Toppa Top ’15: The Best Reggae Tracks of 2015

Words by LargeUp Crew
Photo by Ravi Lloyd

There was a lot of hype surrounding reggae in 2015, but there wasn’t much hype about many reggae tunes released in 2015. As is often the case in a genre where songs tend to “slow leak,” many of the tracks that carried the year were holdovers from the previous one. So if you’re wondering where this song or that one is, you may want to consult our list from 2014!

With a total lack of frontrunners for biggest reggae tune released in 2015, we decided to focus, for the most part, on our favorite reggae tunes released in 2015. There’s some big tunes here, and just as many you may have never before… and that’s precisely the point.

Run tune here, and check out all the rest of our best-of 2015 lists (for dancehall tracks, dancehall riddims, soca, best albums + more) here.

15.Toian – Love It 

Toian is one of the more intriguing young female artists out of Jamaica right now. Mixing a cool, understated vocal style with vintage reggae riddims, she’s shown her diversity through collaborations with both Protoje and Vybz Kartel, and cultivated an online following with her early singles, “Rude Boys” and “Kingston Town.” The opening track on Toian’s debut EP, Retrospect “Love It” follows the moody vibes of those tracks, with something more upbeat. Over notes borrowed from the foundation riddim My Conversation, she delivered another anthem for good girls who like rude boys, with a mellow rocksteady melody fit for a Sunday afternoon. — Jesse Serwer

14. Alaine “Hello”

Over the past two years, we have seen some of the top pop hits get expertly remixed into tropical niceness. Jah Cure and Romain Virgo’s respective renditions of “All of Me” and “Stay with Me” specifically come to mind. In 2015, Madame Adele’s “Hello” was the preeminent love song, taking the top spot in every relevant music list globally. No stranger to powerful love songs herself, Jamaican songstress Alaine gave “Hello” the proper reggae treatment, with the help of the legendary Penthouse Records, and a host of JA’s top musicians. In the same vein as her classics and current releases, she is effortless with the haunting vocals, and the musicianship is top class. The video treatment is simple yet stunning, inviting us to watch while the magic happens at Jamaica’s famed Penthouse Studios. —Kaya.lah

13. Jah Cure – Show Love

Jah Cure‘s The Cure was one of this year’s best-received reggae albums, landing a Grammy nomination and an appearance on LargeUp’s albums of the year list, among other accolades. Until recently, though, it wasn’t clear if there was a proper follow-up single to “Life We Live,” the massive 2014 Cure hit that set up the album. Turns out there is: The smooth, easygoing “Show Love,” a track just beginning to pick up steam, and sure to become one of the ubiquitous tracks in 2015.  — Jesse Serwer

12. Cadenza featuring Busy Signal and Stylo G — Foundation

Cadenza is the production alias of Oliver Rodigan, son of legendary radio DJ (and sound clash titan), David Rodigan. Hinged on a sample of the classic Real Rock riddim, his debut single “Foundation” mixes classic reggae/sound system vibes with some modern touches in the bass and drum departments, and vocals from the reliably entertaining Busy Signal and Stylo G. The video, meanwhile, introduces Rodigan’s vision for Cadenza as a place where Major Lazer-esque animated visuals collide with northwest London West Indian grocery shops and Saab convertibles. Rodigan’s upcoming debut album is definitely a project to look out for. —Jesse Serwer

11. Suns of Dub – Unconditional Love

The only vocal track from Suns of Dub‘s Far East LP “Unconditional Love” features Jah Bami singing over a melodica-laden heavy roots riddim arranged by Ras Jammy. The track begins with a multi-layered instrumental arrangement which evolves into a minimalist dub track. It is euphonic and beautiful, and masterfully orchestrated. And Bami’s vocal is emotional and expressive, as he oscillates between classic, soulful singing and melodic chanting — a truly unique performance. —Midnight Raver

10. J Boog and Sizzla -Stand Firm/Iba Mahr-Glory of the King

One of the most unjustly overlooked culture tunes by far in 2015 was this heavyweight collab between Hawaiian reggae ambassador J Boog and a back-in-form Sizzla. Both went in with tuff verses over Royal Order Music‘s Social riddim, one of the year’s best one-drop instrumentals. To be fair, all of the artists on the riddim turned in strong performances, with Iba Mahr’s “Glory to the King” certainly deserving of a mention, as well.  —Jesse Serwer

9.Skip- Cry to Me

We don’t want to get the hype train going too early — he’s just 18 with only two songs to his name — but, yeah, we’re pretty sure Skip Marley — or just Skip, if you prefer— is going to be massive. The video for “Cry To Me” premiered here in April, and it hasn’t left our heads since. Judging by the massive love it got on our YouTube channel, and the near-viral response to his recent profile in Vogue, we’re sure we’re not the only ones who feel this way. Read our interview with Skip, his first one ever, here. –Jesse Serwer

