We need Barack, we need Barack

So it seems that Barack has finally beaten Hillary to secure the Democratic nomination in the US presidential race. I never really made an informed decision on the Obama vs Clinton issue, but certainly when it comes to the fight with Republican John McCain, there's no doubt about who I'd prefer to win. As Mavado puts it in the inspired re-rub of his own hit tune On The Rock, "we need Barack, we need Barack":

MP3: Mavado - We Need Barack (via Wayne&Wax)

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Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Thursday 05 June 2008 | 1 comment

Guestlist for Bar Rumba this Saturday

This Saturday we're playing again at the UK's #1 booty bouncing event at Bar Rumba alongside DJ Deekline, Beni G and J33. We've got a few places on the reduced-price guestlist available - just email info@theheatwave.co.uk to get on the list.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Friday 06 June 2008 | 2 comments

Tribute To Tubby T

A couple of weeks ago, I saw that Silver Star's latest podcast featured the talented MC and singer Tubby T. Initially I thought he'd recovered from the major stroke he suffered in 2004 and was making his eagerly awaited return to music. But on seeing his name I'd jumped to the wrong conclusion: sadly, Tubby had died a few days earlier and the show was dedicated to his memory.

With x-amount of wicked Tubby T tunes and memories of his life and musical career, the Silver Star tribute podcast is essential listening: download the mp3 from their website. More tributes: Rozan, Hattie Collins and Facebook.

I remember speaking to Roll Deep's manager - who also managed Tubby T - to book Riko for Heatwave vs Mas Fuego back in 2005, and asking him about the possibility of getting Tubby to perform at the night when he was well again. At the time it was hoped that he'd be OK and would begin recording and performing again in the near future.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be and now, outweighing the disappointment of losing one of the most promising and talented English urban artists comes the sadness of a young life being cut short before its time.

Tubby T's hits included Tales Of Da Hood with garage super producer Sticky, Big & Bashy with UK hip hop veteran Fallacy, I Like It on Commander B's grime classic Pum Pum riddim and Ready She Ready for dancehall/reggae producer Seanie B.

The way his bashment vocals were so in demand and successful within these apparently distinct 'genres' of UK urban music makes Tubby's career a great example of the way that Jamaican influences run through so much black music in Britain.

In fact we featured Tubby's Ready She Ready - voiced on the Spanish Fly riddim alongside Jamaican artists like Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel and Sizzla - on An England Story, our compilation showcasing dancehall-influenced English MCs:

MP3: Tubby T - Ready She Ready

Last week, London dancehall crew Suncycle recorded this moving tribute to their friend and colleague:

MP3: Suncycle - Tribute To Tubby T

Like Silver Star and Tubby T, Suncycle hail from North West London and grew up with Tubby musically as well as locally, excelling like him in dancehall-inflected UK garage and straight-up bashment. I like the way their tribute describes Tubby both as a superb artist, successful entertainer and an inspiring individual. As Lady Chann puts it:

You used to greet me with your hugs and kiss
And all of this will be truly missed
A perfect gentleman and optimist
Cah nuff stage show you know you surely ripped it

Top entertainer inna di business
And nobody can't step inna your shoes quick
Cah you a UK legend
Bare positivity a weh you deh pon

Rest in peace, Tubby T.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Saturday 14 June 2008 | 4 comments

Etana - The Wrong Address

Brand new video from up-and-coming Jamaican reggae/soul singer Etana, who's got a voice to die for.

Her album, The Strong One, is out soon and she's touring the UK for the next couple of weeks, taking in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin among others.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Tuesday 17 June 2008 | 1 comment

The Heatwave Chart - June 2008

Elephant Man's massive gospel ragga collaboration with dancehall veteran Lieutenant Stitchie (pictured) is our biggest tune this month. Close behind is a wicked foundation dancehall posse cut produced by Curtis Lynch, with YT on the hook and five other MCs providing verses.

Plus Mavado's latest epic, our new remix for Caspa Codina, Rubi Dan's bassline bashment, funky (house) from Crazy Cousinz, a wicked R'n'B/dancehall blend from Smutlee and more.

