[coll]: Nice Up the Dance: Two Worlds Clash
Reviewed by Sadie O., 4/20/07
Great overview of the crossover between dancehall and hip hop, circa mid-80’s to 90’s. Quite a mix here – some cuts are almost roots rock, some are straight-up old school hip hop with just hints of Jamaicanosity. All are terrific riddims. Amazing history lesson in the liner notes. Go, Soul Jazz!
FCCs – one almost hidden “shit on track 6, multiple FCCs on 10.
I like 5 best, then 1, 2, 5, 9, 11, 13 – that’s a lot of killer tracks!
1. 4:36 ****buzzy, bouncy old-school hip hop riddim, danceable as hell, fun rap.
2. 3:27 ****starts with famous movie threat, then midtempo reggae/dancehall remix from multiple hits with Cutty Ranks’ rap over everything, manic cackles in the background.
3. 3:55 **electronic dancehall riddim with male chorus and female rap with heavily processed vocals
4. 4:38 ***midtempo hip hop with a bit of one-drop and sample of Augustus Pablo’s melodica. Very NY style rap, with obvious cleanup job, class struggle lyrics.
5. 4:44 *****downtempo skank, insanely dance-worthy, lunatic rap.
6. 3:07 FCC: “shit” in intro ***starts with talking, then downtempo dancehall skank, classic dancehall vocals.
7. 3:36 ***boopy and scratchy downtempo dancehall, sweet tenor rasta rap. He’s really saying “if it’s not Jah”… FWIW…
8. 3:37 ***just rap at intro, riddim comes together slowly, minimalist dancehall skank. Sean Paul was one of the major dancehall originators.
9. 4:03 ****bouncy danceable electronic dancehall, sweet harmonized rap/singing, cool lyrics.
10. 3:34 multiple FCCs: “motherfucking” “shit” ***random whistles and horns intro, fantastic deep baritone and hyper tenor rap. Pity about the FCCs…
11. 3:55 ****short talking intro, then fantastic hard old school hip hop riddim with dancehall vocals. This riddim is CRAZY!
12. 3:29 ***remix of a classic rock steady hit, downtempo skank, female singing. Lovely!
13. 3:45 ****fantastic midtempo dancehall riddim, very minimalist, great harmonizing vocals by major hitmakers.