Natalie Storm - Get In and Hot Fuck

Posted by Gabriel | Thursday 02 July 2009 | 2 comments

Two brand new tracks from Natalie Storm, one of the most exciting dancehall artists to come through in the last year or so. I'm particularly excited that she'll be voicing a track on an upcoming Heatwave release, the Popcorn riddim. More on that coming soon...

In the meantime, she's been working with Prodigal from Swatch International, voicing the saucy and breathless Get In on the grimey grind of the Stripper riddim:

MP3 preview: Natalie Storm - Get In | Buy full track

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Natalie's never been one to stick to straight up dancehall sounds and is as comfortable vocalling house and electro instrumentals as she is on bashment riddims.

On Hot Fuck, New York DJ Stretch Armstrong adds a dirty Bmore-style beat to the hype slackness of the vocals by Natalie Storm and Jigsy:

MP3 preview: Natalie Storm & Jigsy - Hot Fuck Remix | Buy full track

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Natalie has also been stepping out from the vocal booth and getting busy behind the mixing desk recently. She's currently putting the finishing touches to her first productions, the Cheese Trix and Firestorm riddims.

Vocalists on the tracks include Sizzla, Macka Diamond, Ward 21, Tiki and Charly Black. In Ms Storm's own words:

"The Cheese Trix ah go hard, it have a different vibe so far than Firestorm because it has more of an original dancehall feel. And because so much R'n'B out there in dancehall, we’re bringing back the good old hardcore dancehall days".

Posted by Gabriel | Thursday 02 July 2009 | 2 comments

From the vaults: mix for Sinden’s show on Kiss FM

Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 01 July 2009 | 2 comments

A half hour mix from November 2007 that I uploaded to the website for the first time recently. Features specials from YT and Yungun alongside remixes by ourselves, Sinden and Paul Beats and tunes by the likes of Ghislain Poirier, TOK and Voltio:

MP3: The Heatwave - Mix for Sinden on Kiss FM

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And while I'm here...don't miss the scorching x-rated live set that Warrior Queen did with me on our Rinse FM show a couple of weeks ago, riding 80s and 90s dancehall riddims for nearly an hour:

MP3: Warrior Queen & Gabriel Heatwave - Live on Rinse FM

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Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 01 July 2009 | 2 comments

Ms Dynamite & Geeneus - Crackish

Posted by Gabriel | Tuesday 30 June 2009 | 1 comment

Very very new tune produced by Rinse/FWD impresario and house/funky figurehead Geeneus, with Ms Dynamite on vocals.

You'll be unsurprised to learn that I'm pleased Dynamite is continuing with her patois flows and a bashy house rhythm track for the follow up to the excellent Bad Gyal with Sticky.

It's kind of hard to tell exactly how big this new tune is - or why it's called Crackish - from the short snippet featured on Gee's MySpace. But big is definitely what it's going to be...

MP3: Ms Dynamite & Geeneus - Crackish (MySpace rip)

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Posted by Gabriel | Tuesday 30 June 2009 | 1 comment

Video: Sean Paul freestyling on Crazy Cousinz Inflation

Posted by Gabriel | Thursday 25 June 2009 | 3 comments

Another dancehall artist getting involved with the sound of UK funky. First Aidonia recorded on Inflation by Crazy Cousinz and now Sean Paul has dropped a freestyle live on Kiss FM:

It's a shame he actually freestyled really, as it's not that good...are freestyles ever that good? It would've been amazing if he'd just reworked some old (or new) lyrics over it. It's a little weird how he's casually flicking through magazines while on the mic as well!

In other dancehall vs funky news, the Ill Blu remix of Shystie's bashy vocal Pull It is now for sale at ukfunky.com, taking the number one spot on their chart just a week after its release.

And DJ One Drop from German dancehall sound Rise & Shine has got a mix out that's inspired by the UK/JA crossover I've been writing about for the last couple of months.

It's called Kingston Flavour and features the Shystie track and my Party Hard refix alongside tunes from Busy Signal, Doctor, Lady Chann, Maxwell D.

Posted by Gabriel | Thursday 25 June 2009 | 3 comments

Busta picks a piece of patois

Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 24 June 2009 | 4 comments

Americans rapping in patois can be one of the most excruciating sounds in music. Just ask Foxy Brown, she knows all about it.