1. Elephant Man & Lieutenant Stitchie - What A Mighty God - listen
2. YT, Million Stylez, Mr Williamz, Blackout JA, Iverse & Jah Knight - Champion Sound
3. Caspa Codina & Rubi Dan - Used To Go Dancing (The Heatwave Remix) - listen
4. Mavado - Overcome (Brighter Day)
5. Sean Paul - Don't Tease Me (Workout Riddim) - listen
6. Chris Brown & T-Pain - Kiss Again (Smutlee Blend)
7. Rubi Dan & DJ Q - Walk & Wine (The Heatwave Refix) - listen/download
8. Crazy Cousinz - Bongo Jam
9. Mr Vegas - Must Come A Road
10. Lil Wayne & Kanye West - Lollipop (Remix) - listen

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Tuesday 17 June 2008 | Add a comment

Shaggy feat Trix & Flix - Feel The Rush

I meant to post this on the opening day of the European football championships but anyway, the first round concludes today so now seems as good a time as ever. It's an uptempo soca track by Shaggy alongside the official tournament mascots, Trix and Flix:

MP3: Shaggy feat Trix & Flix - Feel The Rush

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Quite why the tournament organisers chose a Jamaican/American dancehall artist to record the official song for a European event in Austria in Switzerland is initially unclear. But it turns out there's a tenuous connection in the form of Swiss-Iranian producer Samim whose massive hit Heater is sampled here - Samim has remixed this track as well.

In fact, when you follow the global trail of samples, remixes and versions that Feel The Rush leaves in its wake, it may be a canny move by UEFA to give the song (and the tournament) as broad an appeal as possible. So we end up with a Caribbean version by a mainstream American star of a Berlin-based producer's smash club hit which sampled a South American folk song and was remixed by a San Francisco house/techno DJ.

It's also interesting how in the video (around 2m45s), the riff sampled from the Colombian classic La Cumbia Cienaguera is mimicked on an accordion by a man wearing traditional Alpine garb:

Not knowing what Swiss/Austrian folk music sounds like, I'm not sure if this highlights the musical connections between two geographically distant cultures or is merely an example of lazily lumping together interchangeable exotic sounds under a 'world music'-type umbrella. This easy transference of apparent origin from continent to continent reminded me of the Japanese/Indian and Latino/Arabic questions raised by the Pearl Haaba and Middle East riddims.

Buy Feel The Rush (including remixes): digital release or 12" vinyl.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 18 June 2008 | 3 comments

New Heatwave remix of Caspa Codina out now

Our latest remix is a bashment reworking of UK electro-soul singer Caspa Codina's latest single Used To Go Dancing, featuring guest verses from Rubi Dan. It's already been played on BBC6 Music and is in the DMC urban top ten.

The 12" vinyl, featuring more remixes from Flash Atkins and Suicidedogz, hit the shops this week: buy it from HMV. You can also get the digital mp3/wav release from Juno, Amazon or 7 Digital.

But for lovers of freeness, we've made our remix available as a high quality mp3 download:

MP3: Caspa Codina & Rubi Dan - Used To Go Dancing (The Heatwave Remix)

Here's the video of the original Caspa Codina tune:

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Friday 20 June 2008 | Add a comment

Video: Mr Vegas - Daggering

Traditional meets contemporary as Mr Vegas and his teams of dancers take on a hype kumina/pocomania rhythm track in a bashment fashion. Perfect for some sunshine summer festival action.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Monday 23 June 2008 | 2 comments

Playing at Glastonbury this weekend

First up tonight it's our monthly bashment in London and then tomorrow I'm heading off to Glastonbury festival to play at the Stonebridge Bar alongside the likes of Toddla T, Breakin Bread, Radioclit and Bass Clef. Should be big - and hopefully not too muddy...

Apparently Wiley will be joining Hot Chip on stage on Saturday night to perform with them on their cover version of his hit single Wearing My Rolex, which is bound to be entertaining.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Friday 27 June 2008 | 1 comment