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By now everybody knows about the phenom that is Alborosie. The guy just cranks out big records, and the crazy thing is that most of them are pretty good. I've limited myself to just getting the undisputed killers (Kingston Town, Herbalist) and...
expand review this one has to go in there too. Already pegged as a One-Step track-of-the-year, the important thing to know about "Rastafari Anthem(1)" is that it runs off the same Zap Pow groove as Collie Budds', "Come Around,", making this a no-brainer to drop in your sets. Instrumental on the flip. -monk
quick audio picks: 1234
Alozade's "Nuh Pet Gal(1)" is probably the best of the Work It remixes we've received so far. His stuffed-nose vocal barrage is a snug fit with the main beat, then they flip it to the Mardi Gras bells for the TOK-style sung...
expand review chorus. Just those extra touches of programming are all ya need boys… sometimes remixers are just plain laze. The rest of the tracks here aren't quite as strong but could be useful in a quick set: Ward 21's "Last Night" over "Sucker MC's(2)" and "Move Bitch(3);" and Wayne Wonder's "The Story" over "Funky Fresh Dressed(4)." -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 12
"Rudeboy Pledge(1)" is growing on me every time I hear it- that "wah wah" vocoder thing and the steel drums have got me hooked. Baby Cham has anchored the last 3 or 4 Dave Kelly riddims, and it looks like things will...
expand review be no different with the Stage Show (even though I think the Spice & Pinchers cut has wider appeal- definitely check that one). The combination of the silly Showtime riddim with Cham's throwback flows (he sounds a lot like Louie Culture here) are gonna make this a bokkle smashing anthem for the hardcore dudes. "Ghetto Story" loosened up the dancefloor for Cham's righteous badman lyrics and this one should follow suit. Lyrically, he's kind of recycling the "Ghetto Story" saga, but his intro is ridiculous and nobody is touching that flow right now. "Wah Dem A Show Now?(2)" on the b-side, acapella and inst included for "Rudeboy Pledge." -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 123
Second volume of dancehall/rnb blends from Brooklynite Mr. Locust, who brought us last year's Mylo/Sean Paul mash, "Drop The Temperature." This time he's got JT and 50 going up against Alborosie on "Kingston Tech(1)," T-Pain and Akon riding the Red Alert and...
expand review March Out riddims on "Bartender(2)," and a little more Timberlake for good measure, dropping the "Sexy Back" acapella over Tony Matterhorn / Smash riddim for "Dutty Back(3)." A-side plays at 45, B-side at 33. -Van Hammersly
quick audio picks: 12
Little is known about this mysterious white label 45 (including who pressed them up), but I'll tell you what I can... The A-side features an amazing electro-dancehall rendition of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs tune "Maps(1)," as performed by Bonjay - aka the...
expand review duo of Alanna Stuart and Pho Swain. Alanna puts Karen O to shame with her patois ("dem nuh luv yuh how me luv yuh!") while Pho lays down a mean, bassy beat with fake hypeman and everything. You probably haven't heard anything like this before. Flipside features an unidentified track(2) that we've heard in sets from Diplo, Paul Devro and more... little help, guys? Limited quantities. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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New one from Buju over another nice throwback riddim (Three Blind Mice). You gotta love the anti-gangster, anti-war lyrics ("tooth for a tooth and eye for an eye/we a go end up like three blind mice"). This one's getting support...
expand review all over, big culture tune. -monk
quick audio picks: 12
Absolute jump-up bashment bizness. Bunji is more known for his Soca tunes, but on this big single he takes the energy of Soca and runs it over the huge 110BPM March Out track for a record that is damn near impossible...
expand review to sit calmly thru. Big track, totally necessary for all summer dance. Brrrrrrrrrrrrt!! -monk
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Rockstone-voiced Burro Banton takes on Massive B&'s Kingdom riddim. I'm really feeling this groove, melodic with a big popping snare, it fits Burro's rough vocal as well as smoother voicings like Collie Buddz' "Let Me Know". Flip for the dope instrumental on...
expand review its own. -monk
quick audio picks: 12
Capleton gets the lead single off the fire Strong Grain riddim, courtesy Germany’s punningly named Weedy G crew. Sometimes grooves and vocalists just click, and this nasty low-end track and the man dem call King Shango are locked on this tune....
expand review Dancehall selectors already know all about this single, but DJs looking to move between hip hop and reggae take note of this 90BPM winner. Blakk Ice takes vocal duties on the flip. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
The fireman destroys the Foundation riddim on this huge tune, soon to be comped on the latest Strictly The Best. Donovan "Vendetta" Bennett's riddim (also known as Tropical Storm) is a claustrophobic collage of strings, snares and synth trumpets that suits Capleton's...
expand review typically wild vocals perfectly. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
Could this one be bigger than "Come Around?" I don't know, but I just got back from a couple weeks DJing in the Caribbean (I know, it's a tough life) and this track was absolutely murdering it everywhere. Though it's been out...
expand review for a while now, it's still gaining mainstream steam over here. Regardless of popularity (and it's huge), "Blind To You(1)" is one monster of a song: righteous lyrics, cool and deadly rhythm, plus an addictive hook (it only takes a couple listens before you'll be shouting "I'm blind to you haterrrrrrz!" at everybody). Recommended? Hell yeah. -monk
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