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Say what you want about the Italian herbalist, Alborosie is wrecking things track after track this summer. "Kingston Town(1)" is getting massive play, quite a feat for a moody throwback riddim, but maybe not so surprising when you consider the striking...
expand review similarity is bears to last year's summer anthem "Jamrock." I'm not complaining. Quality dub on the flip. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
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
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Alicia Keys inna reggae style should be a no-brainer, but just in case you've heard the regular R&B version of this on the radio and are like "eh," I'll lay it out for ya. This remix so far surpasses the overwrought album...
expand review version it's not even funny. It's strange: with the original backing track, the vocals sound corny and laughably melodramatic. With this one-drop backing and Jr. Reid's call and response, it's transported into an honestly moving track. That analysis out of the way, let it be known that this is another massive Caribbean chart-topper and not an easy single to track down. -monk
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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
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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: 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
quick audio picks: 12
And the weed anthem of the moment is coming from…. a white dude out of Bermuda?! Yep, Collie Buddz' "Come Around(1)" is probably the biggest thing since "Ganja Farmer," and is working up steam in pretty much the same way; in other...
expand review words coming out of absolutely nowhere (both of these guys were complete unknowns, hailing from smaller islands not Jamaica) to take the dances by storm. Quite the rarity. Race and location aside, this guy has mad potential (myspace is blowing up- and it says he's even already signed to Sony BMG? Shit moves fast these days). He kinda sounds like Sean Paul on "Come Around," but not so much that he just sounds like a simple copycat. It's mainly in the way that he constructs his songs with a strong chorus, clear annunciation so the whole world can get it. B-side "Mamacita(2)" is more of a pop thing, also worth checking. -the mgmnt
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The Bermudan boy wonder on Massive B's latest, the Kingdom riddim. This single is the smoother counterpart to Burro Banton's rugged "Gladiator" track, grab both for the double-edged approach. Instrumental on the flip. -monk
quick audio picks: 1
Shocking as it was that a white dude from Bermuda broke through to radio with a dancehall tune about weed, it's even more surprising that Collie Buddz has a hot follow-up. Actually, we've been feeling "Mamacita" for months - it was the...
expand review flip to the original "Come Around" 7-inch, and now it's finally on promo 12" with the crucial instrumental and acapella included. Collie (gov't name: Colin Harper) still has the Sean Paul thing going, and that stuttering beat from Tony Kelly should still be fresh for a while. Essential summertime material. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 12
The half-brothers team up to tear up over the hot new Mission riddim. Obviously a big one, this is occupying chart realty on every top ten list around. Flip is a mellower mix that places the vocals on a binghi drum pattern. -monk
quick audio picks: 12
A big, shuffling orchestral beat from Trevor "Baby G" James (son-of-Jammy) anchors this double-A-side 45. Eating up airtime and chart space is Damian Marley's "One Loaf Of Bread(1)," but Sizzla's "Too Much Gang War(2)" runs the same riddim nice too. They need...
expand review to leave that auto-tune effect alone, tho. -monk
quick audio picks: 12
Catchdubs tip. Beats under and over a dub version of Billie Jean with new vocal chats from DJ C. One side features midtempo beats, the other features wicked drum and bass. Suitable for dnb sets, dancehall sets and Kenny Dope "Don Dada"-esque...
expand review usage. -the mgmnt
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Once I got past the cover/title and cleaned all the vomit off my desk -- sorry to whoever gets that copy, btw -- I was stunned to find that not every track on this reggae-flavored Radiohead tribute album is pure awful. Seriously!...
expand review In fact, Sugar Minott's version of "Exit Music(1)" and Frankie Paul's dubbed out version of "Lucky(2)" are two of the best Radiohead covers I've heard. Thom Yorke's lyrics about "heads of state" and "glorious days" sound less like condescension and more like REAL SPEAK coming from these guys. The Easy Dub All-Stars backing up the singers and deejays are a tight bunch, with more than a couple names Lab heads will recognize (Michael Goldwasser, Victor Rice, Ticklah). Along with the full compliment of OK Computer covers, the 4th side of the vinyl includes two bonus dubs ("Airbag" and "Exit Music") plus two remixes from Mad Professor, "Dub Is What You Get(3)" ("Karma Police") and "Lucky Dub A." Other solid covers include Tamar-kali's Sade-esque "Climbing Up The Walls(4)," Toots & The Maytals doing "Let Down(5)" (mind blowing on principle alone) and Horace Andy's take on "Airbag(6)." Comes on green and orange translucent vinyl. 16 tracks total. -Larri Byrd
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Deadstock score! The center labels alone make this one worth it (Patrick on the flip!), but Elephant Man's "Do The Spongebob(1)" over the Kopa riddim seals the deal. (And if you still don't know about the Spongebob dance, proceed directly YouTube.) Elephant...
expand review is in the usual Energy God mode and there's just the right amount of Spongebob theme drops sprinkled throughout. Side B features Boscom X's "Lonely(2)" over Lil Jon's "Lovers & Friends," I Wayne's "Can't Satisfy Her(3)" over Mario's "Let Me Love You," and Vybz Kartel & Beenie Man's "Breast Specialist(3)" over MJ's "Smooth Criminal." Includes dirty and clean versions of "Do The Spongebob." -Larri Byrd
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Clubby and simple Eve single from her latest, with patented Sean-a Paul guest appearance. On a side note, you hear about the woman who had seizures whenever she heard Sean Paul? Had to have a piece of her brain removed. Truly....
expand review Now she's all better, thanks to modern medicine she can get dutty again. -monk
quick audio picks: 12
Afro-Brazilian dub styles from Prince Zohar's Habitat Sound System. A-side "Zebras In The Dancehall(1)" is a take on the classic Diseases riddim, complete with slide whistle, echoing chants and mad bongos cluttering the backfield. The flipside remix from San Diego's Dub Traffik...
expand review Control(2) is similar, but dubs it out even more while giving it a harder-edged dancehall beat. Sleeve designed by Re:Up Media. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Jah Cure has become the go-to guy for the introspective slow jams, and this tune about being locked up is quickly becoming his biggest hit in a minute. Maybe not one to fire up in the dance, but keep this in the...
expand review growing box of slow hits for the wind down period. -the mgmnt
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