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Oi Marvin! What tunes you feeling atm bruv?

Hi.

Thought I'd pop up couple songs I've been feeling since the year started which haven't already been posted yet.

Boombox riddim

Best riddim I've heard so far this year. Two best pieces are the Spice (repping for the ladies) and talk of the island, Alkaline.

Alkaline does to this Notnice riddim what I reckon Vybz Kartel would've done for his former producer. This is the closest we'll get to a Kartel on Not Nice riddim so just enjoy it.



Spice does what Spice does. Empower the women to express their sexuality. This is the new term since Beyonce got away with it. Spice is a patron saint of feminism.



You can catch some Russians wining to it here (second song). I don't think this is what they're stepping on Ukraine for but its an interesting watch all the same.



Speaking of Russians...

Rvssian riddim

A while back I tweeted some hope for a return of Latin-leaning dancehall music. When I say "Latin-leaning" I mean reggaeton sounding dancehall which of course is an older form of dancehall. I get tired of the constant American-slant on dancehall aiming to appeal to African-American who don't care about anything outside of their own stuff. Let's be honest, they can be very ignorant to other cultures.

The Hispanics however are a lot more open as it's closer to popular forms of their own music anyway. Let's not forget, they were the market that broke Sean Paul to the masses over there.

Anyway, I'm feeling two pieces on there and a couple others are alright. Rvssian is the best producer in Jamaica right now. I called it after "Weed Smokers" & "Whine & Kotch". The new vibe is the best thing in dancehall. Reminiscent of the dancehall we all know and love with some contemporary elements on top.

Sean Paul 'Front To Back' is by far the best dancehall song he's made since his 2010 appearance on Smokin' riddim.



Incarcerated dancehall superstar, Vybz Kartel drops the best song on the riddim. Even flings in a bit of Spanish. He obviously understands its one they'll appreciate. Alongside Rvssian's protege J Capri.



Igloo riddim

Another riddim Vybz Kartel dominates from behind bars is Igloo. The above has a Latin-friendly vibe, this has a Afrobeats-friendly. Listen to how the bass line weaves on the riddim. Kartel in his gallis element. "When you drop inna mi bed what a happy sheet" who says things like that?



Mavado "Friends With Benefits" is the first time I recall Mavado on a So Unique riddim and it's a solid appearance.



Good Book riddim

This Dave Kelly-inspired riddim produced by ZJ Liquid is a good example of the sparser sounds around at the moment. Mavado's piece takes it for me. Full of confidence. Boasty Mavado in full effect.



Title song of the riddim comes by way of one of the more under-appreciated Jamaican artists, Demarco.  He may not always have the best song on riddims or the hottest song out, but he delivers solid cuts and he's rarely out of the mix.



Last song I'm featuring on the riddim is Aidonia. "Watch him gal like a guard dog. She still ah come in a mi yard, darg," boasts Donia on this which finds him back on his take weh your gal motive that scored him a hit on the Catalog riddim in 2010.



And speaking of Demarco…

Demarco - "Apartment"

On the Seduction riddim, so you already you know this is a sweaty, intimate, hot breath in your neck type riddim. And it definitely is.



Kalado "Good Good Bring Life" is on the same riddim. First heard this in Jamaica last year. Jeez.



Davido - Skelewu

This one's getting a UK release in the next couple of weeks. Is an old one to proper afrobeats head (of which I'm not so please allow me). The dance is a nice little skank too.



P-Square - Personally

Another afrobeats song I was extremely late on. But that's just life sometimes. I'm working on quickening the speed. P-Square always deliver I think.



Joey B ft Sarkodie - Tonga

Vibes! Does "Tonga" rhyme with "corna"? Either way this bangs



Shift K3y - Touch

I'm not too deep into house, but the commercial house right now is still waving their flag high and mighty. Duke Dumont "I Got U" and Route 94 "My Love" have received replay treatment. This banger is a next vibes as well. Much more in the UK garage side of life. Harder 2-step drums, tender male vocals singing about women is always a good'un in the gal dem books.



SecondCity - I Wanna Feel

If I had to sample a part of Toni Braxton's "You're Making Me High", I'd probably go for the beginning of the bridge as well. I'm a sucked for a great bridge. One that fully brings the song to a near conclusion. One that changes chord structure to some sweet vibes. But yeah, back to this song, I'm feeling it, innit.



Sigma - Nobody To Love

Sigma's bootleg of "Bound 2" finds itself getting an officially release. This is better than the original. A song with the words "Just grab somebody/ No leaving this party with nobody to love," deserves to be on a dance floor filler. Doesn't this make you wanna group hug your mates and maybe involve a couple of stray strangers nearby?




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