rolling dancehall & reggae 2020

picking up from rolling dancehall & reggae 2019:

thanks for posting that LU list--I checked a few times earlier in Dec and then gave up. It's definitely telling that they didn't do a '19 list (plus I don't think there's a '19 release on the decade list).

I'll start a 2020 thread eventually (though anyone should feel free to if they've got something to post).

― rob, Wednesday, January 8, 2020 11:54 AM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

Well I mean you COULD do a 2019 list. I think Robbo Ranx refrained from doing a top ten countdown this year too. Gabriel Heatwave complained about the lack of good riddims in 2019 but I could name a few decent ones. He also chose Stylo G as the artist of the year, which, I mean, ok, but also not okay, lol.

There was some good dancehall in 2019, although most of it might as well have come out in 2018. No big departures, no monster hits, Koffee as the big breakout artist and Kartel still going relatively strong. Superhero Love is the one I play the most.

Weak year from Popcaan (overall) and Alkaline though. Shenseea is still stepping up her game, but a few more clear strong voices would definitely be appreciated.

― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Thursday, January 9, 2020 3:55 AM (six hours ago)

In case it wasn't clear: I meant it was "telling" because LargeUp has obviously lost interest in dancehall/their own existence as a publisher, not that I thought 2019 was a disaster. I'm a little surprised LU didn't stick Buju "Trust" somewhere low on the list for historical narrative value. Anyway, I thought their list was overall pretty great, but my uncharitable read on its subtext is they spent the '10s expecting another US crossover that never came, hence their including "Work" (co-sign), Major Lazer (fine I guess), and "Controlla" (GTFO...this was hardly a great moment for the genre). Without going full lol Heatwave, I do think a UK-based list would paint a different picture of the genre's intl impact.

I've been listening to my own 2019 EOY playlist a lot this week--I thought about posting it, but you can just scroll through the thread--and it's good, but yeah it's a plateau without a lot of peaks (partially because "Toast" was on my 2018 playlist). Honestly, Munga Honorable "Nuh Mad" has blossomed into my favorite for the year--it is a jam/infernal earworm. Maybe most striking is how similar a palette a lot of the riddims have: lots of staccato synth stabs and tinny Casio/trap-ish drums. Clicking through, it can be hard to tell songs apart based on the first few seconds. This is a "problem" that will solve itself though, so again tbc I'm not wringing my hands over the state of dancehall (for once lol).

An interesting theme I only noticed by listening to the whole playlist a few times was how influential Popcaan's "Silence" has been: there are multiple, direct references to "poisoned drinks" etc. and more generally a ton of the songs are suffused with cold gloom, paranoia, and isolation. It's a pretty striking contrast to Koffee, so I'm curious what 2020 will be like.

Oh, right, I misunderstood you then. But I do think there's a noticable draught of dancehall related eoy lists this year, with those I've found looking kinda half-hearted. I agree with your overall assessment of Largeup and their list. And yeah, Nuh Mad is a keeper. Will keep my ears open for the Silence influence - had not noticed!

Feel free to post your 2019 list anyway btw

I will post the list in a minute. In the meantime, the new Kartel, "World Government," goes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q81eLhogSyg

Yeah! Good way to celebrate his 44th birthday.

Yep, though I'm sure he'd prefer to be granted his appeal which is being ruled on soonish I believe

Yeah, I doubt they'll let him out though.

OK, here's that playlist. Bear in mind the main goal isn't to produce a definitive list, it's to make a mix that I like, so good tunes get dropped if they don't work as part of the flow (I almost didn't include any Koffee as a result). Also, when I started doing this in 2011 I had 17 tracks and stuck with that going forward, there's no other significance to the number. Some of this might be technically 2018.

