rvssian's production on this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN41UT1aIAg

pretty stunning to see that "Privado" has over 100million views

This made the lower echelons of the 1Xtra playlist and may be my fave track of the year

Shenseea - Reverse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dP5eD7xqzI

Alkaline's "Fast" still keeps getting better and better with each play. "Rapido, rapido, rapido, rapido, rapido, rapido, rapido..."

Reverse is great! I think I rated it below "Jiggle Jiggle" upthread but they're both excellent. She's inevitably put out some weak stuff, but so far Shenseea is the most exciting thing happening this (kinda slow so far?) year for me. Alkaline was in that spot last year though.

Anyone know why Chronology hasn't come out yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x--oBoLliIA

ishawna causing some consternation and wailing w/ her pro-head stance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP1geWwZEzA

also this new busy is too sick, him and alkaline are the best at not just riding a riddim but making their voices another instrument in the song

that was definitely the best way to end my don't-listen-to-Sheeran policy

anxiously waiting for this year's fever or ova dweet to emerge. this mavado tune is good though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQH_37l7kdo

Crazy Glue Riddim is pretty crazy and sticks like glue. Sean Paul and Alkaline on the obvious hit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IZd6v0zoUM

Also, this Kartel and Masicka is hard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4olEDVTbhw

And Alkaline is unstoppable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOA7oWqzhNI

My favorite riddim atm is the Bad & Sexy though - def here to stay for the summer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz0558pufFs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pZZ650HLkA

Oh, so we haven't even posted these Alakalines? Slipping!

Pretty Girl Team is one of the best songs of the year, easily:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1aVmoweBUI

Nice and Easy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPp7NOsAu4E

A few of the new Kartel releases have sounded "old" but as always, there's more than enough to go around:

Love hearing him on a soca riddim (the 6.3). Reverb & Delay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvXsWT4QOc0

Love It:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LfSVWXXAgE

Secret:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJIBgeZ-9DI

Highest Level (posted upthread) is the one I keep returning to though. Guessing it will stick around through the summer.

RDX with yet another Bam Bam remake. You basically can't miss with these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfLN9kLR6AE

admittedly I've been very distracted this year (though I did post "Nice and Easy" a while back; the YT got pulled), but this surprisingly strong late addition to an aging franchise caught my ear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExaiWN8T5o8
(Cham & Miss O, "Get Drunk")

Dave Kelly sounds absolutely and effortlessly contemporary on that (which obvs says more about the contemporary than him but still)

seem to remember also liking a Chi Ching Ching track a bit back, Poppy's "1Guh" and Mavado's "Dirt Nap"

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

new equiknoxx produccy is hard

production-wise this should probably go on the afrobeats thread; it's warm and lovely either way:
Popcaan f. Davido, "My Story"
https://open.spotify.com/album/1k7QAPJW7lrgpKJVK3HyRG

okay on subsequent listen with actual headphones ^that is a serious jam

and this excellent Alkaline just dropped too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWx8eJUtuU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDHktZY7a30

also, any chance anyone knows something about the first 40 seconds of this video? clicked on it randomly and was completely taken aback by this random minimal skeletal earworm only to have my excitement crushed when it's just the intro and the actual tune is a decent but not great conscious track. is it an interpretation of an older song i don't know?

i don’t know what it is, but you’re correct about it being an ear worm, been walking round the house going “some man pick up the guuuuuuuun” for the last forty minutes.

and fwiw, state of the world and richness of current dancehall, soca etc notwithstanding, am always really grateful for this thread for consistently throwing up favourite tracks.

no idea about that intro either but I like the whole thing, nice find!

Maybe like longneck I was too harsh on Can't Believe--I do really like the feel of the production. On first listen, I may have been expecting too much from the Wizkid feature, or maybe it's that the song grooves where I expected it to build up to something bigger. Also Kranium's album, which I initially liked, barely stuck with me so I might be holding that against him.

