The all-new dancehall rhythm info/discourse thread

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The other one was getting massiveand difficult to load, so here we are again. Picking up where we left off, Tim F is right about the Maybach rhythm—sounds like a Caribbean Charleston! My other faves at the moment are the Gully and Sim Card. On a soca tip, look out for the Abduction rhythm.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Saturday, 22 May 2004 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

on Red Alert! - the Mr. Vegas track is champ, but my fave is Kalanga & Zaire - "Real King"

also like the Ward 21 chorus: "we bun a playa haters everyday - yeah yeah!"
and the orgasmic girlie "la di-da di-da" bit on Ninja Kid & Bajie Man's track.
Zumjay's version has bizarro ancient Babylonian/Egyptian epic backing vocals.

― Paul (scifisoul), Saturday, 22 May 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

zumjay's is classic - still think predator is the man here, tho

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Saturday, 22 May 2004 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

The old thread is here for your reference.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 22 May 2004 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

OK i'm prolly way behind on the times but Chico's "Wrapped up" on what I think is the heatwave riddim is wonderful. Also great is the ambulance riddim (soca)

― djdee2005, Sunday, 23 May 2004 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Djdee I thought you said it was Brushfire riddim! Was wondering why I couldn't find a trace of it.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 23 May 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm fairly certain I said heatwave, but if I mispoke...woops! But yeah, heatwave is gourgeous and Chico rules.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 23 May 2004 04:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm gonna do a big soca round-up on the blog either today or later in the week. i dunno if there's any better summer record than Rupee's If I Can't or Skin To Skin. Super-glossy, like Tempted To Touch, but not quite as big (no female vocals), lots of flamenco guitars, sugar-sweet melodies... luvvem both.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Sunday, 23 May 2004 08:51 (twenty-one years ago)

In the Sunday May 23rd NY Times Kelefa Sanneh's writing about the "dancehall rock" riddim by Cordell Scatta Burrell, and he mentions Vybe Kartel's "Nah Throw" and Assasin's "Do It if You're Bad," and Spragga Benz "We ready,"

He's also fond of Nina Sky's "Move Ya Body" take on the "Coolie Dance."

Separately in the same NY Times issue there's a piece by Vibe magazine's Rob Kenner on Coxone Dodd's "Real Rock" riddim and how it's been used over the years, most recently by Sizzla.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Sunday, 23 May 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"Move Ya Body" is my favorite song of the year so far (just knocked "yeah" to number 2!) so I'm all fer it...its my favorite use of the Coolie riddim as well.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 23 May 2004 22:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Soca round-up here

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 24 May 2004 00:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Just got the Blackout rhythm album from Greensleeves - some good stuff on here, will report back at length here or on blog tomorrow or later in the week.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 24 May 2004 08:29 (twenty-one years ago)

In the Sunday May 23rd NY Times Kelefa Sanneh's writing about the "dancehall rock" riddim

I really like Doctor's Orders by Beenie Man & Cecile. Sounds like a hit to me, dancehall that could crossover to the indie rock crowd!

― JoB (JoB), Monday, 24 May 2004 09:42 (twenty-one years ago)

my dedicated rock friends (of which there are thankfully few) are actually more receptive to dancehall than anything else i like. it's weird. maybe coz it's sort of reggae-ish.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 24 May 2004 10:09 (twenty-one years ago)

soca seems to strike rock fans as being more noveltyish.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 04:00 (twenty-one years ago)

seems to strike a lot of people like that, not just rock fans. it's an acquired taste.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Will Mad Guitar Riddim be this year's Coolie Dance? Hard to say. It's great - like Allo Allo but denser and better - but the all-conquering nature of such riddims only become apparent when they start to become ubiquitous and inescapable, and I haven't heard enough cuts yet. Still, search! Top pick: Capleton - Consuming.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Vybz Kartel's version of "Milkshake" is utterly essential, but he's back on the machine gun wrt pop culture:

"Kelis's pussy big like GP prison yard!"

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i love this so much - i think it really could be - glad this thread is back up and running will keep me out of trouble elsewhere.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 09:21 (twenty-one years ago)

just got no milkshake and i hate it tim! 1st time i've ever disagareed w/ you, i think. it horribly repetitive, so much to the point it get really annoying after the 2nd/3rd chorus . he's just NASTY on it, too. not in his usual cocky, cheeky way but genuinely horrible. i also really don't understand the "batty man drink fish tea" line, either as i can only get it to work if he's using it as an anti-bowing thing - in which case men who go down on chicks = gay! makes me want to shake him and ask ARE YOU MENTAL?!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh yeah he's totally crazy and offensive, that was kind of my point - it's a bit like some of the songs on Bubba Sparxxx's first album where you have to train yourself not to listen too closely. But I love the sound of Vybz biting Kelis's flow and the way the groove switches up between the Milkshake synth attack and Oriental vibes etc etc.

I only heard it in a mix for about two minutes so perhaps that's why it didn't begin to annoy me so much.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha Robbo Ranx didn't like it either! He was like "can't understand why this is no.3, but hey, that's what the UK are buying!"

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

i actually really like the timing of his voice and everything (plus the rhythm is great, but i just couldn't play it out ever and i wouldn't want to listen to it at home either. the thing is with tok at their most horrid, thy're doig it in just a jolly, sin-song kinda way that you can get sucked into the hook and overlook it. here vbyz is just totally malicious and creepy and on the fish tea line he just kills the flow completely, as if to emphasise it and make it impossible to run away from... ugh!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

between them Allo Allo and Mad Guitar really lend weight to my prediction that Coolie Dance will cast a very long shadow over 2004. The one thing that I think will stand in the way of Mad Guitar (whose name makes sense to me!) being this year's Coolie Dance is that it's not quite uplifting enough.