Govana - Olé
Ding Dong - Gyalis Story
Munga Honorable - Nah Mad (Ova Nuh Gyal)
Chronic Law - Hillside
Lila Iké - Where I'm Coming From
Buju Banton - Trust
Alkaline - Depend Pan Nobody
Squash - Trending
Teejay - Owna Lane
Popcaan - Unstoppable
Koffee - Rapture
Chronic Law - Style
Aidonia - Aircraft
Alkaline - With the Thing
Popcaan - Trouble Deh Deh
Squash & Vybz Kartel - Beat Dem Bad
Busy Signal - Dolla Van

xp I would for sure be surprised, though I haven't followed the case at all. The Star article I read made it seem possible, but I've no idea if there's evidentiary grounds for it and am doubtful as well

btw Kartel did a dub of (the excellent) Yardman Style for Robbo Ranx on this week's show so I guess the question of whether or not he is recording is prison can be settled once and for all lol

Kartel also dropped his first album since 2016 today. I'm a few tracks in and apparently they're all sad, heartbroken songs about lost love. I can appreciate that.

I guess it's his Here, My Dear?

new Govana epic is pretty wild with the perfect punchline:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ihNwYz7Was

He has an album out as well. Anyone listen to it?

I listened to the track ("Impossible") mentioned in "Convo"--which is kind of brilliant really, promoting a different track within another--and liked it a lot, then tried another and was bored. Frankly, it takes a lot to get me to listen to a full dancehall album these days

Well, they seem to be few and far between anyway.

The H.A.M.A.N.T.S. in that Convo title also refers to the album apparently, as it’s called Humans And Monsters Are Not The Same. I’m not au courant when it comes to Govana, so I have no idea what it all means.

yeah it's an intriguing title, but I have no idea what it signifies!

I like Govana but for some reason he comes across as a second rate Aidonia to me a bit too often. Haven't really listened to the album yet but this tune is nice enough.

I missed that longneck post--I think "second rate Aidonia" is way too strong, though I would agree he's unlikely to rise to that level.

this Konshens goes, provided you're on board with the trap riddim:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg5IpsHbad4

It is too strong and also unfair, lol. It's just something I notice whenever I hear the one after the other, as on the Aircraft riddim. There's something similar to Aidonia in his vocal approach but he always softens it out where 'donia goes for the bounce and the punch and the hook.

...aaand speaking of Aidonia, this one-two-punch from late December goes hard:

Peppa Sauce:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWUEhQmURRs

Me Nuh Care:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKNuKmTAZl8

damn those are both good, I wonder why he was absent last year?

a couple interesting bits in this Guardian puff piece on Shenseea: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/31/shenseea-i-grew-up-listening-to-rihanna-now-she-is-listening-to-me

1) she's signed to Interscope
2) Rvssian is producing her next album

I'd be especially excited about the latter, but I'm not sure what to make of the wildly overstuffed "IDKW"--I really hope Interscope don't think she's a singer, the song stops dead during that, frankly, awful chorus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZMA4TnEyWs

"Limited Edition" otoh is the right kind of breezy imo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw-p3T5oh7w

limited edition is dope - teejay is good on it too.

The weirdest thing to me is that they didn’t get buju on IDKW instead of the americans, thug in particular refuses to shine on it for some reason and it needs a bit of rough. I do love shenseea’s short verse near the end though.

I do understand they wanted us airplay. It’s just... lacking

yeah Swae Lee is fine on it, but Thug is totally unnecessary. Buju would have been interesting, though I imagine there are some logistical challenges to working with him now (if nothing else I assume he can't/won't travel to the US). Here's hoping they keep it simpler

for sure. But seeing as he had a big hit with a version of the original song, it would have been appropriate to tag him on there in some fashion. Thug is there only in the capacity of having been on Havana, lol

Ohhh I get it now. Sorry, Delroy Wilson's classic Studio One version is a fave so I blanked on Buju & Wayne:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIKwj6y-TU

anyone know what the riddim is on this Sikka Rymes track "Ready"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcfFvq06ia0

(starts about 90 secs in lol)

really into this new Chronic Law "Good Name":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5LVDWWKaU

another confusingly excellent Kartel banger, ho hum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAT-7yPV5mI

hi rob, can I just say: fuck that video Sikka Rymes video.

so upsetting I fucked up that sentence

oh no, I didn't actually watch it, I'm sorry. I just cue videos up and then do things on other tabs. I better check it out...

ugh, sorry about that! I would have posted a warning if I'd realized.

I do the same with videos, I often post links without actually watching them - not necessarily the smartest procedure.

