Thursday, February 28, 2008

Easy Juggling 60 Min Reggae Mix



DJ Tomas of Umoja Soundsystem and Voltage Music Presents:

Easy Juggling – Reggae Mix – 60 minutes (53mb)

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ARTIST – TITLE – (LABEL) RIDDIM

Vybz Kartel – Ghetto Youths Rise (Track House) Tear Drop
Mavado – Changing Times (Track House) Tear Drop
Ginjah – Revelation (Hyperactive) Kool Runnings
Alborosie – Police (Forward)
Meditations – Cool It (Digital English) Selassie I
Don Angelo – Selassie I the 1st (Digital English) Selassie I
Mykal Rose – Want More Weed (Cousins)
Uton Green – Jamaican Blend (Sweet Beat) Get In The Groove
Junior Cat – A That We Love (Sweet Beat) Get In The Groove
Beres Hammond/Louie Culture – Extra Loving (Fat Eyes) African Beat
Terror Fabulous – Jah Works (Fat Eyes) African Beat
Roger Robin – Love Can Take You Higher (Joe Frasier) Stars
Pam Hall – Hold It Down (Joe Frasier) Stars
Pressure –Ghetto Life (Don Corleon) Baltimore
Lutan Fyah – Africa (Taxi) Baltimore
Tony Rebel – Fire (Taxi) Baltimore
Chronicle – Serve Jah (Heartical) Fade Away
Chrisinti – My Enemies (Supersonic) Devil’s Angel
Millions Styles – More Life (Supersonic) Devil’s Angel
Bunji Garlin – Mr. Murder (Supersonic) Devil’s Angel
Freddy McGregor – We Don’t Need To Fuss (Itation) Higher Meditation
Sizzla – Bus Out The Youth (Itation) Higher Meditation
Chino – What Mek Dem Vex (Itation) Higher Meditation
Alborosie/Nickie Burt – I Don’t Want To Let You Go (Birchill) Dreams
Pressure – Love You Tonight (Birchill) Dreams
Chuck Fenda – Hurry Come Home (Birchill) Dreams
Voicemail – Love (Birchill) Dreams


Notes on the mix: It’s been a minute since I’ve dropped a new selection – and I have few others in mind for future – but I had to kick it off with a slice of the reggae tracks that have been moving me lately. For this batch I focused on new roots and one-drop tracks – but best believe I’ll drop a dancehall sit’in sometime soon as well. The title “Easy Juggling” means just that – an unrushed mix, with a few effects thrown in for flavor – representing tunes I’m feeling at the moment.

As for these tracks – some interesting ones include Vybz Kartel and Mavado voicing conscious lyrics – and doing it well. Those are not one-dimensional artists. Ginjah’s track is the B-side of a Bunny Rugs (from Third World) single – Ginjah is an artist for those who like Chezidek or Ras Shiloh. Alborosie needs no intro – the Italian singer is bursting with great singles these days. Then, inst comes di steppers! Digital English’s Selassie I riddim is strictly UK steppers style, with some great voices on there.

In most cases, where I list the riddim tracks, I’ve noted the original rhythm track. For instance, Uton Green’s “Jamaican Blend” is listed on (Heptones Studio One hit) Get In The Groove riddim -- but others would call it Up Park Camp or Rikers Island – since both of those songs became synonymous with that riddim. (Note: Junior Cat’s lyrics on “A That We Love” are relentless – his best in years!) Likewise, Roger Robin’s “Love Can Take You Higher” is listed on the (Cornel Campbell) Stars riddim – but most know it as Beres Hammond’s “Full Attention.”

Other tracks of note include Chronicle – whose mainly recorded for Bobby “Massive B” Konders – “Serve Jah” is on the French Heartical label – a soundsystem and studio. Itation Records Higher Meditation riddim is a great showing for the Stateside label. And we close the mix with one of Christopher “Birchill” Birch’s latest riddim sensations Dreams – worth it alone for vocal trio Voicemail’s uplifting track “Love.”

Probably the best place to find most of these singles is Ernie B Reggae Distribution. But I also recommend supporting your local vinyl retailer also.

For now, enjoy the “Easy Juggling” sound. Peace! -- DJ Tomas/Umoja Sound S.F.