Busta Rhymes pretty much pulls it off, though I still can't help feeling the occasional twinge of embarrassment, and he certainly won't be challenging Busy Signal for the 2009 deejay of the year title.

In recent years Busta has jumped on the Give Me The Light remix to great effect and spearheaded an epic combination with Akon, Shabba Ranks, Mavado and Major Mackerel. This year he's been getting busier than ever with his patois patter.

First he teamed up with Mavado for the remix of So Blessed, and then joined forces with Beenie Man on the latest Black Shadow riddim, Swagg, for a tune called Jiggle. The production is not Black Shadow's finest hour - and should someone have told Troyton Rami what swag means in the UK? - but Beenie and Busta blow up a storm and work really well together:

MP3: Beenie Man & Busta Rhymes - Jiggle

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The Busta Rhymes track Kill Dem with Pharrell and Tosh is also heavily laden with dancehall-style vocals, and now Busta's unleashed a remix of featuring verses from Mavado and Bounty Killer. It's one of those ones you don't even need to hear to know is big, but obviously you should listen to it anyway:

MP3: Busta Rhymes, Mavado & Bounty Killer - Kill Dem (Remix)

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Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 24 June 2009 | 4 comments

Tribute to Natasja Saad

Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 24 June 2009 | 1 comment

It's two years to the day since the sad and untimely death of the very talented and promising Danish dancehall artist Natasja Saad.

Natasha's vocal on Enur's Calabria beat was just starting to make waves when she died. The tune went on to become one of the biggest international hit tunes - in any genre - of the last few years, spawning countless versions and inspiring millions and millions of people to hit dancefloors around the world.

Since then, a few excellent tracks she had recorded before her death have been released, including Bonfire with Enur, Better Than Dem with Beenie Man and Money & Tings:

MP3: Natasja & Enur - Bonfire

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MP3: Natasja & Beenie Man - Better Than Dem (Pharfar Remix)

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MP3: Natasja - Money & Tings (Remix)

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And don't miss her Danish language cut on the Wipeout riddim or her touching ode to Jamaica:

MP3: Natasja - Gi' Mig DK Tilbage

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MP3: Natasja - Jamaica

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Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 24 June 2009 | 1 comment

Early Warming - summertime dancehall reggae mix

Posted by Gabriel | Tuesday 16 June 2009 | 4 comments

This is a mix I originally started work on back in April or May when we had our first burst of summery weather in London, hence the Early Warming name.

It was meant to be a spring thing but then the weather got shit again and I thought there needed to be some more sunshine before I put it out...

Anyway it's 45 minutes of summertime, good vibes dancehall and laidback one drop reggae, perfect for winding along to in your car, in the park or wherever really.

But don't just take my word for it - it's already been causing serious bruk out action at The Fader offices as well as getting love from Dutty Artz, Smokeless Fuels and The CS Perspective

MP3: Gabriel Heatwave - Early Warming mix

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Posted by Gabriel | Tuesday 16 June 2009 | 4 comments

The Heatwave Chart - June 2009

Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 10 June 2009 | Add a comment

A second number one in a row for Sami Sanchez, who is making progress in his recovery but still has a long way to go. We continue to hope and pray...

This month it's all about a remix I did blending Busy Signal's brilliant Da Style Deh with the tropical, tribal sound of Sami's Dirty Salsa. I won't be giving this one away but you can hear it on our last Rinse FM show.

Two of my favourite producers of any genre, Cordell 'Skatta' Burrell (of Coolie Dance fame) and Richard 'Sticky' Forbes, have three songs between them in this top ten.

Skatta's come back hard with his first new production in a while, the eastern-flavoured handclaptastic Hindu riddim. Newcomer Tiki, fresh from winning the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall talent competition, does well to come out on top given that Elephant Man and Natalie Storm have also voiced on the rhythm.

Sticky has followed up the all-conquering Fugitive riddim with two new riddims: Jumeirah, an ominous, string-laden stomper, plus Jack It Up which is based on his production for Ms Dynamite's Bad Gyal. There's no drop in quality here as Maxwell D (London) and Marvin Brown (Leeds) deliver explosive UK bashment vocals.

