Toppa Top ’15: The Best Caribbean Mixtapes of 2015

Words by Deejay Theory

It’s time to run off our top #MixtapeMondays picks from 2015. There’s something for everyone here with nuff music from deejays all over the world mixing dancehall, roots, dub, electronic, soca, dembow, and much more.

Dig into this year’s list here, and tun it UP!

Tifa, Stay Away

Serious warning to all waste man, dutty badmind, jealous females and anyone who possibly doubted Latifa “Tifa” Brown at any point in her career – she got more than a few things off her chest with her full-length mixtape Stay Away. This uncut and NSFW declaration from one of our top rated female deejays served as a testament to what it means to be a true bad gyal in the industry. Mixed by yard boss ZJ Chrome and laced with exclusive new content plus some of the big tunes we all love – including her latest “Body Nuh Done” on Federation’s Highland Riddim – Tifa shows and proves she’s not one you want to pass on, or piss off. Watch out. Stream below.

DJ Gravy & Corey Chase, Double Barrel Mixtape

Reggae and rap are two sides of the same coin, and the history of hip-hop is deep with sounds borrowed from Jamaica. This is something we’ve consistently highlighted here on LargeUp, notably in this classic feature exploring the phenomenon of reggae samples in rap tracks. DJ Gravy and Corey Chase‘s Double Barrel mixtape brought this connection to the fore this year, blending classic hip-hop tracks with classic reggae songs sampled on those very same tracks.

Named for the 1971 single by Dave and Ansell Collins that was the first reggae song to top the UK charts— and later sampled by Special Ed for his 1988 classic “I’m the Magnificent”— Double Barrel featured hip-hop staples from Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye West,Mos Def and Talib Kweli, BDP, Ghostface, and the Diplomats, expertly blended with classic reggae artists like Super Cat, Max Romeo, John Holt, Super Beagle, Sanchez and Toots and the Maytals.

With original artwork from Spliffington and endorsements from sampled artists King Yellowman, Sister Nancy, Beres Hammond and Junior Reid, as well as legendary Jamaican reggae selector Rory StoneLove, Rashad Smith and Collie Buddz,

Run tune and download below, or download a tracked version here.

Suns of Dub x Mighty Crown, Far East Mixtape

This very large and unique collaboration needs very little intro. When you combine the international champion sound Mighty Crown with the powerhouse rockers of Suns of Dub you’re treated to an exclusive showcase of specials, unreleased and catalog tracks from the files of Suns of Dub with Mighty Crown’s exclusive cuts and dubs. This 40-track fusion of Dub, Reggae, Roots, Dancehall, Drum & Bass, EDM, Rockers, Hip Hop and more was a fitting follow up to 2013’s Major Lazer x Suns of Dub Mixtape and one of our favorites of the year.

Gibbo Presents, The Interview Mixtape – Dancehall Meets Hip Hop

One of Europe’s chief ambassadors of reggae, dancehall and soundsystem culture came with some of the baddest exclusive material we’ve heard in a minute with The Interview. Gibbo Presents brought an up close and personal session with dancehall’s royalty breaking down their influence and position in the ever-shifting climate of dancehall and hip hop via a barrage of freestyles over hip-hop beats. Absolute madddness throughout.

Willy Chin, Uh Gosh! Vol. 2

Miami remix magician Willy Chin from the heavyweight Black Chiney soundsystem delivered this massive mix this year as a follow up to one of our top-rated mixes of 2014, Uh Gosh! As with its predecessor, the mix juggles strictly custom and exclusive original remixes and blends throwing soca into the EDM stratosphere – an easy recipe for nonstop raving. Your co-workers might give you some kind a look while you’re wining at your desk this week, but it will be well worth it. Stream and download below.