But I'm really posting again to say: GUALA GUALA RIDDIM! Oh my I've been waiting for another dense synth attack ever since Mudslide and this fits the bill so fucking perfectly. Search Vybz's "Ride In", and I'll try to come back with more recommendations a bit later.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha Janet has totally stolen Alicia Keys' trick again! Her Kanye track "I Want You" now has a reggae version with Vybz!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

And I don't want to big-up too many more blatant eastern grooves, but I think the winning streak will stretch slightly to include the Blue Steel Riddim. Oh, and one more: Big Jeans Riddim!

The golden age is *so* still in full effect.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 3 June 2004 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

On Guala Guala also search Tanya Stephens' "To The Top Top" and Anthony B's "Salt Ting". Anthony's (somewhat implausibly if you've only listened to the Vybz cut) sounds a *lot* like Diwali. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Lenky actually; all three of these cuts are very very different and great.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 3 June 2004 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah the janet/vybz thing is a triple crown remix. it's really nice. i love the stuff they do, especially the babycham & kelis mix of trick me.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 3 June 2004 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

ah the big jeans is classic - really great stuff... i need to go out and buy some good yard tapes soon. will organsise trades w/ folks when i do.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 3 June 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

ok it's not new but Chop Out De Grass by Mr Vegas is the best track i've ever heard.

― don (don), Thursday, 3 June 2004 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

that on hindu storm?

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 3 June 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

yes.

― don (don), Thursday, 3 June 2004 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave check Guala Guala now it is a matter of urgency!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 3 June 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm just starting to get over the opinion of dancehall that I've held since I checked it out in 2000/1 - that it's easy to admire but harder to love. I think that may have been due to the fact that to the non-initiate a lot of the MCs sound the same due to the 'baritone factor' (a lot of my growing appreciation has been therefore based around hearing the amazing Cecile attack the riddims in a different way, as well as the uber-pop arrangements of Sean Paul, of course).

But it still often strikes me that the mood of many of the riddims can be a bit emotionally neutral, even if sonically astounding and unerringly funky - there's little that creates an emotional connection in the manner of, to take random hip-hop examples, Raekwon's 'Heaven and Hell' or Nas' 'One Mic'. Which is why I was knocked sideways by the Chrome riddim (more particularly, Cecile's version of it, which gives the riddim a lot of room to breathe) and the bittersweet, decaying cyber-nostalgia mood it creates. Whilst I now LOVE a lot of the more upbeat tunes, is there anything else that diverges from the template emotionally in this kind of way (I'm sure there must be, but I've had little success in finding it)?

― baboon (baboon2004), Friday, 4 June 2004 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Baboon, search:

Timetravel (esp. Vybz's "Send On")
Sars (esp. Wayne Wonder's "You Make My Life Complete")

And Sizzla's best stuff often has an excess, a spillover of emotional content.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i like how this thread has just become a conversation between tim and dvae

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:46 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.greensleeves.net/pics/grelcd755.jpg

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 03:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I am not feeling this new Greensleeves artwork.
(nor am I feeling any of the newer riddims, really. Still not sure how I feel about Big Jeans. Perilous is about the last one that's really done it for me, I think. Top cut: Young Phoenix's "No Drugs"; "champagne, bling bling, you know what dem fools are like..." by some 13 year old kid!*)

*at least that's what he sounds like, could easily be younger or maybe even a bit older.

― OCP (OCP), Saturday, 5 June 2004 05:17 (twenty-one years ago)

No I don't like the new artwork much either - although Blue Steel is probably the best so far. But I'd contend that Guala Guala, Wrought Iron, Maybach, Thrilla, Mad Guitar and Chronic are all really really good recent riddims.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 06:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Absolutely gorgeous: Tanto Metro & Devonte's "Burn" on the Grindin' Riddim - operatic pop with these enormous kicks and rattling tribal percussion.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 08:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay it's official: Grindin' is great - check Chico's "Lock Di Endz"!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Ooh Wayne Wonder's "Everyday" might be the best of the lot - deadly smoove!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 09:21 (twenty-one years ago)

i dl'ed something on the "grindin" riddim middle of last year sometime (it wasnt based on the clipse track), is this one new? the track was called "if it's alright" by mr. easy

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 5 June 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

btw it's the middle of the year and i would very much like to see a cdr80 of 04 dancehall faves from mssrs finney, stelfox, fassy (if he's still around), whoever else.

