Breaking Ranks

2005-06-17T03:04:00.000-07:00

Big Tings

OK, it's that time of the month again: Heatwave at The Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel, East London (nearest tube Aldgate East). It's a stellar line up tonight, because I'm playing, of course (which will hopefully make up for the brief hiatus in MP3 action while my laptop is in the repair shop), but DJ C and Aaron Spectre are pretty amazing, too. I had the pleasure of playing with C and Ripley at Subtonic in New York a while ago and they both rocked, so the whole Mashit crew have my personal endorsement. I'm kicking off the main room for a couple of hours where I'll play a crunked up, hip-hop-based ragga and reggaeton set, then a rough-arsed ghetto bashment section in the back room. Come down, it's only a fiver and I may even buy you a drink. Here's the flyer. My name's the only one not picked out in white, so I think that must mean I'm like super-important, or something...

PS - Friends who are coming, email me coz I have a very limited guesties and need to use them wisely.

2005-06-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

King Of The Candy Shop

Beenie Man won't cosy up to J-FLAG any time soon and lest his girl get any ideas "she fi know di sex limits stop at sixty eight". The past couple of years' worth of records have managed to get these points across pretty clearly and it's high time he turned his lyrical attentions elsewhere; after all he's better than that. Still, despite all ethical reservations, you can't deny his staying power and continued ability to strike pure pop gold—suppose that's why he did have a case when he proclaimed himself King Of The Dancehall a few months back. Check this blend, over the instrumental of Fiddy's Candy Shop. It's sweet.

King Of The Dancehall (Candy Shop Edit) - Beenie Man

2005-06-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

I'm Not Going To Pretend I Know What The Hell I'm Talking About...

The only things I can say for sure about kwaito are that it sounds like slow Afrocentric house music, that it's become the default street sound of post-apartheid urban South Africa and that I really love these two tracks. All Stars' "Kwasa Kwasa" is an effervescently pop dance-instruction number with a totally butt-shaking chorus. If it's a-whoopin'-and-a-hollerin', global-yob* berserktitude you're after, though, look no further than "Roba Letheka" by Ishmael, who sounds like he should be Cape Town or Johannesburg's answer to Fatman Scoop. Anyway, here you go...

Kwasa Kwasa - All Stars

Roba Letheka - Ishmael

* Sorry but I way prefer this term to "shanty house"; it's less redolent of slumming, more evocative of solidarity, empowerment, unruliness and good old insubordinate hedonism.

2005-05-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Watch Your Step

Trina

Breaking news: looks like I'm heading out to Houston in July to do a couple of pieces on the city's hip-hop scene for a posh British mag and an even posher newspaper. Even though I'm told it's going to be disgustingly hot and humid at this time of year, especially for a cold-weather critter like me, I can't wait. It's been two months since my last stint overseas and I have seriously itchy feet again, plus I'll be there for my birthday doing all the things I love best: drinking cold beer in the sun, eating my bodyweight in barbecue (I'm told Texans work a wonderful kind of magic with gargantuan slabs of red meat and charcoal), meeting new people and researching a story about a style of music I've come to adore. What's not to be happy about? Talking of trips, today's track is by Trina & Lil Wayne, telling you not to do it. First encountered on Swishahouse's The Final Chapter 2K5 mixtape, I haven't been able to get enough of its spine-crushing ravesynths and ball-busting attitude since...

Don't Trip - Trina & Lil Wayne

2005-05-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

Revive!

One of the best blends of the last year, this combination of Damian Marley's smash hit single "Welcome To Jamrock" and a back-from-the-dead Biggie Smalls is as summery a cut as you could wish for. Having done the rounds on several mixtapes and the trusty old internet, you can now pick it up on 12-inch vinyl from specialist shops—and about time, it's a killer, like sunshine and smoke are pressed into the grooves.

Welcome To Jamrock Rob Dinero Remix - Damian "Jr Gong" Marley feat. Biggie Smalls

2005-05-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

Screw You!

Mike Jones

Whodathunk it would take this long to finally get some hip-hop into Breaking Ranks? It’s not that I don’t listen to and love the stuff, rather that the vast majority of it is so much the soundtrack of our lives I’ve not really seen much merit in using precious server space to host it—that and the fact that a stack of other blogs are covering it in much more depth and with far more vision than I could manage (hey, what do you mean dilettante? I’ll have you know that keeping up with Jamaica is enough work as it is). However, thanks to the back injury, for which I was prescribed enough codeine painkillers to knock out a small rhino, I’ve lately come to appreciate screwed and chopped Texan shit in a way I never had before. Of course, what I had managed to pick up was always interesting, some pretty special in fact, but I could never say that I really got it. In my two-week, medically sanctioned, couch-bound pharmaceutical haze, though, it was all I wanted to listen to and even now I’m back on my feet, straight and alert, regular rapping just sounds too fast, too pumped and too in my poor old face. No, on a easy Sunday morning, I want it sloooow; thick and slippery like dirty motor oil…

Icey - Gucci Mane feat. Young Jeezy & Boo
Taken from OG Ron C's Spring Break 2K5 mix CD.

