rolling dancehall & reggae 2022

another Squash tune I really love is 6ix Rack:

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

as otm as "depressing vibe" is, Squash tends to bring a more impish energy to things (as in Sweepstake Life--glad you liked that one bc)

ironically Grim YG has that same energy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbKyOELoZ6s

Bruk Choppa

@rob:

a depressing piano-led ballad: Y/N

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY6uKSBj2N4
it’s Alkaline’s latest, “Lone Madness”

and as for Squash, oh yes, definitely and otm - I was just preparing this post:

it’s also becoming ever clearer that in the Skeng-Squash wars I’m very much #TeamSquash

“Lattry”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYxLWhorh_Q

“Foot”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftU1AshwBH0

“Ready”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwzxISxYiig (even when he’s at his moodiest, like here, there’s still a playfulness there, also in the production. I like that)

xp
That Alka is kind of what I was talking about, though the electric guitar part is quite a swerve compared to the tracks I have in mind. I'd post an example, but I don't feel like finding one lol, they are really generic and draggy, even Skeng's

oh yeah I love Lattry too

thing with Skeng though is he sounds amazing over a wider variety of riddims than you'd expect, like this v pretty one for Gvnman Spaniard w/ Govana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH42E7f42Xg

“Pitch Out” is pretty, more so than “Gvnman Spaniard” imo

I really like “Bruk Choppa”, as well as all the Baykas you posted - even the piano-led “Mobster”!

liking the light African vibes on Jahshii’s “Same Way Suh” - the number one on You Tube Jamaica:

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

“Pitch Out” is pretty, more so than “Gvnman Spaniard” imo

I'd agree with that. For a while the trinibad stuff I liked most was all like this: super gorgeous instrumentals with keening, mournful vocals on top, lots of harp and melancholic guitar. I was partic into Prince Swanny's take on the sound at first (posted upthread iirc), but he kept putting out essentially the same song and I stopped paying attention.

I liked Jahshii when I first heard him ("Shift Change"), but he's jumped around stylistically to the point I feel like I've lost a sense of his identity as an artist, like I wouldn't have guessed that was him if I'd heard it anonymously.

Speaking of strong identities, we haven't talked about Skillibeng much itt. "Whap Whap" should be posted for posterity I feel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQr3EsWVC0

And the other two standouts from the Mr Universe EP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWl_S5-T2tE

Thee Most Power, basically straight drill which he sounds great over

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPhyj8wz0RE

Rocket Launcher f. Rich the Kid & Popcaan

Not sure why that one hasn't had more of a push tbh, both guests sound great

powerfully dank but ravey drillhall from Intence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpLw1RnOLwM

Correction

(I only watched half the video so caveat watcher)

revisiting Jahshii and I dig these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC2_QdVSUN8

Domino Gyallis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na_oQRNih8g

Di Ting Mad (flute alert)

I also like some of what I've heard from Kraff Gad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwoPvlv94AA

Hot Docs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEMlcy5_z-U

OG Bobby Johnson, which seems to be his biggest hit so far

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81T0NMvtJhE

SleepWalk

Unfortunately, I'm not at all feeling Valiant who is blowing up right now ("North Carolina" in partic).

In general things feel stagnant right now though. I wish we could get some wilder riddims; the slow piano mode is repulsive to me at this point, and in general it would be nice to move past trap, even if I still like some of that stuff (see above)

And on the reggae front, the new Protoje album has some really gorgeous production/playing on it (he's solid per usual)

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

The Charm

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20221115/koffee-scores-grammy-nom-gifted-debut?fbclid=IwAR1CzeOfQJd4UHTQwsz6YAd7WS65eIU8F4XXRIYwGzMwLjfgkHsnYClwdUA

the Grammys Best Reggae Album Category. Gifted by Koffee; The Kalling by Kabaka Pyramid; Scorcha by Sean Paul; Third Time's the Charm by Protoje, and Com Fly Wid Mi by Shaggy, also scored nominations.

not bad!

Yep for the Grammys that’s not too bad . I guess Shaggy is probably best known to Grammys voters so he will likely win

I like Valiant. Hope we can still be friends, rob.

Valiant - Dunce Cheque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YmXuop8yAk

That's pretty good actually, or at any rate, Valiant sounds good on it.

My problem is being bored with the traphall sound...I've already forgotten the riddim to that track. Basically, it's been a great couple years, but it all feels very same-y and unimaginative now. At this point, nothing new thrills like early Intence or Skeng, or when I first heard Skillibeng's The Prodigy, or even Squash's purple patch just earlier this year. I don't love Likkle Miss, but I wouldn't mind if that riddim inspired some new approaches (Eediattt has energy too but is more obviously retro).

All that said: I'm capricious, I liked this for ex:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ijz4iBsRCc

Valiant & Pablo YG - Motor Sport

lol sorry for repeating myself so much in this thread. KIP: when I make my EOY playlist I'll post it here.

longneck, I'd be curious if you've heard other stuff from the second half of the year that you rate

https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/2022/g:dancehall/

Not as good as what Longneck would list for dancehall reggae 2022

Some goodies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ3AfYuHwGQ

Bayka - Tokyo

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

Chronic Law - Natural Talent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFt5IUXgtrI

Kraff - CalmC
(same riddim as Dunce Cheque, but I like this more, or at least something about Kraff made me realize the riddim is good not forgettable)

Skeng enthusiasm got to me: rolling dancehall & reggae 2023