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 5 June 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Couldn't quite narrow it down to 80 minutes (this comes in at 90) but in no particular order:

Vybz Kartel - Picture Me & You (Blackout Riddim)
Chico - Bunny Hop (Bellevue Riddim)
TOK - Miss Hypie Hypie (Worried Riddim)
Elephant Man - Party All Night (Big Jeans Riddim)
Wayne Marshall - Careful (Blue Steel Riddim)
Vybz Kartel - Gyal Yu Lovely (Chronic Riddim)
Sizzla - That's OK (Chrome Riddim)
Ce'cile - Last Night (Day Dream Riddim)
Beenie Man - Doctor's Orders (Dancehall Rock Riddim)
Vybz Kartel - Pay Bill No Mine (Frontline Riddim)
Tanya Stephens - To The Top (Guala Guala Riddim)
Calico - When We Roll Out (Bwoila Room Riddim)
Ms Thing - Mi Ah Go Laff (Mad Guitar Riddim)
Vybz Kartel - Ah Ah (???)
Mad Cobra - Lock It Down (Pearl Harbour Riddim)
Vybz Kartel - Tight Pum Pum/Giggle (?? Giggle Riddim?)
Capleton - Blazing Hot (Perilous Riddim)
Elephant Man - Get On Up (Thrilla Riddim)
Assassin - Nuff Gal (Mad Swing Riddim)
Mr Vegas & Irishman - Never Leave You Lonely (Red Alert Riddim)
Calico & Ce'cile - It's On Tonight (Safe Sex Riddim)
Bling Dawg - Do Your Thing (Simm Card Riddim)
Capleton - Seek & Search (Wrought Iron Riddim)
Elephant Man - Summer Bounce (Summer Bounce Riddim)
Ce'cile - 9 Night (Typhoon Riddim)
TOK - Sex On My Mind (Maybach Riddim)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 10:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah we're talking about the same riddim (Grindin') Mitch. Search the versions I recommended! It seems impossible to make a bad smooth R&B track over this riddim! (the Mr Easy one is good too)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 10:29 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks tim, that list looks mouth-wateringly great, i've got loads to catch up with

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 5 June 2004 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I find it quite gratifying that, after a year of banging on about it, Wanted Riddim is finally getting some exposure due to TOK's "Gal You A Lead" landing on MTV (or so I hear!).

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 11:53 (twenty-one years ago)

BTW mitch you were right about "Shorty"! It's like the best bits of "Pump It Up" and "Can't Stop Won't Stop" and, like, every minimal Neptunes beat ever, all mashed together brilliantly.

And I'm glad you seem to like "Sex On My Mind".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

for Blackout riddim I nominate Nicky B - "It's On"
+ it's the lovely subdued watery arrangement

same riddim has one of Sizzla's better over-the-top out-Capleton rants (he almost laughs at one point)
which is good cos I usually prefer his crooning

Busy Signal out-Marshall's Wayne with "There I Go" which increasingly brings a smile

― Paul (scifisoul), Saturday, 5 June 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't really feel Sizzla on Blackout actually - i find that his best stuff achieves a *very* delicate balance between melody and insanity (see "Love & Affection", "These R The Days", "Obstacles", "That's OK", "All Is Well" etc.) but anything that goes over that line is just too fucked up for me.

Forgot to put a Banjo Riddim cut on my list. So far I've only heard Tanto Metro & Devonte's "Rock U Tonight" and General Degree's "Dem Not" but both are very good.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

is there a site with samples i could point a friend towards?

― don (don), Saturday, 5 June 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.paradisevibes.com has a riddims section where you can listen to realaudio mixes of tracks on the same riddim. Most of the big recent ones are up there.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

cheers pal.

― don (don), Saturday, 5 June 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG Paul you're so right about "It's On"!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

(dancehall will be the major cause of me failing Constitutional Law - I'm supposed to be using this computer to write my exam notes, not download tracks!)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Some tracks I forgot from my list before:

T.O.K. - Sayonara (Fear Factor Riddim)
Elephant Man - Pum Pum (Tunda Klap Riddim)
Vybz Kartel - Buddy Nah Done (Allo Allo Riddim)
Elephant Man - Bruk Out (Silicone Riddim)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 5 June 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i like how this thread has just become a conversation between tim and dvae

that's because we're hardcore! seriously, though, you should be checking this stuff. there are som real goodies out there. the more i listen to no milkshake, the more i dislike it, though. and fuck - just one cd!!! is that all we're allowed? as tim mentioned the big jeans (known elsewhere also as the check it back) bounty absolutely kills it as do tok. i've not heard the guala guala until you mentioned it tim... dlded a couple of tracks but they're so fuzzy that any pleasure the rhythm gives is far outweighed by the annoyance factor of the recording. i'm due a trip to regal after payday (which can't come soon enough anyway) so i'll go have a proper listen then. djd the other night in brixton and you'll all be pleased to know that i closed the night with mr vegas and irishman. it appears that girls, in particular, love this record, which is great from a dancefloor perspective and wholly endorses my love.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Saturday, 5 June 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

baboon would love sizzla on the red alert and pretty much anything by wayne wonder, plus i think he's like mr vegas and irishman on the red alert, too, come to think of it (then again i do think anyone who doesn't like that needs locking up in a psychiatric facility and the key throwing away!)

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Saturday, 5 June 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

blue steel is nice enough and it's from london! it's by frenchie who did the jumbie rhythm, but it's quite similar to that and there's not a huge amount of variation between the versions

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Saturday, 5 June 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

and as a final post (tonight, at least, i promise considering no one's talking to me), go to www.worldofstelfox.blogspot.com if you fancy reading an email conversation i had with tony mcdermott, who does all greensleeves' artwork. it's not great coz i don't really like email Q&As but he says some interesting stuff all the same.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Saturday, 5 June 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Guala Guala is really good!

― don (don), Sunday, 6 June 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha *finally* some love!

At the moment I'm really enjoying Anthony B's "Salt Ting" on this riddim - great chorus!

Also, *finally* found Chico's "Thick & Thin" and it's just heartbreakingly gorgeous - definitely best Dreamweaver cut I've heard. And Nicky B's lovely "It's On" on Blackout really challenges "Picture Me & You" for top spot in my affections.

