Monster Bass in Bristol on Saturday

This Saturday I'm playing at Monster Bass in Bristol, rolling out dancehall and funky bashment on the 20k bass power of the Mungo's Hi Fi soundsystem.

I should be playing with Warrior Queen on the mic but she might still be in Jamaica, in which case I'll be joined by the London city warlord, Riko.

Also playing on the night will be Digital Mystikz, Dusk & Blackdown, Mungo's Hi Fi, Murderbot, Monkey Steak and more...

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Friday 02 October 2009 | Add a comment

Dolamite & Mavado - So Long

An epic dancehall/hip hop collaboration between 'Gully God' Mavado and Dolamite (pictured below) from the UK's leading dancehall crew, Suncycle:

MP3: Dolamite & Mavado - So Long

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So Long is a version of the Mavado single No More, produced by Dolamite and released digitally by Suncycle Records along with a remix by Bless Beats. Get it from iTunes or Amazon.

Look out for another No More remix coming soon courtesy of Redlight (aka Clipz) and Toddla T...

Suncycle are getting busy on the digital download front: Dolamite's collaboration Disease Heart with leading JA singer Serani is also now available on iTunes. Coming soon is the Rise Up riddim featuring vocals from the likes of Vybz Kartel, Gappy Ranks and Shawn Storm.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Friday 02 October 2009 | 2 comments

The Heatwave Chart - October 2009

After the popularity of the split dancehall/funky bashment charts that I did in July, I'm keeping the format this month. Assassin and Natalie Storm come out on top...

I've been very very busy recently - DJing, working on the XLR8R Funky Bashment podcast and finishing off a bunch of Heatwave productions - so I haven't found to do individual links to each of the tunes here, sorry.

But we featured pretty much all of these tunes on last week's Rinse FM show along with a Heatwave alternative take on the MOBO awards, so go and grab the mp3 if you want to hear this month's top twenty.

Dancehall

1. Assassin & Stephen McGregor- Hand Inna Di Air
2. Papa Levi & Curtis Lynch - Speed Rappin (Come Down Riddim)
3. Leftside & Syon - Nuh Other Gal (School Bell Riddim)
4. Busy Signal - Nuh Go Round Mi
5. Mr Vegas - Mix Up Peggie
6. Vybz Kartel & Dre Skull - Yuh Love
7. Alison Hinds - Rags Up (Street Bullies Riddim)
8. Assassin - Don't Give Loving (R6 Riddim)
9. Mavado - You A Mi Lover
10. Serani, Ding Dong, Razz & Biggy - Skip To Ma Luu

Funky bashment

1. Natalie Storm & Footsteps - Play Di Ting (The Heatwave Special - Worker Riddim)
2. Stush & Illmana - Ready Fi De War
3. Lady Chann & Warrior One - War (King Riddim)
4. Mirikal & El-B - We Don't Play
5. Maxwell D & Geeneus - Drunken Master (Crackish Riddim)
6. Mercurial Myrmidon - Hey Bongo
7. Footsteps - Dirty Rag
8. Lady Chann & Sticky - Lady Chann Run England (Jumeirah Riddim)
9. Ms Dynamite & Geeneus - Get Low (Crackish Riddim)
10. Brick & Lace - Love Is Wicked (Wideboys Afro Remix)

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Thursday 08 October 2009 | 1 comment

The Heatwave October Charts Part 2

How do you know if a tune is big? You personally can feel it. You might also be told about it. But you can't look at any dancehall charts and trust that the tunes are genuinely popular.

So to complement Gabriel's personal top ten for this month here's an insight into what's doing it for dancehall artists, producers, DJs, singers, promoters and bloggers in Jamaica, the US and the UK: people who create and spread dancehall and reggae music worldwide.

There are a lot of huge riddims coming out weekly - in case you missed them you'll see that the likes of Go Go Club and Set Mi Free are dominating the airwaves and dances in Jamaica.

These are matched by one-off singles such as Ding Dong's big hit Holiday from Notice Productions:

As it stands, everything seems too hot to single out - Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor (pictured below) told The Heatwave that he simply had "too many" favourites right now.

Have a look below and see what the likes of Ward 21 and Bounty Killer's manager have got to say.

