NEW ROOTS TUNES RUN THINGS IN THE SOUTHWEST !!!
Yow!
Two roots riddims from the latter part of 2004, the DROP LEAF and the
HARD TIMES have taken control of New Mexico for the month of April. While
both have had tunes in these charts before, none of the BOOM tracks really
made it yet; so they are long-overdue. Time to make way for TOK's conscious
anthem "Footprints", Jah Cure's sincere "Longing For"
("What am I longing for? Babylon release the Cure!") and the
killer tracks on ET Thompson's last project (before he passed on in November
2004) the HARD TIMES, by the likes of I-Wayne, Capleton, Bushman &
Bascom X. Further roots tracks abound in these charts, as new cultural
sensation Fantan Mojah is finally let loose in NM. He has two entries,
one being his big hit "Hungry" on the ONE DANCE WONT DO riddim,
yet his "Don't Bow Out" is even stronger, with lyrics like:
"Ghetto youths don't bow out! Watch what you put inna yuh mouths,
watch what yuh snort inna yuh nose...." Heavy stuff. On the same
riddim, newcomer Bescenta coins another excellent track, which hit the
#9 spot this time around. Further roots-monsters include Damian "Junior
Gong" Marley's "Welcome To Jamrock"; a tune that simply
rips the dancehall apart from the first second the needle touches it (at
#2), as well as Buju's new single "Magic City". More roots tunes,
as Richie Spice's selection on the TRUTHS&RIGHTS riddim are just bubbling
under. I also need to mention newcomer Evette's earworm-track entitled
"Baby Mama". Nice lyrics, a positive vibes and a catchy beat
make this one of the tunes of the month. Once it's stuck in YOUR head,
it wont be likely to leave so easily again. Big ups to Evette! Nice one!!! On
the dancehall tip, Cham & Nina Sky lost their #1 spot, although the
KOPA riddim is still going strong, due to the new tunes out (like Bounty's
track at #20). Don Corleon's hype new riddim, the JONKANOO is mashing
up things these days, represented by Sean Paul, Beenie Man and TOK and
I look for further tunes to chart in the future. The APPLAUSE riddim hasn't
reached this neck of the woods yet but we're working on it; how bout Greensleeves
pickin this one up for a next riddim album, eh?! Paul Bogle's (RIP) "Scare
A Mi" (the flipside of his "Wacky World" single with Delly
Ranks) has hit the big-time in NM, while Cobra's "Dem Fool Deh"
on the extravangant BOMB-A-DROP beat slid down to #16. Other tunes on
that one by Kartel & Matterhorn are just bubbling under. Last but
not least, Birch's heavyweight MILITARY riddim finally jumps on board
in the form of Macka Diamond's wicked "Mr.Tekki Back". Hope
to have given you enough new stuff to consider, check out, etc, as Jamaican
music production appears to be kicking into over-drive again at this time,
with TONS of new material out every week. |
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