David prob OTM about "No Milkshake" - it's kinda "use once and destroy". That said Dave I'm surprised that you're so shocked by Vybz's attitude on this - I'm always pretty freaked out by the three (three!) anti-cunnilingus tracks on his album.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 7 June 2004 01:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Still no one giving love to "Wrapped up" :( by Chico.

― djdee2005, Monday, 7 June 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Haven't found it yet Dee!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 7 June 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

If I was on broadband I'd hook you up...

want me to send a CD?

― djdee2005, Monday, 7 June 2004 01:36 (twenty-one years ago)

" I'm always pretty freaked out by the three (three!) anti-cunnilingus tracks on his album. "

And Beenie Man's "Red Red"? Is that about that too?

― don (don), Monday, 7 June 2004 01:52 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, re red red. kinda ridiculous when you have a woman doing backing vocals, singing "woman no want no idiot" when beenie is, in fact, being a prize tool, himself. thing is when he gets of the battyman bashing and misogyny, he's usually great with better pop chops than anyone apart from tok. vybz doesn't so much shock me with content here, it's his flow that's the problem. he normally sounds puckish, naughty and kinda lovable, plus funny. here he sounds slimy, malicious. that emphasizes the gross-out factor no end.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 7 June 2004 08:53 (twenty-one years ago)

tbh i pretty much tune out the lyrics. it's kinda funny that Red Red has samples from that Khia(?) song "my neck, my back, lick my pussy and my crack" throughout.

― don (don), Monday, 7 June 2004 09:49 (twenty-one years ago)

re: Beenie Man
don't remember all the lyrics but it's mainly about women having to wok at it, put some effort/movement, i.e. run his cockie red
(painful as that sounds)

one of those chuckle-inducing choruses, probably because the way Beenie's voice goes with the spare beats, but it would sound even funnier as "no man can si down pon me head" - a truly surreal image: pythonesque ragga

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 03:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I tend to tune out as well, but then I find myself singing "why you chewing it when you could be screwing it?" to myself and feel a bit guilty...

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 04:42 (twenty-one years ago)

there's so much humour in dancehall - a lightharded side to the heaviness

look at the joking approach to haters now:
"you say you nah like me, me nuh like you neither"
and
"tell dem fi move and gweh"
I mean is it war or a playground?

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 05:12 (twenty-one years ago)

also, most performers have a lot of range

for all the lyrics that get Kartel or Beenie Man excoriated here on ILM, you can still find a:
"beat little youth = you a baby badman, beat up you gal = you a lady badman"

or Beenie Man's "Let Off Steam" on Trifecta, one of the most devastatingly seriousminded tracks in recent years

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 05:21 (twenty-one years ago)

but wit is so much a part of dancehall that helps keep it fresh and separated from overtly sober/somber reality reggae

the question always comes up: how much is parody and caricature?
and do you need to know to still enjoy it?

one of my fave oral lyrics is Cobra's:
"if gyal want lick lollipop, enuff yuh fuckin' business dat!"

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I completely agree Paul - it's totally cartonish! "Elbow dem! Elbow dem! They no like you and you no like dem!"

In Vybz's "Ah ah" he squeals "ya like COCKIE!?!?" like a little boy and then the sampled female vocal goes "uh huh, uh huh!". it's ridulous.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 05:31 (twenty-one years ago)

makes it hard to listen to most hip hop nowadays - nowhere near the panache

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 05:36 (twenty-one years ago)

most of the time, i can get over anything in dancehall. in some cases, i'm desensitized to it and the tune beats its sentiments hands-down, in others, more often than not, because it's so well done, funny and slick. it's just that i can't *like* Vybz' persona on that track, that's all. most of the time you can.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I tend to tune out as well, but then I find myself singing "why you chewing it when you could be screwing it?" to myself and feel a bit guilty...

That's a line worthy of the Raunchy Young Lepers.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

More Sean Paul pop brilliance: "Life Is A Gift" on Celebration Riddim. Gorgeous synth string melodic amorphousness and circa 1982 orchestral hits, and then these intervals of a booming one note staccato plastic bass pulse that's like a perfect bass inversion of those treble hits in Blackout. A very pop riddim actually - this cut is in fact much *less* pop than Vybz and Lukie D's twee and impossibly sugary "Still Be Friends", which I've really liked for quite a while, but on that cut the bass intervals aren't as hypnotic and involving (although anyone who loves "Never Leave You Lonely" should download it immediately).

More eerie, non-uptempo weirdness: Sizzla's "Rise" on Static Riddim. Intensely minimal - pretty much just a bass hum and little electro whispers, while Sizzla's proselytising edges into anxiety and despair - rise ghetto youths (or sink into the pit of babylonian destruction!). Wouldn't be surprised if the riddim is by Troyton (the guy wot did Ching Chong and Buzz and Surprise).

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 06:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha - what do you get when you combine Coolie Dance with mad synths? Bad Flu Riddim!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 06:36 (twenty-one years ago)

nice job on the McDermott interview, Dave. Any feedback outside the confines of the Q&A? Was he surprised to be asked for an interview?

Damn, one of these days I gotta download some of the stuff on this thread. Also one of these days I gotta remember to tune into Robbo Ranks.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, he doesn't like phones either so it wasn't the easiest ever! had to be done by mail. there'l be a magazine piece with better pics than i used but less words. just thought i'd throw the whole thing up there as it was there to be used.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

and cheers jeff!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

More Sean Paul pop brilliance: "Life Is A Gift" on Celebration Riddim. Gorgeous synth string melodic amorphousness and circa

for sure. check TOK on it, also. fucking incredible.

p.s. you guys were totally right about big jeans. I am going off on the lady saw and TOK.

