Coming Soon Vol. 22

“No Doubt Records Dub Riddim” [No Doubt Records]

Alright - The biggest thing on the list this week definitely comes via the greatest Reggae producer in the world, Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor and his label, No Doubt Records who have a very interesting five set release forthcoming with their ”No Doubt Records Dub Riddim”. Okay, first of all this is an outstanding idea in my opinion. Second of all - You want to know what it is - It appears to simply be the instrumentals for the label’s various riddims and that is a HUGE deal to me. McGregor makes the best Roots Reggae music in the world, so when you really dig into the ‘meat’ and substance of the matter, what you’ll find here are riddims such as the Key [Vol. 5], the 83, the recent Happy Heart [both Vol. 1], the Beng Beng, the Ghetto [both Vol. 4] and even the recent Classic Riddim [Vol. 2] and many more as each volume appears to have TWELVE riddims, which is HUGE. This one will rank highly for the hardcore heads (like you and I) and really, for what it is, it’s one of the biggest such collections to be released in a very long time to my knowledge, so biggup the master again as he, perhaps more vividly than ever before, gives the masses an opportunity to REALLY take in his STERLING work.

Potential Rating In Full: 5/5
Releases on September 14
Digital
{note: We were unable to find Vol. 3 of the collection}
{note2: Biggup Bredz for making that picture}

“John John Dancehall Hits” [John John Records]

Okay so, I can kind of/sort of see how some might consider this to be the biggest release of the list this week, but you’d be wrong. Why? Well, first of all the King’s Son, John John, did release this collection, ”John John Dancehall Hits” on VP Records back in . . . Oh 1935 or so, so it has been out there for roughly 200 years by my math. Still, what you’re going to get in between these five releases is copious amounts of WICKED material from the likes of Bounty Killer, the Mad Cobra, Louie Culture, Terry Ganzie, Wayne Wonder and even BROMWELL (and you are FUCKED UP if you remember Bromwell from Scare Dem), which makes it, CLEARLY, a Dancehall collector’s dream. Just sitting here listening back to these tunes and . . . Yeah I kind of get misty eyed because that era was so so sweet and with tunes like ‘Lodge’, ‘Mr. Pleasure’, ‘Iron Gloves’, ‘Merciless Badboy’ and ‘Welding Torch’ (from Lady Saw), it just brings back such great memories. It will for you too, I’m sure.

Potential Rating In Full: 5/5
Releases on Tomorrow
Digital
{note: Is already available on hard-to-find CD. Check Ernie B}

“Like A Lion: Official Soundtrack” [Hemp Higher]

I had/have absolutely no idea who Tanner Hall was/is until I saw this one floating around. From what I gather, he’s quite a popular and damn near legendary skier (who is apparently two years younger than I am) (good for him). So popular, in fact, that he’s even earned his own documentary about his life, ”Like A Lion” and that’s just kind of weird, because when I first saw it, I thought that maybe Tanner had left us already. But no, apparently he is alive and well and definitely that’s great. AND, his documentary has a soundtrack and from what I can tell, Tanner Hall has excellent choice in music because he’s obviously quite the fan (and friend) of one of my own favourites, Cali P and because of that (I THINK), the Gwada born, Swiss resident chanter DOMINATES on the soundtrack to the point where, as he appears on nine of the album’s thirteen tracks, it’s almost like a new Cali P album and that is HUGE to me! With him, he’s brought the likes of Munga Honourable, FANTAN MOJAH, Charly B and Fulklip for Riga and Hemp Higher and I’m DEFINITELY well looking forward to what they have in store (and hopefully they’re not considering this one an official album from Cali and they’ll STILL give us the real deal pretty soon).

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases on September 17
Digital

Scrub A Dub Riddim [Hemp Higher]

Obviously not ones to rest on their laurels, on the same day as the ”Like A Lion” soundtrack drops (and mind you, the Burn Up Riddim is still very fresh on players, having just reached at the end of July), Riga and Cali P ALSO give us the Scrub A Dub Riddim. The name is pretty weird, although after I got a taste of the actual sound of it, I COMPLETELY commend Phantom, Riga and co. for having titled it such, because it definitely has somewhat of an old school sound to it, but in a new age ‘body’. Besides that, however, there’s something VERY VERY interesting about the artists on this riddim. Not only is Cali P on it, twice (more on that in a second), but also on board are the likes of Fulklip, the talented and lazy voiced Raw Raw . . . Of course Raw Raw also appears twice, once on his own and a next shot, on the herbalist tune ‘High High’, alongside Cali and Achis Reggae favourite Tiwony, who also gets his own tune, ‘Pon Di Road’. And then there’s the matter of ‘Wine Now’ which RIDICULOUSLY features Cali P alongside the FLAMING Sara Lugo! SHIT! Can’t wait to hear it and you know crazy vibes on this one.

Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases on September 17
Digital

World Beat Riddim [Subsonik/Chiney K Productions]

I believe the last time we heard from Chiney K on a riddim, it was probably back on the WICKED Good Groove, and now they’re back again, with Subsonik, on the new World Beat Riddim, which is another excellent draw from a label increasingly demanding more and more attention from the masses via their work. As far as a full album, the World Beat may be even stronger than the Good Groove as it boasts five more tunes than that nice ten track set. Featured here are artists back from the earlier piece like Sizzla Kalonji, Lutan Fyah, Tyrical and the label’s favourite (apparently) Ginjah alongside newer names like veterans Jimmy Riley, Powerman, Cutty Ranks and Len Hammond as well as Ras Penco and Junior X. History simply is an indicator and it will be the same for this almost certain winner from Chiney K and Subsonik.

