rolling dancehall & reggae 2019

did we ever talk about the Narcos riddim?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CNxHQ2FaFE

This one is intriguing. I’m still trying to make sense of the rhythm. It’s like a rodeo ride. Will Taksik stay in the saddle?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deTaiDXDgV4
Taksik • Party

huh. yeah I can't decide if that's excitingly offbeat (literally and figuratively) or a shambles

Came across this on the Jamaican Deezer chart, where it’s the number one - he has the whole top 5 in fact, which might simply mean that only he and his peeps are using it. I *think* I like it, but/and I keep playing it to make sure.

Finding useful & accurate information about JA music has become really difficult! I look at this site sometimes, but I think it's just aggregating YouTube views (arguably better than most other metrics though, but gets too influenced by intl views): https://popnable.com/jamaica. I haven't seen a single EOY or EOD list.

On that note, I found Marvin Sparks' critical retrospective on the decade worth thinking about: https://marvinsparks.blogspot.com/2019/12/wrote-about-dancehalls-deadest-decade.html

I don't endorse all of it--(being American?) I have much more time for the trap-influenced sound than him--but I do think the narrowing of lyrical horizons has been detrimental, especially for women, and helps explain Koffee's instant appeal. Plus I think the slow withering of these threads over the decade does have something to do with the music not just ILM's concurrent depopulation. And his point about the lack of major stars is interesting.

here's a big hit we never posted (iirc), Munga Honorable's surprisingly jubilant kiss-off anthem "Nah Mad":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40H_Qrq94Lo

enjoying that one, as well as Ding Ding’s “Gyalis Story” from somewhere upthread.

https://reggaetop40.com/

Just saw this site linked to on twitter

http://www.largeup.com/2019/12/31/the-30-most-essential-dancehall-tunes-of-the-2010s/

Thanks for what you folks post here

I am not in touch these days that much, and appreciate your efforts

thanks curmudgeon! and 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).

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.

I wrote up a long response to that, so I think I'll just start a new thread...

new thread: rolling dancehall & reggae 2020