Turning Lane - Mike Jones
Taken from the album Who Is Mike Jones? Screwed & Chopped By DJ Michael Watts.

Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
Taken from CD#1 of OG Ron C's Fuck Action 40 mix set.

For more on this music, visit Houstonsoreal, Matt Sonzala's excellent blog.

2005-05-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hype Ting

Things are going to be more regular here over the next few weeks, so, to this end, here's another great track by one of my favourite ladies. As well as making cracking music, Ce'Cile Charlton is a total joy to talk to—smart, funny, sassy and not afraid to take a few risks. All in all, she's just what the scene needs, so I just wish she'd get that much-too-long-awaited debut album out there. It's way too good to languish unreleased, as you'll be able to tell from this superb combination with KC Jockey...

Gwaan Hype - Ce'Cile feat. KC Jockey

In other news, it had to happen sooner or later, but I'm really pleased to let you know that we now have a real grime blog in the sphere, courtesy of the man Riko Dan. Check him out in full flow at last month's Heatwave dance right here.

2005-05-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

Dozy Doogz

Not a new rhythm, but I haven't been able to get enough of Steely and Cleevie's Sleepy Dog. There's no sign of it going away just yet, either, so I'm not the only one—must be something about that wicked, old-school-style Casio bounce and the crunchy, brittle percussion that does it. Check Buju Banton for the punchiest version, Famous Face for the one that makes you think of hitting the dancefloor and Mr Vegas for that lazy, languid vibe.

Ride This - Buju Banton

Mixing Board - Famous Face

Some Gal - Mr Vegas

Oh, and before I forget it's Ladies' Night at Heatwave this Friday, featuring No-Lay, South London's first lady of grime. You know the drill—Whitechapel, Rhythm Factory, great tunes, nice people, me drunk and dancing. Next month I'll be playing with DJ C, who I last gigged with in New York, so brace yourselves. Support this night, it's fun and good for you!

2005-05-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

A Right Royal Rakkas...

Told you interesting and altogether unexpected developments were afoot a few days ago. Now the truth is out. I've been dragged kicking and screaming into Pitchfork's clutches. Well, not quite, they asked very nicely, so I was glad to start writing a monthly ragga column for them. I'm joined by a good crew, my buddy Phil Sherburne will be writing about techno next week and as for the rest, I'll leave that to Scott, the site's excellent managing editor, to let you know, but there's more where we came from.
Check the column and you'll see that I'm loving South Rakkas Crew's Sticky-influenced Bionic Ras, now finally out on 7" after a good couple of months of hype. I've said all that needs to be said over there, so read it, come back and wrap yer ears around these.

Spring Break - Sizzla

Goodas - Vybz Kartel & Marlene

Lock Off Anthem - Gabriel

2005-04-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Rose Gold

It's a shame that Stone Love's Rose Gold rhythm is so great, yet all the officially released voicings so uniformly craptacular. However, listening to a mix picked up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn it became clear that there are, in fact plenty of other quality versions not to be found on seven. Some are original specials, but a lot of the best are overdubs of lyrics first recorded for the Dancehall Rock, like Assassin's "Do It If Yuh Bad" and Spragga Benz's "Put Foot Ova", which you might also have heard atop grimester Lethal Bizzle's FWD rhythm a while back. Anyway, less waffle mo' music...

Do It If Yuh Bad - Assassin

Put Foot Ova - Spragga Benz

2005-04-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

Aboriginal Rockers

A late return to action, but hopefully this latest offering will make it worth the wait. Gloopy like molasses, the Forbidden Dance rhythm is underpinned by a quiet roar of didgeridoo. Rather than sounding Afro Celt hippy-dippy, though, it’s slick and bouncy, and the best of the voicings are lent a weird out-of-place-and-time dissonance by the instrumental. Cobra is, of course, wicked, his statesmanlike nonchalance working perfectly over the loose, loping beats. Ce’Cile and Macka Diamond, meanwhile, give the fellas a right lyrical trouncing, but the version is a pleasure in itself.
In other news, dancehall is infiltrating the most unlikely critical quarters. You’ll see what I mean in about 10 days, but for the time being, let’s just say exciting and somewhat unexpected things are afoot in the world of Breaking Ranks.