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases on Tomorrow
Digital

“Nice Up The Dance: UK Bubblers 1984-87” [Greensleeves Records]

I was almost surprised to not see the term ‘vol. 2’ behind this one because it just seems like something that would’ve already sprung from the obese vaults of Greensleeves, but it hasn’t and instead we get ”Nice Up The Dance: UK Bubblers 1984-87” right now. I like this because the title explains it well enough that I really don’t need to add very much at all. So, instead I’ll just tell you what you can look forward to - The release spans over two discs and at eighteen tracks each, you’re getting thirty-six tracks of somewhat CLASSIC (‘vintage’ figures to be a better word) UK Dancehall. Obviously the star here is Tippa Irie who, between the two discs, checks in with no less than EIGHT tunes, but you’ll also find people like the late Deborahe Glasgow, Pato Banton, Peter Spence, one of my personal favourites - sweet-voiced Tannoi and UNFORTUNATELY Daddy Rusty (if you’re a big fan of Daddy Rusty's then to hell with me, but I cannot STAND his music).

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases on Tomorrow
CD & Digital (I THINK)

Set It Off Riddim [Life Line Music]

I believe the Set It Off Riddim from Life Line dropped maybe three or four months ago and I’m kind of confused as to what may’ve taken it so long to get to an album format, but here it is anyway. It was one of my favourites, but to no fault of the producer’s because the riddim itself is BEAUTIFUL, I just felt as though it didn’t get the vocal performances, in full, that it deserved, but now you can be the judge. To my opinion, the best two pieces here are ‘Island Lover’ and ‘Friend Indeed’ from Agent Sasco [bka Assassin] and Bugle, respectively and then it goes downhill as artists like Konshens, a seemingly disinterested Raine Seville and Omari just miss the mark here. And while I wasn’t blown away by their efforts, to me, both Jay MacKay and a vocally impressive Ryan Mark also do nice things with their efforts. But now you’ll be the judge of that and again, the riddim itself is excellent and thankfully there is a clean version of it on the album.

Potential Rating: 3.75/5
Releases on September 14
Digital

"Singles Vol. 1" [2 Hard Music]

2010 has marked a fairly significant occurrence in terms of Dancehall production as, returning to the top of the genre has been an increasingly active Jeremy Harding and his once mighty 2 Hard Music label. After investing years as a producer (which were highlighted by the fact that he vibed the Playground Riddim, relatively early in his career which, of course, would go on to back Beenie Man’s majestic hit, ‘Who Am I’) Harding struck gold with Sean Paul and would, effectively, leave production to guide the career of the then burgeoning superstar. Well he’s back now and after dropping two fairly successful projects, the excellent City Life and the recent Circus riddims, 2 Hard Music is now just pushing a very random collection of ”Singles”. This six track set features tunes from Beenie Man, Elephant Man, ‘Sassin, Alaine, Laden and newcomer Denyque. I’m always glad to see the label doing anything, this included, so definitely look out for it.

Potential Rating: 4/5
Releases September 21
Digital

State Of Urgency Riddim [Payday Music]

Much like Hemp Higher, it doesn’t seem as if Payday Music wastes much time between productions as, coming right on the heels of their last release, the Style Dem Riddim, is the brand new State of Urgency Riddim. This one has a bit more of a ‘STOMACH’ to it, to my opinion, and I actually like it (despite the fact that it has, easily, three of my least favourite artists on it. Of course, at the head of the release is the general, Bounty Killer with ‘Fed-Upper’ which I heard, actually, quite some time ago. And the riddim may be older, but I hadn’t heard further efforts from the likes of Predator (ugh) which is actually decent, Bling Dawg (ugh again) which I don’t like and Wayne Marshall whose ‘Jamaica Build Back’ is pretty good actually. Also on board is Bugle, Iyara and the usual suspects, Flexx and Nymron.

Potential Rating: 4/5
Releases on Tomorrow
Digital

Road Of Life Riddim [Suncycle Digital]

Impressive young UK label, Suncycle (cool name), continues its excellent run with a riddim which is absolute GOLD, the beautiful Road Of Life Riddim. You might recall Suncycle dropping the well received high powered Rise Up Riddim, which spawned Gappy Ranks’ big hit ‘Rise Out of The Ghetto’ and while it was necessarily a personal favourite of mine, it was decent and it did enough damage to put them on my radars (oh, and the digital cover for it was superb) (just like this one is), which helped to hype this one for me. The Road Of Life is certainly a different riddim from the Rise Up (showing some versatility). This one is a SPECTACULAR sounding slower piece which just kind of explodes when you listen to it and charged with handling the detonation are names like I-Octane, Hyah Slyce, Fyahkin, Dolamite (who I believe produced the riddim and owns the label), up and comer Damas, wicked agitated singer Tony Frass and others. This one has a whole heap of potential on it as does Dolamite and co. at Suncycle.

Potential Rating: 4.35/5
Releases on September 17
Digital

Ossie Dellimore - “Reggae Music” [Skank Productions]

And lastly, I just thought that I’d give you a bit of forewarning because I’m well planning on tuning this one up come Friday, but St. Vincy’s finest Reggae export, Ossie Dellimore is about to drop his second album , the much anticipated ”Reggae Music”. I’ve been looking forward to this one (literally) for years and finally the stars and planets have aligned themselves properly and Skank Productions have once again tuned in for the album. I already have this one and cannot wait to dive in because if his last album, ”Freedom’s Journal” (which was released 342 years ago) is any indication (and that MASSIVE tune ‘Time Has Come’, one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life), and it is, then we could be dealing with another excellent release from Mr. Dellimore.

Potential Rating: 4.75/5
Releases on September 10
CD & Digital