Toddla T meets Protoje, England Be Wise

The big man like Toddla T was passing through Jamaica a couple times this year with a very productive run ‘longside BBC co-dons David Rodigan and Seani B. Amongst live radio specials and shellings at Weddy Weddy Wednesdays with Stone Love, Teezy was also able to link with Protoje that trip, and cook up this wicked combination of exclusive heat in all directions with one of reggae music’s shining stars. Madd combination. Stream and download below.

Heatwave Sound, Xxtra Hard

Pure vintage sound-system greatness courtesy of Kingston’s Heatwave Sound operated by iconic reggae and dancehall producer Bobby “Digital” Dixon aka Digital-B. Xtra Hard showcased a true appreciation of dubplate culture with a timeless collection of specials from the likes of Buju, Shabba, Bounty, Sizzla, Charlie Chaplin, and of course steady Digital-B artist Garnett Silk. Madd ting. Stream below…

Black Chiney, OVO Sound Radio Episode 5

This is what happens when the 6 meets the 876 and two major powerhouses in dancehall and hip hop combine. I’m talking about Black Chiney and Drake and company’s OVO Sound label coming together on the Beats 1 platform for a unique ride through the crates of both camps, with of course a barrage of dubplates, customs and remixes from Black Chiney. This was a big one for sure. Stream below, tracklist here.

DJ Private Ryan, Soca Starter 2015

This was Trinidad mixtape king Private Ryan‘s first mix of the year and a preview to his heavily anticipated and downloaded Soca Brainwash series that always drop right around carnival every year. This highlighted the best of club and radio selections for 2015 soca as well as a welcome jumpstart to raving season – it also went on to clock 1.5 Million plays since its release, which is unprecedented for a mix of it’s kind. Stream and download below.

The Large, Way Up Mix

Our girl The Large from NYC via London always comes extra nice with the mixes, marrying the sounds of the tropics, the UK and beyond. Way Up delivered everything we’ve come to expect and then some, with a mix CD cover-of-the-year nominee to boot. Honorable mention for another badd one she dropped this year for the Truancy series. Download Way Up here, tracklist here.

Safari Sound, Word, Sound and Power Vol. 3

Another crucial roots and culture mix to add to the catalog from the Swedish juggling machines at Safari Sound. The Word, Sound and Power series showcases all the necessary tunes in modern reggae, roots, culture and one drop, and each installment is always littered with big dubplates and exclusives throughout. Vibes up. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

Kick Raux, Shabba Raux

A big collection of tunes from one of Jamaica’s most chatted-about producers in the game right now, KickRaux. The youth has been on a tear lately garnering fans and support on a massive scale with his Future Dancehall sound, including remix credits on one of the biggest dancehall crossover songs of the year. The Feel Up Radio series tapped him for a mix to highlight a grip of new and exclusive heat from Raux and friends, including Jah Cure’s “Life We Live” remix from yours truly and Walshy Fire to close out the ting nice. Stream and download below.

Deejay Theory, Feel Up Radio Vol.10

Another selection from Jillionaire’s Feel Up Radio series, this one was courtesy of yours truly. I had a lot of fun with this, combining elements of Caribbean music with an electronic identity throughout, essentially what you might get from me in the rave. There were a couple original remixes from Beenie Man, We Chief and Ragga Twins to open things up, and the rest is a tropical bass ride blending dancehall, soca, bass and beyond. Listen below, tracklist here.

Brian Redman, Cold Blooded Murder

This one was a super sleeper from remix specialist Brian Redman. A follow-up to the first Redrum Murder, this tape is a boomshot with 100-percent exclusive and custom flips and blends stitching together current dancehall and hip-hop like a glove. There’s some serious baddness on here in the dancehall remix department. Stream and download below or grab the tracked version here.

KeemCentrix, Alkaline vs. Vybz Kartel

It’s only right we include this recent megamix of the two biggest stars in dancehall at the moment – the black eye-tattooed Alkaline, and the still-incarcerated, yet more-relevant-than-ever Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi Innocent. Compiled and mixed by KeemCentrix from Eccentrix Sound in Miami…. Slap weh. Stream below.