― OCP (OCP), Thursday, 10 June 2004 03:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Ragga Ragga Ragga 2004 tracklisting:

RICHIE FEELINGS - Dancin' Class Part 2
VYBZ KARTEL - Tek Gunshot
ASSASSIN - Girls Gone Wild
VYBZ KARTEL - Body Nuh Done
VYBZ KARTEL - Picture This
TONY MATTERHORN & RICHIE FEELINGS - All About Dancing 2
VYBZ KARTEL - Badda Dan Dem
KID KURRUPT - Punanny Chemist
BOUNTY KILLER, VYBZ KARTEL & WAYNE MARSHALL - In My Eyes
BUJU BANTON - Nuh Tek Check
MAD COBRA - Don't Waste Me Time
WARD 21 featuring BOUNTY KILLER - Badda Than
SIZZLA - Wrath
SKY JUICE - Dance Moves
BOUNTY KILLER - Badman Order
PREDATOR - Mad Sick
VYBZ KARTEL - Real Bad Man
BOUNTY KILLER - Hey Yallow

riddims showcased include Tunda Klap, French Vanilla, Marmalade, Red Alert, Black Out, Mad Guitar, Summer Bounce and Cool Fusion (which I think is the same as Cool Face eg. Sizzla's "All Is Well").

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 12 June 2004 05:12 (twenty-one years ago)

VYBZ dominating the list. no surprises there, I guess.

scored hindu storm cheap yesterday (2003 i know): has juicy fiddly bits and those ringing bell sounds really make a strong impression, madd andrew's 'gal dem say' has a fanstastic girl/boy chorus.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 12 June 2004 08:08 (twenty-one years ago)

do you all mind if i ask an intensely personal question - how are you all getting all of this dancehall? i am trying to stretch my shopping buck here, what with all of the other stuff i buy and i am unsure whether to...

1) concentrate on buying riddim albums
2) concentrate on buying artist albums
3) just give up and get ragga ragga ragga and biggest ragga anthems as they come out
4) just give up and soulseek it all

what are you guys doing? i don't have access to 7" releases either so that's out.

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 12 June 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

(so far i am relying on a combo of #3 and #2 which puts me at about six months to over a year out of date at all times ... and for whatever reason i find artist albums really unsatisfying)

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 12 June 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

oh yeah, last question - how much are you paying for riddim albums?? they seem a bit overpriced to me, though that could be a function of the distributors my local stores use.

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 12 June 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i have a very good dancehall shop 5 minutes away from my home. rhythm albums are about £12. buy singles, use soulseek or whatever p2p program you have to test stuff out, visit a good jamaican shop if you have oe, if not, use soundquake, jammyland, dub vendor for online buying, get all the ragag ragga ragga comps you can. just be omnivorous and pick it up when and where you can afford it. if you're in the US 7inches are about $4-$5, in the UK about £3, unless you buy from silly overpriced places like rough trade/soul jazz or somewhere else that buys its stock from jamaican shops and then sells it on marked up in price, where they'll be about £5-£6 (this isn't necessarily a bad way to start - it's a bit less intimidating than some proper dancehall shops are when you're finding your feet).

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Sunday, 13 June 2004 08:41 (twenty-one years ago)

yow OK i feel a bit better now. i just can't find 7 inches - but i can get rhythm albums for $12-. i guess i don't have much to complain about.

thanks for the soundquake/jammyland tip.

― vahid (vahid), Sunday, 13 June 2004 08:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The ragga ragga comps are ok but nothing great.

I've yet to get an artist album.

I would definetely concentrate on the riddim. I find them kinda fascinating even though they often don't work as records, some of the variations don't do much at times and the MC-ing can be up and down (maybe a fault of sequencing as much as anything). I'm doing all second hand shops right now for these but I'll try and move to 7'' someday cause singles are where its at but there's enough gold on riddim albs.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 13 June 2004 08:58 (twenty-one years ago)

the thought that it is all too much to keep up with does not console me

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 13 June 2004 09:04 (twenty-one years ago)

the ragga ragga ragga comps are the best place to start.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Sunday, 13 June 2004 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

really, trust me on that. they're a great overview of the year's music and, though not comprehensive (but who says greensleeves SHOULD be comprehensive - fuck it's impossible on one cd. i did an year's overview for someone last year and it took 5 cds and i still felt i'd sold them short), they're solid and on every single one, there's at leat one track you probably won't have picked up. they piss all over the vp comps and if you actually want to pay money for this stuff (as you should), then they're the best place you can begin.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Sunday, 13 June 2004 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm having a helluva time finding a place that sells this shit - all the independent stores around me in Chicago have v. little ragga at all - the only place I've seen the comps is in places like Best Buy and Coconuts! (and there it is v. overpriced). Anyone know where to get shit in Chicago?

― djdee2005, Monday, 14 June 2004 03:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Dancehall Rock is the rhythm I mentioned on the old thread but thought was called 'Passa Passa'. Agree with JoB about its crossover potential. Scatta certainly has the commercial touch. And yeah, "Doctor's Orders" is fab.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Monday, 14 June 2004 09:48 (twenty-one years ago)

vybz on the "move your body" remix is u&k (especially when they reupped and played it again FOUR TIMES in a row last night) (coolie dance does something scary to the ladies).

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 14 June 2004 10:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Whats that slidey sound in Allo Allo riddim?

