rolling dancehall & reggae 2019

I was gonna wait for the EP, but fuck it: gratitude is a must: the Koffee thread

this takes about a minute to achieve lift-off, but then damn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M9HoNHdwj8

Tee-Jay, "Owna Lane"

I was kind of vaguely aware that Tee-Jay was getting popular last year, but never really clicked with anything I listened to--I expect this will be huge (the view count is already impressive on that video).

lol sorry it's just TeeJay, no hyphen needed

Speaking of lanes, Masicka isn't exactly swerving out of his usual zone here, but "Darkest Times" is nice:

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

I'm not sure the lyrics video approach does Quada's "Celebration" any favors but the mood is sweet (I really like that brief instrumental break at the end):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-r9EwdxJYs

The Supreme riddim has a few good voicings. Dexta's songs are always so dense, I'm never quite sure what I think on first contact, but "Squeeze" is excellent?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krNN2z-Bigs

Masicka's "Headshot" is more immediately accessible--the contrast really shows what's unique, possibly to a fault!, about Dexta:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwZjy-y5JKc

Did we ever post Shenseea's rather good "Trending Gyal"? There's a mediocre video now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kou6dgRQY64

On that topic: A/C COOL TURN UP DI TEMPERATURE WITH A PRETTY GYAL WEH FAVOR SHENSEEA is in my head like 60% of the time these days

This Stefflon & Sean Paul tune isn't particularly outstanding but should be noted in support of longneck's thesis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO4Zrf2o92Q

Dexta Daps' "No Underwear" does exactly what it says on the tin, but I'm on board:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAj7CP6yTfM

should i assume this was posted last year? love this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7agMxttD7A
squash - money fever

We are kings music channel
5 months ago (edited)
Bloodclat dem feel like ..dancehall trap all day.
6 out here .
121

that one's new to me but I like it. I was checking this Squash tune the other day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNtrZW3CC1g

I'm curious what rap fans think of "dancehall trap." Some earlier attempts were p derivative and uninspired, but I feel like it's stepped up in the past year or so.

I love this fantastic Govana and Tarrus Riley collab on "Unanswered":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZlD8RToA0

feeling the bass line on this new Jada Kingdom ("Business"):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY4TfKrrnwk

btw Jada fans should watch this excellent, elegant & jazzy live 1Xtra set: https://youtu.be/r73MT8eSvpU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Vp_TBf9wk

Alkaline, "Eva High"

Squash with a video for "Trending":

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

I wasn't completely sold on him at first tbh, but that's vibes.

This new Stylo G knocks:

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

So far I'm pretty strongly in favor of the dialectical response to trop house eating everyone's lunch being rap

You posted Stylo G twice! This is that Squash video for real:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hplD4QyV4Q8

Great track btw. Plus it namechecks Suriname, I like that!

Oh, and “Whoop Whoop” is a bop of a banger!

(I don’t really get your comment about rap vs trop house?)

Ah thanks for posting the right vid! The trop house comment was my obscure way of presenting an extremely undercooked thesis: after “tropical house” (i.e., watered down dancehall + soca) became mainstream global pop’s default setting, I got the sense that dancehall producers were at a loss to move to a new sound. Over the past year or so trap/rap more generally has emerged as a touch point for a bunch of the most exciting dancehall tunes. So basically I’m saying that dancehall has given up on trying to beat trop house at its own game and moved on to a new, rap influenced sound. However there are tons of exceptions to cite but I think it’s a legit trend now

idk if Jordan checks this thread, but I dig this new Epic B: https://soundcloud.com/immortal-instruments/meno-eddie-hill

I'm listening to the Little Simz album and no surprise or anything, but between this, Estelle's, and Mr Eazi's albums, Chronixx is a feature secret weapon, hope he puts out something new soon.

two excellent new Popcaan tunes

Unstoppable:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwrLF3i_cjk

Redress:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDNExKFS3iA

thanks Rob!

Apologies for killing anyone's browser with this post...

