Marvin Sparks

This post details all the notable bashment moves that I can remember/think you'll be interested in from a London perspective. Can't speak of the UK cah mi nuh deh everywhere. Basically, I don't remember bashment having this impact on over here, as in British artists having so much dancehall material in it's rawest form in my lifetime. I weren't around for Saxon and Coxsone sound days, unfortunately. I'll show many examples of those song which have been popular, in addition to remixes of some of the biggest mainstream singles of the year and international artists that did their version of reggae/discount dancehall. I love it I tell ya. There's also a free mix tape type thing included, my top 5 songs and the interviews I did. Actually here are the links to interviews Sean Paul , Shaggy , Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor , Mavado , Lady Saw and dancehall artist Aidonia made a response interview to my explosive interview Vybz Kartel. Catch them both her...

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 downlo...

Hey guys and gals, I'm back with the sixth episode of the popular series FlashBack Friday (click for previous episodes) for the year like 2011. This one's slightly different to the others. Not sure if it's holiday blues, but I've been tracing back songs that remind me of time spent in Jamaica. Jamaica is the land of reggae and dancehall , I don't take pictures, so naturally those songs remind me of my time. So, I've decided to document them all here. Bit of a personal one, so you may or may not enjoy it. Something I will deffo look back on in years to come to remember happy times. You'll have to guess the years. p.s. you get the "Yard Times" play on words from "Hard Times"? Genius. It's far from hard times, truss me To start you off nice and easy, these are my earliest memory of reggae. Before my first trip to Jamaica but I'm documenting them too Lovingdeer - Wild Gilbert Audio in the video is poor so here's a better quality v...

Another day, another rapper, another hijacked Mavado song. Currently on number 3 since year start ( Sneakbo & Chipmunk "Star Boy" , Sneakbo "Warn Them" now this). Don't know much about Ratlin, but he's shouting Mozart which is west London. I'm feeling this song. I'm not as deep into it as I'd like to be but I really like UK rap from the roads. They have character and gangsta narrative. I don't relate to money, swag and that nonsense. Soz The original Another song that can be found on my mix CD Product of My Ears . It's mad how you get certain man in the UK that will swear blind there isn't anything but explicit sex, gun or bun X people talk, but these road rappers seem to be sampling dancehall songs that have meaningful hooks and beats suited for their rhymes... This is why I say there is a difference between bashment and dancehall. I'll blog that one day. (sly plug check my interviews with Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Serani, Gyptian...

Vybz Kartel returns to his famed British accent that brought him much attention in the mid-00's on Proper English. I'm feeling this. A LOT! The riddim is so sick. His whispering vocals are effective and quotables/wheel up points for dayyyyssss! Loads of references to Prince Wills and Kate Middleton, hip hop's Tim Westwood, dancehall DJ Robbo Ranx, Brixton, temperature ("I'm in the tropics, you in the freezer") and tea - obviously. And the accent is just jokes. "Come let's have a drink at the pub, yeah? Then later on we can party at the club, yeah?" Will be available on iTunes. I'll deffo post up that link (sly plug check my interviews with Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Serani, Gyptian, Busy Signal etc here) I love this riddim. Be interesting to find out who produced this after all the controversy surrounding the departure of in-house producer NotNice. I know he's working with Dre Skull on his album. If this is Dre Skull, he's the guy to produ...

Big dutty stinkin' Shabba voices "None A Dem" on Di Genius' infectious Peppa riddim. Sounds like he's throwing words after Vybz Kartel. The legend Shabba asks "How can you not rate who come before you? You're going on like you came around here and made music big." before boldly (well, as bold as an indirect can be) stating "None a dem nuh bad like Shabba Rankin'... Stop that fool there and ask him if him nuh imitate the great Shabba Rankin'. Stop that one there and ask him if him nuh imitate the Rankin', the vibes I bring the big song that I sing must inspire and motivate him." Mad ting! So, both Beenie Man and Shabba Ranks have chomped the bait ( "Dancehall Hero" ). Who next? Shaggy? Hahaha! Kartel must be laughing. Don't expect a return diss track - Kartel's too smart for that. It'll most certainly be an entertaining response, be it a line in a song or a cheeky comment in an interview. p.s. This isn't...

Today I'm in a vibe to share tunes I've been feeling since year start. Feels like a long time since I shared some recent reggae and dancehall. We call this one here "Back on my Bashment" Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor - Bounce A Gal Girls them time. 2nd verse "Girlfriend walk out pon da one ya/ Some girl scary like Iguana/ Teeth full a mix up like piranha/ So how she ah say she favour (look like) Rihanna" Raaaaaeeeeeee!!! Tune mad enuh. Make the girl them feel nice. Probably won't do well outside of dancehall circles in the UK because it isn't x-rated. Mavado - Pepper "So all them a talk, man a stepper/ Ketch (catch) up them ah play man ah pepper" translates as "I'm hot they're normal". Catchy as fk... again! Mavado still has it all these years later. Vybz Kartel - Benz Punany Relatively old tune but I hadn't blogged it, so here it is. This is a sure fire hit from I first heard it. Catchy chorus, good beat, slack...