Fordidden Dance - Version

Mad Cobra – Pan It

Macka Diamond & Ce’Cile - Kuff

2005-04-15T02:59:00.000-07:00

News (Passing It On And Being In It)

Firstly, if you're wondering why Breaking Ranks has been so quiet, it's because I had an unfortunate accident a couple of weeks ago (I'll say as little as possible about it because it's embarrasing - ok, ok I fell over, but I *was* sober), and did my back a right mischief which has led to me being stuck on the couch, sozzled on a pile of turbo painkillers, watching too much daytime TV and saying "ouchbloodyhellshitbastardthathurts" a lot.
Secondly, if the pictures disappear from this blog, it's because of recent crazymental traffic, thanks to The Guardian linking up The Ranks, Tofu Hut and a bunch of others. Always nice when the national press takes a bit of interest in what goes on here, so big up Chris Alden and welcome to all you new visitors - I hope you'll enjoy what you find.
Now that I can get out of the house, tonight I'll be hotfooting it down to the Heatwave dance at the Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel, East London. It'll be LARGE, with a special ragga-flavoured guest MC performance from grime star Riko, of the Roll Deep crew, Gabe, Gerv, wicked reggaeton and me and some mates drinking and yelling "pull up" a bit too often.
Normal "legally grey" MP3 service resumed tomorrow.

2005-03-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

Fun!

Quick plug: New York people should come out to The Bunker at Subtonic on Friday, coz it'll be good - myself, DJ C and Ripley. I'm gonna play new roots, a splash of 90s ragga and a lot of brand-spanking bashment.
Breaking news: this dancehall-based blogging game has just gotten a whole hell of a lot better.

2005-03-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

Bad Sick, Everything Nah Good...

Attention all: I am in New York.
Further news: I am unwell.
Anyone I've not contacted to rearrange plans, gimme a couple of days and I'll hopefully be back on form.
Meanwhile, chicken soup and sympathy welcome in the Carroll Gardens area of Brooklyn.
Love,
Dave

2005-03-15T03:33:00.000-08:00

Free Mas Fuego Tickets

It's non-stop benevolence here at Breaking Ranks. Well, it's not strictly me doing the giving this time, but The Heatwave crew is offering a pair of tickets to Friday night's hype bashment/reggaeton session at The Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel. I won't be there, coz I'll be jetsetting across the Atlantic but that's no reason why you shouldn't get yourself out of the house, even if you end up paying for it. Tickets go to the first person to correctly answer the following question:

What is the name of Yungun AKA Essa's debut album?

a The Naked Chef YG
b Essateric
c The Essance

It's pretty easy, because the answer can be found at www.scandalbag.com.
Mail replies to heatwave@scandalbag.com.
Good luck and have fun if you win!

2005-03-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Get Your Freak On

Two mixes in a week—what can I say, I’m all heart. Kicking off with a selection of new roots and revival rhythms, you’ll see why song-based reggae is charting so well in Jamaica right now; we’ve entered another golden age. In spite of the apalling repressing job VP have done on Maria’s otherwise gorgeous Asking For A Love, Lion Paw’s Nine Eleven is still ruling the stereo chez Breaking Ranks, closely tailed by Penthouse’s latest releases from Nadine Sutherland, riding a new version of The Heptones' Sea Of Love, and Buju Banton & Nicky Burt, skanking it something wicked on a Rocking Time refix. Rounding off, Bushman comes on strong with a beautiful, uplifting anthem and Turbulence breathes some righteous fire.
On a ragga tip, Zumjay skips like a wet pebble over the Japanese-produced Indian Summer riddim, but it’s ladies’ night for Sizzla while soca star Bunji Garlin gets nasty for Trinidad. Donovan “Vendetta” Bennett continues his, apparently unstoppable, run of slamming rhythms with the Judgement , over which Macka Diamond and Vybz Kartel stage the latest battle in dancehall’s gender war. Top of the pile, though, is Ward21’s cracking Irob rhythm—a pounding Middle Eastern beat, hosting a hopped-up Anthony B and Bounty Killer reprising his Kashmir riddim killer, Badda Dan Dat.
Shooting over the Atlantic to Yorkshire, Leeds-based Desi dons RDB reclaim bhangra from Timbaland with 2002’s Patlay Patlay and my dawgs, the Heatwave crew take it right back with a slamming mash-up of Missy and Dirtsman.

Download here…

Nine Eleven riddim Lion Paw
My Life – Warrior King
Hail Rastafari – Morgan Heritage
Searching For A Girl Like You – Jah Cure
Asking For A Love – Maria

Penthouse Records
I Found Me – Nadine Sutherland
Living In Style – Buju Banton & Nicky Burt

Gibbo Records
How Can They Say – Bushman

THC Records
Notorious – Turbulence

Indian Summer riddim Bacchanal
Take You High – Zumjay
4 Da Girls (Drum & Bass Version) – Sizzla
Badda Dan Dem – Bunji Garlin

Judgement riddim Don Corleon
Fi Yuh P***y – Vybz Kartel
Look Big – Macka Diamond & Vybz Kartel
Inna War – Vybz Kartel
Do The Dance – Elephant Man

Irob riddim Ward 21
Blue Mountain Peak – Anthony B
Lady Musgrave – Ward 21
The Baddest – Bounty Killer

