The Bermudan keeps the summer dream alive for us, as per.
Sunday Jam: Collie Buddz – Holiday
December 12th, 2010Vybz & Sheba – Like Christmas
December 10th, 2010Every year we get a slew of christmas bashment, and Vybz & Sheba have been quick off the mark this year, their song ‘Like Christmas’ has even got its own video already. The gist is when they touch each other, they feel like Christmas (what, drunk and full of Cadbury’s selection box?). 3 things to watch for in this Gaza Christmas vid: 1) Vybz dressed in an elf hat (and the whole of the Portmore empire in santa hats) 2) Vybz’s reflection in a bauble 3) The incredible snowy backdrop in the last minute of the song. Don’t forget to pay attention to the lyrics too, especially when Kartel says: ‘Me never inna nuttin wid ya aunty’, and Sheba: ‘Me believe you me dear, cos she ugly’. Happy Christmas aunty!!
321 – Big Man
November 29th, 2010Calling all the big man! Here’s the new vid from the big men that are 321, they’ve got big man watches, and even big man sex. Add some bassline/funky crossover to the bravado and bob’s your uncle.
Stephen & Damian Marley – Jah Army
November 25th, 2010
The first Marley legacy collab since ‘All Night’, which was released a year or so ago, ‘Jah Army’ is a tuff dubby track with some heavy spiritual leanings. Damian’s verse kills it!
‘Swaggarific’ Official Video
November 20th, 2010This year has been full of swagger and its accompanying adjectives: swaggalicious, swagtastic, swagnificent…and this from Mr. G: ‘swaggarific’. This is one of the biggest voicings on the biggest riddims of the year, Seanizzle‘s ‘One Day’. In the video, G truly shows us what’s swaggarific: children on motorbikes, grown men on rollerskates and balancing drinks on the back of your hand. Watch out for it rolling into ‘Beat Them Bad’ on the Split Personality riddim around 2:22.
Alex Clare – Up All Night
November 11th, 2010
When I first heard this song I instantly liked it, not only does it have that infectious punk beat but this man’s vocals are on point. Alex Clare semi howls (in a good way) over this Diplo and Switch produced track. I have seen others touch on how similar it is to Major Lazer’s Hold the Line. It is in fact a classier (read slowed down and added strings) cousin of Lazer Theme. Lazer Theme is probably my favourite track off last year’s Guns Dont Kill People Lazers Do LP, MC Future Trouble slays the beat with a politically insightful venom.
Beenie Man on Rail Up
November 6th, 2010Beenie smashing it again with two versions on the same riddim (the Rail Up from Sankofa productions) and a classic video that sees him doing some top notch green screen – in front of a sunset, in Dubai or something and then they’ve even got him standing on the top of a BlackBerry.
Yak Films
November 3rd, 2010Yak Films are a diverse group of photographers and filmmakers who’ve set out to document youth global dance movements “which provide a voice for resistance and an alternative to played-out mainstream media.” With over a hundred videos of the best urban dance crews on the planet, their work stretches from New Orleans to Tokyo and beyond.
After living in Japan for about a half year, I’ve become amazed by the dance styles of Tokyo-based Joy and Hammer, AKA the New Jack Swing Brotherz, and Yak has captured some choreography by them that’s reminiscent of Kid N Play, Do The Right Thing, and those Boss Coffee ads in Japan featuring Tommy Lee Jones as an alien. Calling it “thoroughly awesome” would still be some kind of an understatement.