Buju Banton performed this past weekend in Miami. For those of you that may not know he was on trial for conspiracy to deal cocaine. The first trial ended in a mistrial because the jury couldn't reach a verdict innocent or guilty. The retrial is set for February I believe. While out on bail, babylon in Florida allowed him to perform a concert to help raise funds for his law fees. Highlights include guest performers showing support Tarrus Riley, Nadine Sutherland, Spragga Benz, Sean Paul, Gramps Morgan (Morgan Heritage)and Wayne Wonder: Here's footage of the concert. Sadly Beres Hammond couldn't make it due to his performance the night before at Rebel Salute. Heard he turned in a standard great performance Buju performing to sold-out 10k audience in Miami this past weekend: Think he was a bit overwhelmed by the occasion to be honest but I can't blame him. A whole year in jail. Possibility of a long time in prison. Still looms over his head really. He poses a question dur...

You know I say you should never lie to artists or producers about shit songs that we have to suffer hearing? Well did I ever tell you about the riddim me and my cousins gassed one of the best dancehall producers about the day he made it? Mutual followers may have seen this tweet : "@DiGenius1 I saw the vlogs. Crazy vibes in Japan! Ship ah sail outernational. But yo, hope you voice that riddim. Capsize everything!!!" To which he replied : "@MarvinSparks mmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#SHIP" Then if you don't believe it's this riddim I replied : "@DiGenius1 "No man to mi riddim again" Yow! Big up Stephen" Convo took place on the 28th August. Yeah I searched it. You may not think I'm gassing but that doesn't mean they don't... Well this is it. Can't wait for the CDQ of the riddims to drop. The instrumental for this riddim is absolutely friggin crazy on a next ting. Swear down, if the pieces on there match up, the riddim...

If the name doesn't ring a bell, "Wah gwaan Popcaan?!" from the tune of the summer Clarks by Vybz Kartel should. Marvin Sparks speaks to Jamaican artist Popcaan for The Wrap Up about his troubled upbringing in the ‘Gangsta City,’ avoiding temptation to enter a life of crime and tells us what makes Clarks an essential purchase for the summer... and the winter! The Wrap Up: Where did the name Popcaan come from? Popcaan: Me and you can reason about that name at a different location one day [laughs], but it was from a friend who passed on. TWU: How would you describe yourself? Popcaan: Hot skull, fry yiy [eye], boil brainz! [laughs]. Where my families concerned, I'm a loving person, where the ladies are concerned I'm a very loving person and I'm full of hype. TWU: What have you learnt from being around Vybz Kartel? Popcaan: I've learnt countless things from Kartel. You see di Teacha, he is the real teacher. He's taught me loads of things outside of mu...

Lifted from Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor's new riddim Catalog (harrrd riddim), this is currently my anthem So many good pieces on this riddim. I would blog them, but I can't be arsed. Honesty is the best policy. What I will say is Aidonia is currently top 3 dancehall artists right now. Let's see how long it takes these punk DJs over here in the UK to realise. Yeah, I always lick out against these punks, but with good reason.

Sun is in the sky, music sounds so much better with sun, especially my chosen genre, reggae/dancehall. Well obviously, it's made in the sun so naturally it feels summery. Anyways, I always get asked about hottest songs, 'cos many people don't keep up with dancehall/bashment and reggae like I do plus they appreciate my ears to the streets and the speaker box. I appreciate that trust greatly, there are DJs I rate that rate my opinion. My top 5 picks for summer from a Euro-centric point of view, as of songs released to date, in no particular order are: First up, the "Gully Gad" Mavado's seductive 'Come Into My Room' featuring vocals on the chorus from the Gully Squad's first lady Stacious. Guys you are guaranteed to get a slow whine this summer to this tune, unless it's the stush UK Funky girls that like high-tempo music so they can dance with their girls Next up, Gyptian's 'Hold You' . Bwoy, this tune has the reggae world in the Car...

Check out UK dancehall/bashment/reggae's hottest property Gappy Ranks' new video Rising Out of the Ghetto (Produced by Dolomite for Suncycle). (Filmed & Edited by Simon " Spliffberg " Favier) Taken from " RISING OUT OF THE GHETTO " - DIGITAL EP - IN STORES APRIL 16TH Check my interview with Gappy Ranks by clicking here (yes click what you are reading for the old dears) What you think? Good song? Bad song? Can gwaan? Mad decent? Shot? Sell weh?