2011 A Year in Review of JA Music

It's that time of year for the end of year post. I haven't been updating this blog as much as I'd like, but I still have managed to update with a review of every new reggae or dancehall album I listen to (all of two of them this year). Unfortunately, the music industry continues to suffer and reggae has been hit particularly hard. The only publisher I know of is VP records and they continue to cut back on new releases. The internet and mp3 downloads are the only real option for keeping up on what's going on in dancehall. Although dancehall has always primarily been a singles genre, it is still sad to see physical albums not being made.

With that said. Chino's Self Titled and Elephant Man's "Dance and Sweep" were both awesome releases we saw this year. The highlights of both albums featured productions by Jamaica's star producer, Stephen "di Genius" McGregor. Chino's album was filled with great lovers tunes and feel good dancehall. The single "Leaving (Seal the Link)" was one of the best songs of the year. Elephant Man reasserted his namesake as Energy God with his best album in years, a perfect dance and party album. The album contained the first album release of the classic, "Nuh Linga" as well as "In Jamaica" and "This is How We Do It" featuring Bounty Killer. An album I was excited about but did not get to hear was British deejay's Gappy Ranks' sophomore effort, "Thanks an Praise". Both singles "Tun Up" and the album's title track were solid. Albums VP put out I didn't hear at all that I could care less about included Richie Spice's "Book of Job", Alborosies "2 Times Revolution", I-Wayne's "Life Teachings", Ziggi Recado's self titled. I would have liked to have heard Etana's "Free Expressions".

Major shifts in dancehall news included Vybz Kartel being charged with murder as he and everything Gaza related continues to fall off harder than a kid on his first bike. Seriously, the best riddim the group put out was Summer Time and I feel like Popcaan sweeped that one from Vybz. Although to Kartel's credit he has tried to release some songs reasserting his lyricism and deejay skill such as "The Lyricist". Unfortunately, that doesn't make up for the mass of ridiculously bad songs with lyrics about his horrible lifestyle and generally being a despicable human being. Hopefully, his mass of insane loyalist fans we start to wane in the coming years. Jah Vinci, who probably was the most talented member of Gaza, left this year and I'm excited to see him be able to participate on the best riddims without the baggage of being in Gaza. He's probably my favorite sing-jay out right now.

Mavado continues to be solid although his output seems to be getting a bit monotonous. I wish he had a few more hardcore tunes instead of pop-oriented songs (his song on the Darkness riddim being a notable exception). Assassin remains my deejay, he can't make a bad tune, and is loyal to true dancehall. "Badda" is probably one of the hardest dancehall songs of all time. Konshens continues to grow as an artist and has also become a favorite. "Buss a Blank" may be the best conscious tune of the year. I look forward to his album dropping in February 2012. Tony Matterhorn was putting out a lot of consistently solid material for the first half of the year, but I personally haven't heard anything from him since (maybe he's on tour). Demarco has really made his name known this year as a feel good ladies man with a score of hits; "I Love My Life" being one of the best singles of the year. Tifa is probably my favorite female deejay this year. Her "Nah Stop Shine" was a massive one. Romain Virgo dropped a few strong singles for 2011, solidifying his position as one of the best in the contemporary lover's arena (especially with Gyptian not having too many good songs). These included "I Am Rich in Love" and "System". Khago has blown up this year. I'm not sure I really get his appeal but, I'm not particularly offended by his existence either. "Tun Up Di Ting" on Overproof Riddim is super catchy. In general, I wish there was a new deejay out who could really do some hardcore toasting. It seems everyone wants to write catchy pop songs. It would be a horrible day when everyone sounded like Popcaan.


My favorite producers this year were Big Ship Productions (Pepper, Bad Acid, Wildlife, Iron Belt) and Good Good Productions (Young Money, Life, XXX). Washroom entertainment also provided two of my favorites (Matrimony and Bubble Gum).

With all that said, here's a bunch of lists:

Best Albums:

• Elephant Man's "Dance and Sweep: Adventures of the Energy God"
• Chino's "Chino" (2011)

Best Riddims:

• Pepper
• Iron Belt
• Wildlife
• Bad Acid
  
• XXX Riddim
• Young Money
• Life Riddim
• Matrimony
• Bubble Gum
• Bus Stop
  
• Deep Cover
• Overproof
• Summertime
• Belated Earth Strong

Best Singles:

• Assassin - Badda (Wildlife)
• Assassin - Gallis Wine (Blaze Fia)
• Assassin - Talk How Mi Feel
  
• Busy Signal - We Nah Dweet (Bad Acid)
• Beenie Man - Cah Puff My Chest (Warmonger)
  
• Chino - Seal the Link (Leaving)
• Demarco - I Love Mi Life
• Di Genius - Bounce a Gyal (Pepper)
• Di Genius - Only God Can Judge Me
  
• Elephant Man - In Jamaica
• Gappy Ranks - Tun Up
  
• Gyptian - Wine Slow (Rio)
• Jah Vinci - Mama Love (Eternal)
• Jah Vinci - No Love (Life Riddim)
• Khago - Tun Up Di Ting (Overproof)
  
• Konshens - Buss a Blank (Fresh Medz)
• Konshens - Represent (Island Vibes)
• Konshens - Forward (Bus Stop)
• Mavado - Tump
• Mavado - Delilah
• Mavado - Settle Down (Overproof)
• Munga - Mi Nuh Know (Young Money)
• Munga - One Call
  
• Popcaan - Right Now I'm Ravin (Summertime)
• Romain Virgo - Rich in Love
• Tifa - Nah Stop Shine (Mento)
• Tony Matterhorn - Dancehall Duppy
  
• Vybz Kartel - The Lyricist
• Wayne Marshall - Real Love (Bubble Gum)
  

Well, that's my take on dancehall in 2011. Might make another year end post for other music, but this is what I mostly listened to.