Yeah absolutely, I'll be more circumspect in future, not looking to ruin anyone's day here.

I'm never quite sure what I think of Jah 9, but consider this a morally astringent palate cleanser at any rate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA4abnK5VHQ

a breath of fresh air for sure

I haven't had time to listen/browse lately, but did want to say two related things:
1) "Highly" is awesome and deserves more appreciation than my prev post; really beautiful track, will def check out her album which I think comes out Friday
2) thread followers might like the For Posterity podcast; I've only listened to this woman-centric episode so far, but it was a lot of fun: https://anchor.fm/forposterity/episodes/Episode-2-Woman-Ah-Come-earlr6 (first ep is with Gavsborg from Equiknoxx and third is w/Jah 9)

Dancehall is some of my fav music lately tbh surprised this thread doesn’t have more shit in it

Likkle Vybz & Likkle Addi released an album as U.T.G. and it’s pretty good.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6UsZhJDmoTcO9h4MaRH5KB?si=BFIF7wV-TSa7AapXSSqhnw

i will ride for highly which should be far more corny than it is considering the lyrics/structure; jah9 is pretty dope

exactly! the album is out now, but I might be too distracted today to give it a listen

Chronixx's new one, "Dela Move," is stately, spiritual reggae--layers of hand drumming, chanting and flutes--with Chronixx getting closer to rapping (I swear he goes into a triplets/trap flow for a few bars) than I think he ever has before; the Koffee influence is mutual maybe?

At any rate, it's a scorcher:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXE9WAHp1o0

in a completely different mode, Jada Kingdom's new dembow banger "Heavy!" is super infectious uhh fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL1qTTgeAW8

Heavy is indeed... uhhh... dope.

DJ Frass' High Rev Riddim is nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZSNgO5PVCQ

love “Dela Move”

the way trap dancehall is crossing over to Trinidad is really interesting to me... enjoying these new medz records esp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3RMD1wuimM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eHSetZ6qdA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPaXrqBeCa4

but also prince swanny and boy boy

everything I heard on the Incredible riddim was great; here's Konshens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFJ6jKoXU2o

Nice and minimal riddim

agree that Konshens is the best on the incredible riddim

curmudgeon, you might like "Heavy!" posted upthread a bit

seconded

Lila Iké with some nice IzyBeats-produced reggae'n'b:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4a0eg-M9us

"I Spy"

it takes a while to kick in, but I dig TeeJay's "Guard Ring":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xO5_lSWCsU

(this video isn't gross like that Sikka one, but there's a couple of moderately disturbing shots--frankly not being able to tell whether all the non-TeeJay people are wearing masks for crime or corona reasons is disturbing enough right now)

Alkaline's "Nah Fi Like" is a great showcase for how compelling he is on a poppy riddim:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AI33FZoX4Q

Kartel & TeeJay's "Up Top Gaza" is serious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaQq8WXWhXQ

lmk if anyone sees a thinkpiece on mask use in dancehall videos

These are all ace selections.

“Guard Ring” is fan-tas-tic! Made me think of Wizkid somehow, pretty sure he’d love this. I need to seriously check out TeeJay. Instant love for the Alkaline as well. “Up Top Gaza” is also good, feels like it might grow big on me.

Thanks for the trigger warning btw! (the TeeJay vid felt like a walk in the park compared to that Sikka thing tho - didn’t watch the Vybz one yet)

Uptop Gaza is a strong early contender for song of the summer.

yeah this is fuckin dope

I guess I forgot to post the delightfully throwback, sub-Trust-ish Buss Box Riddim a while back, huh?
Top feature-not-a-bug: Delly Ranx telling you not to kill your girlfriend if you're mad at her but finding another girl instead. Not your daughter, though. That would be incest.