I don't think I ever posted this Alicai Harley. Absolutely love it, wish there were more of these weightless, plinky NES-sounding riddims--reminds me of Cute Bubble a lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf9kO4pATJU

^^Yeah, that was my initial reaction to Can't Believe too.
I haven't posted Washer Dryer yet, have I?

https://youtu.be/nF0ryxo0fjY

There's also Don't Come Back, which just dropped:
https://youtu.be/Ylgj6ksqXlo

Is Mavado's main problem as an artist that he doesn't at all seem interested in sex? Just a stray thought that has been bothering me for a while.

Another seemingly related random thought: I really like Masicka whenever he making songs for the girls. 10 outta 10 is good, and so is Down For Life.

I suppose there is something a bit stone-faced and perfunctory about Mavado's sex songs, no sense of pleasure being communicated. I think, for me, current Mavado's problem is that as he's aged his voice has sounded more tired (I mean that literally) and the poignancy it used to have has been lost a bit while the braggadocio doesn't come over as well.

Washer Dryer is great, though immediately filed under "headphones only" for me lol. Are there other versions on that riddim? it's nice.

Definitely more accurate to say I'm super picky about Kartel tracks than that I dislike him now. that said, "Don't Come Back" has that uh suspiciously timeless quality to it we've discussed before. I dig this one with Kim Kelly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc2k6zuxyTU

Would have to do due diligence on Masicka to weigh in, but fwiw I don't really care for any of his gunman tunes while I do like 10 Outta 10. Have to admit I am also mildly anti-Masicka for the 'genocide' branding; I probably wouldn't care if he was on some tommy lee sparta goth metal shit--and lord knows I compartmentalize tons of other shit in dancehall--but it feels cheap to me

My own random thought: is this Kyla/Popcaan song good or just an admirably efficent feat of engineering together like 4 different genres that I love?

The clean Washer Dryer is actually better, lol. It's Washer... dryer... com-complete. I even discussed it with my daughter, who agreed that a washer wasn't complete without a dryer, lol.

hahaha <3

Btw, I think the Kyla is good - but I'm not quite sold on Poppy as the romantic interest. At least not yet.

dancehall/reggae fans - other than Soul Jazz's Invasion of the Mysteron Killer Sounds, what other riddim comps are out there that are just the instrumentals? I know about the Greensleeves and Riddim Driven ones, but I want comps of multiple riddims

there aren't too many sadly but there's mo'wax's compilation Now Thing and Raime's mix Our Versions of Their Versions come to mind

https://soundcloud.com/the_large/infrared-mixtape

such an absolute fire mix and a good overview of the year for casual thread-perusers

just me or is the chronixx album a bit of a disappointment?

― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, September 6, 2017 4:24 PM (two months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah I listened to about half of it and got kind of bored despite liking some bits (iirc the one with his dad was good?). I should give it another shot but haven't felt particularly inclined.

― rob, Wednesday, September 6, 2017 4:45 PM (two months ago

Saw that Rolling Stone magazine put this in their top 2017 album list so I gave it another listen. Eh, its ok with some strong moments, but yeah nothing amazing.

Aidonia still going hard:

https://youtu.be/LtUmdsEdiGI

Great mix of instrumentals from Bass Clef on NTS.

https://www.nts.live/shows/floatingworldmusic/episodes/open-hand-real-flames-28th-november-2017

For those compiling your year-end lists, this playlist includes all the available tracks on this thread, organized roughly chronologically in order of mention:

ILM's 2017 Rolling Dancehall + Reggae Thread Spotify Playlist

Thanks ulysses, really appreciate your work on these

terminatorthumbsup.jpeg

rereading the thread I must confess: I now love "Can't Believe", it just took a while for that hook to totally worm its way in.

ha ha, I knew it!
Honestly though, there have been a lot of big tunes that haven't been posted in this thread this year. The same goes for the afro and soca threads. My new year's resolution is to step up for 2018.
But since I'm here, let me jiust mention that the All Night Riddim is pretty gorgeous.

Alkaline:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2_QDsFU1Ks

Mavado:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4v24DuiNEk

Tarrus & Konshens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68jbqgel0oI

Chris Martin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtgUAVulFvM

D-Major, Jahmiel and Sean Paul are also good on it.

