Toppa Top 10: The Baddest Mixtapes of 2013

Words by Deejay Theory —

After another round of 150+ mixtape forwards here at Mixtape Mondays we’re back to count down some of the biggest and most memorable picks we’ve covered this year. There were a handful of artists we were predicting to bust in ’13, and you can definitely hear a trend happening on some of these tapes. From deejay’s to soundsystems to artists to producers the science of the mixtape is an art form in itself, and — in no particular order — here’s just some of the selections we think you need in your digital library for 2014 and beyond. Listen, download, wheel up and enjoy.

10. Goldrush International, Dancehall Fraternity Vol. 2

This was likely my go-to dancehall mix of the year, courtesy of Switzerland’s Goldrush International. As the early soundsystem moniker of Swiss producer Wildlife! along with Einstein, Goldrush keeps the fire on full blast with these Dancehall Fraternity mixes, reeling off an aggressive and current selection of dancehall straight from yard right when they drop. Volume One was no joke, but volume two put the nail in the coffin for good. They’re sitting on some heavyweight dubplates in the box too, in case you felt like testing the sound… Stream and download below, tracklist here.

9. Coppershot x Busy Signal, Busy Signal Mixtape

After serving a few months in a US jail late last year, Busy Signal returned home to JA with a vengeance in time for the holidays, delivering some of the largest singles of the year. In between time, Busy teamed up with the big bad Coppershot to pop off this lethal mixtape of freestyles, exclusives and new material from the hottest hott-ed in dancehall. Of course, Busy doubles as one of our favorite reggae singers, but keeps it on the str8 bashment level for this one. Early Christmas for Busy fans for sure. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

8. Jesse Royal, In Comes The Small Axe

One of the top artists in the constantly-growing new roots revival is young Jamaican singer Jesse Royal, and he kept the buzz alive this year with the release of his sophomore mixtape, In Comes The Small Axe. The mix sheds a great deal of light on a voice you’ll definitely be hearing more of in ’14 with a healthy 22 tracks of original material mixed by DJ Tall Up. Stream below, download here.

7. DJ Craze, Massiv Tour Mixtape:

This one from Miami veteran and multiple DMC world champion DJ Craze came as a little bit of a surprise recently, and a very welcome one at that. Tipped off by an Instagram post from Craze Lion, I noticed it was a ragga-influenced mix put together for Caribbean-friendly brand We Are Massiv and knew it would be the heat. Craze, who has a long history in Jungle/D&B and hip-hop, shows his affection for reggae and dancehall with this mix, combining original samples and reggae selections with the modern “traphall” and 808 bass sounds that the kids can’t get enough of. Craze puts it all together in fine style, mixed in with some flawless cuts and blends. Stream below.

6. Jillionaire, Fog Up D Place:

When we were looking for a Trini Carnival mix to set off our mix series LargeUp Presents, it was only proper that we enlist Port of Spain, Major Lazer and LargeUp‘s own Jillionaire to lace us with the heat direct from the source. The mix goes heavy on some of the year’s best groovy soca anthems, from Kes’s “I OK” to Blaxx’s “Leh Go”, but doesn’t end there, with Jilly taking soca out to bass-y leftfield with a set of fresh remixes from Phat Deuce, Jus Now and more. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

5. DJ Arems, The Best of Popcaan

Trailer load a badness this year from Vancouver dancehall ambassador and Faction Sound Crew general DJ Arems. When Arems first told me he was working on a 100% Popcaan mixtape, I knew it would be insane, and to no surprise it delivered all the energy I’d expect and then some. Poppy had another massive year of hits and Arems compiles all the necessaries and b-sides past and present on this 46-track megamix, peppered with dubplates and mixed to perfection. This also marked the release of Popcaan’s 2013 smash “Unruly Rave” that dropped same day. TR88! Stream and download below, tracklist here.

