BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I
106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia
5-7 PM > JANUARY 8 > 2011

The annual Babylon Burning year in review, looking at the biggest reggae and dancehall tunes of 2010. These lists were aired in reverse order from number 20, counting down to the number one spot; reggae in the first hour, dancehall in the second...

TOP 25 REGGAE TUNES 2010

2010 was a very quiet year in terms of new reggae releases. Don Corleon's "Major and Minor" riddim was the biggest riddim of the year to come out of Jamaica, followed by Jeremy Harding's "City Life" riddim.  Shane Brown's Jukeboxx label recut the Stalag riddim, but didn't come with anything original like 2009's Indiscretion and Dubwize.  As in 2009, it seemed a lot of the younger cultural artists gravitated towards the slower hip-hop influenced dancehall riddims, making true one-drop roots & culture reggae more rare than ever in Jamaica.

25. I Thunder - Tired Fi Hungry (Big Ship)
24. Torch - Working Hard (Penthouse)
23. Alborosie - Rudie Don't Fear (Zion Gate riddim: John John)
22. Busy Signal - Comfort Zone (Big Stage riddim: Penthouse)
21. I Octane - Greediness (Belt riddim: GT Muzik)
20. Spragga Benz - Shotta Culture (Boom Tunes)
19. Damian Marley & Nas - Land Of Promise (Tuff Gong)
18. Lutan Fyah - Bruk Loose Again (Nah Bow Down riddim: Reality Chant)
17. Junior X - Cross Me Heart (Box Guitar riddim: Tiger)
16. Million Stylez - Move From On Yah (Furybass)
15. Jah Cure - Save Yourself (Sobe Entertainment)
14. Capleton - Fed Up With The System (Heart To Art)
13. Million Stylez - Born In The System (Prison Break riddim: Bassrunner) 
12. Romain Virgo - Ghetto (Stalag riddim: Jukeboxx)
11. Kymani Marley - New Heights (Don Corleon)
10. Monsoon - Jah (Ifficial riddim: Itation)
9. Vybz Kartel - Not A Love Song (Cardiac Bass riddim: CR203)
8. J Boog - Coldest Zone (Hustlin riddim: Bost and Bim)
7. Cutty Corn - Full A Herbs (One Love Drive riddim: Lazeme)
6. Munga - One Little Spliff (Jam 2)
5. Mavado - Change Right Now (Big Ship)
4. Tarrus Riley - Poverty Nuh Inna Fashion (Rebellion 2010 riddim: Maximum Sound)
3. J Boog - Do It Again (Major and Minor riddim: Don Corleon)
   Tarrus Riley - Wildfire (Major and Minor riddim: Don Corleon)
   Jah Vinci - Gwaan Home (Major and Minor riddim: Don Corleon)
2. Queen Ifrica - Times Like These (City Life riddim: 2 Hard)
1. Gappy Ranks - Long Time (Special Delivery)


TOP 25 DANCEHALL TUNES 2010

Apart from the top three, which were clearly the biggest songs in dancehall in 2010, this was a very hard list to come up with.  As always, the list is a relection of the response which tunes recieved in the dancehalls of Melbourne, as well as in yard and abroad - but my own personal taste is strongly reflected, and this is definitely a subjective list.
 
25. Gyptian - Watch Gyal (Badda Don riddim: Yard Vybz)
24. Aidonia - Jackhammer (Jim Screechie riddim: Equiknoxx)
23. Mr Lexx - Dem A Pree (Cosa Nostra riddim: Ward 21)
22. Jah Vinci - Rumour (Gala riddim: Don Corleon)
21. Vybz Kartel - Dancehall Hero (Dancehall EFX riddim: CR203)
20. Chan Dizzy - Strange Face (Russian)
19. Charly Black - Traitor (The Glory riddim: Cash Flow)
    Vybz Kartel - Where Is The Love (The Glory riddim: Cash Flow)
18. Aidonia - Bad People (Bad People riddim: Big Ship)
17. Jahmeil - Me Nuh Murderer (Mad Vibez riddim: Young Vibez)
16. Konshens - Gal A Talk (Subkonshus)
15. Assassin & Rhianna - Rude Boy remix (Boardhouse)
14. Beenie Man - Dance and Killy Dem (Circus riddim: 2 Hard)
13. Mavado - Stulla (Smokin riddim: CR203)
    Vybz Kartel - Dumpa Truck (Smokin riddim: CR203)
12. Mavado - Nah Fraid A Dem (Gully Bomb riddim: Frass)
11. Mavado - Nine Life (Big Ship)
10. Jah Vinci - Me Alone (Wallabeez riddim: Cool Face)
    Vybz Kartel - Wear Weh Yu Have (Wallabeez riddim: Cool Face)
9. Vybz Kartel - Thank You Jah (Gangster City riddim: Not Nice)
   Popcaan - Gangster City (Gangster City riddim: Not Nice)
8. Mavado - The Messiah (Chimney)
7. Jah Vinci - Soul To Keep (Word A Prayer riddim: TJ)
6. Vybz Kartel & Russian - Jeans and Fitted (Head Concussion)
5. Mavado - House Top (Rooftop Riddim: Rosegold)
4. Di Genius - Cyaan Friend Again (Big Ship)
3. Beenie Man & Future Fambo - Drinking Rum and Redbull (One Day riddim: Seanizzle)
   Khago - Nah Sell Out (One Day riddim: Seanizzle)
2. Gyptian - Hold Yuh (Hold Yuh riddim: FME)
1. Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Gaza Slim - Clarks (Mad Collab: CR203)
   Elephant Man & Bounty Killer - This Is How We Do It (Mad Collab: CR203)

Honorable mentions:  TJ's DNA riddim was a dancefloor favourite in the first half of the year, but none of the songs really stood out enough to make my top 25.  Likewise, Kirkledove's Jump Drive riddim was played heavily but also narrowly missed out on inclusion.  Other dancehall riddims unlucky to make it included Di Genius' Catalog and Street Swag, Seanizzle's Split Personality, Dwajay's Exit 21, Jah Snowcone's Ital Stew, Romeich's Stage Mix, and UPT 007's Supa Swag.  Cash Flow's Pagans riddim came out a little too late in the year to have enough impact, as did TJ's Sad Streets, Birch's Sexy Bak and DJ Wizzle's Ping.  Daseca's Genesis riddim was one of the better riddims to recieve hardly any play - perhaps a result of the label's attempt to stymie free downloads?  Notice Records' riddim The Dream was a personal favourite, but just didn't get enough play from other selectors to edge out anything else on the list - other tunes in this boat included Liquid's Melodies riddim, I Octane's "Mind Who You A Dis" and "No Love Inna Dem", Sir Ford's "Gwaan Talk" and Bramma's "Defend Mi Own".  Popcaan's "Dream" was hit worldwide, but recieved a surprising lack of play in Melbourne - even more surprising was the lack of a local response to Wayne Marshall's "My Heart".  Mavado's Starlight was a 2009 release that was still played a lot early in 2010, and Mixpak's Smoke Machine riddim was a real slow-burner, blowing up in 2010 despite being released in mid-2009.