Johnny Wonder (Music plugger)

• Demarco - True Friends
• G-Whizz - Life
• Mavado - House Cleaning (Set Mi Free Riddim)
• Chase Cross - Better Dayz (Clearance Riddim)
• Ding Dong - Holiday
• Bugle - Pearly Gates (Alter Ego Riddim)

Cecile (Artist - pictured below)

• Vybz Kartel - Slow Motion (Street Bullies Riddim)
• Mavado - Hope & Pray (Triple Bounce Riddim)

Max Glazer (New York DJ)

• Assassin - Hand Inna Di Air

Alaine (Singer)

• Ding Dong - Holiday

The Alliance (Bounty Killer's management)

• Mavado (pictured below) - House Cleaning (Set Mi Free Riddim)
• Bounty Killer - Chattabox (Vybz Kartel Diss)

Dancehall Mobi (Leading blog)

• Mavado - House Cleaning (Set Mi Free Riddim)
• Chino - Woman Pon your Head

Timberlee (Artist - pictured below)

• Merital & Vybz Kartel - My Money (Go Go Club Riddim)
• Ding Dong - Holiday

Fudgie Springer (Artist)

• Vybz Kartel - Nah Let Go

Ward 21 (Producers/artists - pictured below)

• Vybz Kartel - Love Dem (Set Mi Free Riddim)
• Assassin - Hand To Mouth (Set Mi Free Riddim)

Dylan Powe (Natalie Storm's manager)

• Vybz Kartel - Go Go Club

Prince Zimboo (Artist)

• Demarco - True Friends

YT (UK artist - pictured below)

• Mr Williamz - Be Yourself

Mr Lexx (Artist)

• Ding Dong - Holiday

Tony Kelly (Producer)

• Big Yard - Street Bullies riddim

Posted by Dan_Bean | Saturday 10 October 2009 | 1 comment

Hot Wuk this Thursday

This Thursday I'll be playing the latest and greatest dancehall reggae and bashment plus a touch of UK funky, soca and hip hop at Hot Wuk @ Big Chill House in King's Cross:

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Tuesday 13 October 2009 | Add a comment

Video: Busy Signal - Hott Ed Medley

Busy Signal's done so many MASSIVE tunes this year that VP Records have no choice but to roll them all up into a seven-song package and make a video medley.

Underlining the potency and prolificness of Busy's recent output, the tunes in the video (Da Style Deh, Picante, Up In Her Belly, Decide Fi Answer, My Money, Hustling and Question) are almost entirely different from the Hott Ed EP that VP released earlier in the year.

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Thursday 15 October 2009 | 2 comments

Five degrees of separation: Alton Ellis to RDX

The much loved and respected Alton Ellis (pictured below) died a year ago this month. However, his musical legacy lives on through his son Christopher, who has collaborated with Jah Cure on the Netzah riddim.

MP3: Jah Cure & Christopher Ellis - Why Can't We

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The dancehall reggae world recently lost another legend - producer Wycliffe 'Steely' Johnson - to whom Wyclef Jean paid tribute on his Patwa Swagga mixtape. It's a mixed bag of classic dancehall rhythms and Wyclef's pan-Caribbean style fitted awkardly over the tracks; the pick of the bunch is a version of the fast paced, x-rated Bend Over by RDX (pictured below).

MP3: Wyclef Jean - Sak Pase (Flatbush)

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What really makes the tune is Wyclef's use of Kassav's Zouk La Ce Sel Medicament Nou Ni.

Kassav are a Parisian band who sing in a localized version of French Creole, unique to the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique and this track is possibly my favourite non-English language song. Listening to this you can see where the likes of Busy Signal draw their inspiration for cross Caribbean sounds such as Nah Go Dung Deh.

MP3: Kassav - Zouk La Ce Sel Medicament Nou Ni

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The sound incorporates elements of Dominican cadence-lypso, Haitian kompa (from Wyclef's homeland) and Trinidadian calypso.

Trinidad & Tobago is most renowned for it's soca and calypso. However, the smaller of the two islands, Tobago, is as keen on conscious reggae and dancehall as Jamaica is.

The strength of the influence is demonstrated in Tobagonian local boy Positive (pictured below) and his huge number one Never Let Go, which made a big impact last year in the smaller islands but rarely touched shores abroad.

A guy to watch out for, he joins the likes of other popular non-Jamaican reggae artists such as Khari Kill (Trinidad), Marlon Asher (Trinidad) and Pressure Buss Pipe (St Thomas USVI)

Check the vocal similiarities between him and Gyptian:

MP3: Positive - Never Let Go

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Never Let Go was also the title for Slim Smith's 1960s single, the foundation for the classic Answer riddim, a Heatwave favourite. That song came out on a 12" single backed by Alton Ellis's I'm Still Waiting…

Posted by Dan_Bean | Monday 19 October 2009 | 1 comment

Lady Chann - Father Do You Hear Me

Lady Chann has been having a stormer of a year so far, dropping her unique London dancehall flow over funky bashment instrumentals by producers like Sticky and Warrior One.

It's good to see that the first lady of UK dancehall hasn't forgotten her reggae roots, as with this track on the Full Up (Pass The Kutchie) foundation riddim.

Chann switches off her rowdy, raucous style for a minute and replaces it with some sweet singing and conscious, contemplative lyrics to mark Black History Month:

MP3: Lady Chann - Father Do You Hear Me

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Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Tuesday 20 October 2009 | Add a comment

Vybz Kartel & Shebba - Do Me Dat (England Town Riddim)

After a recent wave of big tunes from Vybz Kartel it seems inappropriate not to draw attention to his latest, on the England Town riddim by NotNice Records.

