The Best Contemporary Reggae Compilations of 2010

Despite there being no obvious heir apparent to the massive ”Joyful Noise” of 2009, the Reggae compilation enjoyed a fairly good year in 2010 and, on the whole, perhaps an even greater one than last year. This year we saw quality releases from a healthier variety of labels than maybe EVER, or at least at any time in recent memory and the result of that was that we definitely made some new acquaintances which are hopefully going to be stars of 2011 and beyond. At the highest end of the scale, we also saw excellent performances from some of the genre’s biggest names also who, I’m happy to say, performed pretty nicely this year and represent even more, arguably, than last year with big riddims and big tunes from big artists. So, without further delay, I submit for your approval, The Ten Best Contemporary Reggae Compilations of 2010.

{Note: Dancehall: Yes. Soca: No}
{Note 2: No full on re-releases or greatest hits compilations}
{Note 3: No EP’s}
{Honourable Mentions: Tranquil Riddim, The Billie Jean Riddim, The Good Groove Riddim, The Mirror Riddim, Dread & Alive: The Lost Tapes Vol. 1, The Relationships Riddim, The Strange Things Riddim}
{Note 4: See 2009’s List Here}

#10. The Bad People Riddim [Di Genius Productions]

Remember me? Despite the facts that it dropped way back in January or February, the album officially released in April and I never got around to reviewing it, that certainly hasn’t diminished what is my choice as the second greatest Dancehall compilation of 2010, the Bad People Riddim album from Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, the only producer to appear on this list twice. In this case, this riddim was so coyly HEAVY and remarkable that it surely had to catch attentions and when the full thing broke out - Big tunes from the likes of Aidonia, Mavado, Busy Signal, Beenie Man, Bramma and even TWO from the most reticent Baby Cham didn’t hurt there either.

#9. Cultural Vibes Volume 1 [Jahsolidrock/Not Easy At All]

Music from the highest region. Big Dutchie tandem, Jahsolidrock and Not Easy At All were on a roll in 2010 and after releasing two big albums, they punctuated things with an excellent compilation release, ”Cultural Vibes Vol. 1”. Besides featuring the same artist, Chezidek, who highlighted their year, the album was also full of favourites of the labels such as Benaïssa, Wild Life and Lloyd De Meza. These guys mixed in with the likes of Mikey General, Earl 16 (who might highlight 2011 for the two labels) and Zamunda meant big time results and a guaranteed spot on a list like such.

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#8. The Box Guitar Riddim [Tiger Records]

A cross to bear. The Box Guitar Riddim from Achis Reggae favourite Sherkhan and Tiger Records is a prime example of 2010’s showing of compilations coming from a variety of different sources as, ostensibly, there’s nothing really here which might catch your attention as being exceptional prior to a listen (although the cover is gorgeous . . . That’s a pretty good idea for another list I’d say), a brief trip through it, however, shows it to be probably one of the most underrated big riddims of 2010 and all who missed out and continue to - Stop it. Mikey General, Lutan Fyah, Perfect and Zamunda all took the Box Guitar out for a spin and Junior X ‘simply’ upgraded it.

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#7. Bobo Revolution 2 [Maximum Sound]

Just as nice. The 2008 version of this list may’ve very well been topped by the first installment of ”Bobo Revolution” from Frenchie and company at Maximum Sound from out of the UK and them running it out again in 2010 also made it amongst the best releases of the year. The album, like most of MS’ music, just had a very FULL sound to it and with its obvious old school inclinations, it proved to be quite a formidable project. It also, arguably, had the best lineup of any piece on this list with Luciano, Sizzla Kalonji, Capleton and Tarrus Riley being only a small cut of the HUGE names on board here.

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#6. Riddim Driven: Classic [No Doubt Records]

Nomen est omen. By my research, 2010 marked the second lowest total for VP Records’ once might and ULTRA busy Riddim Driven series, which clocked in with just four releases (all of which were in the first half of the year) and clearly the class of that group was the aptly appointed Classic Riddim from the greatest Roots Reggae producer on the planet, Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor. Although the subsequent year wouldn’t prove to be one of the most active for McGregor and company at No Doubt Records, they can proudly hang their hats on the fact that, in the Classic, they pushed one of the best editions of RD in quite some time and one of the biggest of their own impressive catalog as well.

