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Marvin Sparks mixes his Best of Bashment 2011 Story (so far) Free Download

Marvin Sparks, the undefined guy (not a DJ/blogger/journo et cet) from Skengness (no typo) made a mix... In fact, he made it while his chicken wings and chips were in the oven (did you shout "Skeng chef from Skengness" as well? Nah). Well, he does get a lot of requests for mixes by friends who aren't dancehall/bashment-savvy thus making him comparable to bashment's Tour Guide.

Despite not being a DJ, his mixes are tighter than a hipsters jeans that shrunk in the wash, because hipster was too busy practicing the dougie to bashment instead of the washing machine setting.

He uploaded it at the request of Rubi Dan from the TheHeatwave.co.uk DJ gang upon hearing a preview in Marvin's car after Madd Raff Wednesday's at The Social (Little Portland Street, right there in the heart of London town... on Wednesday's. Try it one day). A firm believer of the words Jimmy Cliff sings "You can get it if you (really) want," he left it for anyone to hear or download. And yes, this is he writing in 3rd person. Mad cool.

All tunes are something Marvin Sparks will put his hand on heart and buss a gun finger or grab a gyal and whine too. They aren't on the mix because they're necessarily the hottest or newest tunes/riddims of the moment - that's coincidental for some. All those that follow the blog will know the hottest tunes get co-signed before they buss anyway. And not all the songs are popular (yet) anyway. If you like it, thanks, if not, unlucky. We're moving digital out here you medium wave chief.

The "bashment's just about sex" perception is dispelled here. That isn't a deliberate attempt either, it's a misunderstanding by pop club frequenters judging it by songs that YOU respond positively to in clubs (@ English folk first and foremost). In addition to that, there are only 4 or 5 swear words (yes, "only". Dancehall is a hardcore genre. Imagine a hip hop CD with 4 or 5 swear words... Exactly), 2 radio edits and 1 song I missed out on purpose because it's exceptionally rude (the freaky girls love it though). Neither of the radio edit songs are Vybz Kartel songs. That should shatter another one of your perceptions.

The mix launches with chasing off the crosses of badmind courtesy of Mavado, Chan Dizzy and I-Octane before switching into hardcore dancehall floor filler flavour with TJ's Star A Star riddim, Boardhouse Run Di Place riddim, Stephen McGregor's Pepper before making way for reggae fusion flavours of newcomer Justus Augustus' infectious smash 'Overproof' riddim . This is an example of the versatility in dancehall reflected over the course of the mix. Anthems set on island pop/reggae fusion flavours, stereotypical hardcore traditional dancehall riddims and subjects (boasting and clashing) on the Gaza World riddim to light-hearted Matrimoney riddim which centres around marital affairs, celebratory summer songs (Summertime, Summer Fling riddim) and sexy dancehall (Gyptian 'Wine Slow', Beenie Man 'Go Go Club', Sex on di Beach riddim). There's even space for Nigerian uprising star Wizkid to give his interpretation of dancehall on 'Tease Me' (it's Nigerian bashment, not Afrobeats, soz), UK popstar Daniel Bedingfield on an actual dancehall riddim and Ms Dynamite's Labrinth-produced cut Neva Soft in the mix as well. There are quite a few singles in the mix too.

Finally, I'm not someone that sides with the old/traditional OR new sound. If it's good, I like it and dashed it up in the mix. There's more than enough room for both sides to co-exist and I personally don't think I lean to one side over the other on this mix. Nor am I biased to the Gaza camp.

Follow him (me) on Twitter ting dem http://Twitter.com/MarvinSparks or read his blog @ www.marvinsparks.blogspot.com

Guidance

Marvin Sparks 'Does (his) 2011 so far' by MiNameMarvinSparks

Press the arrow pointing down to download

Tracklist

Mavado - Love Mi Life
Chan Dizzy - Hello Badmind
I-Octane - Badmind Fi Di Year
Flippa Mafia - Star a Star
Lady Saw - Wife A Wife
Assassin - Run Di Place
Bounty Killer - Ready Fi Dem
Beenie Man - Nah Talk Too Long
Assassin - Nothing At All
Mavado - Pepper
Shabba Ranks - None A Dem
Stephen McGregor - Bounce A Gal
Daniel Bedingfield - Sometime You Just Know
Demarco - Nuff Gal
Kurup ft. Wayne Marshall - Give You Love
Khago - Tun Up Di Ting
Mavado - Settle Down
Gaza Slim - Always
Vybz Kartel - Summertime
Popcaan - Ravin
Tarrus Riley - Summer Fling
Munga, Supa Hype, Ding Dong - I'mma Need Security
Mavado - Final Destination
Assassin - Wife Material
Wayne Marshall - Good Old Wife
Sean Paul & Fambo - Wedding Crashers
Popcaan - Can't Believe
Popcaan - Middle Day
Chan Dizzy - Dat Mi Know
Vybz Kartel - Real Badman
Aidonia - Nuh Par Wid
Wizkid - Tease Me
Stylo G - Call Mi A Yardie
Vybz Kartel - Sick Head
Popcaan - Clean
Beenie Man - Go Go Club
Popcaan - Only Man She Want
Vybz Kartel & Russian - Get Gal Anywhere
Vybz Kartel - British Love
Aidonia - Touch You Tonight
Assassin aka Agent Sasco - Talk How Mi Feel
I-Octane - Nah Wash (Too Licky, Licky)
Popcaan - Nuh Box Pon Jaw
Vybz Kartel - Stronger We Get
I-Octane - Tell Some Bwoy
Bugle - Friend
Mavado - Do Road
Tony Matterhorn - Ugly
Gyptian - Wine Slow
Hyah Slice - Out My Head
I-Octane - Come Close
Tarrus Riley - Come Over
Wayne Marshall - Great Escape
Dj Powa ft Cliff Twang - Nobody Canna Cross It
Mavado - Star Bwoy (released in 2010 but shot in 2011)
Overmarz - Now You See Me, Now You Don't (see above)
Aidonia - Mek Her Say (and again, so don't try it)
Neyo & Mavado - I Know You Want Me
Laden - Come Mek Me Touch You
Ms Dynamite - Neva Soft
Aidonia - Bad People (2010 for the sake of it)
Laza Morgan ft. Mavado - One by One
Demarco - Love My Life

p.s. if you're wondering how a dude that isn't a DJ nor groupie has shout outs from Vybz Kartel, Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, Popcaan and Gyptian, they are a few of the many artists I've interviewed. You can check those out here

You can download my 2010 equivalent "Product of My Ears" here

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