Delly Ranx - Don't Kill
https://youtu.be/9OcY5YpQfNk

Mixed riddim version I find on YT:
https://youtu.be/5PBuwKg6_Yg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OcY5YpQfNk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PBuwKg6_Yg

wise words from Delly, bless

really love this new Lila Iké "Solitude" (part of a new EP I haven't heard all of yet):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxrY8TWKJL0

could be crossposted to "are you cut out for social media"

The Iké EP, ExPerience, is excellent. Rather than heading in a roots-revival direction like I'd assumed based on "Where I'm Coming From", it's much more like updated (80s) lover's rock. At least until the last track where she takes on Sly & Robbie's riddim for The Tamlins' "Baltimore," which if you're going to voice a classic is a goddamn good choice, not to mention it's pretty groovy anyway

Agreed. I love the diversity I'm discovering in Jamaican music "behind" the traditional roots - dancehall binary. And each song has something different to offer but keeps that unique Jamaican singing style. Mother of God the way she hits those notes on 'Second Chance'. This EP is placing on my year-end list.

Yeah I love how commanding her voice can be, but then the vibrato maintains a constant note of vulnerability. More broadly, the roots-dancehall binary is definitely overstated, obscuring genres like rocksteady and lovers plus tons of artists worked in both areas and there has always been plenty of mixing of the two genres/impulses.

In sadder news (but relevant to my last point), RIP to Bobby Digital

Going to rewind this a few times:

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

Listening to "Solitude", "Stars Align" and "Forget Me" in a loop. So, so good.

glad you both are into this too!

Swing Ting & Shanique Marie's "Give Thanks" is a nice vibe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCF6X1L5AUE

(this time I'll say: DO watch the video)

Did you guys watch Beanie Man verzuz Bounty Killer on Facebook or Instagram? Kinda fun

x-post--- Bobby Digital produced Sizzla "Black Woman and Child " album that I liked, plus the Shabba Ranks song "Dem Bow" that of course later got ransofrmed into reggaeton dembow rhythm

https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/iconic-dancehall-producer-bobby-digital-dies-59

Kinda fun is underselling it

surprised more ppl here weren't into it???

I've completely slept on this whole phenomenon. Is there a painless way to rewatch it?

https://youtu.be/216ILslDOfs

not sure if this is the full thing because I thought it was a bit longer than an hour, but if you search Beenie man verzuz on YouTube you should find a lot of versions.

they start off with rap and rnb collabs which are ok, I mean it's still entertaining because these guys are kings but when the showtime riddim comes on later it's *rocket taking off emoji*

How about when the cops showed up (I am still wondering if that was real or staged)

I love this Alkaline track from earlier in the year. Even though the lyrics don’t seem to back it up, the title just has to be a Gladys Knight reference, no?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QddyEM61qTQ

Alkaline ft. Black Shadow • Gladdest Night

...or is YouTube commenter "troll ute" right and is this all there is to it:

troll ute 4 months ago
Gladdest night is a singer bredda so alka a say the girl going to sing on his mic. Get it bredda 😂😂😂

so sad the song...

UPDATE: ah, no - he's just repaying the compliment with interest, I guess:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o8m1q3JIf8

"Alaskan Pipeline" - get it bredda?

Yeah, I like that song too. Alkaline seems to be kinda... back... in 2020?

In other news, I have started loving the new Buju & John Legend. Let's just say it grew on me.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9pMjc0-Vlk

How about this remix of a remix for an international collaboration?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvGG16PDi2U
Skip Marley • Slow Down (P2J Remix ft. H.E.R, Davido & Oxlade)

big thumbs up for "Gladdest Night"

Alka's "Cree" is great too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPOaeg2dMe4

I like the riddim on this admittedly pretty one-note Popcaan "Buzz":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zB-G7kRO9o

about us by vybz is great, produced by bobby konders

...and here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0qINmN2DLk

that's rad! great video too. Kartel should do a prison abolition song next

Busy Signal - World Crisis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j495vK6F-ZI

this isn't going to convert the skeptical, but I quite like it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyY-eSMlGJM

Chronixx & Kabaka Pyramid "Same Prayer"

Yeah, i'm a fan! Basically i like anything chronixx does tho'.

