Mr Lexx - Watch Me Transform Ya

Just like Busy Signal did to Drake and Kanye a couple of weeks ago, here Mr Lexx takes on Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz on their own turf and reminds everyone that Jamaica invented rapping.

Mr Lexx - Watch Me Transform Ya | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Lexxus kills it on this beat, giving a concise run down of his ten years in the game in his distinctively deep and commanding voice. Just like Busy on the Drake remix, Lexx also flips into a mad double time flow for the last verse.

It's kind of funny that these are two of my current favourite tunes, given recent discussions about the negative influence of hip hop on Jamaican producers and artists. Or the fact that my only gripe with Aidonia's recent Bolt Action mixtape was that it featured too many hip hop instrumentals.

That mix, like Mr Lexx's Transform Ya vocal, was curated by New York trailblazers Federation Sound. As long as huge tunes like this keep coming out of the JA/US link up I'm certainly not gonna be complaining about it...

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 02 December 2009 | 1 comment

Sean Paul & Hard House Banton - Temperature vs Sirens (The Heatwave Refix)

You know how at Heatwave towers we like to spread the music and share the tunes that we love.

So over the next couple of months we'll be giving away lots of the exclusive Heatwave refixes that were featured on my Funky Bashment mix and have been killing it in our club sets for much of 2009.

Think of it as an early Christmas present that will keep on giving into 2010...

First up is dutty Sean Paul on Hard House Banton's funky anthem Sirens:

Sean Paul & Hard House Banton - Temperature vs Sirens (The Heatwave Refix) | Download MP3 (right click, save as - or use this Mediafire link)

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Stay tuned for more exclusives featuring the likes of Natalie Storm, Footsteps, Busy Signal, Sami Sanchez, YT, Assassin, Sticky, Mavado, Vato Gonzalez, Rubi Dan, Perempay & DEE, Tifa and Mercurial Myrmidon!

Drop a comment below to request any of the refixes you're particularly keen to get your hands on...

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 02 December 2009 | 13 comments

Video: Chino - From Morning (Never Change)

Big Ship are unstoppable right now, they are pretty much dictating the pace of dancehall. Name a recent hit riddim that they haven't had a hand in: there aren't many.

It isn't just Stephen McGregor and his productions, his brother Chino has had a pretty succesful year too. He's no Buju Banton but this guy has loads of international appeal.

Sweet melodies, positive lyrics and a pretty impressive heritage mean that he has the right ingredients to go far. This is all in evidence on two of his biggest songs of 2009 which have been merged into one brand spanking new video:

Posted by Dan_Bean | Wednesday 09 December 2009 | Add a comment

The Heatwave Chart - December 2009

The top ten tunes that are reverberating around the Heatwave towers in the lead-up to the festive season.

Doubtless many these will be getting a run out at Hot Wuk tonight and our Christmas Carnival next Thursday.

1. Keida – Hot It Up
2. Mad Dog – Tek De Floor
3. Natalie Storm & Sticky – Look Pon Me (Jumeirah riddim)
4. Busy Signal – Nuh Fraid of Them (Forever riddim)
5. RDX - Deliver Me (Style & Swagga riddim)
6. Elephant Man – Rubba Bounce
7. Vybz Kartel & Shebba – Do Me Dat (England Town riddim)
8. Sean Paul & Hard House Banton – Temperature vs Sirens (The Heatwave Refix)
9. Mr Lexx – Watch Me Transform Ya
10. Alborosie – Blue Movie Boo

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Thursday 10 December 2009 | Add a comment

YT & Curtis Lynch - England A Me Yard

Huge and patriotic collaboration by top English dancehall producer Curtis Lynch and leading UK reggae artist YT (pictured below) from back in 2006:

YT & Curtis Lynch - England A Me Yard | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Thanks to a stream of impressive releases on his Necessary Mayhem label over the past few years, Curtis Lynch has cemented his position as the number one dancehall producer in the UK.

This Thursday we're pleased to have Lynch aka Da Grynch at our Hot Wuk Christmas Carnival alongside Mr Williamz on the mic. Trust me, he'll be the Lynch who stole Christmas!

Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 16 December 2009 | 2 comments

Have a happy dancehall Christmas

Last year we featured Caribbean Christmas carols courtesy of Assassin, Delly Ranx, Elephant Man and Rihanna plus late entries from Busy Signal and Michelle Gordon.

This year there is a bumper crop of seasonal songs. Where better to start than with the two artists who have dominated 2009?

I never picked sides in the Gully/Gaza debate but I've enjoyed the many highlights from both Vybz Kartel and Mavado. However, I think that Kartel and Black Ryno have the edge on Mavado, Flexxx and Savage in the festive stakes:

Vybz Kartel & Black Ryno - Gaza Christmas | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Mavado, Flexxx & Savage - Gully Christmas | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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After taking a break from badman carols with last year's Dancing Paradise, Elephant Man returns to his classic Christmas style, placing a ridiculous singalong chorus next to HARD verses about being a badman in the winter.

Elephant Man - Badman Christmas | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Tony Matterhorn's effort is much more appropriately seasonal and annoyingly jolly. It's the kind of tune you might hear in a syrupy American movie while excited kids are ice skating in Central Park.

Tony Matterhorn - Christmas In JA | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Torch and Slu are keen to emphasise the importance of female companionship over the festive period: their 'gally' Christmas is all about candy cane and and Santa's sleigh.

Torch & Slu - Gally Christmas | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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This vocal from Mr Vegas came out in the summer and is probably the earliest released Christmas tune I'm aware of, though lyrically it doesn't have a strict Christmas theme:

Mr Vegas - Keep Your Friendship | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the pick of 2009's Christmas bashment comes from Busy Signal. This is another one that's not about Christmas but there's certainly has a festive feel to Stephen McGregor's excellent production.

Busy Signal - Soon You Will Find Out | Download MP3 (right click, save as)

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Posted by Gabriel_Heatwave | Wednesday 23 December 2009 | 2 comments