Last week saw the long-awaited release of Vybz Kartel’s collaboration with Pusha T for the Half on A Baby remix. Of course, this was not the first time that Pusha and Vybz laid their voices on the same track, ‘Double Down’ has long been a staple in the crate of the dancehall hip hop fan. In fact, Vybz has probably done more successful and cross-genre collaborations than any other dancehall artist, lending his distinctive voice as far flung as electro and reggaeton. The finest duos always come when they actually record together and don’t just lay down a verse in a studio a million miles away, so some of the Jamaican ones are still top.
Here are a very subjective top ten of Vybz’s best collaborations across the genres, focussing on his best verses and versitility, not the biggest hits (case in point: ‘Pon di Floor’) and not including any Pusha T.
A dangerous take on Conroy Smith’s classic with NYC rapper Cormega. Big bassline and some fighting talk from Kartel.
Aside from maintaining a Palance-based injury, this is one of the only soca songs thats hook might make you cry. He’s not wrong when he says ‘KMC and Kartel, carnival a start well’. Feel my vybz now, feel my melody.
8. ‘Bad Man’ with Missy Elliott and M.I.A.
A huge Jaws-inspired bassline and Missy rocking the patois. Triple threat tune with three deejays from different contintents.
7. ‘High Altitude’ with Bounty Killer & Baby G & Don Corleon
Big weed tune with some serious fast chat from Kartel.
6. ‘Breast Specialist’ with Beenie Man
The two Gaza kings unite to tell the world, very scientifically, how familiar they are with a certain part of a lady’s body.
5. ‘Why You Doing It’ parts 1/2 with Wayne Marshall (& ‘So High’ with Bounty Killer & Wayne Marshall)
Wayne Marshall & Kartel work so well together, so well in fact that they did two versions of the same song, first on the Krazy riddim and then the Good 2 Go.
4. ‘Weh Dem A Go’ with Jah Vinci
Before Jah Vinci fell out with the Gaza Camp, the two made this brilliant collaboration, with a huge hook from Jah Vinci and some real intense Kartel.
3. ‘Clarks’ with Popcaan & Gaza Slim
The biggest ode to the Clarks Original, Kartel brought in his two young proteges, Popcaan & Gaza Slim for guest verses. Last year’s biggest dancehall tune, this one is forever.
2. ‘Ramping Shop’ with Spice
One of the best dancehall love songs of the last decade, this collaboration with Spice is not for the prudish but really shows off Vybz’ versatility (so, incidentally does ‘Versatility’) and penchant for the slow jam.
1. ‘New Millennium’ with Wayne Marshall
‘New Millennium’ in many ways was a new millennium for dancehall, this is one of the best Kartel tunes out there hands down, his flow is near unmatchable in this song. And the video is like dancehall meets TRON, win win.
For more Vybz collabs, be sure to check Eminem, Indu, Rihanna, Sheba, Mavado, Aidonia, Gaza Slim, Pitbull, Russian, and all the others I’ve forgotten…
