Cockney & Yardie: Heatwave’s UK Runnings, January 2012

100% UK Bashment on Rinse FM 08/01/12 by The Heatwave on Mixcloud

“London’s Burning” on the original Studio One “Real Rock” riddim sees Goodz singjaying conscious lyrics in a tremulous, almost deliberately offkey melodic style that reminded one Rinse FM listener of “Sizzla levels.” On “Question,” it’s all about that 90s ragga pattern and flow with Goodz channelling early Capleton, Shabba and Buju over the instrumental made famous by Dirtsman. I don’t need to describe “Hide N Seek” from Durrty Goodz, alongside Lady Chann, in such detail ’cause you can listen to it yourself:

HIDE N SEEK CHANN. GOODZ by suncyclerecords

Lee-Anna

Another big combination featuring dancehall artists alongside UK grime/rap stars is the remix of Lea-Anna’s “Murder” on the “Champagne Campaign” riddim from Robbo Ranx that we wrote about in October 2011. Lea-Anna teams up with two of the hottest female MCs in England, Lioness and Lady Leshurr, as well as Jamaican dancehall queen Cecile.

Buggsy

Now for some perhaps even more surprising converts to the sounds of dancehall reggae; though obviously, being people who grew up in urban England in a rave scene steeped in Jamaican influence, it’s actually no surprise at all!

Firstly, legendary drum’n’bass DJ/producer Die turns his hand to dub reggae, featuring vocals from jungle MC Fats and upcoming Rasta grime artist Buggsy. With a video shot in St Pauls, home to Bristol’s Jamaican community and annual Caribbean carnival, and released on Shy FX’s Digital Soundboy label, “Peace & Dub” brings together multiple strands of the UK/JA rave/reggae axis.

Secondly, grime producer-turned-MC (and P Diddy collaborator) Skepta throws down a patois-laden hook over a dancehall beat on his new tune, “You Know Me.” Apparently, after playing this track on his show recently, one radio DJ faux-innocently asked, “isn’t Skepta Nigerian?”And it’s true, he doesn’t come from a Caribbean background, so why is he chatting in patois? Because he’s from London and he grew up with jungle, drum’n’bass, garage and grime. And he’s an MC who’s grown out of that lineage where you draw on dancehall influences and people adopt and adapt Jamaican slang without caring whether your family comes from Jamaica, Turkey, west Africa or the east end of London.

I think it’s brilliant that people over here are currently showing an interest in dancehall and Jamaica. It’s what we campaign for at The Heatwave: recognition of the culture’s importance and influence on UK music, and an acknowledgement of contemporary dancehall’s significant position as a powerful musical movement around the world. But I find it problematic how the industry moves in cycles, disregarding the genre one day and worshiping it the next. Or exploiting Jamaica’s historical cultural capital while often failing to support the people who are continuing to produce incredible music today and who provide the next generation with style, sounds and slang.

So let’s remember that, as 2012 gets underway, and let’s salute the artists who have been committed to dancehall for years, before any of the current attention was being offered. What are they up to at the moment?

Lady Chann

Last year Lady Chann linked up with veteran Glamma Kid for the explosive “Informer,” released at the end of January along with “Equilibrium”, both produced by Sticky. The video just dropped:

With many of his biggest hits being one drop reggae (“Heaven In Her Eyes,” “Longtime,” “Thanks & Praise”), it’s easy to think of Gappy Ranks as a singer rather than a bashment artist. His two latest singles stop you in your tracks though: “Good Fuck” on Ward 21’s incredible “Monkey Barrel” riddim, and “Money Out Deh” on Wundah’s upcoming “Glory” riddim. Not that he doesn’t continue to produce high quality reggae though, as on “Feel Good” with Lea-Anna.
Stylo G takes on Jamaica’s hottest current export with his version of the “Snap Back” riddim, the source of Popcaan’s huge hit “Clean.” It’s called “Juggling” but it’s not about running tunes.

Mr Williamz is keeping as busy as ever, going international in his collaborations: “Musically Mad” with Mungo’s Hi Fi out of Scotland and “We Can’t Give Up” with Gambia’s Mandinka Warrior. Williamz’s stance, skanks and swagger in this video are as impeccable as his foundation flow:

Londoner Fresharda just dropped an EP available as a free download from Deja Vu FM. The standout track is “Cycle,” a conscious one drop featuring Fresharda’s distinctive voice and a memorable hook that is reluctant to leave your head. And superproducer Curtis Lynch takes us back to the 80s with his retro lovers’ rock riddim “Ohh Baby” with vocals from Maxi Priest, Shola Ama, Lea-Anna and more.

Glamma Kid

We leave you this month looking backwards: catch a glimpse of the DVD documenting an incredible live show last summer that drew together many of the artists featured here over the past 12 months: Wiley, General Levy, Glamma Kid, Skibadee, Stush, Stylo G, Lady Chann, YT, Mr Williamz, Riko Dan, Serocee and more. As well as electric footage from the stageshow, the film has in-depth interviews fleshing out the history of UK dancehall and its role in the rave scene, making for the complete Cockney & Yardie experience!

Actually wait, let’s look forwards as well and make a prediction: 2012 is the year that UK bashment goes global.