I'm thrilled the "Alkaline fell off" narrative has been definitively refuted. His collab with Kranium (Just the Style) hasn't quite clicked for me yet, but "With the Thing" is dope:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-QW3JcGJi8

Good stuff on the G6ixx Riddim, including Kartel's "Any Weather"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fs5aOhyMIY

and Teejay's "Shub Out"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es9qQi_doyM

(his tune with Ding Dong, "Braff," is fun too)

Great riddim on Popcaan's "Trouble Deh Deh" (couldn't figure out if it has a name, though I didn't try too hard):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0C7nTgA9pM

Also feeling Masicka, "Heights"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9ZtAlIC_IU

and Squash, "Rifle"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REdko4dolGM

Of the above, I’m especially liking “With The Thing”, “Braff” and “Trouble Deh Deh” so far. (Have no access to “Shub Out” and “Rifle”)

I guess continuing to have multiple artists version a riddim, but then only officially releasing one lead single (at least initially, I assume "Shub Out" will show up on Spotify eventually) is how things are going to be for a while in our confusing streaming era.

and since we praised it on the afropop thread, here is Kranium's "Mind Blown"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMn5iVAvRk

Caught an all-Lady Saw 'In Focus' mix in NTS this morning, made my day. I'm sure it'll be archived soon.

Belated, but I'd like to express my appreciation of Kranium's (and Young John's) "Mind Blown".

I wouldn't say no to a whole Drogba riddim album tbh (this version is Busy Signal):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S04ADSueF0

More brilliance from the 6ix bench, Chronic Law's "Hillside":

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

(skip to 2:00 if you're impatient)

oooooh, busy!

his ad libs are pretty inspired on that. I wonder if there'll be any original afrobeats on his new album, he always sounds fantastic versioning them

speaking of Busy, this is quite good: http://www.largeup.com/2019/04/22/busy-signal-gotta-tell-ya-zum-zum/

I’m here for Busy!

I’m only aware of his Afro triptych from five (!) years ago, I think:

“Same Way” (=Sarkodie’s “You Go Kill Me”);
“Bou Yah (Vampire Teeth)” (=Mafikizolo’s “Khona”);
“Professionally” (=P-Square’s “Personally”)

Has he done any others since?

In somewhat related news, Popcaan jumped on the remix of Ghanaian reggae/dancehall singer J.Derobie’s “Poverty”, one of the year’s biggest songs in Ghana so far.

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

And fusing things up even more, follow up “Irie” was produced by Juls:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbER2DByWVg

hm, yeah that might be it for afro-Busy, I can't really recall--I definitely forgot those were 5 years old!

Very interesting to hear Juls do basically straight reggae like that; the tempo and empty space on it almost sounds like Rhythm & Sound. I wasn't totally wowed by "Poverty" though.

new Protoje with Lila Iké, Agent Sasaco, and a very welcome melodica:

https://youtu.be/sEy-49w-BYs

Poppy is on an absolute tear this year:

"Traumatized"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF9YWPilc7g

Doin’ it, again:

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

Vybz Kartel & Spice • Back Way

Really excited about the new Equiknoxx record (all vocal, digital release not out yet)
https://boomkat.com/products/eternal-children-6de063b0-5e0f-472a-94f9-4a399812d1a1

One track has a video - Brooklyn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YVmx4TfDDk

that's great news

thread is especially underfed this year (sorry) but Shenseea's "Blessed" blowing up deserves mention:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg3myULHqiE

Yeah, that one goes hard. And Tyga is the right choice for a guest feature.

I think maybe my favourite summery dancehall jam this year is I-Octane's Riviera / Born Gyalis::

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtbfOUekJR4

And... Kartel's Day Rave is growing on me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCf8L43m8Q4

Kartel is having a pretty decent year so far, btw, but what else is new?

Kartel & Squash - Beat Them Bad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_5tbd6LHE

Any Weather:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fs5aOhyMIY

Dem no Ready (Lifestyle Riddim):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYfve_Kibs

Whoa, that Lifestyle Riddim is burning flames!

Yeah that's sick

TeeJay’s version is awesome too.

Indeed. There are a few good songs on it. I think maybe the Chronic Law one is the biggest at the moment?

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

and maybe Teejay? (edit: breastcrawl beat me to it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKafV5hFiNY

I'm always partial to some good Sean-a Paul myself, though, lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTDo0ziN3vU

I was about to link the whole album lol, 14 different versions (including the instrumental)

Yeah, I think this will quite possibly be the big riddim this summer.

I really like the Demarco version too.

Yeah, I think this will quite possibly be the big riddim this summer.

― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Thursday, June 20, 2019 5:06 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

getting Kartel, Sean Paul, Squash, TeeJay, and Chronic Law all on it def a strong play!

Has Kartel's voice ever sounded this worn and tired? The song is a banger, though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v_CtsI5C50&frags=pl%2Cwn

Zing doesn’t show that YouTube for me, but it’s “Loving Every Minute” and it’s quite nice.

more signs of life in the riddim ecosystem: One Don with Kartel, Popcaan, Masicka, TeeJay, Ishawna, and Shawn Storm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG8QkBdjl84