Toppa Top 10: Dancehall Cameos

words by Eddie STATS Houghton

Just a little something to start some Friday afternoon office arguments (stop, we know you’re not actually working). The main criteria of inclusion on this top 10 is that the dancehall artist must be guesting for an artist–or parachuting into a situation–that is not in any way recognizable as reggae. For instance, “The Jam” and the infamous “Dolly My Baby” remix are disqualified because rap artists are guesting on the Jamaican artist’s record. The Fugees, Heavy D and Busta Rhymes are practically reggae artists themselves so those collabos are out. Samples and remixes don’t count either (sorry, MIMS) but i like your thinking. For more in that vein check Jesse Serwer’s NYC Badmen list and read on:

10. Scritti Politti f. Shabba Ranks “She’s a Woman”

UK record exec 1: Cheezus, I’ve got to sell this shit remake of a Beatles cover.
UK record exec 2: It is bleeding awful. Maybe we can resurrect it somehow…
Rec exec 1: No. No, it is totally beyond redemption. What am i gorna do, I’m effing ruined.
Rec exec 2: Hold the phone. How did Island/Mercury save that Rolling Stones cover they put out a few years ago…?

9. Foxy Brown f. Spragga Benz “Oh Yeah”

Yes, Foxy is Brooklyn-Jamaican and this entry was almost tripped up by the Fugees clause. But if we counted all rappers with west indian roots as reggae artists that would eliminate basically all New York rap which is just silly (I think Heavy D actually won a reggae Grammy–it’s different). Plus like “Bad Boyz” this is a prime example of the underlying dancehall cameo equation which is that one patois syllable on the hook is worth a thousand rap words. Bonus points for squeezing a second Cham and Dave Kelly cameo into the same video with the “Tables Will Turn” outro.

8. TI f. Beenie Man “I’m Serious”

Two kings at the top of top-form (four kings if you count the Neptunes). I do believe they’re serious.

7. Eddie Murphy f. Shabba Ranks “I Was a King”

Oh, Eddie. This is kind of a terrible song but in no way is that Shabba’s fault. Despite the unintentional comedy there’s still something inspiring about the footage of Shabba jumping up in full African regalia, rocking an arena-size crowd at twilight (or is it dawn?). Extra points for pro-blackness.

6. Beyonce f. Sean Paul, “Baby Boy”

Certified quality. The sexual tension is so thick on this song that Jay-Z actually quashed an onstage cameo from Sean when Beyonce performed it at the VMAs…which sort explains why the two never appear onscreen the same time; it’s about the only thing preventing this video from unravelling into a Pamela and Tommy Lee sex-tape. He may be a light-skinned uptown prettyboy but inna di bedroom you call him shaka zuluuuuuuuu….

5. Shyne f. Barrington Levy “Bad Boyz”

Shyne is Belizean but nobody knows it, so this entry stands. Plus there’s nothing that’s not right about this song, from the Grace Jones/Sly & Rob sample, to the hair-raising Belly vibes of the video, to Mr. Levy in a safari suit and bucket hat making his one-syllable cameo into an infinity-syllable cameo. Whoooooooooooooah.

4. Kriss Kross f. Supercat “Alright”

Cat again. Add Best Use of a Pimp Cane, Best Shortset and Best Impersonation of a Cholo by a Non-Hispanic. Is there anything this man can’t do?

3. Soup Dragons f. Junior Reid “I’m Free”

UK record exec 1: So i got this new chune, it’s a bunch of ravey madchester acid-heads licking back a Rolling Stones classic…
UK record exec 2: Hm. Missing somefing, innit.
Rec exec 1: Too right. How can we really make it say ‘1989’?
Rec exec 2: What if we got that bloke from “One Blood” in the video…?

2. No Doubt f. Lady Saw, “Underneath it All”

Yes, it is sort of kind of a reggae track but although I rate No Doubt, they’re no more a reggae band than Green Day is. Extra points to them for gal-power and for fearlessly seeking out the rawest and most controversial dancehall artists as guests. (See also “Hey Baby” f. Bounty Killer–unless you’re offended by the Warlord appearing on a track that mentions sipping on camomille).

1. Sugar Ray f. Supercat, “Fly”

Supercat is the king of this shit, as in so many other obscure categories (Best Indo-Caribbean artiste, Best Remix, Fewest Pauses for Breath and a couple of catty-gerries too gangterish to mention…) but this track wins on both randomness and addictiveness. I will never forget driving around Port Antonio ca. 1999 when this came on the radio, only to have my guide Chilly Famous jack up the volume and say “You know this tune?? BAD.” Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning wicked.

Honorebel mentions: John Legend f. Buju Banton “Can’t Be My Lover”, Rihanna f. Sizzla “Give Me a Try”, add yours below…