― Bloodclaart Gangsta Youth Club (don), Monday, 14 June 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

coolie dance does something scary to the ladies

Damn straight.

― djdee2005, Monday, 14 June 2004 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)

just got "no milkshake". is it wrong to laugh so hard at it?

― Bloodclaart Gangsta Youth Club (don), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 06:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Tabernacle Riddim! The most enormously anthemic post-Mad Instruments quasi-soca riddim yet?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 05:44 (twenty-one years ago)

is that a quebec riddim?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

is cybele around to get my joke?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

all quiet on the rhythm front...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 17 June 2004 08:24 (twenty-one years ago)

haven't heard the tabernacel rhythm yet, tho. this sounds well worth hearing. where'd you hear it, tim?

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 17 June 2004 08:25 (twenty-one years ago)

i love celebration!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 17 June 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.greensleeves.net/pics/grelcd754.jpg

I'm glad Cool Fusion is finally getting a release (it used to be called Cool Face, trainspotters) - this should be the grand bow-out for Don Corleon Eastern Riddims. I doubt I could love any cut so much as Sizzla's "All Is Well" but there's always hope. I fleetingly heard a R&B-ish one which sounded excellent or at least very odd (it's always hard to distinguish the two on first listen). Maybe it was Nicky B's?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 17 June 2004 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Also the new design is growing on me a bit. I think the formula tends to make more sense the more examples of it you see.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 17 June 2004 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

yo, coolie dance is out of control...i just heard up'n coming Miami rapper Pitbull feat Lil Jon doing a version called "Culo". It's actually a rendition of the Vegas joint. (i forget what culo meant, maybe the same as chocha?)

Lil' Jon adds his touch by occasionaly dropping out the coolie beat and filling in with an 80's sounding 808 type beat.

― pheNAM (pheNAM), Friday, 18 June 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Also the new design is growing on me a bit. I think the formula tends to make more sense the more examples of it you see

hmmm maybe. But it's the witty sub-titles ("22 shining lights" etc.) that I miss.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Friday, 18 June 2004 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

aollo aollo + blue steel + cool face are the best in the moment.

dancehall rock gives me opinion to think about possible hc indie 80's based riddims like nomeansno big dick riddim. however good one scatta production.

― Bojan Mandic (bojanm), Friday, 18 June 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

elephant man "why them hate we" has lambada melody on aollo aollo . it starts very unexpected soon after short prology of riddim. harmonica makes me wanna scream.

― Bojan Mandic (bojanm), Friday, 18 June 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah I love "Why Them Hate We" - it adds that extra wack of melodic force that aollo aollo lacks as a riddim by itself. Definitely my favourite voicing on that riddim (although it confirms as everything else does these days that Elephant Man is lost permanently in self-parody land).

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 19 June 2004 09:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Was "Blessed" his last "serious" cut? Everything these days is like "a weddyweddyweddyweddyweddyweddy" plus some dance instructions X 5.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 19 June 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

For me it looks that Elephant Man is having very good fun these days behind weddyweddyweddy liricism which is just voicing of Ele's recent mood and maybe expresions of riddims quality. Recently there is no enough exciting riddim that makes me jumping when i'm listening beats and rhymes vybz and as well i conclude that there is no good riddim for Elephant Man. Here is only laughing stuff and we all know that Elephant Man could provide us few good song every month. Actualy he can make 5 very good quality albums per year regarding his different riddim featuring but also could be so hard for him to make superb lyrics all of the time but this is more then great and fantastic that Ele and all that wondeful voicemen give us some really good humor and laughing almost everyday. "Why Them Hate Me" has that cartoonish smile with lambada melodic force which is obvious example for lacks in recent riddims, i mean evident metaphory point for lacks in huge riddim production with actual losing of real riddim vybz. "Blessed" lyric expresion was set in vybz by riddim quality itself and actual hyper riddim production make thing little bit different because every producer wants to have hypa Elephant Man perfomance. It is not possible with recent production tempo. Elephant Man is probably tired of bad riddims and he has a good time because he is relly one of the best even he is in weddyweedyweedy mood.

― bojan (bojanm), Saturday, 19 June 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

bloomsday hangover?

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 19 June 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't get me wrong I don't dislike Elephant Man in weddyweddyweddy mode. I was just noting a general tendency in his voicings of late. I think the balance between fun and lyrical content he got on all the Higher Level cuts was pretty spot-on.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 20 June 2004 02:48 (twenty years ago)

Tim, I didn't get you wrong...:-) I almost agree with you in details. I'm just thinking generally about Elephant Man lyrics expresion last months and also about riddims. There is no Coolie Dance level of quality in first 6 months 2004.

― bojan (bojanm), Sunday, 20 June 2004 13:45 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

riddims in need of discussion: kasablanca (is beenie's "bandi legs" the best cut on it? i have i feeling i've heard those, erm, 'neer-neer-neerwn' sounds before on of the avantish computer music things on that OHM compilation. amacher's 'sound characters' maybe? i'll have to check), and (though both less remarkable, they've some nice voicings) firewire and fifth avenue.

i'd say that lady saw's "dreaming on you" (on steps riddim) is the dancehall 'digital love', but really that's just cos it's got vocoders and is about dreaming (no existential longing either, just carnal).