Lol same I even like that edm song on Chronology

you mean I Can? um. i gotta draw the line somewhere

haha yeah it's misguided and treacly, but I like his voice so much that sometimes I don't lunge for the skip button when it comes on

Buju's new album is a, let's say, mixed bag, but this Lloyd Bradley interview/profile is p interesting: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/02/every-black-man-have-to-fight-buju-banton-on-prison-and-liberation

New Kartel album is kinda hot though. I don't hear a Fever, but a lot of the tracks are extremely catchy.

who could be mad at beenie doing zungguzungguguzungguzeng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SozyhvPxf5Y

pretty sure I could listen to that riddim every day for the rest of my life!

Intence "Yeng" is a good time, love the bits of steel pan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDHgA4RR7NY

"Blessed" was the best new-to-me track off the first half of the Buju album (I bailed before finishing it I must confess; also "Yes Mi Friend" resonated emotionally):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzmzKtOaVf4

"what the bloodfire is this a gwaan in America?"

“Yeng” is great, it is indeed the steel pan that makes it.

'yeng' is my shit, heavy rotation so far this year

haven't enjoyed much from Masicka in a while, but "Just a Minute" is cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9Pi1J5ehI

contra the Aidonia comp discussion upthread, I feel like Govana has really come into his own this year; here's Likkle Bit A Money:

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

more Intence; "Antisocial" is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYfUEtC40MU

and Daddy1 "Pretty Pon Snap" took a while to click with me but now I dig it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP00LWcEOXw

“likkle bit of money”!

>> literal trigger warning for the video tho, not surprisingly coinciding with the shot in the middle of the track :-((

I finally made a thread for Chronixx

Sevana has never really clicked for me, but "Mango" might be an exception:

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

Definitely intrigued by the idea of hyper-arranged rnb-dancehall

This is pretty fucking marvelous right?

Aidonia & Govana, “Yeah Man”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9R-tGfG9JmM

YES

it is

yah, this is dope

Really loving the new Popcaan mixtape as documented on his dedicated thread

Love to see him crossing the reggae/dancehall divide (which is being blurred so productively this year, I am super excited) on this new Protoje jam "Like Royalty":

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

dont know where to put this, but its fun - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000l6zw

"The biggest dancehall rhythms of the last 35 years, as selected by 50 of the world's leading dancehall influencers - DJ’s, producers, journalists and artists.

Including contributions from Clevie, Tony Kelly, Sly Dunbar, Wayne Wonder, Buju Banton and Sean Paul."

I really like how much space some new riddims have, like on Intence's "Authentic"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgAS9kql9T8

^produced by Zimi who also did "Yeng" so that makes sens

shouldn’t that be “sence”?

yeng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbPa0QH_zxA
Lila Iké Live on TDC

reposted that on her dedicated thread coz it needs more post(er)s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytCD7RtWrgA&ab_
Vybz Kartel - Run Dancehall
How does this guy get access to a studio in prison again ?

Let it be known that I hate YouTube's way of linking up channels etc. Same for the new wiki thing of bringing you in the middle of the text.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytCD7RtWrgA
Vybz Kartel - Run Dancehall

A tease at only 2:00 but Shenseea & Tarrus Riley's "Lighter" is good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Pavo7eCmI

The new Dexta Daps album is very good. It’s More Songs About Fucking And Pussy, including this one with Spice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCemP9EIXLs
“A Plus”

...and a few that aren’t:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TI2Gb3-CTA
“Most Wanted”

A new single from Daddy1, who rob posted about back in July:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur-V7_nweX8
Daddy1 - Double Up

Have you guys gotten into Rytikal yet? Feelin it

His “Cookie Jar” is very good at least - and very much NSFW:

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

“My World” is good as well, in a different way (be warned: this video has an overdose of gun toting):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo62cqam424

Those are rad. I especially like the riddim on "My World"

Since everyone in the comments mentions Rytikal's similarity to him, I think we're overdue to note Skillibeng blowing up this year (though I think I actually liked the Rytikal I heard more).

Mr. Universe is the one afaict:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnWRXV3NqQA

"Defy the Odds" worth a listen too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=livBTPJRwP0

Brik pan brik still my fav skillibeng

Dexta's Call Me If is the undisputed highlight of the Liquid Sunshine Riddim, but the whole thing has a nice vibe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ78X-MDiyA

Oh, and Danii Boo's Why goes hard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCwqgNqBj38

“Call Me If” is also on Dexta’s Vent album, see above

production on Skillibeng’s “Defy The Odds” is gorgeous.

