Vybz Kartel – Dancehall
OMI’s Cheerleader might have competition for the international pop song of the summer, in the form of Vybz Kartel’s Dancehall. Released earlier this year, this intense song praises all things dancehall, “forever and ever”. The accompanying video celebrates all aspects of the culture, from jerk chicken to the admittedly dangerous homemade flamethrowers fashioned from aerosol cans. It’s also a heck of a lot less crass than other recent tracks (Pum Pum Paradise being a particularly slack example). Given the multiple-decade prison sentence Kartel is currently serving, it’s unlikely that he personally will enter the dance any time soon, but his tunes are inescapable.
Chronixx – Ghetto People
What’s the recipe for a sure-fire reggae hit? Cobble together the vocal stylings of the most acclaimed roots vocalist in years and the production prowess of a Marley – Damian Marley, to be exact. Both Marley’s riddim, providing the chugging bassline foundation for Ghetto People, and Chronixx’s conscious lyrics have more than a little of the feel of Junior Gong’s enormous Welcome to Jamrock, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2015. Rather than call foul on the similarities, however, it’s actually nice to hear a fresh new version.
Rudimental – Love Ain’t Just a Word ft Anne-Marie and Dizzee Rascal
Bringing together dub, drum and bass and Dizzee – not to mention a throwback vocal from Anne-Marie that sounds like a Studio One relic – Love Ain’t Just a Word, from Hackney’s Rudimental, demonstrates a clear connection between reggae and a number of other genres. This tune is a mashup of styles, but it’s seamless. If this is what can be expected from Rudimental’s forthcoming album (due to drop mid-September), we’re in for a treat.
Destra – Normal
Summer soca can provide some great tracks, and Destra’s Normal is a bit of a gem. With classic soca and calypso sounds, this tune has the bounce of a throwback groovy number, accented with Destra’s reliably powerful vocals. It’s also got a sense of humour, criticising men who aren’t anything more than, well, normal.
Fresh La/Vwadezil – Les Peta D’or
This track, produced by G-Dolph, who is behind a fair amount of Haitian rabòday, is a bit softer in sound, but its lyrics are anything but. According to Susana Ferreira, the title can be interpreted as “the golden fireworks” or “the farters”, and the lyrics discuss inflation and making informed choices when voting – in fact, a lot of people thought it was an attack on President Martelly (calling him a farter, or someone who blows a lot of air).