Vybz is still the artist I've listened to the most in 2017 though. I don't know how it's possible but there have been about 20-30 new Kartel tracks that I really love/like this year.

re Cant Believe. I noticed one day I had the keyboard hook in my head and when I went to youtube to listen to it, I caught the "dance video" which is just super fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWx-_7V24Yc

nice Teetimus track from that Large mixtape:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3D0a8dUScI

nih-ninininih-nih-ninininih-nih-ninininih-nih-ninininih...

otm

also from the dept of potential EOY second thoughts, this Fader micro-doc on Masicka is p likeable: http://www.thefader.com/2017/12/05/masicka-documentary-energy-fader

as is, i should mention, the track in question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB508IJYSYs

I totally missed that one. Sounds like he's beginning to stretch out and loosen up a bit.

wow Alkaline kills this:

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

faster than Fast?

Some v half-baked thoughts after listening to Large Up/Mighty Crown's eoy mix:
This was a good year, but I do think it was kinda uneventful/unsurprising, basically dominated by a handful of (excellent) artists. As mentioned above, no single uniting song or riddim, no weird/funny novelty tracks, a very quiet year for the roots scene. No promising new stars with the exception of Shenseea, whose success put the shutout of women in the genre into relief. There are a couple riddims on that mix that absolutely cry out for an Alaine or Denyque--it's weird that there are no women in that rnb-ish space while we have Kranium, Jahmiel, Vershon, Chris Martin, et al (as much as I dig all those guys) plus all the singjays.

That all sounds like I'm complaining but tbc there are a ton of awesome tracks on that mix. Alkaline was especially versatile and consistent--he has like 10 tracks on the mix and they're all fire, even the one about his mom. I find Mavado in 2017 to be kind of a puzzle: it's always nice to hear him pop up in that mix but he's never the best thing on any riddim. OTOH he has really good taste in riddims, unlike say Popcaan who is pretty indiscriminating but there's always a bunch of gems.

Of course the mix is just one crew's take and Large Up's actual lists are to come so there's probably some major blindspots in all that^. I think it's a decent year overview but there are some weird choices (why only one Shenseea track and why that one?).

A couple new to me tunes on that mix. This Popcaan track seems to be some Japan-only thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsU7ofIkLUs

and then there's this Sizzla:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTI1o-aWigU

I really like Mavado's Red Rose - it's one of those songs where the emotion doesn't just sound like it's his default mode but actually means something. Probably in my top 20 dancehall songs this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAR39kbwsVQ

Ah yeah that is superb, hadn't heard it before!

LargeUp's dancehall tracks list:

1. Chronixx – “Likes”
2. Vybz Kartel – “Mhm Hm”
3. Aidonia – “Yeah Yeah”
4. Vybz Kartel f. Shenseea – “Loodi”
5. Masicka f. Vybz Kartel – “Infrared”
6. RDX – “Shake Your Bam Bam”
7. Aidonia – “Banga”
8. Ishawna – “Equal Rights”
9. Ding Dong – “Fling Yuh Shoulda”
10. Bounty Killer – “Do Better Than This”
11. Vybz Kartel – “Highest Level” / “Kremlin”
12. Alkaline -- “Pretty Gyal Team”
13. Popcaan — “Addicted"
14. Vybz Kartel & Wizkid — “Wine to di Top"
15. Spice — “Sheet"
16. Shenseea & Sean Paul -- “Rolling"
17. Kranium, et al – “Can’t Believe”

Plus honorable mentions: Gorillaz track remix, Wizkid Drake Popcaan w/e, Kartel "All Aboard," Mavado & Jahmiel "Badness"

and the riddims (in reverse order):
Chicken and Dumplin
Eagle
Humbug
1 Guh
Money Mix
Forever
Mhm Hm
La Vida
World Fete
Genna Bounce

No All Night?

maybe too recent? not sure World Fete belongs on there though

new Busy video is pretty great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6DwAox2hF8

I like World Fete. Mainly for the one song but the Charly Black is kinda charming too.

They missed crazy glue as well. It’s weird to me that gyalis pro wasn’t a much bigger hit. Maybe because of the 92 bpm tempo?

rolling dancehall & reggae 2018