Brik pan brik still my fav skillibeng

Same. Seems likely Rytikal will shed the comparison p quickly. As per breastcrawl's post, the production on "Defy" is more interesting than the vocal, though I do like Mr. Universe.

Sorry to dispute, but I think the Liquid Sunshine version I'm most taken with is Denyque & Shanell Muir's "Same Guy," which would have been an event on ILM in 2012:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h9XJSekvL4

Impeccable widescreen production from Di Genius (!) on this new Govana, "Strike Force"

CW: the video is violent: https://youtu.be/I7MsoX_sCMA

The Denique is good, but Call Me If is *almost* good enough to get me divorced. Top ten song of the year to me.

haha, well with that endorsement in mind I'll definitely revisit it

get divorced to get with Dexta? lol what’s going on here, longneck?

lol, I'm still happily married thankyallverymuch. My somewhat exaggerated point was that no one can make adultery sound quite as paSHhhuuuuuhhhhnate as Dexta these days. It makes one want to live more dangerously. In a good way, of course.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ti4AAOSwvfRdtsx7/s-l300.jpg

I mean, to me at least, this is precisely the spirit that is lacking in r&b these days.

another great riddim on Skillibeng's "YK Dat Guh":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr-6xvNXFxg

really excited about this new staccato style (see the Zimi productions above), basically the exact breath of fresh air I was hoping for

Maybe this is hipster dancehall but I'm into it
https://duppygun.bandcamp.com/album/bunout-boss-ep

RIP the absolute legend Bunny Lee

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/07/bunny-striker-lee-jamaican-reggae-producer-dies-aged-79

Iwaata continues an amazing year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn2KI1sdJog
Iwaata, Bakersteez - Furda More

^wasn't sure about Iwaata on that at first (he sounds so American it threw me), but Zimi is basically JA artist of the year for me at this point, he's bringing a blast of fresh air. But what else do you like from Iwaata? I haven't really listened to much since "Cut Off Jeans"

other good new stuff:

Rytikal, "90s"; this guy rules, thanks for mentioning him deej

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oxW67JKMhc

Skillibeng, "Crocodile Teeth"; love the last-track-on-the-trip-hop-album production here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMWdX1_cEXg

oh wait I forgot that I recently liked Iwaata's Zimi-produced* collab with Intence "Havoc"

*btw a little searching suggests Zimi might not be an individual

he sounds so American it threw me

Also now realizing this is Bakersteez, who I read about in the Fader a long time ago and forgot about

Some other Iwaata (who appears to have gotten rid of the space sometime in the last little while):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7acB7Ovq_Nw
Like How

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz8BpfeBGtU
Digi Loan

I like the way he interacts with the riddim, generally - something kinetic-feeling about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST_Jx7NmnBE
Detta Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J9wJ1O1hx0
Start It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWgjS4yjTVI
Science

He's put out a ton of videos over the course of the pandemic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLW83_mSgls

Masego feat. Shenseea - Silver Tongue Devil

Romantic stuff, Wizkid vibes, love it.

haha I just this minute made a post about Masego on the rolling r&b thread! great minds et cetera.

this track is produced by IzyBeats of Koffee fame btw (for the longest time I assumed that their producer tag was in fact Koffee’s own tag)

ooh that is nice! Izy is so good with guitars

Masego catching a fire over on the rolling r&b thread fyi & btw

Alkaline — "Buryberry" [sic?]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILFKfDwwc4

It's been a while since I heard Alka on a riddim like this (light as air), it took a second to adjust but then it clicked completely, reminds me a bit of the "City" era

Teejay with a banger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRwTbXN6U5k

"City of Gods" (I also like his "Big Drip" a lot)

I love the deep sub-marine, almost dub-techno riddim on Jahvillani & Skillibeng's "Smooth":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHKi_cw5Ec

whoa, “Smooth” is fantastic, thanking you!

this other recent Madvillani track reminds me *a lot* of that Martinique (Martinican) dancehall sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S2hioP4baE
Madvillani • Lizzad Pon Limb

*JAH*villani lol

Smooth is impressive, what a beat.