8. Chronixx-Ghetto People/Play Some Roots

It was a quiet year musically for Chronixx (at least until a week ago, when he dropped off the explosive dancehall track “Sell My Gun”) with the singjay staying out on the road and presumably stocking up songs for his upcoming album. Though none attained the acclaim of last year’s crop, the “Ghetto People” on Damian Marley’s On the Corner riddim and the bluesy “Play Some Roots” on Silly Walks’ Ram Jam riddim showcased the artist’s continued growth, and a wisdom that defies his relative youthfulness. (He’s still just 22.)  — Jesse Serwer

7.Runkus – Run

Another new artist we’re anticipating big things from in 2016, Runkus is a name just starting to circulate outside of Jamaica. Produced by K-Jah Sound out of Poland, “Run” is a strong introduction to the style of this self-assured singer (the son of ’90s-era deejay Determine), and a buoyant, dubwise track full of playful vocal twists and turns.   —Jesse Serwer

6. Romain Virgo- God Inna My Corner

Is there a more underrated reggae singer working today than Romain Virgo? Not that the former winner of Digicel Rising Stars (Jamaica’s American Idol) lacks for fans, but he’s never had that massive hit yet, and it’s not clear why. He certainly is consistent about releasing good music; in October, he dropped the stellar Lifted EP, on which “God Inna Mi Corner” was easily the standout. He delivers his lines here with a powerful conviction that transfers easily to the listener. It’s the kind of track you make a part of your daily routine, and adopt as a mantra. Badmind beware!

5. Major Lazer – Wave feat. Kali Uchis/Major Lazer- Lean On (Zion I Kings Remix)

We enjoyed Major Lazer’s Peace is the Mission and all when it dropped in June, but were a little disappointed to find it didn’t include any reggae. Their melancholy forays into Studio One era nostalgia like “Can’t Stop Now” with Mr. Vegas and Jovi Rockwell, and Free the Universe‘s “Jessica” were great additions to otherwise high-energy electro-bashment albums, and “Get Free” might just be the best thing they’ve ever done. So we were glad to find the updated, “deluxe” version of the album (featuring six new tracks) added “Wave,” a dubbed out reggae tune in the vein of “Get Free” featuring the brilliant singer Kali Uchis. Meanwhile, Major Lazer collaborators Zion I Kings—the band and production outfit consisting of Zion High Records’ Jah David, I Grade Records’ Laurent “Tippy” Afred and the Lustre Kings’ Andrew “Moon” Bain— did their part, turning the ubiquitous “Lean On” into a flawless one-drop anthem. We knew Zion I were wizards, but they outdid themselves with this one.  —Jesse Serwer

4. Dre Island -M16

Dre Island‘s voice evokes a young Damian Marley, and like Jr. Gong he moves easily between his base in reggae and other styles. “M16” is his best track to date, a rare fusion of reggae and EDM that strikes just the right balance. —Jesse Serwer

3. Inner Circle and Chronixx – News Carrying Dread

“The Bad Boys of Reggae” Inner Circle invited current-day reggae artists including Jesse Royal, Bugle and Assassin to their Circle House Studio in Miami to voice a new version of their Tenement Yard riddim made famous by Jacob Miller. Chronixx’s “News Carrying Dread” was the cream of the crop, a cautionary tale about talking too much that carried a ’70s classic seamlessly into 2015. —Jesse Serwer

2. Jesse Royal- Finally

The “small axe” Jesse Royal celebrated Jamaica’s decision to decriminalize ganja in February with this catchy, upbeat roots offering on Razz and Biggy‘s infectious Steamaz riddim. The track quickly became an anthem, earning forwards in any reggae session where it’s played. Much like reggae legends who came before, Royal keeps his pulse on the political and social issues shaping the island; here, he uses Jamaica’s most powerful tool to speak on them. —Saxon Baird

1. Kabaka Pyramid- Well Done

The lyrically-gifted Kingstonian Kabaka Pyramid channeled his inner Peter Tosh and unleashed politically-charged fyah on our No. 1 reggae single of 2015. Backed by the flawless production touch of Jr. Gong Damian Marley, “Well Done” details 50-plus years of dubious decisions by Jamaican politicians, from bad IMF deals to rising unemployment. It’s the type of lyrical content that was the standard in the late ‘70s, from greats like Max Romeo and Neville Martin. And much like them, what makes the this track so impressive is Kabaka’s ability to make his history lesson both catchy and captivating. Chalk it up to the smart, poetic wit we’ve come to love from Pyramid. It’s all the more proof that when Kabaka grab the mic, it’s always worth a listening… even if you’re a Jamaican politician. —Saxon Baird