Out Come The Freaks!
Patlay Patlay – RDB (Untouchables Recordings)
Get Impeccable (Heatwave Remix) – Dirtsman & Missy Elliott (Punchline)

2005-03-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

The Column, The Mixtape

Written for FACT magazine’s current American-themed issue

Given reggae’s omnivorously post-modern compositional palette and its frequent breaks into the global mainstream, it’s tough to find anywhere on earth in which this music sounds entirely out of place. And if such a ’hood does exist, it’s certainly not Jamaica, Queens: New York City’s Yard and home to the fabulous VP Records store.
A few blocks down from Jamaica Avenue’s jerk joints and wannabe-bling clothing retailers—all pushing rhinestone-studded name belts, made while you wait to a soundtrack of Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man—a visit to this place is the next best thing to actually being in the Caribbean for fans of roots, ragga and soca. With seemingly endless racks of albums surrounding a horseshoe-shaped counter festooned with the latest sevens straight outta JA, you just know you’re on to a good thing.
Even with the dollar as weak as it is, it’s still all too easy to give the bank account as hard a battering as your eardums get when you enter. However, a selection of this particular trip’s spoils is available, absolutely free, on the first of an ongoing series of mixes for Fact magazine, up for download right here, including Big League Productions’ re-edit of Bob Marley’s Sun Is Shining, with voicings by Abijah and Luciano & Tony Rebel, a quadruple-shot showcase of tracks by Jah Cure, probably the best roots singer around right now, and a Sizzla-voiced rework of Kanye West’s Jesus Walks by New York dancehall don Bobby Konders.
Also present are mixes on Cologne-based Pow-Pow Productions’ Superior riddim (beginning with the title cut by white German deejay Gentleman), Black Shadow’s Chat, Juke Boxx Productions’ Klymaxx!, Donovan “Vendetta” Bennett’s Double Barrel and Jah Snowcone records’ devastating Applause riddim. So, all told, it’s a pretty solid overview of tunes to keep ’em peeled for.
Heading back to base in Brooklyn and inevitably running late for drinks and dinner, the only thing to do was hail a Yellow Cab. Not always a pleasure, but it’s in every other one of these that musical tourists are most likely to encounter another mutation of the bashment gene: reggaeton—a piquant blend of dancehall, salsa and hip-hop, hailing from Puerto Rico and set to take the US mainstream by storm.
Thanks to the momentum of hits such as Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina and Pitbull’s Culo (on the Jamaican Coolie Dance riddim), this genre is now making headway into daytime radio playlists and catching the ear of hip-hop’s big league. King of Crunk Lil Jon has already racked up an array of guest appearances, and Roc-A-Fella rapper NORE has made an entire reggaeton album—the stand-out moment being Oye Mi Canto, his summer smash with R&B sisters Nina Sky.
Sadly most Latin music has taken the CD-only route, but head somewhere like Brooklyn’s Beat Street, or The Vinyl Room in New Jersey and a stack of bootleg 12-inches can be yours, full of tracks by the likes of Tego Calderon, Ivy Queen, Wisin Y Yandel and Don Omar. Needless to say, all these and more are in the mix. So, all that’s left to add is enjoy the music and, Bush administration aside, God bless America.

FACT Mix #1

Sun Is Shining riddim - Big League
Sun Is Shining – Abijah
When Will Things Change - Luciano & Tony Rebel
Most High Cup Full – Jah Cure

Nine Eleven riddim - Lion Paw
Searching – Jah Cure
Drop Leaf riddim - Don Corleon
Longing For – Jah Cure
Vertex Productions
So Free – Jah Cure & Vybz Kartel

Superior riddim - Pow Pow
Superior – Gentleman
Love Her Forever – Turbulence
Run Around Girl – Anthony B
Sweet Aroma – Tony Rebel
Inna Dem Ting Deh – Morgan Heritage

Jesus Walks riddim - Massive Sounds
Jah Never Fail I – Sizzla

Chat riddim Black Shadow
Feel Alright – Mr Easy
Kitty Kat – Rekha feat. Bobby Monroe
Jimmy Johnny – Kevin Lyttle
Version – Black Shadow
Speak Up – Elephant Man

Klymaxx riddim - Juke Boxx
Long Time Badman – Chico
Falling Apart – Daville feat. Macka Diamond
Move Up Time – Macka Diamond
Wrong Time – Lady Saw
Do Your Thing – Ward 21

Double Barrel riddim - Purple Skunk
Whey It Fah – Macka Diamond
Set Up Yourself – Timberlee feat. Flava Unit
Touch Me If Yuh Bad – Vybz Kartel
Lock Di City - Sizzla
Excitement – Bounty Killer
Famous People – Elephant Man

Applause riddim - Jah Snowcone
Point Pan A Gyal – Delly Ranks
We Work Gyal – Danny English & Mr Pang
Don’t Like You – Assassin
Touch The Sky – Tamone

