Spragga Benz Feat. Lady Saw – Backshot

I can’t believe I haven’t talked about this song yet. This is one of the best damn dancehall songs of all time. Once again, I know this song is hella old but long ago I decided that this blog is not about new music but good music. Anyway, I first got into this song from the movie Shottas. Spragga Benz played one of the main characters in that film and he was way better than Ky-Mani Marley though he was not as good as that guy who goes crazy and ends up writing the number of people he kills in blood. See that movie if you can. It’s a little too dramatic and preachy at times, but it is a good look at badman culture. This song distinguishes itself from almost all other dancehall songs because it’s all about fuckin the ass or “batty” as is the parlance of Jamaica. It is just some back and forth between Lady Saw and Spragga about getting nasty in the ass. It’s a fun time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBCJZnma7Fw

Dr Evil – More Punany

So yeah, what’s the deal with this Dr Evil fellow? Well I actually know what the deal is with him. This man, known as Leftside once upon a time when he rolled with Esco, has now based his career on one of the most improbable conceits in music history. Essentially, he is Dr Evil. Yes, the character from the Austin Powers films. He uses a nasally voice, talks about his mojo and even has a higher pitched voice come on in parts of his songs to represent Mini Me. Now this may seem like a description of the most ludicrous career in music, the product of a disturbed mind, an idea doomed to failure. Here is the thing though; this guy is killing it. He is one of the hottest things in Dancehall right now. I chose to feature this song because I find the riddim particularly awesome but he has a plethora of other hits like “Stamina Man” on the 2070’s riddim or “This Is Why It Hot” on the This Is Why I’m Hot riddim to name a few. One can only ask however how long this can be sustained. Will he now go on forever as with an identity based on a character from films that are already so early 2000’s? Will he ever be able to spit as himself? I worry about him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lubKGYDsaaE

Worst Song In Dancehall Right Now: Elephant Man – Gully Creepa

Now before you say anything, let me say that Elephant Man is one of my favourite, if not my favourite, dancehall artist. However, the growing popularity of this song has caused me to speak up and against him. This song sucks. Let me count the ways:

1. The Riddim: This riddim is repetitive even by dancehall standards. Now that would not be a big problem if the main ace in the hole of this riddim was not just a few notes played with the “creepy” setting of a synthesizer (i think on my yamaha it is selection #186). This song would suck already just from the riddim alone. Almost as bad as Chaka Chaka Riddim.

2. Lyrically: all this song is about is the new novelty dance it advertises. Now I know Elephant Man has done such things before. His lowest point was his Sesame Street song. I guess he just has a lame side. Elephant Man can kill it though when he puts his mind to it. Plus, he is one of the greatest characters in dancehall history. Still, in this particular case he turns in a bad song.

3. The Dance: Now yes, as far as dancehall novelty dances this one is not the weirdest. There was the Taliban Dance, the Signal de Plane just to name a few. All this is is crouching though. I can imagine how they came up with this dance. One guy was like: “Look at me! I have a new dance! I call it the Gully Shuffle!” And the guy beside him was like: “It’s ok. But not that creative. I’m not very impressed. That looks like a thousand other dances.” And the first guy then goes: “Umm…Ok! What if I crouch and do it!” And the second guy is like: “That’s it! You got it! Genius!”. I feel like going to a club with a posse of 20 people and then busting out the Gully Creepa en masse. That would cause a stir.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjVmEQDywBg

Vybz Cartel – Send Fi Me Army

                                                       

If you want some dancehall then then here is a good hard song. Vybz Cartel is pissed and he needs to round up is his crew because shit is gonna go down. In the video he spends a lot of time driving while yelling into a cell phone. In the chorus I’m having trouble understanding what he is saying at one point. What I hear is “…spread out like Mister Miyagi…”. Am I right? Vybz Cartel is one of the most solid guys out there right now on a hard dancehall tip. Have you ever seen the footage of Vybz Cartel versus Ninja Man from the 2003 Sting? Shit is crazy. Vybz Cartel demolishes Ninja Man (I’ve actually been unable to respect him since) and then they get into a fight and Ninja gets embarassed. Check it out on Youtube. Anyway, enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnXd5t-1Tt8

Damian Marley ft Stephen Marley – The Mission

I’m gonna be honest. Normally I shy away from uplifting or “conscious” lyrics in music. That is why I hate “conscious” hip hop and trance music among many other musics intent on giving off “good vibes” or teach me a lesson. I am a bitter, cynical person and I like my music aggressive or interesting and ask that it not try to brighten my day or dull the pain that is the everyday struggle of life. When it comes to Rastas, I like cats like Sizzla.  There’s a guy that has made some happy tunes (i don’t listen to) but has been angry enough in his time and ain’t never scared to “Pump Up Her Pum Pum” and declare “Mi Nah Rape” (in a totally misogynistic manner). The Marley family (who seem to be popping out more members than the Wayans) have always presented a conflictto me. Bob was unarguably and canonically classic, Ziggy not so much and Ky-Mani was annoying in Shottas but made a decent track with Afu Ra once upon a time. Damian the Junior Gong I have to give props to because he did do “Welcome To Jamrock”. Stephen (who I had no idea existed until now) apparently produced “Welcome to Jamrock” so that’s a good start. Apparently there is some other guy Julian Marley and I ain’t never heard his shit before so who knows. In anycase, I am suprised that I like this song because it has that roots and cultural music vibe to it. It has just enough anger though that I’m saying yes to it. This song is one of the standout tracks of the (surprise surprise) Mission Riddim. The other track is just as big and is by Movado called “On The Rock”. Expect to hear these two alot this summer at most fine purveyors of reggae/dancehall.

