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Apologies for the missing in action

Currently away, but it's raining outside so thought I;d do something useful with my time. That something will be a bunch of YouTube videos I'm feeling right now. I'll probably forget some, but hey, that's life.

Ed Sheeran - Small Bump

This makes the third time I've posted this song. Radio rip from a Jo Whiley's radio show, on the barge with Rosie and Jim (not really with Rosie and Jim), now this from the iTunes festival.

This really sounds like a stadium anthem.



Yasmin - Light Up

Yasmin links up with drum and bass legend Shy FX again for her 3rd single, "Light Up". I liked "On My Own", but this is a lot better. Shy goes back to a reggae-inspired sound. Everyone will class this as jungle, probably right for doing so, but it really exposes that the UK sound jungle isn't really that original. From what I know of jungle and d&B, this doesn't fit either category BPM-wise. It's more of a reggae/dub tempo with double-time drums. Nothing that Sly & Robbie haven't done before. So, is it really jungle? I don't know.

Tune is really good anyway. Well the beat is.



Dappy - No Regrets

Long-awaited debut from the N-Dubz frontman is really impressive. Right type of song for him conceptually and lyrically plus anthemic hook. Cheesy metaphors/punchlines in places though "Flyer than the birds - Richard Branson". Saying that, he could have manipulated that to say flying solo without much worry. He's the one most likely to move without NDubz and still retain the NDubz vibe.



Mz Bratt ft. Dot Rotten - Speeding By

Really feeling this song. Unlike the others, I don't believe this is a hit, but that isn't a criticism. This is a mixtape track and serves as one of the best songs I've ever heard from Bratt. I really like this. Dot lays down a big hook, bouncy beat with Bratt dropping some heartfelt and at times quite vulnerable bars about her quest to the top. Unlike the Dappy song above, she drops quality punchlines. I think I've heard a variation of "Best hands down - half six" before but I really like the "Got more balls than these pricks scrotum's" line. That's hard.

I've got the feeling Dot's album will be what I hoped Devlin's album Bud, Sweat and Beers was gonna be. His bars, observations, lyrical dexterity and way of thinking makes it one to anticipate.



Katy Perry - Firework

I'm extremely late on this. Isn't the sort of song I come across in England. Don't listen to or watch any of those stations where you are likely to hear it. This song knocks, good message, anthem and dancey beat. Big song to let your hair down and skank out to



Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me

Another topic that always wins; song to make the ugly, unpopular girls feel special by females that aren't either. Discovered this via VEVO because I couldn't recall hearing a Taylor Swift song before. Like this.



Konshens - Different

Konshens takes on Kelly Rowland's r&b smash "Motivation" with another D&H remix. He's good at this stuff.



Laza Morgan ft. Mavado - One By One

With the right support, I think this could be a US top 40, UK top 20 and chart in places like Sweden, Australia etc. This is out of the top draw, sexy pop. Has a slight 80s funk mix with a bit of reggae guitar strums. Laza Morgan is the guy from the embarrassing Alexandra Burke song. I took my time in listening to this song for that very reason. A younger relative of iconic reggae family Morgan Heritage.

Some bogus people may say it sounds dated or like Sean Kingston though. You know how the industry can go.



Popcaan - Raving

"Yaaaaaaoooowwww" this is without doubt, the undisputed biggest song of the summer in Jamaica. Deputy to the Portmore Empire steals the limelight from the self-proclaimed World Boss, Vybz Kartel on the Summertime riddim. Kartel almost certainly would have taken the title if it wasn't for this. Popcaan just has a next vibes on there with his swagger filled rhymes. Don't know why DJs in England don't play his songs. His melodies are infectious, he has clarity and an unusual/unique voice.

To reach this level of popularity in just under 2 months is a mean feat. over 500k views on two of the channels. Has longer legs than Kartel's "Summertime" because it's just a general song about enjoying yourself. I really wanna see a video for this. Like, really. Ask Dan Bean, Popcaan is my dj.

The construction of this riddim is the future. Proper pop construction behind it. In fact, actually, lemme shut up



Summertime - Kartel has publicly stated he hates this video. I agree with him, hence why I never posted it. Posted the audio way back in about May though.
The original audio has over 1million hits in 3 months. That's impressive for someone with little mainstream support



Sean Paul - Turn Me On

This song is over a year old, I know, however I heard it in a club the other day. Not only have I got a renewed/possible increase in love for this riddim, I rate the way he sits on this riddim. Definitely feel this is the strongest dancehall single he has done since Trinity times in '05.



Wayne Marshall - Great Escape

Some sexy dancehall fi dem. First proper riddim of this type I can think of for this year. I like how Marshall isn't just doing a bunch of throwaway songs on riddims on an almost freestyle tip, he's constructing songs.



Man of the moment I-Octane is on here too. Another lovers tune from the man they say does too many badmind tunes. His almost whisper voice works well.



Vybz Kartel & Russian - Get Gal Anywhere

"Gal ah seh 'Mi love di extensions inna yuh hair" is the stand out quote on this. Another Russian and Kartel collaboration.



Beenie Man - Go Go Club

This tune is the in ting. When the bass line drops on this it's a next vibes. Straight club banger. Beenie always finds a way to stay relevant with a massive song for each year. Prolific artist.



Mavado - Final Destination

This is that summer evening cruise post-dinner date ride out tune. Riddim has some other big pieces; Tarrus and "Imma need securiddy"

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