Words by LargeUp Crew
Illustration by Robin Clare

Dancehall *went mainstream* again in 2016, infiltrating charts and conversations all year long. The resurgence most benefited bashment-savvy pop and hip-hop acts like Rihanna, Drake and Tory Lanez, who rode timely, dancehall-inspired singles to chart and radio ubiquity. Few actual Jamaican productions were afforded similar exposure by industry gatekeepers, even as songs like Drake’s “Controlla” and Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” brought light to featured guests Popcaan and Sean Paul, respectively. However, the boost in visibility fueled an energy that’s been missing from dancehall in recent years, as artists like Vybz Kartel, Popcaan and Alkaline offered some of their strongest output to date, and competition among top-tier acts ratcheted up.

As is the norm in dancehall, a few songs from previous years made their presence felt in 2016. Songs that appeared on last year’s list were not included here, even if they were major in 2016 —  Dexta Daps’ “Shabba Madda Pot,” a 2015 favorite that picked up even more steam this year being one example. However, a pair of songs that were technically released earlier than 2016 are.

Here’s our picks for the Top 16 Dancehall Songs of 2016.

16. Alkaline, “After All”

With Vybz Kartel’s future currently in question, all eyes are on Alkaline, who has been attempting to ascend into the top spot long inhabited by the World Boss. “After All” is one of the biggest tunes in dancehall at the current moment, and if Alkaline is ultimately successful in obtaining that coveted spot, it will surely be looked at as a staple tune for years to come. Lyrically, love and loyalty are the words pledged by the Vendetta boss on “After All,” a gangster tune set to a danceable tempo. Alkaline makes it clear that he and his Vendetta crew are ready for whatever his rivals have to offer, with no intention of backing down. — Juss Kool

15. Chronixx, “Sell My Gun”

Chronixx has been the face of the so-called reggae revival since 2013, but he’s also shown an aptitude for riding dancehall rhythms, particularly those made by long-time collaborator Romaine “Teflon” Arnett of Zinc Fence Records. The two recently had a falling out, casting doubt on future collaborations, but not before dropping this thought-provoking anti-violence anthem at the very end of 2015, just past contention for last year’s list. (It appears on Chronixx + Federation Sound’s Roots & Chalice, one of our picks for this year’s best mixtapes). In a year in which dancehall offered little conscious fare, this one went somewhat under the radar, but with Chronixx planning to drop his new album, Chronology, it may soon see more life. — Jesse Serwer

14. Spice, “Indicator”

It’s hard to deny that Spice has been the top female artist in dancehall the last few years, and 2016 saw her go into overdrive with a slew of singles, live shows around the world, and a stronger-than-ever presence on social media. Often times, she’s the sole female artist nominated for reggae and dancehall awards, going head to head with the likes of Alkaline and Popcaan, who she joined on stage during this year’s Red Bull Culture Clash in London. Riding high off the success of 2014’s “So Mi Like It,” Spice’s biggest single this year was “Indicator” — the Afrobeats-inspired Skelewu riddim was the perfect match for Spice’s playful flow and straight-up, instructional lyrics, with the bumper-filled official video racking up millions in views. — Sajae Elder

13. Chi Ching Ching, “Breadfruit (Roast or Fry)”/ Popcaan, “Wicked Man Ting”

Both these songs on YVP Productions’ Middle East-inspired Wicked Wicked Riddim will be played for years to come — they’re catchy tunes that the dancehall dancers love. This is doubly true for Chi Ching Ching’s “Breadfruit,” which turned one of Jamaica’s favorite vegetables into a major dance phenomenon.  — Osei Pola-Samuels

12. Dwayne “DJ” Bravo, “Champion”

2016 was a big year for Caribbean sports, with the West Indies taking home the Cricket World Cup in India, and Team Jamaica cleaning up at the Rio Olympics. Given the connections between sport and music in the region, it was fitting that one of the biggest songs across the Caribbean this year came from an athlete. Trinidadian cricket star Dwayne “DJ” Bravo recorded “Champion” in 2015 on the Culu Culu riddim (the same instrumental responsible for Savage Savo’s “Culu Culu”) but it really solidified its status this year after Bravo’s Windies team won the World Twenty20 in dramatic fashion, with “Champion” as their soundtrack. The tune which name checks both Trinidadian and Jamaican sport and music icons from Chris Gayle to Bunji Garlin, was a major source of inter-regional pride from Barbados to Guyana. —Jesse Serwer