Reggaeton session
Culo – Pitbull feat. Lil Jon
Me Voy De Caseria – Khriz y Angel
Only U (Reggaeton Mix) – Ashanti
Yo Quiero Bailar – Ivy Queen
Dem Bow (Remix) – Wisin y Yandel
Dale – Don Omar
Gasolina – Daddy Yankee
Sandungueso – Tego Calderon
Oye Mi Canto – N.O.R.E feat. Nina Sky & Tego Calderon

2005-03-03T03:58:00.000-08:00

Attention FACT Magazine Readers

If you've been led here by the Breaking Ranks column in the current issue of FACT magazine, massive apologies. Thanks to an untimely and extremely annoying iMac meltdown, the MP3 mix is not uploaded yet. However, it'll be here by Saturday at the latest. Check it back - you won't be disppointed.

2005-02-26T05:20:00.000-08:00

Lean Back In A Ragga Style

Now it's safe to consider all Indian influence rinsed, it's Arabic music's turn for a ghetto makeover. Following Terror Squad's Lean Back – perhaps one of the only true hip-hop bangers of 2004 – dancehall butted in with last year's Middle East riddim. However, for the time being at least, Ward 21 production team Andre "Suku" Gray and Kunley McCarthy's fantastic Irob has stolen the last word. The instrumental version is a joy in itself and as its ersatz Moroccan flutes and strings whirl like dervishes through the framework of pounding, half-step beats, you could be forgiven for thinking you're listening to one of DJ/rupture's Nettle releases. Check any of the voicings, though, and it's clear this is straight outta JA...

Lady Musgrave – Ward 21

2005-02-18T04:17:00.000-08:00

Just For U

Been a bit quiet lately, what with horrible news hitting blogworld (friend, supporter and inspiration to many of us, Nick Kilroy was buried today – rest in peace, mate) and a huge amount of work, but Breaking Ranks is back. Now, I've never been much of an Ashanti fan; always thought her a perfect example of form over content (probably not entirely unrelated to the fact that it's pretty damned tough to find a picture of her with clothes on). But Only U, her new single, has knocked me for six—a massive, boombasstic guitar lick, sparkling programming and a great vocal... what more do you want, really? I'm not going to post the original because you should all own it by now, anyway, so here's a wicked reggaeton refix. Enjoy.

Only U (Reggaeton Remix) – Ashanti

2005-01-27T13:53:00.000-08:00

Ruff Ride

I like Turbulence a hell of a lot. He doesn't get talked about enough, despite being a key member of the Xterminator crew – one of the best roots sounds going. To redress this balance a bit, I'm going to offer up the brand new "I Will Survive", on Mikey John's cracking Lion Paw, "Golden Touch", a barnstorming old favourite on In The Streetz's Violin, and the classic "Ethiopia Awakes" on the Shanty Town. Fasten your seatbelts.

I Will Survive – Turbulence

Golden Touch – Turbulence

Ethiopia Awakes – Turbulence

2005-01-24T04:07:00.000-08:00

Best Present Ever

2005-01-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

Pull Up!

Another mix for your listening pleasure, this time dancehall segueing into a splash of reggaetòn at the end. Naturally, I think everything on it's great but if forced to pick two stars out of the whole set, they'd have to be Macka Diamond, who's on fire right now, and Wayne Wonder for "Jah Love", his gorgeous version of the He Speaks Rhythm. Hit the title to download and see what you think...

Reggae, Ragga Y Reggaetòn (January 2005)

He Speaks riddim

Give Thanks - Vybz Kartel
Version - Free Willy Productions
Do Something - Beenie Man (excerpt)
Twisted Road - Sanchez
Jah Love - Wayne Wonder

Nature riddim

Love Is Real - Daville
Push Push - Anthony B
Don't Be Ashamed - Sizzla

Fife riddim

Living Right - Vybz Kartel & Wayne Wonder
Fan Dem Off - Daville

Double Barrel riddim

Whey It Fah - Macka Diamond
Bad Mine - Red Rat
Lock Di City - Sizzla
Famous People - Elephant man
Touch Me If Yuh Bad - Vybz Kartel
Set Up Yourself - Timberlee & Flava Unit
Excitement - Bounty Killer

Slow Bounce riddim

Call Out Mi Name - Macka Diamond
Where's My Friend - Tanto Metro & Devonte
Trouble - TOK
Big Man Thing - Vybz Kartel
Anger Management - Bounty Killer

Black Attack Riddim

Put It Een - Macka Diamond
Sen Dem - Vybz Kartel
Wine It Up - Daville
God Line - Elephant Man

Lean Back (Remix) - Terror Squad feat. Tego & Tony Touch
Yo Quiero Bailar - Ivy Queen
Dem Bow (Remix) - Wisin y Yandel
Oye Mi Canto - N.O.R.E feat. Daddy Yankee, Nina Sky, Gem Star & Big Mato

2005-01-21T02:24:00.000-08:00

Bit Of A Night Out

Hi folks, sorry for the lack of postage this week, it's been a bit of a busy one. However, you can catch me playing records tonight, right here...

