6. Kranium “Nobody Has To Know”
Kranium’s “Nobody Has to Know” is the closest thing dancehall’s had to a sequel to Gyptian’s “Hold Yuh,” arguably the culture’s last true global crossover hit. Another New York production—Kranium and producer LMR Pro both hail from NYC (“Hold Yuh” was produced by Brooklyn’s Ricky Blaze)—it came packaged with a hop-hop sensibility that easily lent itself to urban radio, a facet highlighted in Kenny Meez’s “Rah Rah” remix (over the beat from Kid Ink’s “Show Me”). More impressive than the track’s success at radio stations like Hot 97 was its impact in Jamaica, a rarity for a U.S.-based dancehall production. —Jesse Serwer
SEE ALSO: GYPTIAN – “STUCK” and RICKY BLAZE FEAT. SHAGGY + KRANIUM – “OVERRATED”