Coll: Dancehall: the Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture
Reviewed by Sadie O. , 12/29/08
Early Dancehall – pretty much a definitive collection of the big hits, influential cuts, highly sampled and imitated – and also so much fun! Slackness was done amusingly, stories were interesting or lyrics were stream of consciousness. Tons and tons of great stuff in here – not a clinker in the barrel.
No FCCs detected, but plenty of innuendo in patois. I like tracks 6 and 11 on CD 1 and 2, 7 and 12 on CD 2 best, but they’re all killer.
CD1:
1. 3:14 **slow, sparse riddim, downbeat as late as it can get, early Yellowman hit. “Bam Bam” usually refers to a fight, in patois.
2. 3:17 ***midtempo bouncy electronic riddim, amusing folky lyrics.
3. 3:43 **classic spoken intro, syncopated midtempo swing, nonsense monotone lyrics.
4. 4:06 ***possibly the best known dancehall track ever – uptempo simple electronic beat with well-paired vocalists.
5. 3:32 **unintelligible spoken intro, uptempo jaunty swing, sweet (but probably dirty) vocals. Extremely danceable.

6. 3:31 ****downtempo bubble, classic often reworked riddim, basically a list of diseases. Well, hooray!
7. 5:36 ***sweet downtempo one-drop, vocals often sampled, including recently by Damian Marley. Includes dub.
8. 3:09 ***wild, fractured electronic riddim, gonzo falsetto vocals.
9. 7:08 ***thick, slow stepping razor skank (great work by the Roots Radics), nice-up-de-dance vocals. Includes the toast (b-side).
10. 3:01 **swingy syncopated riddim, rather sweet slackness from one of the most influential early dancehall deejays.
11. 3:46 ****uptempo tought dancehall riddim with one of the most recognizable vocals to come out of Jamaica.
12. 3:18 **uptempo syncopated electronic riddim, wild “butcher shop” lyrics – apparently from the guy who brought us the Lambada!
13. 3:23 ***very slow simple skank with stream of consciousness lyrics.
14. 2:48 **midtempo electronic “sleng teng” riddim, all about clothes.
15. 3:11 **bass-laden downtempo dancehall swing, vocals by a great protégé of Dillinger.
16. 4:10 ***super jaunty midtempo skank with lots of syndrum, sweet singing.
17. 6:25 ***mega-hit for the sweetest singer to forward from Yard. Includes the version.
CD2:
1. 3:48 **slightly uptempo electronic riddim, fun “stepping razor” boasting lyrics.
2. 6:24 ****upbeat skank with Jacob Miller’s terrific vocals and toast by Trinity.
3. 3:27 **downtempo dancehall, fun (very young sounding) female vocals.
4. 4:10 **very downtempo bass-driven riddim, nice salute by one of the few righteous school of deejays.
5. 7:41 ****everyone remembers this one, don’t they? Huge crossover hit with lots of nonsense vocals. One of the nicest guys in Reggae history. Includes the fine dub.
6. 3:27 **midtempo skank with female vocals - Sista Nancy’s first hit.
7. 3:43 ****uptempo syncopated electronic dancehall riddim, crazed dancehall vocals – possibly where the crazed vocal tradition started.
8. 3:08 ***downtempo dub with fine toast – response to the monster hit “Uptown Top Ranking”.
9. 4:14 **midtempo skank with pleasant toast and a bit of dub.
10. 3:47 ***downtempo electronic skank, fun youthful toast in praise of pot. You didn’t think we’d miss the obligatory pot song, did you?
11. 3:19 ***slightly downtempo dub of an old reggae hit with toast about dancing; early hit by half of the “Stop that Train” duo.
12. 3:43 ****strong midtempo skank version of a classic ska riddim with equally strong vocals in a raggamuffin stylee.
13. 3:23 ***another praise to pot, this one with bouncy syncopation and gruff vocals – I thought it was Elephant Man at first.
14. 3:34 **odd waking up intro, bouncy uptempo electronic riddim, lots of sirens, dancehall vocals with lots of nonsense lyrics.
15. 3:42 ***slow dubby skank, possibly not the love song “My Adidas” was… Includes a bit of straight-up dub.
16. 7;13 ***pretty, slightly uptempo bounce, boasting song and toast.