Natural Black1. Vybz Kartel - "Badda Dan Dem"
Some proper honest-to-goodness dancehall. It's entirely a-cerebral stuff, but there's something great fun about hearing people recite crazy lyrics in Jamaican patois. I haven't heard much of Vybz before, and he's quite talented. "Badda dan dem by far/Badda dan dem by near" kind of sums the entire track up.
2. Turbulence - "Notorious"
Some more dancehall, but this time with a sort of RnB hook in there as well, which Vybz' track didn't have. This is a performer I've never heard of before, and while the production is a bit wonky, I'm surprised I haven't picked his sound up before. Good stuff.
3. Richie Spice - "Marijuana"
Why not have some more reggae, while you're at it? This is still dancehall-based, but there's a much rootsier feel to the track. I've heard a bit of Richie's work before, and his voice is definitely a standout. More good stuff here. Just remember that this man's brothers are Pliers and Spanner Banner among others, so there's some serious talent in that family.
4. Leaf - "Nonsense Went"
Wot? No dancehall? Nope. This would appear to be the trip-hop band of this name, and the track features a pleasant sort of drum loop and a bit of synth. Nothing too special, though.
5. Lutan Fyah - "Never Stop Hail Rastafari"
More reggae again. Lutan's a name I've heard before. This guy's got a great voice, and the music accentuates it, which a lot of modern reggae doesn't. Good stuff all round. Catchy as hell, too.
6. Pambo - "Ni Una Mas"
Beyond the fact that this is sung in Spanish by a woman, I know nothing about this band. Not bad music, but the vocalist sounds a bit too cutesy for my taste, and I wish the guitar would do something once in a while.
7. Jah Mason - "Couple A Chalice A Day"
Why not more reggae. This is your standard hymn to ganja, but Mason's voice is really attention grabbing. He has a remarkable range for your dancehall performers, although this is a pretty rootsy track (it even has melodica backing). Really good track here.
8. Natural Black - "It's A Joy"
This is definitely "reggae day", with some toasting over the famous "Satta-a-Massagana" melody. This is conscious music, but with a lovely gruff voice, which is usually my favourite vocal style in dancehall. Not sure he's really using the backing track well, but the song itself works out.
9. Ward 21 - "Da Pum (Brain Damage)"
Another dancehall outfit that I've heard a bit of. These guys have a big reputation, but this track really doesn't do it for them. It's solid, but doesn't move beyond the regulation style.
10. Chizedek - "How You So Wicked"
Any guesses for this style? Yep, we're still in Jamaica and in the dancehalls, this time with the "singjay" style. He's a limited vocalist, but doesn't seem to let it stop him. Unlike a lot of weaker vocalists, he's singing cleverly so you don't really notice.
Some proper honest-to-goodness dancehall. It's entirely a-cerebral stuff, but there's something great fun about hearing people recite crazy lyrics in Jamaican patois. I haven't heard much of Vybz before, and he's quite talented. "Badda dan dem by far/Badda dan dem by near" kind of sums the entire track up.
2. Turbulence - "Notorious"
Some more dancehall, but this time with a sort of RnB hook in there as well, which Vybz' track didn't have. This is a performer I've never heard of before, and while the production is a bit wonky, I'm surprised I haven't picked his sound up before. Good stuff.
3. Richie Spice - "Marijuana"
Why not have some more reggae, while you're at it? This is still dancehall-based, but there's a much rootsier feel to the track. I've heard a bit of Richie's work before, and his voice is definitely a standout. More good stuff here. Just remember that this man's brothers are Pliers and Spanner Banner among others, so there's some serious talent in that family.
4. Leaf - "Nonsense Went"
Wot? No dancehall? Nope. This would appear to be the trip-hop band of this name, and the track features a pleasant sort of drum loop and a bit of synth. Nothing too special, though.
5. Lutan Fyah - "Never Stop Hail Rastafari"
More reggae again. Lutan's a name I've heard before. This guy's got a great voice, and the music accentuates it, which a lot of modern reggae doesn't. Good stuff all round. Catchy as hell, too.
6. Pambo - "Ni Una Mas"
Beyond the fact that this is sung in Spanish by a woman, I know nothing about this band. Not bad music, but the vocalist sounds a bit too cutesy for my taste, and I wish the guitar would do something once in a while.
7. Jah Mason - "Couple A Chalice A Day"
Why not more reggae. This is your standard hymn to ganja, but Mason's voice is really attention grabbing. He has a remarkable range for your dancehall performers, although this is a pretty rootsy track (it even has melodica backing). Really good track here.
8. Natural Black - "It's A Joy"
This is definitely "reggae day", with some toasting over the famous "Satta-a-Massagana" melody. This is conscious music, but with a lovely gruff voice, which is usually my favourite vocal style in dancehall. Not sure he's really using the backing track well, but the song itself works out.
9. Ward 21 - "Da Pum (Brain Damage)"
Another dancehall outfit that I've heard a bit of. These guys have a big reputation, but this track really doesn't do it for them. It's solid, but doesn't move beyond the regulation style.
10. Chizedek - "How You So Wicked"
Any guesses for this style? Yep, we're still in Jamaica and in the dancehalls, this time with the "singjay" style. He's a limited vocalist, but doesn't seem to let it stop him. Unlike a lot of weaker vocalists, he's singing cleverly so you don't really notice.
