Blogging and "End of the Year" lists are like peanut butter and jelly and far be it for me to deprive our readers with an end of the year list to add on to the dog pile of 2006.
With that in mind I decided it was time to buck the trend from the ever familiar lists of albums, songs, and artists of the year which for one reason or another only seem to cater to hip-hop/rap.
There's nothing wrong with that, but anyone can pick up a
Ghostface album or
Clipse album anywhere where as dancehall has to be absorbed through proxy. You either have to go to a dancehall weekly or know someone who listens to it religiously to be up on the always changing big tunes that are running the dance at that particular time.
To avoid bias I asked some people that know a thing or two about the music and polled everyone I knew to come up with the quientessential dancehall tunes of the year.
First up a man called:
Unite (Tribe of Kings, selecta, mc, and writer)
Unite's Top Tunes for 2006:
1. "Weh Dem A Do" = Movado
2. "Dutty Wine" = Tony Matterhorn
3. "We A Gangsta" = Dr. Evil
4. "Bad Man Forward Bad Man Pull Up" = Ding Dong
5. "Sufferer" = Sean Paul
*Bonus*
Top 5 Riddims of the Year:
1. Inspector Riddim
2. Dem Time Deh Riddim
3. High Altitude Riddim
4. Red Bull & Guiness Riddim
5. Galore Riddim
Next up
Dj Eleven of The World Famous Rub
DJ Eleven's Top Tunes for 2006
1. Tony Matterhorn "Dutty Wine"
2. Mr. Vegas & Lexxus "Taxi Fare"
3. Mr. Vegas "Do You Know"
4. Mavado "Weh Dem A Do"
5. Collie Buddz "Come Around"
Tribe of King's Dub Plate Master
Dash Eye
Dasheye's Top Tunes for 2006
1. Marlon Asher- Ganja Farmer
2. Collie Buddz- Come Around
3. Dr. Evil- We A Gangster
4. Mavado- Weh Dem a Do
5. Vegas- Do You Know
6. Jah Cure & Fantan Mojah- Nah Build Great Man
7. Gyptian- Beautiful Lady
8. Chuck Fender- Gash Dem
9. Richie Spice- Youths So Cold
10. Khari Kill- Picture of Selassie
11. Damon Marley, Bounty Killer, Eek A Mouse- Khaki Suit
Chris
Lemon-Redand
Turntable Lab
Lemon-Red's Top Tunes for 2006
5. Mr. Easy - "Strangest Thing"
4. Turbulence - "Notorious"
3. Mavado - "Weh Dem A Do"
2. Dr. Evil - "More Punanny"
1. Tony Matterhorn - "Dutty Wine"
Catchdubs
Nick CatchdubsFader Mag, DJ...
Nick CatchDubs's Top Tunes for 2006
1. Baby Cham "Ghetto Story" (85 riddim)
2. Tony Matterhorn, "Dutty Wine" (Smash riddim)
3. Mavado "Weh Dem Ah Do" (Redbull & Guinness riddim)
4. Busy Signal, "Step Out" (Step Out riddim)
5. Ding Dong, "Bad Man Forward" (Hard Slam riddim)
6. Buju Banton, "Me & Oonu" (Wipe Out riddim)
7. Busy Signal feat Mavado, "Bad Man Place" (no riddim)
8. Busy Signal "Not Going Down" (Ice Breaker riddim)
9. Vybz Kartel, "Maths Class" (Octane riddim)
10. Bunji Garlin, "Brrrt" (March Out riddim)
There were so many tunes this year, but I think the following artists were definetly on the forefront of the genre this year:
Ding Dong "Bad Man Forward, Bad Man Pull Up"
This tune came through so hard in 06. I mean it basically yelled you into liking it and it was from a dancer of all people.
Collie Buddz "Come Around"
This ganja anthem was so loud and proud you couldn't help wonder why it didn't become a small U.S radio hit. Well, okay it's a ganja tune, but if "I Got Five On It" can blow up then "Come Around" should've been able to slip through the radio cracks too.
Tony Matterhorn "Dutty Wine"
Producers ruled this year by getting off the controls and on the mic and this tune was as massive as they come.
Mavado "Weh Dem A Go Do"
All eyes are on this Cassa Piece native and whether or not he's gonna rule in 07. If the string of tunes he's put together in the past months are indicator of Mavado's talents then I think it's okay to pass the torch to the new King of The Dancehall. This tune was haunting and sincere at the same time and it didn't hurt that the Red Bull and Guiness riddim was ricter either.
Sizzla "Head Over Heels"
This tune snuck in at the last minute and is my personal favorite right now. Is it just me or is Sizzla's musical output his biggest problem? Slow down Kalonji. I mean the sheer statistics shame any and everyone that has ever recorded music. Sizzla still remains consistent, but I keep wondering if he's a workaholic or losing his mind.