11. Charly Blacks, “Gyal You A Party Animal”

It’s hard to say which genre Charly Blacks’ “Gyal You A Party Animal” belongs to. The track, on Jamaican producer Kurt Riley’s Jambe An riddim, sits comfortably in soca and dancehall sets, and has infiltrated reggaeton clubs across Latin America, as well as “tropical” playlists worldwide. It’s just as tricky to assign it a year: The Jambe An was made in Jamaica in 2014; “Party Animal” crossed over into markets like Panama, Trinidad and Colombia (where it was recently certified platinum) last year. 2016 saw the track complete its world domination, reaching radio and charts in North America and Europe, giving Jamaica a much-needed mainstream presence at a moment when international interpretations of dancehall of dubious legitimacy are all the rage. — Jesse Serwer

10. Mavado, “Progress”

Mavado really went hard with the war tunes this year, especially in his lyrical battle with Popcaan, but didn’t have too many major hits for the clubs if you subtract those that were actually released in 2015. “Progress” (which appears as a bonus track on DJ Khaled’s Major Keys album, and also makes a cameo in his “Nas Album Done” video) is a very notable exception. Personally, my favorite Mavado is the Mavado who sounds sad or disappointed on a slow riddim and talks straight from the heart. “Progress” is definitely one of those songs. The Money Boss riddim, on which “Progress” was voiced, is a great production by Mineral Boss Records — Vershon, Jahmiel and I-Octane have great songs on it as well. — DJ Shirkhan

9. Vybz Kartel, “Western Union”

Jamaica is no stranger to the lotto scam. According to The Wall Street Journal, Jamaican scammers took in $1 billion from U.S. citizens in the last four years. This year has seen some high-profile arrests involving US authorities. A chronicler of the Jamaican hustler lifestyle in all its forms, Vybz Kartel has been referencing this phenomenon for years, on songs such as ‘Reparation.” It even drew attention from the Jamaican Security Minister. who was in an uproar of this so-called glorification of ghetto life. The artist Xklusive touched on the topic back in April with his track “Scamma Dem Deya.” Kartel revisited the topic on one of his biggest songs of 2016, “Western Union,” with an extended 10-minute visual to boot. The track, which begins with a cryptic reference to Georgetown, Guyana (a city where Kartel ran into trouble a few years back after a dispute with a promoter) sees the World Boss at the top of his lyrical game, weaving in and out of his nasal flow whilst painting a vivid picture of the life of a scammer. Essential listening. — Jamie Rodigan

8. Popcaan, “Ova Dweet”

My thing is normally 100% hardcore dancehall and reggae, but this year I’ve played lots of crossover parties where nuff rap and R&B songs were in rotation. “Ova Dweet” is one of those songs that’s great as a bridge between different genres, and one that people who don’t consume dancehall on a daily basis can easily relate to. It’s definitely one of the top three Popcaan songs for 2016. Even if did get a little bit overshadowed after the war between Popcaan and Mavado kick off, this one is a certified hit. — DJ Shirkhan

7. Jahmiel, “Where Were U”

The best song on Good Good Productions’ Cure Pain riddim, one of the biggest riddims of the year (with honorable mentions going to Mavado’s “Big League,” Kartel’s “I’ll Take You There” and I-Octane’s “No Badda Dan Jah”) “Where Were U” saw Jahmiel cement his place among the top new-school dancehall dons. “Where Were U” is an absolute juggernaut of a song, breaking into mainstream circles within the U.K. and getting radio play on both commercial and underground radio stations after taking over the streets in JA. The song’s relatable lyrics resonate with so many people, making “Where Were U” a favorite with both gunman and the righteous. — Osei Pola-Samuels

6. Drake feat. Popcaan, “Controlla”

Debates around this obviously dancehall-inspired record have been going on for months, even before the release of Drake’s VIEWS in April. While “Controlla” might not ride a riddim per se, co-production from Supa Dups and Stephen McGregor definitely sets it apart from the many other “Caribbean-tinged” hip hop tracks which graced the charts this year. The first version of the record (and the only one we acknowledge) featured Popcaan’s commanding opening verse that stole the show before the Canadian rapper even shows up. Coupled with Drake’s sing-song cadence and plenty of patois-derived Toronto slang, it makes for a strong contender on our list. Even though the song’s album cut swapped Popcaan’s verse for a quick flip of Beenie Man’s 1995 classic, “Tear Off Mi Garment”, the unofficial version is a fan favorite thanks to almost unmatched slow wine possibilities. — Sajae Elder

5. Alkaline, “City”

“City” was another instant classic from the new Prince of Dancehall. Alkaline released a slew of big singles in 2016, but “City” has had the most legs, supported late in the year by a big-time video directed by Jay Will and set in New York’s Times Square. Though only a fool would question who the King of Dancehall is, Alkaline is inching closer to the throne. If he can keep giving us classics and keep on with his quality over quantity approach, others will need to be worried. If he keeps unlocking new levels, he may start asking big questions in 2017. — Osei Pola-Samuels