Music Video: Buju Banton - Make My Day (1993)

Goddang. Buju is looking fresh to death in this video:

Chino - Chino (2011)

Artist: Chino
Album: Chino (2011)
Genre: Reggae/Dancehall
Label: VP Records
Release Date: May 31, 2011
RIYL: Bramma, Gappy Ranks

Rating: *****

This album is a project from two sons of legendary reggae artist, Freddie McGregor. The first being "Chino", the artist and vocalist on all the tracks. The second, from behind the scenes, is Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor, arguably the best producer working in Jamaica right now creating dozens of incredible riddims on his Big Ship label. Together they co-wrote all the material with "Di Genius" handling the production. What results is an excellent dancehall record that moves through a variety of styles. The opening song, "Never Change" is a guitar solo driven reggae number. "I Am" is features a dancehall riddim that sounds like little that's come before it. Drum claps and a driving Tetris-like synth line are accompanied by accordion and samples of French that remind one of a stereotypical view of Parisian street life. "Yeah Yeah", is a solid effort from Chino on his brother's bubbling "Pepper" riddim. "Badness" and "God Nah Sleep" features Chino singjaying Rastafarian and conscious lyrics over one drop rhythms--an effective meeting of roots and dancehall that would make Buju proud. But ultimately, its the lovers songs that dominate on this release. "Mus' Come Back" and "Ruff It Up" find themselves comfortably within the ever popular dancehall/r&b/hip-hop fusion. The stand out single, "Leaving (Seal the Link)", is easily one of the best lovers tracks to come out of dancehall in a while. A digital dancehall rhythm that sounds like something from the early 90s shuffles underneath Chino singing the irresistible hook as an almost-too-perfect horn line accentuates every measure. Just like the rest of the album, despite drawing from many points of reggae and dancehall's songbook, in "Di Genius's" hands the song remains undeniably fresh and new sounding. There's even "Driving Me Insane", a throwback to all those amazing 90s lovers dancehall tracks, like Mad Cobra's "Flex" or Shabba and Maxi Priest's "House Call". A few songs fall flat compared to the rest, particularly "Protected" which is a piano driven number with quick toasting and electric guitars that just doesn't quite come together. But overall it's a fantastic collection of songs and likely one of the best reggae releases of the year. Highly recommended.

1. Never Change (From Mawning) ****
2. Protected ***
3. Pon Your Head ****
4. I Am *****!
5. Yeah Yeah *****
6. Build a Vibes (Free Style Skit) ****
   
7. Badness *****
   
8. God Nah Sleep (Rise and Fall Story) ***
   
9. My Soul ****
   
10. Leaving (Seal the Link) *****!!!!
    
11. Ruff it Up *****
    
12. Mus' Come Back *****
    
13. Driving Me Insane *****
    
14. Before Dem Gone *****
    
15. Work ***
    

Upcoming 2011 Releases

Two albums I'm giddy for include Chino McGregor's third album, a self titled, being released by VP records in late May. This album is going to be co-written and entirely produced by Jamaica's best producer and Chino's brother, Stephen "Di Genius" Mcrgregor. Here's a sneak peak:



Also, my favorite deejay out right now, Assassin, may be releasing an album at some point this year. Since beginning his own production company, Boardhouse Productions, the artist has somehow continued to excel with his abilities. Here's recent track:

Elephant Man - Dance and Sweep (2011)

Artist: Elephant Man
Album: Dance and Sweep: Adventures of the Energy God
Genre: Reggae/Dancehall
Label: VP Records
Release Date: Feb 14, 2011
RIYL: Beenie Man, Bounty Killer

Rating: *****

After 2008's rather disappointing crossover attempt, "Let's Get Physical" (released on Sean Comb's Bad Boy records), Elephant Man returns with a purely Jamaican effort for 2011. The album immediately benefits from being shorter than your average dancehall outing (compared to his 2002 album "Higher Level", which had a total of 23 songs clocking in at 76 minutes). These are almost entirely strong tracks--five of which are produced by Jamaica's current hottest producer, Stephen "Di Genius" Mcgregor, including the utterly addictive "Party Up In Here", and the dance anthem, "Step Ova". Also featured is Elephant Man's absolutely crucial island hit from 2008, "Nuh Linga", another massive dance anthem. "How We Do It" is a party boast featuring dueling vocals with fellow dancehall veteran, Bounty Killer. The album stays true to the current dancehall scene, with the only pure hip-hop elements being provided by the rapper, Kardinal Offishall, on the mediocre track, "Clear". Lyrics tend to stay party oriented which has the benefit of Elephant Man avoiding saying anything offensive (likely a well calculated marketing move by VP) but it is a shame one doesn't get any real content from the artist concerning island issues (which is fairly common among his recent island singles). What's left is an album of pure escapism. 40 minutes solid of excellent dancehall music and one of Elephant Man's best records to date.

1. The Genisis (The Energy God's Introduction) [Intro]
   
2. How We Do It (feat. Bounty Killer) *****!
   
3. Party Up In Here ****
   
4. In Jamaica *****!!
   
5. Nuh Linga *****!!
   
6. Dance and Sweep ****
   
7. Clear (feat. Kardinal Offishall) ***
   
8. Sweep **
   
9. Wine and Dip ***
10. Dip Again *****
11. Swing ****
12. Step Ova *****
13. Shake It ***
    
14. Let Me Be the Man ****