P.S. – Don’t know if I’m too happy about this trend though in dancehall over the last two years of being all singy songy on tracks (I blame it on Movado).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1-ejggq4Tk

T.O.K. – Chi Chi Man

Yes, this song. Any dancehall head will know it. Everyone else should know it. It’s from quite a few years ago now so why talk about it? Well maybe because it allows me to touch on a subject that I’ve been wanting to write about for a while. This song rocks and is one of my all time favourites but I get a lot of flack now and again because of the anti-gay content of the lyrics. Many dancehall songs have homophobic lyrics because Jamaica and the Carribean in general are cultures where homosexuality is seen as obscene. Many people tell me that for that reason I should not listen to any dancehall. In my city, quite a few of the top dancehall artists that I have wanted to see have had their shows cancelled because of complaints from the gay community that the lyrics incite attacks on gay people. That is a stupid thing to say and insults the intelligence of anyone who enjoys dancehallmusic. Everyday we are bombarded by a plethora of messages telling us to buy this, drink this, think this, go here, etc. I and most of you (I hope) may read these messages or hear them but most of them we just ignore. Even the messages that are compelling to us whether they are an entertaining jingle or a funny ad, do not mean we will go running to a store and buy that particular product. The ad may stay in our memories for many years to come but it does not succeed in getting us to do what the people behind it want us to do. We are not mindless idiots that can be easily influenced. In the same vein, one can appreciate the catchyness of a dancehall track (and trust me, this is maybe one of the catchiest) and dance and have fun to it but that does not mean one will after go out and start setting gay bars on fire (as it tells one to do). Long story short, we have our own minds and we know right from wrong, if you don’t want to listen or see anything that does not agree exactly with your beliefs you can continue to inhabit your unchallenging sanitized world, but don’t force us to do the same. After all that, all I can say is listen to the song. It’s fucking good. The video for it is a bad home-made one made probably by some teenage girl who has a crush on the group. Plus it’s the “clean” version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEnCYmiDriA&feature=related

Buraka Som Sistema ft M.I.A. – Sound of Kuduro

This track is so intense and I can’t wait to drop this on people. For those who don’t know, Kuduro is an urban music of Angola, an African country and former Portuguese colony. Like Baile Funk, the lyrics are in the local Portuguese creole of the country. It seems to have been influenced by the beat of Soca. I have been exploring this genre a lot as of late as I am always looking for new sounds. In the most part, Kuduro is very fast paced at about 140 bpm. That means it does not go with a lot of music other than Soca but a night of just those two would make anyone not from Trinidad or Angola’s ears bleed. On this song M.I.A. is basically just here to provide hook and probably some name recognition so people give it a listen (and probably associate herself with some new upcoming third world sound so she remains “cutting edge”). Buraka Som Sistema need no help though, they have already proven they rock with their ep from last year. Check out a few of their other tunes. They are a bit slower in the bpm department and mix quite nicely with anything from dancehall to electro to house. Kuduro is definite worth adding to your listening and playing collection since it is high energy and adds some new sound to the club (and it may freak many white hipsters out, always a bonus).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CkXhtw7UNk&feature=related

Movado – Last Night

 

For Movado I was torn between the songs “Last Night” and “Top Shotta Nah Miss”. This song won out. The “Show Off” riddim is more energetic than “Power Cut” riddim. This one gets big responses at the club from those who know. video is pretty sick. Man gets shot at by guys wearing a Jason mask. Kinda like a mini version of the movie Shottas. It is also a treat because at the end there is a bit of his tune to the “Airwave” riddim. That riddim is one of my favourite of the last little while and Beenie Man and Vybz have some good songs on it too.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7oTx3bEkXcs&feature=related

Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire

When I first saw the name of this song this is what I thought : “Fucking right! Cut Copy did a version of the song that plays during the awesome montage sequence in Rocky 4 where he runs up a mountain and yells ‘Drago!’”. That song is also called “Hearts on Fire” or “Heart on Fire” or whatever. Luckily, Cut Copy did not do a cover of that song. This song is part electro, 80’s, daft punk, trance and awesome. I’m gonna play this song when people are fuckin’ high as fuck. One drawback of the album version is they add a saxophone (i guess to up the 80’s ante, you know what I mean) and saxophone always sucks and makes everthing it touches cheezy. Been trying mixes of this and dancehall. Trying to make it work. Could this go well with Movado? Cop it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5BvK-HzO9Y

Elephant Man Ft Swizz Beats – Jump

This song for some reason makes me think of Super Mario Bros on meth and coke. For dancehall this is a really innovative beat. For hip hop this is another at first crazy but in the end tiresome beat from Swizz Beats who gives us a 07/08 version of “Money, Cash, Hoes”. It blows your mind, but the more you hear it, the more underwhelming the beat becomes. Still good to drop on a party when you’re spinning though. Use the element of suprise, I find that works best. People will go nuts. But only for a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVhhuzkZ488