With just days to go until the 2025 Grammy nominations are revealed, some of the hottest stars in all of Caribbean music could earn their first nomination for Best Reggae album.
This year, Teejay (I'm Chipi), Masicka (Generation of Kings), Jah Lil (Can a man cry?), Govana (Legacy), Shenseea (It's never late here), Gypsy (Cautious), Stalk Ashley (Stalky the Brat), Romain Virgo (The Kind Man) and Vybz Kartel (Party with me) are among the artists who have submitted their eligible albums for consideration. Previous contenders such as Spice (Mirror 25), The Wailers (Development) and Protoje (Seeking Zion) is also in contention.
If the final list of nominations again includes American reggae band SOJA — competing this year with Beauty in acoustics — stay tuned for a repeat of it dispute that their triumph in 2022 (for Beauty in silence) was sparked.
Grammy news aside, all eyes are on the United States presidential election (November 5), where Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Jamaican-Indian descent, could become the first Asian-American and first female president.
Naturally, Bulletin boardOur monthly Reggae/Dancehall Fresh Picks column won't cover every last track, but our Spotify playlist — linked below — will expand on the 10 songs highlighted. So, without further ado:
Freshest Find: Protoje, “Barrel Bun”
On October 18th, two-time Grammy nominee Protoje released a collection of tracks previewing the full soundtrack of an upcoming short film. Stacked with songs written specifically to highlight the film's story, Jamaica's situation: Side A hosts several knockout tracks – including the fiery “Barrel Bun”. A simple, brassy reggae jam, 'Barrel Bun' finds Protoje calling for radical systemic change in a country marred by government corruption and violence, with Ziah.Push'scine production that nicely complements Protoje's narrative tradition. “Depends on what you choose/ You'll make it or you'll make it in the news/ The system is rough/ Everybody mean and hard,” he croons on the chorus, between verses that follow different characters as they struggle to survive and live under various suppression systems.
Skip Marley, “Close”
Maxi Priest's “Close to You” — which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 — already put the “pop” in reggae-pop, and Skip Marley's reworking of the track doubles down on his track. Produced by Rykeyz, Marley ups the reggae feel of Priest's original chorus, his stitched up top playing well against the groovy percussion that grounds the smoldering verses between each party-ready hook. Marley has already visited the Hot 100's top 10 (along with Katy Perry's 2017 No. 4 “Chained to the Rhythm”), and “Close to You” has the potential to put him back there.
Teejay feat. Masicka, “Never Complain”
You know it's serious business when two of dancehall's hottest stars join forces. With “Never Complain,” Jamaican powerhouses Teejay and Masicka are a menacing dancehall piece that finds the former delivering a smooth, confident hook while the latter spits hard-hitting, fast-paced verses that offer a glimpse into how fame and success have changed the perspective. of both stars. With subtle guitar riffs providing a lighter complement to the packed lyricism and overall production, “Never Complain” is a surprisingly richly textured offering that shows just how incredible a collaboration between Teejay and Masicka could sound.
Beach Boii & Simon Said, “Bad Gyal”
Who has time to worry about colder weather when Beach Boii and Simon Said are dropping bites like this? “Bad Gyal,” a sultry dancehall night burner, continues the genre's long tradition of featuring beautiful women, but Simon Said's laid-back delivery and his and Beach Boii's lyrics prioritize praising women's independence as they express their wishes for you to be with her. “Anything you want, baby girl that's it/ Gucci from Milan, Louis Vuitton, Français/ Put on the pon di Gram, get these hoes upset/ Real bad gyal, so I know you ain't playin',” Simon croons over the string by Beach Boii. -inclined rhythm.
Major Lazer & Vybz Kartel, “Nobody Move”
It was originally teased in 2017 — with an extra Lorde feature, no less! — “Nobody Move” is finally here. Released as part of the 15-year anniversary reissue of Major Lazer's 2009 debut album Guns don't kill people…Lazers do“Nobody Move” finds Kartel interjecting bits of Yellowman's 1984 dance classic “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.” A much more traditional reggae joint than 2009's “Pon De Floor” — the last time the two acts linked up for a collaboration with no other guests. It's a short track with only one full verse, but it's perfect for easy listening. “No one move, no one hurt/ I'm feeling a lot of vibes, I put in the best work/ Jamaica land we love/ I love the short miniskirt of the glass,” Vibz proclaims over a strangely wistful beat.
Juls, Black Sherif & Projexx, “Timing”
Released as a single by Juls' Peace & Love The album, “Timing” is a global collaboration between British-Ghanaian producer, Ghanaian singer Black Sherif and Jamaican artist Projexx. Juls' ethereal soundscape draws from Afrobeats as much as it pays homage to dancehall beats and grooves, with Black Sherif's intense energy playing well against Projexx's relaxed, understated approach, with each style highlighting different pockets of airy rhythm.
Jada Kingdom, “Somebody Else”
Jada Kingdom kicked off the year with one of dancehall's fiercest clashes and now returns with “Somebody Else,” her first release under her new independent entity Kingdom Mab. A characteristically seductive kiss, “Somebody Else” finds Twinkle cooing through an R&B-infused track that balances vulnerability with the strength that comes from introspection. “Because after all the heartbreak, I still ain't won nothing/ Good luck, sorry/ It's too late to want me/ Got my eye on someone else,” he declares.
Nailah Blackman, “Banana”
Nailah Blackman literally has soca history running through her veins – and makes her pedigree proud with each successive release. “Banana,” Nailah's rendition of the “Double Dip” riddim, brings her into power soca as she sings, “A girl no want no soft man/Give a rough neck/ A man to slap it and/Give some roughness/ You want a man with a strong back.” Tailored for the road, “Banana” is sure to soundtrack some of the sassiest wines in the West Indies and beyond next Carnival season.
Kenroy Mullings, “Brighter Days”
Analog instruments will never go out of style — and Kenroy Mullings is here to remind us. A famous guitarist who frequently collaborates with Buju Banton has released his much awaited instrumental album, Brighter dayson October 23, and the title track is among the strongest offerings. Centered on a sunny guitar melody and accented with raucous horns and steady, earthy percussion, “Brighter Days” positions itself as the musical equivalent of the first few rays of sunshine breaking through the clouds. There's hope in every chord, so much so that the lyrics feel like a bonus accessory here as opposed to a necessity.
Patrice Roberts, “Kitty Cat”
At the top of October, Trinidadian soca icon Patrice Roberts put her own spin on Suhrawh's 'Cat Attack'. “Yuh you got a weakness for the cuteness/ You start for the cat/ So you got a weakness for the cuteness/ I got the cuteness,” he whispers over the beat, which sounds just a step or two away from something you might hear. a poppier Brazilian funk track. A tantalizing ode to the power of the kitty and a sultry showcase of both Patrice's power and sexuality, “Kitty Cat” is the perfect song to channel the love energy of Carnival — even though the season may be over.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/best-new-reggae-dancehall-fresh-picks-protoje-skip-marley-teejay-masicka-1235810783/