Ha, I was just coming here to post "Lizzad" + its riddim, Style A Style. All the versions I've heard are good, but I think that's cuz the riddim is so dope

Teejay (this or Jahvillani's are the keepers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fAqD-iUkss

Stylo G:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFyAwZT4Su4

This Rytikal track won't blow your mind, but in its modest way it illustrates how successfully dancehall producers have absorbed trap, I think. A lot of early trap-influenced riddims were derivative, but they've made it their own imo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7RPcsuGBjA

trust me and stick with Teejay's "Internet Badness" at least until 1:21:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZEMI8MhlqY

the opening line is also pretty great

Shenseea's "Bad Love" is on that same riddim, though the mix is p different--still dope though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y62EV6zPUTI

"Bad Alone" not Bad Love

sorry if repost

These kids are wavey!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/r47RUHr97C

— manda (@Comanda_x) December 12, 2020

what a delight :) love when the second dude drops into rockstone

Holy fuck

Roqar Vibes kids are alright

season's greetings everyone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-iuiYDRH0E

that style a style riddim is so fucking good

those twitter kids have a single btw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLpXkAn5dY0

Intence + Zimi were definitely my favorite thing about dancehall in 2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSqBrHfr0bU

"Light Up"

LargeUp did a top 20 that I like more than most their past lists when the site actually published content regularly:

20. Runkus feat. Royal Blu, Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid and Munga Honorebel – “5Gs” (Producer: Runkus Music/Walshy Fire)
19. Popcaan – “Buzz” (Producer: Mini E5/Two4Kay)
18. Chronixx – “Cool as the Breeze/Friday” (Producer: Pantha)
17. Teejay – “From Rags to Riches” (Producer: Damage Musiq)
16. Koffee feat. Buju Banton – “Pressure (Remix)” (Producer: Ryan Bailey)
15. Skillibeng – “Crocodile Teeth” (Producer: Adde Instrumentals)
14. Alkaline – “Ocean Wave” (Producer: Jahvy Ambassador)
13. Jada Kingdom – “Heavy!” (Producer: DJ Papis)
12. Intence – “Yeng” (Producer: Zimi Entertainment)
11. Skip Marley feat. H.E.R. – “Slow Down” (Producer: Rykeyz)
10. Govana – “Likkle Bit A Money”/ “HAMANTS Convo” (Producers: J.L.L. Prod/Emudio)
9. Various Artists – Aircraft Riddim (Producer: Chimney Records)
8. Lila Iké – “I Spy” (Producer: Izy Beats)
7. Protoje feat. Popcaan – “Like Royalty” (Producer: Ziah and Winta James)
6. Agent Sasco – “Loco” (Producer: Teflon Zincfence)
5. Dexta Daps – “Call Me If” (Producer: Good Good Production)
4. Kranium – “Gal Policy” (Producer: Jahvy Ambassador)
3. Buju Banton – “Blessed” (Producer: Dave Kelly)
2. Tarrus Riley feat. Shenseea – “Lighter” (Producer: Rvssian)
1. Koffee – “Lockdown” (Producer: Dane Ray)

I would've picked different Teejay and Alkaline tracks, and predictably there's a tad too much reggae, though this Marley/H.E.R. song is better than I would have expected. Still, this is a pretty good roundup with some interesting omissions: no Kartel (fine with me, he hardly needs the shine), no 6ixx crew (basically agree here--dug a few tracks early in the year and then they seemed to just churn out middling songs to the point I stopped checking for them), and it's kind of odd to highlight only one riddim and then choose one that came out in Nov 2019 (of course I'm sure it blew up this year).

tbf revisiting Aircraft (and I'd missed or forgotten they did a whole riddim video), Jahvillani's and Intence's versions *really* stand out, which makes it feel more 2020

super fun poppy new one from Jada Kingdom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvRUol3niYM

"Green Dreams"

I’ll leave the new-thread-making to rob, just came here to mention that Skillibeng has a 35-track album out called The Prodigy.

Nice list, but come on... no Yami Bolo?

thanks for the nudge breastcrawl: rolling dancehall & reggae 2021