Those nice Heatwave folks have brought me in as a last-minute ringer and I'll be on until about 11.30, but the rest of the night looks like it'll be pretty tasty, too.

2005-01-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

I Don't Know What You've Been Told...

But, as far as I'm concerned, Tanya Stephens is, by a country mile, the best and most interesting artist working in Jamaica right now. Every version she cuts manages to stand out head and shoulders above everyone else's—and not just because she's a ballsy, talented lady working in what's still essentially a man's world. Regardless of gender, she's an incredible live performer, with a playful lyrical intelligence that precious few can match.
Those of you who downloaded the first mix on Breaking Ranks will already be familiar with the irresistible martial stomp of the Military rhythm and, as you can probably imagine, Tanya's great on it. However, for some unknown reason, her cut won't be getting released at all. Can't even begin to guess why, because it's terrific. But hit the link below and you'll be able to make up your own minds.

T.A.N.Y.A - Tanya Stephens

2005-01-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

Techno Spam

Ricardo Villalobos

In the past three days I have received unsolicited emails from Bettie Beltram, Jean Atkins and Geraldo Villalobos.

2005-01-13T03:44:00.000-08:00

The Real Deal?

I'm not big on "reality" TV, not least because it's usually a long, long way from any kind of normality I want to imagine. However, a show I unfortunately managed to catch while in the States last week finally made me realise it has all gone way too far.
Ok, we've had semi-famous nutjobs making all manner of dicks of themselves, especially in the current Celebrity Big Brother (which horrified me as soon as I got home – Germaine, what were you thing of, love?), and ordinary Joes and Josies entering into bizarre contracts of wilful self-abasement just to gain their 15 minutes in the spotlight, but I had thought that the small army of pretty regular-looking women who underwent months worth of painful plastic surgery and banishment from their families to be "miraculously transformed" into The Swan represented this particular branch of popculture's lowest ebb.
Not a chance, er... baby. Who's Your Daddy takes that award, hands down. If you've not seen or heard of this tank of televisual sewage, count yourself lucky - it's fucking awful, involving an adopted person who has never met their father, a bunch of actors pretending to be him and the real dad. The point of the show is for the adoptee to pick their real parent out of the imposters so as they can be reunited... oh, and win a cash prize. Now, is that not just vile in every sense?
Right now the only reality TV show I want to see is one I just thought up, entitled Similarly Named Celebrity Job-Swap. First episode featuring Lil Jon and Richard Littlejohn. Any more suggestions?

2005-01-12T03:48:00.000-08:00

Let's Get It Reggaeton

Developed a bit of an obsession with Puerto Rican bashment while I was away, particularly great tracks like"Papi Te Quiero" on Tony Kelly's Buyout rhythm and "Yo Quiero Bailar" on Jeremy Harding's Liquid rhythm, both by Ivy Queen (above). Give me a little time and I'll throw a short mix of this stuff up. Of course, it'll have to include the truly cracking "Oye Mi Canto" by N.O.R.E feat. Daddy Yankee, Nina Sky (below), Gem Star & Big Mato...

2004-12-30T03:14:00.000-08:00

You Don't Have To But...

Under normal circumstances MP3 blogging is all about us giving stuff to you, for free, because we want to. Now, I know I've not even been around a month yet, but current events have made me think that, just this once, maybe it's not such a bad idea to ask readers/listeners to bust out a few notes. So, if you've enjoyed Breaking Ranks so far, it would be really nice if you visited here, or, for non-Brits, a similar organisation in your own country, and gave them something. By my reckoning, if only half the people who have downloaded the first dancehall mix on this site gave £5, that would add up to almost £3,000 - obviously no one needs telling that a total like that could be put to way better use right now than the couple of pints or three-quarters of a 12-inch single it works out as if you keep it in your own pocket. There'll be plenty more mixes and things up next year, once I'm back from New York, so you could even treat it as a sort of vaguely karmic subscription, if you like. Either way, a happy, safe 2005 to all of you.

2004-12-24T05:19:00.000-08:00

Kind Hearts & Minarets

It's that time of year when thoughts turn to Bethlehem, mangers, babies, three kings and goodwill to all men, so it seems fitting to wind up with a few sides on Black House's Middle East rhythm. I'm signing off for a few days of family business, so happy holidays and see you real soon.

Worth It - Sean Paul

Don't You Worry - Mr Vegas

Head A Fly - Predator

Breaking Ranks will be back for a little while between Christmas and New Year's Eve, but if any of you happen to be in New York on the evening of the 31st, you could always drop in to the location listed below. I'm reliably informed that Paul Sci-Fi Soul mashes it up proper style and, as you can see, he'll be joined by some other chancer.