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#5. Reggae Jammin Plus Vol. 2 [Tad’s Records]

The standout. I didn’t really know what to do with the most interesting "Reggae Jammin' Plus Vol. 2" from Tad’s [digitally provided by the fine people at Zojak Worldwide] because with its obese 40+ tracks, you could actually make the case that it is #1 on this list by the sheer girth of the project and, of course, not all of that material is stellar, so you could probably also make the case that it shouldn’t be here at all (that would be a pretty weak case to my opinion, however). So, what I did was to kind of average it out and take the good with the bad and, in doing that, big efforts from the likes of Mavado, Sizzla Kalonji, Beenie Man, Khago, I-Octane and my choice as the album’s MVP, Hezron, make this a MUST for my own personal list.

#4. Digital Acoustics [Necessary Mayhem]

Most necessary. Curtis ‘Da Grynch’ Lynch Jr. at Necessary Mayhem, the BIGTIME up and coming UK Reggae label had been doing a major bit of work across the globe with big riddim releases and bringing some big artists to the forefront as well. In 2010, however, they put it all together in one terribly convenient unit, ”Digital Acoustics” (made digitally available by someone named Zojak Worldwide, I believe), which stands as a big staple and signature release for the still fairly young label to my opinion. Helping Lynch to sign his name were Mr. Williamz, YT and even Brinsley Forde from the UK on one end - And Ziggi Recado, Million Stylez, Maikal X, Jah Mirikle and even SHABBA RANKING on the other.

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#3. The Catalog Riddim [Di Genius Productions]

The biggest ship. Upon further reflection, after thinking about the older pieces such as the Powercut, the Tremor, the Shaddowz etc. I can pretty confidently say that the Catalog Riddim is the best riddim album EVER from Stephen McGregor (number two would probably be the overstuffed Ghetto Whiskey Riddim) and with as active as he’s been throughout the years, you know that’s saying quite a bit. It also stands up exceedingly well to the competition present in 2010 which is why it ranks this high. This thing was just DOMINANT! I’ve heard one or two better Dancehall riddims this year, but none of them offered such CONSISTENT hardcore, WORLD CLASS and REAL Dancehall deejaying over an equally authentic DANCEHALL RIDDIM. Fittingly, it was left in the most capable hands of Beenie Man, Capleton, Assassin, Aidonia, Spragga Benz, Bramma and others who showed this WICKEDLY GORGEOUS thing to be the monster that it actually was - The Best Dancehall Riddim Album of 2010.

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#2. The Major & Minor Riddims [Don Corleon]

The Don. Anywhere from 2002-2007 and a list like this would have been simply INCORRECT (and I mean that in the most actual and technical sense possible, it wouldn’t even have been a matter of opinion at that point) if it failed to include MULTIPLE releases from the most talented all around producer of Reggae music in the world, Don Corleon. While 2010 didn’t mark a return to the old days in terms of activity (well I guess maybe it did in some aspects), Corleon was once again near the height of his powers and one of the biggest showcases of that fact was the EXCELLENT riddim PROJECT that was the Major & Minor Riddims. This thing gets better and better each and every time you vibe it and it does so on both riddims. From Ce’Cile, J-Boog, Da Professor and Tarrus Riley running the Major - To Lutan Fyah, Pressure and Vybz Kartel going hard on the Minor, this double dosage of Don definitely left nothing to be desired.

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#1. The Vitamin & Highlight Riddims [Akom Records]

The roster. Had you told me a year ago that right now I would be declaring a release from a French label to be Compilation of The Year 2010, I probably wouldn’t have been very surprised and I likely would’ve attributed it the always active and complete Irie Ites and while the big Frenchie imprint did have a very good year, they’re not the focal point of this list - Instead it’s Akom Records (guess who did it digitally???) who gave us another double shot - The Vitamin & Highlight Riddims. Apart, as they previously appeared, they were very good, but stuck together and expanded upon, they were brilliant and it had a LARGE bit to do with the fact that whoever was in charge of the roster of artists voicing these compositions was a fucking genius. One release with Lutan Fyah, Natty King and Jah Mason? Very good. Who else? Sizzla? No. Capleton? No. Luciano maybe? No. Akom, instead, went in a VERY INTELLIGENT direction and added the likes of Black Dillinger, Jah Marnyah (twice), Lorenzo and Pressure Busspipe! You add all of that together and I don’t care if I’m the only one thinking it, but what you have is the foundation for something special and it carried out greater than any other thing I heard this year. The Best Contemporary Reggae Compilation of 2010.

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