rolling dancehall & reggae 2020

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"

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