Sci-Fi Soul & Brooklyn Garage present:
..... WILD FLEX .....

SATURDAYS 10pm - 3:30am / FREE admission

ORCHARD BAR
200 Orchard St (betw Houston and Stanton), NEW YORK CITY
(F Train to 2nd Ave or Delancey St)
1-212-673-5350

DJs: Paul Kennedy & guests

R&B, RAGGA, HIP HOP, UK GARAGE, DANCE, ROCK +
NEW & OLD, UNDERGROUND TO POP

upcoming events:

> FRIDAY < Dec 31st:
NEW YEAR'S EVE with Wild FleX @ Orchard Bar,
featuring ragga/dancehall guest spot from London's own DAVE STELFOX!

2004-12-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

Dancing Banned In Seaview Gardens

But Elephant Man brings the fire, proving that you can shake that ass and praise the Lord at the same time. Supporting cast: Daville, TOK, Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.

Yuh Nuh Bad Mind - Elephant Man

Wine It Up - Daville

Round Here - TOK

2004-12-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Bumper To Bumper

Cracking soca number from Candice on the Mix Up rhythm. Shows MarkOne, Plasticman and co a thing or two about snare-snaps and basslines, but it's flash as a turbocharged lowrider—just like you'd hope.

Move Up To My Bumper - Candice

Sometimes Sasha makes me spit coffee.

2004-12-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

Killer Tune

What can you say... Bounty Killer herbalising over the instrumental of Terror Squad's fearsome "Lean Back". Gotta love those Massive B cats.

Highest - Bounty Killer/Terror Squad

2004-12-20T05:37:00.000-08:00

Chitty Chitty...

Come on, forgive the picture, it's nearly Christmas. And, regardless of your feelings on Dick Van Dyke, the new Bang Bang rhythm by the In The Streetz crew is a winner, full of clanging trashcan lids and a bassline that melts spines. Check Half Pint refusing to settle for a part-time lover and Vybz Kartel indulging other, more aromatic, passions.

All Night Long - Half Pint

Eye Deh Ah Mi Knee - Vybz Kartel

(BTW, comments boxes need love, too.)

2004-12-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

Mafia Hit

From the mighty Joe Gibbs stable, this track by Wally & Snuffy has been a favourite for ages, but especially during 2004, when I began to dig a little deeper in to the work of this cracking producer and his seminal label. Great stuff.

Dreader Mafia - Wally & Snuffy

In other news, correspondent Jace Clayton, aka DJ/rupture, now has a blog, too.

2004-12-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

Normal Service Resumed

Blame it on a pint or two of Guinness over the recommended limit, but I hit the wrong button last night and didn't publish the post I had lined up for you. To make up for it, today's a double-whammy...

Real Rock

One of the most crowd-pleasing rhythms of the year, King Of Kings' Dancehall Rock is also one of the most innovative and playful. Backed by Fisher-Price "My First Pantera Record"-style, plasticky guitar riffs and crunchy, driving percussion Ce'Cile and Beenie Man seek and find pop perfection, Elephant Man goes crazy-hype, and Spragga Benz offers a version you may recognise as the original source of the vocals for his cut of grime's FWD riddim. Check 'em out...

The Thing - Beenie Man & Ce'Cile

Ova Di Wall - Elephant Man

We Ready - Spragga Benz

Gangster Ride

Distilling all the manic joy of soca into one record is a tough brief to fill, but Destra Garcia manages it with the thrilling "Bonnie & Clyde". Dedicated to Simon Silverdollar and the rest of the crew who turned out for August's absolutely berserk 70 Degrees party in Kentish town—best night out I've had all year.

Bonnie & Clyde - Destra Garcia

2004-12-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

Egyptian Loving

Having listened to heaps of bhangra and desi over the past couple of years, it wasn't such a stretch to fall in love with shaabi while on a recent diving holiday in Egypt.
Literally meaning "of the people", shaabi is real, genuine Arabic street music—the sort of stuff people dance and let off a little steam to.
From what little I know about it, it's hugely underrated, too.
The guy in the CD shop we went to didn't even want us to buy any of it, steering us in the direction of the classical section and saying it was: "music for cab drivers, waiters and disreputable people."
Sold!
Of course, as with any other genre, plenty of it is pretty bad, with the same cloying cabaret tendency found in the bulk of Algerian rai. But an equal amount is spectacular, pitching soca's good-time bounce against the most pristeen Middle Eastern instrumentation and packed with hooks any bubblegum pop songwriter would be proud of.
Take this track by Hesham Abbas for instance—you plain won't get to hear anything more exhuberant and infectious. Best heard extremely loud in speeding death-trap taxis.

Habib'k Ana - Hesham

2004-12-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

Who Let The Dhols Out?