Away from the uptempo house/dancehall crossover, Baby Cham (above) and Vybz Kartel both kill it on 90s ragga-style rhythms produced by Fire Links and Jam II respectively. And Demarco's vocal on the dubstep-influenced Airwolf riddim by Austria's Bassrunner production team gives Ward 21's Bang Bang (on the same rhythm) a run for its money.

Finally - for sheer exuberance, Lovindeer's tongue in cheek parody of Ramping Shop and Doctor's blend of bashment/funky dance moves will take some beating this summer.

1. Busy Signal vs Sami Sanchez - Da Style Deh (The Heatwave Refix) listen to the original
2. Tiki - Tiki Wine (Hindu Riddim) listen on our Rinse show
3. Maxwell D & Sticky - Mad MD (Jumeirah Riddim) more from Maxwell D
4. Baby Cham - Dem Fi Gweh (Street Team Riddim) listen on our Rinse show
5. Demarco - All About The Money (Airwolf Riddim) listen
6. Marvin Brown & Sticky - Body Look Good (Jack It Up Riddim) listen on our Rinse show
7. Vybz Kartel - Gwaan Suh (Summer Bounce Riddim) listen
8. Lovindeer & Mama Tia - Dumpling Shop listen
9. Collie Buddz - Eyez listen
10. Doctor - UK Funky Dancehall watch video

Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 10 June 2009 | Add a comment

The Heatwave hits Manchester this weekend

Posted by Gabriel | Tuesday 09 June 2009 | Add a comment

This Thursday me and Rubi Dan are heading up to Manchester for a couple of shows, starting off with the twelve-room end of term extravaganza Pangaea at Manchester Students' Union.

On Friday night we'll be at Hot Milk vs Swing Ting aka the street rave bashment, playing dancehall and Caribbean rave music.

This recent mix by Swing Ting DJs Samrai and Jon K illustrates the mix and blend vibes that you can expect on the night, moving from reggae and dancehall to UK garage.

Posted by Gabriel | Tuesday 09 June 2009 | Add a comment

Maxwell D vs UK Funky

Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 03 June 2009 | 6 comments

Maxwell D, a former member of the Pay As U Go Cartel alongside the likes of Wiley, Riko Dan and God's Gift, was a key player in the birth of the grime scene in the early 00s.

Recently he's been getting busy with the sound of UK funky, dropping his Jamaican-influenced but distinctly London vocals over some of the biggest instrumentals in the scene.

Many of Maxwell's latest and greatest tunes are collected on his new mix CD, Funky Funky Funky - Maxwell D Takeover, mixed by DJ Sidies.

Download: Funky Funky Funky - Maxwell D Takeover

The mix CD is a must-have, but I thought I'd pull out some of his biggest recent tunes and give them some individual shine.

The first tune of his I heard this year that really caught my ear is the anthemic Blackberry Hype on Lil Silva's grimey house banger Different:

MP3: Maxwell D & Lil Silva - Blackberry Hype

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There was apparently some resistance from Lil Silva to Maxwell voicing on his production. Given how I love that in dancehall culture it's cool for any artist or producer to re-version a riddim, this seems a bit wrongheaded to me. I like the way Maxwell gets straight to the heart of the matter on New Brand Dance:

I don't need no permission to jump on your beat
I'm a big mic man that will jump on your beat

MP3: Maxwell D - New Brand Dance

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Veteran London producer Sticky knows all about bashment-style version excursions, so it's no surprise that Maxwell has been working with him. Along with Lady Chann's Your Eye Too Fast, Maxwell's Text Text Text has made Sticky's Fugitive riddim one of the hottest beats of 2009.

Another seven voicings will be touching down this summer, so expect to hear the sick live drums and piano combination of the Fugitive riddim pumping out of cars and club soundsystems for a while to come.

MP3: Maxwell D & Sticky - Text Text Text

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Maxwell also features on Sticky's next bashment/funky/dirty pop riddim, Jumeirah, with a track called Mad MD. Watch out for that one on our Rinse FM show this Thursday.

Our last radio show featured So Bad Mind, where Maxwell adds Jamaican-style melodies and lyrical themes to Perempay's explosive, synth-driven Buss It:

MP3: Maxwell D & Perempay- So Bad Mind

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Posted by Gabriel | Wednesday 03 June 2009 | 6 comments