4. Popcaan, “We Still A Win (World Cup)”

Woy-oi! On the heels of DJ Bravo’s “Champion,” Popcaan created another anthem for the Caribbean massive just in time for summer, providing Usain Bolt’s Olympic victory lap with an unofficial anthem. Popcaan released some of his best material in 2016, including numerous tracks worthy of inclusion on this list. Personally, the upbeat, “Mi Unruly” and the slow-burning “Nah Idle” were my favorites to listen to at home. But the triumphant, Notnice-produced “We Still A Win” was the one that got him the most forwards (the “Controlla” cameo notwithstanding) in the dancehall. It is sure to remain a favorite at bashment parties, workout sessions and stadiums for a long time to come. —Jesse Serwer

3. Konshens, “Bruk Off”

From the second I heard the piano on the riddim (Birchill Records’ Moskato riddim), I knew Konshens’ “Bruk Off” — also known as “Bruk Off Yuh Back” and, in its raw form, “Bruk Off Mi Cock” — was going to be one of this year’s certified scorchers. Here in Sweden, it has been tearing down dances from north to south, becoming the most popular dancehall song on my weekly radio show on Swedish National Radio. We aren’t really forced to play edited versions of songs on the radio and in the parties here in super-liberal Sweden, so I’ve never played the clean version, but it’s great that one is available, since this one is big with the youth. —DJ Shirkhan

2. Rihanna feat. Drake, “Work”

A song written by a Jamaican (PartyNextDoor), co-produced by two more (Boi-1da and Sevn Thomas) and performed by the biggest Caribbean superstar since Bob Marley, Rihanna’s “Work” was the catalyst for the dancehall pop takeover of 2016. Justin Bieber’s tropical “Sorry” preceded “Work” both as a release and as a No. 1 single, but “Work” took the burgeoning trend in a more culturally authentic direction. Pulling from reggae/dancehall producer Richie Stephens’ 1998 Sail Away riddim, it set the tempo for later ‘90s dancehall rehashes from Tory Lanez (“LUV”) and Fifth Harmony (“All In My Head”), not to mention Fifth Harmony’s similarly-themed “Work From Home”. Rihanna and her team (including noted choreographer and dancehall specialist, Tanisha Scott) continued to strike the right notes, setting the “Work” video in a steamy bashment party inside Toronto’s The Real Jerk restaurant, and delivering a performance at MTV’s VMA Awards featuring even more dancehall flavor. And it got ‘nuff love in JA, too. —Jesse Serwer

1. Vybz Kartel, “Fever”

Vybz Kartel’s pulsating party starter “Fever” was hands down the dancehall anthem of the year, further solidifying the incarcerated World Boss’ dominance of the genre — even after five years in prison. From Cardi B of Love & Hip-Hop fame singing along with Kartel’s lyrics on her way to visit her incarcerated boyfriend, to the countless videos of synchronized poolside twerking and tick-tock booty shaking on Snapchat and other social media, this one really struck a chord with the ladies. Kartel has always been ahead of his contemporaries when it comes to the art of lyrical seduction, but from the opening line (“X-O, X-O my love is very special, if you want it you can have it but don’t take me for granted”) to the instructional breakdown (“Tick-tock, tick-tock, bruk it, set it, bruk it, set it”) to the coded “Gypsy” language (which translates to “Mi wan see you come ah my yard fi di best fuck”) Kartel uses intermittently, everything about “Fever” resonated with di gyal dem. Kartel fans worldwide are optimistic that he will win his upcoming appeal from his 2014 murder conviction and be free once more, but, whatever the outcome, you still have to rank Vybz Kartel as the top man in the dancehall business. — Juss Kool

Honorable Mentions
Vybz Kartel — (Almost) Everything Else

Kartel literally saturated the market this year with hits on top of hits on top of hits. It has been overwhelming at times. I have found I’ve had to pace myself with the amount of Kartel I take on at one time. He has made so many great songs this year, you could almost say he made too many. (And there were a few duds). Before you can let a song sink in another four have arrived — sleep for two weeks, and an album worth of music may have been missed. King of the Dancehall was a great album but, before you could even digest it, Kartel had already put out another five hits, many album worthy in their own right. — Osei Pola-Samuels

Alkaline – Extra Lesson

Kranium feat. Tory Lanez – We Can

Masicka – Hardball

Aidonia – Hey Yo

Jahmiel – 23

Popcaan – Mi Unruly

Popcaan – Nah Idle

Dexta Daps – Chinese Jordan

Konshens – Gal Gov

PartyNextDoor – Only U

Demarco – Link Up

Alkaline – Block and Delete

Alkaline – Formula

Teetimus + Tanto Blacks – Lifestyle Rich

Tory Lanez – LUV

Busy Signal – Play the Horns

Sean Paul feat. Chi Ching Ching – Crick Neck