Now it's time for some real, proper bhangra with "Boliyaan", a seven-minute-long monster taken from Satwinder Bitti's fabulous Pardesi Dhola album (pictured above). Readers living anywhere with a half-decent-sized South Asian community should be able to walk into any hole-in-the-wall music shop and pick this whole CD up for about £5—and that's a damned good deal for eight tracks by one of the most mesmerizing vocalists around.

Boliyaan - Satwinder Bitti

2004-12-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

Soca Season

Like a belated advent calendar, there's going to be a something new here every day up until Christmas (then I'll be aiming for two or three updates a week). As 2005 approaches, it seems about the right time to run down a few of my favourite tunes of the year—and this one's right near the top. Just to confuse the issue, despite being a soca tune, it's called "Bhangra", is voiced on a rhythm called the Dhol and has a feel not a million miles away from all those great New York diva-house cuts from the late 80s. Have good (if slightly fuzzy), memories of it going down a storm at Carnival this year, so go on, get to it...

Bhangra - Sharon Darlington

2004-12-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

New Leaves

Included toward the end of the big ol' mix posted below, man of the moment Donovan Bennett's Drop Leaf is a late-running contender for the top spot in my end-of-year rhythm chart.
Lacing a loose skank with Don Corleon's now-trademark flamenco guitars, it's perfect for calmer, more contemplative voicings (give or take Tanya Stephens' killer lines about running off with her no-good dawg of an ex's screwdrivers and powerdrills)—so much so that even Bounty Killer drops the Warlord schtick and turns all Mr Loverman.
With precious few people having had anything good to say about Jamaican music over the past few months, it seems like the ideal way to end a turbulent 2004. So here's the version and two more cuts from Maxi Priest and TOK.

Drop Leaf Version - Donovan "Vendetta" Bennett

I Believe - Maxi Priest

When U Cry - TOK

2004-12-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

Off With A Boomshot

Just so as you can't say I never give you anything—especially during the festive season— here's a brand new 52-minute mix compiled yesterday by yours truly. Tracks are listed below and to download, head for the title...

December 2004 Soundclash !!!DELETED!!!

1. Lose My Breath (Acapella) – Destiny’s Child/Tunda Klap Riddim – Renaissance

Katana riddim

2. Female Pimping – Tanya Stephens
3. Di Agony – Wayne Wonder
4. It’s Crazy – Mr Easy
5. Top Billing – Bounty Killer

Indian Summer riddim

6. Gangster Ride – Tanya Stephens
7. Cash – Macka Diamond
8. Till A Morning – Daville

Simm Card riddim

9. If You Want War – Tanto Metro & Devonte
10. Version – Johnson/Bennett
11. Those Sexy Girls – Danny English
12. Phone Light – Kiprich

Kopa riddim

13. Turnin Me On – Nina Sky
14. Who You Calling Nigga – Capleton
15. Four Seasons – Vybz Kartel

Middle East riddim

16. Worth It – Sean Paul
17. Real Man – Vybz Kartel
18. Dandy Shandy – Vybz Kartel
19. Head A Fly – Predator
20. Long Donkey Cod – Sizzla

Phantom riddim

21. Bad Mind – Tanto Metro & Devonte
22. Moneymaker – TOK
23. Neva Even Pet It – Ce’Cile
24. Version – Fire Links

Military riddim

25. Mr Tecki Back – Macka Diamond
26. Let It Go – Tanto Metro & Devonte
27. Inna Bed – TOK
28. When We Are Seen – Ce’Cile
29. Warlord Walk – Bounty Killer

Bubble Up riddim

30. Change Your Ways – Chico
31. We Be Burning – Sean Paul
32. Version – Lenky
33. We Aint Scared – Bling Dawg

Voom Voom riddim

34. Version – Cribe & Rigo
35. Want Dat Body Deh – Ce’Cile
36. Soft Inside – Tanya Stephens

Drop Leaf riddim

37. After You – Tanya Stephens
38. Be Strong – Sizzla
39. It’s OK – Bounty Killer

40. Doors Of Your Heart – The Beat

2004-12-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

The Rhythms, The Bloggage

After a brief foray into the blogosphere circa late 2003/early 2004 and repeated requests from a few people to make a comeback, here's my new corner of the interweb. It'll be a bit different from last time, inasmuchas it will host MP3s and mixes and perhaps be a little less verbose (hey, I'm pretty busy at the moment and I did only say perhaps). It will also hopefully coexist with an upcoming dancehall-based magazine column that I'm due to start writing early next year. Don't let the name fool you, it won't be wall-to-wall raggamuffin business. In the next few weeks brace yourselves for some rare Brazilian samba and batucada, a few bits of Egyptian shaabi, a smattering of bhangra and soca, not to mention good old regular dance and pop music I happen to be feeling. There's even scope for guest contributors, so if you're interested let me know. Anyway, all that's left to say is that I hope you enjoy it.