Words by LargeUp Crew
Photo by Corey Hamilton
Each week, we add the best new tracks from across the Caribbean and the Diaspora to our Now Things playlist on Apple Music. While the playlist is always available to listen to here, keep up with the latest additions in our weekly new music roundup, every Tuesday on LargeUp.
This week’s update features fresh island soul from Sevana, reformed badman business by Popcaan, the new club anthem by Alkaline, and a surprise from Elephant Man.
Run tune below, and find all of our playlists over on our Apple Music channel here.
Sevana’s summer bop “Sometime Love” finds the Westmoreland, Jamaica-born siren delivering sweet, sultry and powerhouse vocals over an R&B rhythm from Seani B and Don Chandler. Check out the accompanying underwater visuals, via Jamaican photographer and creative director Corey Hamilton, for the full effect. — Ronnia Cherry
Popcaan dropped his sophomore album Forever on Friday, and the pensive “Lef My Gun” immediately jumped out as the standout track. An automatic rewind sure to stay in rotation for months to come. — Jesse Serwer
Bulby York feat. Christopher Martin + Beenie Man – “Lots of Signs”
“When it comes to sound business, is we that run the scene, caw we fresh and green!” So goes the intro from dubplate kingpin Fuzzy Jones sampled at the beginning of this appetizer for super-engineer and producer Bulby York’s upcoming VP Records LP Master Blaster. The vintage-style dancehall track delivers with superb vocals from Christopher Martin, joined by a serviceable Beenie Man. — Desmond Alphonso
Alkaline, “Yaadie Fiesta”
Kranium, “Hustlers Anthem”
Netflixxx, from DJ Frass, is looking like the summer’s blockbuster dancehall riddim. While the Mavado x Stefflon Don link-up “Diamond Body” is the big draw, the riddim is perfectly calibrated for Alkaline who revives the Spanish-inspired flow of “Suave” on “Yaadie Festa.” Kranium, taking a break from gyal tune business for once, also puts in a strong showing on the badman track, “Hustlers Anthem.” — Desmond Alphonso
Elephant Man, “Here I Go (Remix)”
Poking through this week’s new releases we came across a re-imagined version of 2002’s Nude Riddim. Sounding more like an alternate take from ’02 than something from the present, this version of Elephant Man’s “Here I Go” captures all of the fun of dancehall in that era. — Desmond Alphonso
Listen to the Now Things playlist here: