CHANT DOWN BABYLON with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia January 7 > 2006 Taking a look at the best 7" singles of 2005, with a run down of the top 5 dancehall riddims, and the top 15 new roots tunes. Please note that this is totally subjective, but does take into account crowd response both in the local Melbourne dancehalls, radio requests, and record sales at the Higher Level record shack... -- TOP 5 DANCEHALL RIDDIMS OF 2005: 1. Kopa on Black Chiney 2. Applause on Jah Snowcone 3. Bounce on In The Streetz 4. Black Rain on Kinky 5. Smarties on Bread Back Honorable mentions: Forbidden Dance on Danger Zone, Sleepy Dog on Steelie & Cleevie, Concubine on Rich House, Migraine on Penthouse. -- TOP 15 NEW ROOTS SINGLES OF 2005: 1. JR GONG - Jamrock (Ghetto Youths 7") 2. RICHIE SPICE - Gideon Soldier (Rootdown 7") 3. TURBULENCE - Notorious (THC 7") 4. FANTAN MOJAH & SINGING FLASH - Rastafari Is The Ruler (Lion Vibes 7") 5. KHARI KILL - Picture of Selassie I (Massive B 7") 6. TONY REBEL - Why (Irie Ites 7") 7. SIZZLA - Unity Is Strength (Pure Music 7") 8. JAH CURE - The Sound (Danger Zone 7") 9. PERFECT - Giddimani Questions (In Touch 7") 10. WARD 21 - Worldwide Connection (Bad 2000 7") 11. CAPLETON - Speak Your Mind (Ras I 7") 12. NINJAMAN - Mad Again (Jammys 7") 13. TURBULENCE - Doesn't Really Matter (Down Sound 7") 14. RICHIE SPICE - So Much Trouble (Master One 7") 15. MORGAN HERITAGE - How Come (Don Corleon) An excellent year for modern roots, with several non-Jamaican producers having a big impact alongside the usual suspects. Jamrock was undoubtedly the biggest tune of the year, despite being released halfway through 2004 - this song has the honor of being the first tune to ever make it onto my list two years in a row, but it was pretty much unavoidable. Turbulence's Notorious and Ninjaman's Mad Again won't fit everyone's definition of roots, but they were simply too big too ignore, and didn't really fit in the dancehall round-up either. Limiting myself to only one tune on a particular riddim proved to be even harder than usual this year, with some amazing riddims released. Honorable mentions: Chuck Fender, Lutan Fyah, Jahmali on the Crystal Woman riddim (Rootdown label) Fantan Mojah, Natural Black, Jah Cure on Seasons (Don Corleon) Norris Man, Kymani Marley, Chukki Starr on Rose Moet (Pure Music) Turbulence, Lutan Fyah, Spectacular on Zion (Irie Ites) Richie Spice, Chuck Fender, Sizzla on Truths and Rights (Massive B) Queen Ifrika - Living A Lie (Loyal Soldiers) Gyptian - Serious Times (Frenz) Marlon Asher - Ganja Farmer (Caribbean Undergound) Jah Cure - Most High Cup Full (Big Leauge) Capleton - Recognized (Master One) Jah Cure & Vybz Kartel - So Free (Vertex) Fantan Mojah - Don't Bow Out (Veretx). -- Finally, the playlist itself, in order: RICHIE SPICE - Babylon System (Nap 7") SIZZLA - Hear Dem Talking (Breadback 7") LEEGO - Region (Breadback 7") WARRIOR KING - I Will Sing (Breadback 7") NATURAL BLACK - She No Love Me (Black Rain 7") CAPLETON - Nuh Stop Me (Black Rain 7") SIZZLA - Too Much Informer (Black Rain 7") FRISCO KID - Send Dem Come (In The Streetz 7") TURBULENCE - I've Been Around (In The Streetz 7") CAPLETON - Dash Weh Dem AK (In The Streetz 7") CAPLETON - Stray Bullet (Jah Snowcone 7") TURBULENCE - Need To Know (Jah Snowcone 7") KARDINAL OFFICIAL & AKON - Kill The Dance (Black Chiney 7") SEAN PAUL - Straight Up (Black Chiney 7") SIZZLA - Hot Like Fire (Black Chiney 7") MORGAN HERITAGE - How Come (Don Corleon 7") RICHIE SPICE - So Much Trouble (Master One 7") TURBULENCE - Doesn't Really Matter (Down Sound 7") NINJAMAN - Mad Again (Jammys 7") CAPLETON - Speak Your Mind (Ras I 7") WARD 21 - Worldwide Connection (Bad 2000 7") PERFECT - Giddimani Questions (In Touch 7") JAH CURE - The Sound (Danger Zone 7") SIZZLA - Unity Is Strength (Pure Music 7") NORRIS MAN - Binghi Man (Pure Music 7") TURBULENCE - Rasta Livity (Irie Ites 7") TONY REBEL - Why (Irie Ites 7") KHARI KILL - Picture of Selassie I (Massive B 7") RICHIE SPICE - Youths A So Cold (Massive B 7") CHEZIDEK - Dem A Fight We (Massive B 7") FANTAN MOJAH & SINGING FLASH - Rastafari Is The Ruler (Lion Vibes 7") TURBULENCE - Notorious (THC 7") RICHIE SPICE - Gideon Soldier (Rootdown 7") JAHMALI - On Our Guard (Rootdown 7") JR GONG - Jamrock (Ghetto Youths 7")