Cockney & Yardie: The Heatwave’s Toppa Top 10 UK Dancehall Tunes Of 2012

Words by The Heatwave—

It’s been a minute since we’ve gotten a report from our UK correspondents The Heatwave. Gabriel, Benjamin D. and company been busy having their biggest year ever, making monster mixtapes (like this week’s armagideon-anticipating Last Party on Earth) and refixes, and bringing their Hot Wuk party all across Europe. This was a massive year for reggae and dancehall in England, though, what with all of the major events in London surrounding Jamaica 50 and the Summer Olympics, and the continued emergence of Stylo G and Gappy Ranks, so we had to get the Heatwave on the case for a year-end Cockney & Yardie wrap-up. Selector!

10. Durrty Goodz – Question

Another 90s throwback: ragga-influenced grime don Goodz spits over the Drum Song/Hot This Year riddim with some sick melodic foundation flows.

[audio:http://largeup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Durrty-Goodz-Question.mp3|titles=Durrty Goodz – Question]

9. Riko Dan & Chimpo – Skeng Teng

Our favourite badman MC this side of the Atlantic, Riko *does not ramp* when it comes to gun lyrics. Manchester producer Chimpo slows down the classic 90s soundclash version of Sleng Teng and adds some MAD bass. When this drops…….oh gosh.

[audio:http://largeup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Riko-Dan-Chimpo-Skeng-Teng.mp3|titles=Riko Dan & Chimpo – Skeng Teng]

8. Juvinile – Stamina Juvi

One of Stylo G’s Warning Crew and another very promising young London artist. Here he flips Buju’s classic Stamina Daddy with some raw X-rated lyrics. Winner.

7. Lady Chann & Dolamite – Informer (Suncycle Remix)

This is our favourite track from the Dun Dem Season mixtape we made for Lady Chann earlier this year… She took her funky bashment hit with Glamma Kid and Sticky and revoiced it over the Snap Back riddim with Suncycle founder Dolamite. It’s slower, harder, more deliberate and all the more menacing.

[audio:http://largeup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Lady-Chann-Dolamite-Informer-Suncycle-Remix.mp3|titles=Lady Chann & Dolamite – Informer (Suncycle Remix)]

6. Mr Mini & JK Bronze – Set Good

Two promising newcomers on the London dancehall scene brought to our attention by longtime soundman Allan Brando. Along with the Konshens, this is our favourite piece on the bass-heavy Poolside riddim.

5. Mr Williamz – We Run England

While most people in England were gassing about some anniversary that the Queen was celebrating this year, Mr Williamz was dropping some real talk about how it’s *WE* who run England. “We the people” I mean, not The Heatwave, though admittedly that is exactly what our dubplate special says.

4. Wiley – Dem Na Kill Pon Sunday

The godfather of grime has been effusive about his love for dancehall in the last couple years, appearing at our Showtime stageshow, recording regularly in Jamaica and posting scores of dancehall videos on Twitter. This year he actually started making bashment riddims…

3. Strategy, Dub Phizix & Skeptical – Marka

A lot of people don’t realise this is a dancehall tune; you will hear it called drum’n’bass or dubstep or hip hop. Yes, Strategy is from renowned Manchester hip hop crew Broke’n’English and Dub Phizix is known for drum’n’bass but listen to the drums and the flow and try and say this isn’t bashment.

2. Gappy Ranks – Wine Pon De Edge

Gappy’s biggest bashment hit for a while and a bonafide ladies’ anthem. The dancing when this tune drops can get pretty scandalous. If you don’t believe us, come to a Hot Wuk party and see for yourself.

1. Stylo G – Call Mi A Yardie (The Heatwave Refix)

Probably the biggest dancehall tune to come out of the UK since the 90s, “Call Mi A Yardie” is still running the scene nearly two years after its release. OK, so we’re a bit biased but our 15-riddim megamix has taken over from the original at our raves since the summer. The forwards and singalongs that this refix generates are INSANE.