If you’re anything like me, your knowledge of dancehall scarcely extends past Mad Cobra, Beenie Man, Supercat, Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, and the remaining other reggae stars recruited for token New York-meets-Jamaica collabos through the mid-90s. Even though the West Indian-descended Busta and Biggie were two of the few capable of a halfway-decent fake patois, it didn’t stop everyone from Queen Latifah to Cube to try to gain access to acres of strong Kingston Sinsemilla. Sadly (or thankfully), this trend stopped sometime around “Hip Hop Opera–” presumably, because Flavor Flav sued Bounty Killer for stealing his look.
Reggae-rap unions still occur, with Mavado, Vybz Kartel, and the semi-dancehall Damian Marley hogging most of the action. But for dilettantes like myself, who listen to about a half-dozen hours worth of dancehall a year, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Thankfully, the BBC 1Xtra’s Young Lion, does the heavy lifting, handling the 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. spot every Thursday night. His most recent dancehall mix boasts of having “brand new riddims, old school meds and even some reggae-inspired One Drop! The ultimate Dancehall after party!” For those interested in keeping tabs on who (besides U-God) is keeping dancehall strong, it’s highly recommended.
Tracklist below the jump.
Download:
MP3: Young Lion – The 1Xtra Dancehall Mix (1/30/11)
Tracklist:
STARBUCKS RIDDIM
Bugle — Tell A Gyal
Gyptian — Tell you My Mind
Mr Lexx — Good Under Yuh
Gappy Ranks — Save You
I-Octane — No Love Inna Dem
ONE DAY RIDDIM
Seanizzle — One Day
Beenie Man — I’m Drinking Ft Future Fambo
Khago — Nah Sell Out
DANCEHALL EFX RIDDIM
Versatile, Wasp & Chedda — Youts They Want A Bly
Vybz Kartel — Dancehall Hero
Vybz Kartel — You Mi Need
Mavado — All Dem A Talk
Popcaan — Real Badman
DUSS RIDDIM
Popcaan — Mi Like You
Vybz Kartel — Can’t Satisfy
Vybz Kartel — Jah Leadeth Me
ONE DROP MIX
W.A.S.P. — The Government
CARDIAC BASS RIDDIM
Alaine — Up
Craig — In This Life
Jah Cure — Before I Leave
I-Octane — Hold You In My Arms
Vybz Kartel — She Holding On
Vybz Kartel — Shape Of My Heart
Busy Signal — Tempted To Touch
WINNINGS RIDDIM
Aidonia — Brace Whine
Wayne Wonder & T.O.K — Girl Dem Follow
Di Genius — Winnings Instrumental
Flexxx — Stepping Razor
Mavado — Stullesha
Bramma — 24 Bounces
Tony Matterhorn — Streets A Talk
Vybz Kartel — Touch Yuh Button
BLAST FROM THE PAST MIX
Every month on the M1X Show Lion drops an old school mix — here’s his January edition!
BOOKSHELF RIDDIM
Beenie Man — Bookshelf
Spragga Benz — Cute Little
Tanto Metro & Devonte — Gal Say Wooee
Sean Paul — Deport Them
Mr. Vegas — Jack It Up
Lady Saw — No Matta Me
Junior Reid — All Fruits Ripe
Capleton — No 1 Pon The Look
Louie Culture — Ganga Lee
Mad Cobra — Dun Wife (Peanut Punch)
Fabby Dolly — Peanut Punch
Terror Fabulous — Mr. Big Man
Shabba Ranks — Wuck Ah Man
Buju Banton — Bogle
Capleton — Bogle Mania
Joseph Stepper — Wife
Buccaneer — Hire Me (Digitally Blend)
Buju Banton — Big It Up
Elephant Man — Gal A Fight Over
Harry Toddler — Pure Gal
Lexxus — Reggae Woogie
Beenie Man — Matie
STARBWOY RIDDIM
Mavado — Star Bwoy
Baby Boom — Get Nasty
Elephant Man — Big & Nasty
De Marco — Gal Dem Vex
Versatile — Watch Her
