Have a happy dancehall Christmas

• By Gabriel_Heatwave | 
• Wednesday 23 December 2009 | 
• 2 comments | 
• 

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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• By Gabriel_Heatwave | 
• Wednesday 23 December 2009 | 
• 2 comments | 
•