4. The Heatwave, Carnival Bashment 2013

There’s a very simple equation to this yearly round up from UK raving specialists The Heatwave. They make it easy for the fans and compile all the largest tunes that will be running Carnival that year — more specifically Notting Hill — and rinse them off in one mix similar to how they would run the stage or truck show in the streets of London come August. Gabriel knows just what it takes behind the wheels to make large crowds bruk out in a fever. Whether reggae, dancehall, soca, UK funky, azonto, rap or r&b they always know the time and with this mix, they really share the live experience. Stream and download below, get the tracklist here.

3. Protoje x Yaadcore, Music From My Heart Mixtape

Yes, Rasta. It was far from a dull year for roots reggae, with Kingston soldiers Protoje and DJ Yaadcore at the head of the pack. As a selector Yaadcore has stood firm in his direction to share conscious and strictly positive music with the people, whether backing Protoje on tour, doing radio shows, or through a series of impeccable roots and culture mixtapes. For this mix, the duo combine and share a heap of works from Protoje and his Indiggnation camp, combining cuts from Protoje’s The 8 Year Affair with features from friends like Sizzla Kalonji, Kabaka Pyramid, Chronixx and Jah9.  Stream and download below, tracklist here.

2. Major Lazer & Walshy Fire Present Suns Of Dub

Leave it to Walshy Fire and the Major Lazer crew to keep pushing the thing forward in all directions. This monumental mixtape celebrates dub music on a multitude of platforms, stretching out inspiration from foundation to the future, putting twists on everything from Bob Marley to Slum Village to big room EDM. A group, record label and sound system based between Jamaica, Trinidad and New Jersey, Suns of Dub is led by Addis Pablo, son of the late great Augustus Pablo, and producer/label co-CEO, Ras Jammy. This mix is your introduction to the future of dub music, so sit back and get your mind right. Stream and download below, tracklist and more info here.

1. Safari Sound + Red Fox, Fiyah Fox

It was our esteemed pleasure at LargeUp to present the original Red Fox’s first official mixtape to the world this year, in collaboration with Sweden’s bad boy sound and mixtape ambassadors Safari Sound. As his first full-length release in 17 years,  one of the baddest deejays of the 90’s shows and proves he’s got more than enough lyrics to cause mass hysteria for the next generation.

Guests on the mix include Shaggy, Rayvon, Naturalee, Gramps Morgan, Screechy Dan, Christopher Martin, Chico, Golden Child and Jimmy Cozier. Red’s always been known for his diverse lyrical themes, and Fiyah Fox definitely touches all of the bases, from culture tunes to dancefloor fillers and even a little much-needed comedy. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

Honorable Mention: So Shifty, Chuleria

Something large for our Puerto Rican, DR, and Cuban massive. With the excess amount of reggae, dancehall, soca and Caribbean crossover mixtapes coming from all corners of the globe, we actually see a distinct shortage of authentic and quality-mixed reggaeton mixes at our towers. Leave it to Hamburg, Germany duo So Shifty to flex their diversity as DJs and producers by delivering this mix of 100% perreo and dem bow from this year. They even went and did a Volume Two a few months later, after clocking over 100k plays on their Soundcloud with No. 1. Can’t help but mention So Shifty’s “Differentology” 2013 soca mix and “Ultimate Daggering Workout” as well. While they might have been busy collecting massive production credits (No Doubt, Major Lazer, Popcaan and more), So Shifty didn’t come soft in the mixtape department at all in 2013. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

Honorable Mention: Chronixx, Live on Radio Lily with Max Glazer

Don’t need to say too much about these: Our friend Max Glazer holding a vibe with Chronixx live at RadioLily during his first visit to NYC in February, and again right before his debut NYC performance at SOB’s in September. Very memorable occasions at the station, giving us some insight into one of the largest voices in modern reggae music via real interviews, stories, history, and a heap of flawless freestyles. Stream and download both of these right away.

David Rodigan, BBC 1Xtra Show

Last but not least we had to include this two-hour session from the ruler David Rodigan via his new home on BBC Radio One. This recording is from the first broadcast from his new post at BBC and thus continues his 35-plus-year reign on the airwaves constantly pushing reggae and dancehall music to the fullest. Maximum respect to Ram Jam each and every time from decade to decade. Stream below, download here.