Songs like Go Go Club (Head Concussion) and Yuh Love (Dre Skull) have caused a lot of fuss on The Heatwave Rinse FM shows and were included on the October Chart. These are already creating serious damage in club sets and radio shows across the world, however the tune of this week is one where Kartel gets threatened with "the wickedest lesson inna history" by new girl Shebba.

Listen out for the playful accusations Shebba throws his way, accusing Kartel of checking out her auntie and implying that the collaboration with Spice (below) was a little more than professional:

Member yuh look me auntie named Joyce
and me have a strong feeling seh yuh touch Spice

MP3: Vybz Kartel & Shebba - Do Me Dat

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A medley video has been shot for the England Town riddim, featuring new Portmore Empire recruits and more established artists such as Jah Vinci and Black Ryno. Kartel and Shebba deliver the stand out version on the riddim; expect this cut to come to a speaker somewhere near you very soon.

Posted by Dan_Bean | Wednesday 21 October 2009 | 6 comments

Elephant Man - Rubba Bounce

This track is like a rowdy party compressed into mp3 format. The instrumental alone is enough to get you bouncing around, hyped up by a joyful shouting, stuttering snare drums, blips and banjos:

MP3: ZJ Ice - Rubba Bounce (Instrumental)

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Then Elephant Man jumps on the riddim with a new dance to promote, some corny catchphrases and an annoying/genius melody and the party's DONE.

"Everybody rubba rubba rubba rubba rubba!"

MP3: Elephant Man - Rubba Bounce

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Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Monday 26 October 2009 | 3 comments

Beniton The Menace & Marvin Priest - Who’s Gonna Smoke

Jay-Z & Rihanna's melancholic hip hop anthem Run This Town gets the dancehall weed tune treatment courtesy of New Yorker Beniton The Menace:

MP3: Beniton The Menace & Marvin Priest - Who's Gonna Smoke

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Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Tuesday 27 October 2009 | Add a comment

Jr Pinchers & Twinz Beats - Back Broke

This video is HARD. It's futuristic and sexy, and also stylish, but not in a glitzy Kanye West way. More of a gutter, Blade Runner after drinking Red Bull and vodka kind of way.

Other good stuff in the video :

• The lighting
• The hologram bits
• The oldschool VHS fuzz lines
• The sexy girls in golden saris
• The girls who broke their backs after doing too much sexy dancing

This tune is serious too - the Kingston autotune dancehall of Jr Pinchers meets banging electro house by Miami producers Twinz Beatz. Cheap flights, the internet, Fed-Ex. Whatever. International fire, funky bashment style.

MP3: Jr Pinchers & Twinz Beatz - Back Broke

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Posted by Benjamin_D | Tuesday 27 October 2009 | Add a comment

Shabba Ranks in London this Friday

The big bad dutty stinking Shabba Ranks is in London this Friday, playing at Brixton Academy alongside Chaka Demus & Pliers and Maxi Priest. Get your tickets from Ticketmania and I'll see you there...

In case you think Shabba can't cut it in 2009 check this massive UK funky remix of his latest tune Love You No More. It's produced by Sublusive and was featured on my recent mix for Ras Kwame on Radio 1:

MP3: Shabba Ranks - Love You No More (Sublusive Remix)

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Rubi Dan caught up with Maxi Priest recently and the reggae singer revealed his love for the Heatwave website:

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 28 October 2009 | 2 comments

Funky Bashment to the world!

The funky bashment crossover that we've been pioneering this year has been reaching all corners of the globe recently...

Last month I showcased the sound for San Francisco's XLR8R magazine with a podcast stuffed full of dubplate specials, exclusive Heatwave refixes and unreleased tracks from UK producers and Jamaican vocalists:

MP3: Gabriel Heatwave - Funky Bashment Mix

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That mix is going down a storm around the world, winning features on Jamaican blog Dancehall Mobi and New York magazine The Fader as well as this extravagant praise from London journalist Marvin Sparks:

This is the mofo'in shiznitt!!! The refixes are a lot!!!

Love the mixture of current songs like Busy Signal's Da Style Deh right back to Shabba's Ting-A-Ling and Ninja Man over some the hottest funky sounds.

And last week I recorded an exclusive mix for Ras Kwame's show on BBC Radio 1 featuring new tunes from Stush, Maxwell D and Riko Dan alongside Heatwave specials by Natalie Storm (above), YT and Lady Chann:

MP3: Gabriel Heatwave - Ras Kwame Mix

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Don't think we're forgetting our dancehall roots though - catch me at Hot Wuk this Thursday for our weekly bashment carnival. It's the only place to get your fix of the hottest Jamaican dancehall plus a touch of soca, UK funky and reggae:

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 28 October 2009 | Add a comment