― m. (mitchlnw), Friday, 16 July 2004 12:36 (twenty years ago)

I really like the covers for the Summer Bounce and Scoobay albums - this is more like it! Out with rigidity! In with swirly colours!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 16 July 2004 23:30 (twenty years ago)

on "my chess", what does vybz mean when he says "mi nah bait(?) like winnie mandela"? it seems a curious reference. over here, winnie m. is now known for doing lots of shady things (including involvement w. the murder of a child) and then pretty much getting away with it.

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 17 July 2004 13:40 (twenty years ago)

any fresh recommendations?

― m. (mitchlnw), Friday, 30 July 2004 18:52 (twenty years ago)

If anyone's interested I've got the new Lady Saw / Beenie Man / Sizzla / TOK / some TOK radio dj set thing / Elephant Man albums all ripped and ready to share. Drop me a line in the ILM room on Ssk if you want em.

― Affectian (Affectian), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 18:14 (twenty years ago)

have we all stopped caring or what? i downloaded some newish stuff that i saw on 1xtra playlists, but found nothing remarkable, EXCEPT for the puzzlingly unplugged "middle east riddim" (vybz's "wine"!)

― m. (mitchlnw), Sunday, 22 August 2004 21:55 (twenty years ago)

"when Tuggy Tuggy's ravin' Red Bull hypnotic and girls mis-be-havin'
in the club not gazin', everybody gettin' jiggy while the temperature's raisin'
soundsystem blazin', all night in the place until the morning sneaks in
hot girls they be creepin' and I'm sure it's Tuggy Tuggy they're seekin'"

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 31 August 2004 18:06 (twenty years ago)

Chiciquita riddim is good but like a lot of riddims this year may be a bit too slick.

I think I underrated Scoobay to begin with though. It would sound awesome in a club I imagine.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 31 August 2004 22:10 (twenty years ago)

fire links really is on ... erm ... fire at the moment. loving, loving, loving the clear and phantom rhythms. have only got ce'cile's "wine it up" and ele's "try stop me pussyhole" on the clear but the rhythm is wonderful, jerky but crisp with a stuttery opening a la mad guitar, then big skippy pads, flamenco flourishes (riding don corleon's style here, like everyone else) and a lovely witful flute(?) line. the phantom absolutely rocks on that post-coolie dance slightly faster, but with a real foreboding horrorcore cello chord on the opening and acidy squlelches right the way thru - picks: fire links' original versh "dancehall vibes" ward 21's "trojan it nuh lotion it", elephant man's "enemies" (not a weddy-weddy dance instruction track, incidentally) and tok's "moneymaker". renaissance crew's steps is wicked, too, mixing the now de riguer flamenco sounds with martial snare drumming a la tony kelly's sashi rhythm from a while back (you know, the chi chi man rhythm - nasty sentiments, still a killer tho) and assassin and vybz even have a bit of a spat on it with "eediat thing" and "faggot correction" respectively. although i don't like the message vybz is pretty awesome on his track just because he's so unashamedly disgusting and vicious about assassin (also groundbreaking in as much as it's the 1st time i've ever heard a dancehall artist accuse another of enjoying the toilet sports!). aside from these wayn wonder and showki-ru and ward 21 are great on it, too. for great spanish guitar action also check donovan bennet's highty tighty rhythm, too - i l love bling dawg (massively underrated deejay) on "oh no" here. the kasablace rhythm is shite - not a good track on it and the rhythm blows. however it's the best cover tony mcdermott's done for the rhythm series since marmalade - real arabesques and he's got the islamic geometric pattern thing down perfect on the reverse. i'd love a navy blue t-shirt with this on it.

― stelfox, Tuesday, 31 August 2004 22:44 (twenty years ago)

i need a proofreader for these posts

― stelfox, Tuesday, 31 August 2004 22:47 (twenty years ago)

ha I prefer Assassin to Kartel, but still - those Kartel lyrics...!
why some gals so stressed? "too much man teabag dem?"

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 01:26 (twenty years ago)

anyone have news about or heard anything from the upcoming T.O.K. album?

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 11:44 (twenty years ago)

you have a little while to wait on that - it's being finished

― stelfox, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:39 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

OK so yeah I've been pushing this song for ages and I probably said it was on a differnt riddim than it is (the download's ID3 tag says "brush fire riddim" which sounds right, i think i've heard another song on it) but any way I really dig this song. Chico rules.

Chico - Wrapped Up

(left click, I'm using you-send-it)

― djdee2005 (djdee2005), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 06:20 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

"tighty tighty" (aka highty tighty as mentioned by dave upthread) LP now out:
http://www.greensleeves.net/pics/grelcd761.jpg

ooh, and look what else is coming soon:
http://www.greensleeves.net/pics/grezcd4006.jpg

still digging the dancehall rock CD loads, esp. first five songs

are the MayBach 365 or Spanush Fly rhythm albums worth checking out?

― zebedee (zebedee), Saturday, 16 October 2004 13:35 (twenty years ago)

*Spanish* Fly

― zebedee (zebedee), Saturday, 16 October 2004 13:36 (twenty years ago)

Maybe someone can school me here. Dancehall is one of those genres that I *know* I would like if I did some homework on it. I understand the concept of the riddim track, and I've been in the odd shop or bar where someone was playing a riddim album, and been impressed at how each DJ was able to put his/her own stamp on it.

So, where to start?

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Saturday, 16 October 2004 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Zebedee - I only know 2 Maybach cuts (Vybz's "Remedy" and TOK's "Sex on my Mind") but both are those are totally killer, the latter especially - probably my second favourite dancehall track this year.

There are actually two Spanish Fly riddims - last year's one by UK producer Seani B which spawned Tubby T's awesome "Ready She Ready", and the new Greensleeves riddim album one which, from the snippets I've heard, isn't nearly as good.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 16 October 2004 14:13 (twenty years ago)

cheers, Tim

Tantrum - i'd start with the greensleeves biggest ragga dancehall anthems 2003 comp. if there's nothing on there that grabs you, probably not much point in going any further. if some tracks do grab you, then check out other work by the same DJs (i.e. vocalists) and/or the same producers. good luck!

― zebedee (zebedee), Saturday, 16 October 2004 16:04 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

just got a promo for Black Attack riddim ... this is basically a dnb track, sounds like Timbaland making a two-step banger with goofy noises from Gran Turismo or something. i can see people swing-dancing to it. my friend says a lot of the newer riddims are coming out this fast, anybody know if it's true?

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Monday, 29 November 2004 00:20 (twenty years ago)

Should I get the Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems 2004? It's probably a good bet, no?

― JoB (JoB), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 23:54 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

to tips are the indian summer (tanya's gangster ride and daville's till a morning, especially) and the drop leaf (tok's footprints and bounty killer's it's ok, top tips). any other thoughts? this thread's gone quiet lately and i know it's not due to a lack of good music.

― stelfox, Tuesday, 21 December 2004 12:38 (twenty years ago)

not sure if they are properly new but HOTNESS: vybz's "no apology" on bomba drop is on some hi-nrg shit, sizzla's "my style" on krazy gym, and i like lady saw's "crime time", on klymaxx

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 25 December 2004 16:35 (twenty years ago)

I love Black Attack! I wonder if it was made with Elephant Man's "Footloose" versioning pre-planned. Klymaxx and Krazy Gym are great too.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 30 December 2004 10:23 (twenty years ago)

Indian Summer is beautiful too. Currently loving Mad Cobra's "Any Gun".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 30 December 2004 10:25 (twenty years ago)

and i finally got around to 'guala guala', really nice!

― m. (mitchlnw), Thursday, 30 December 2004 11:22 (twenty years ago)

the black attack is wicked... elephant's cut is so funny and i'm loving vybz's "sen dem"... keep an ear out for the vendetta's double barrell and baby g's fyfe, too

― stelfox, Thursday, 30 December 2004 12:41 (twenty years ago)

ah yeah!
http://www.muzikmedia.com/videoarchive.aspx

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

http://www.muzikmedia.com/videotop.aspx#mv154

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 18:29 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

So does anyone listen to dancehall any more? How about that bionic ras riddim? "Spring Break" is the shit isn't it?

― djdee (djdee2005), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

The dancehall fanatics all seem to be posting on Dissensus and blogs. I need to catch up. My local Jamaican radio dj is touting roots dancehall like Richie Spice and Chuck Fender.

― steve-k (Steve K), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

the bad gal riddim is pretty ace, esp. "right there" by spice

― joseph (joseph), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 05:15 (twenty years ago)

Can you email that Spice track, Joseph? I've been wanting to here it since MIA mentioned it.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 05:21 (twenty years ago)

sure, alex, but i'll try in the morning, gmail didn't quite work with my friend before...

― joseph (joseph), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 07:29 (twenty years ago)

go for the irob riddim. best thing i've heard in months. there's a track on wwww.breakingranks.blogspot.com

― stelfoxx, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

ward 21 are so great.

― djdee (djdee2005), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

Whoa!

― djdee (djdee2005), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

That Ashanti remix on Stel's blog is great too. Thanks!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

i honestly think that it's the best tune i've heard so far this year.

― stelfoxx, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

I am inclined to agree.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

its up there for me. Stelfox what do you think of the bomb a drop riddim?

― djdee (djdee2005), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

dancehall is not in any kind of lull as far as i can see, for the following reasons.

1) the forbidden dance rhythm

2) the tok album

3) the bionic ras rhythm

4) the fowl fight rhythm

5) the my swing rhythm is actually growing on me, too

― stelfox, Monday, 25 April 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

I would add the Sleepy Dog riddim and the Judgement riddim and the Wow riddim and the Rah Rah riddim and concur.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 29 April 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Jeff Chang, author/blogger on his blog on the state of Jamaican music:
http://www.cantstopwontstop.com/blog/2005/08/sizzla-signs-to-dame-dash-label.cfm#comments

First he was talking about Sizzla signing with Damon Dash's hiphop empire and then-
"I haven't had a chance to listen or write about dancehall as much as I would have liked to for the past 2 years, but I'm convinced that this year is going to be a really interesting one. As Buju would say, here why:

-Soca no-names and non-Jamaican neo-dancehall divas are burning up the summer charts.
-You can now hear reggaeton playing in a Mill Valley Baskin & Robbins.

If you count the Caribbean influence on grime and crunk--that latter thing is a debate I'm dying to fire up, but not here--dancehall has conquered hip-hop in death by a thousand hybrids. And yet dancehall artists still might not win. Again, here why:

-Sean Paul's followup appears to be stalled.
-Baby Cham's album is still not scheduled.
-Ele and Vybz never caught flight.
-Beenie Man is missing in Aruba.

The question is: did our dancehall heroes do it to themselves, or is everyone else just moving a lot faster?

And now everyone is supposedly talking about roots again. But forgive me, because this is my sound, but I gotta say this: I Wayne is not the real thing, Jah Cure can't tour for another decade, the Marleys (even those whose mother is not named Rita) always get a free pass from foreign, and all of these dudes have women problems. How long will this last?