Philly-based beat meister Diplo and UK house/bass producer Switch have each assisted M.I.A. to create the sick riddims that she sings over, they’ve toured together, and now they’re finishing up a joint album. Diplo produced a lot of the music on Arul and Switch traveled all over the globe with M.I.A. to help her record the songs for Kala. Last year, Diplo went to Jamaica to record dancehall’s superstar deejays (rappers) for a new project with Switch. I can’t wait to hear these tunes, they’re going to be wiiiiiiiicked!! Diplo and Switch’s bumpin electro-influenced dancehall-hip hop hybrids with thick Jamaican patois rapping on top? Sounds perfect! ([More →])

Tanya Stephens has been awarded the second ever RDI scholarship. The Resource Development International scholarship was established in Jamaica in 2005 as a distance-learning option to pursue Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with top British universities. Assassin was the recipient of the first RDI and is reported to be doing very well, he is even at the top of his class! ([More →])

The first ever Reggae Rising Music Festival will bring together so many reggae music heavyweights, they better build a rock solid stage to hold them up! ([More →])

MORE FIRE!!! Boh! This mix is hot! MORE FIRE, MORE BASS is by one of my favOrite producers, Matt Shadetek. I actually heard part of this mix when it originally aired on Mary Anne Hobbs’ show on BBC Radio 1 on March 16th. I was packing my bags to go snowboarding while the sounds coming out of my speakers were inspiring feelings of sailing down slopes of deep powder. Coz that’s what this mix is like, it’s deep and sludgey, with clean sweeps that sail over the heavy basslines. This mix clocks in at a mere 30 minutes of sonic rapture but contains a lot of original music by Shadetek and NYC neighbors 77Klash and Jah Dan. Don’t worry, I’m not teasing you with fond memories. Matt launched the mp3 on his blog today, where you can download it for yourself. I can even vouch for it being a pretty quick download, despite how clean it sounds. These boys know their bitrate technology and it was originally intended for radio play and streaming anyhow.

TRACKLIST

01. Can’t Breathe - Tanya Stephens (Matt Shadetek Remix) [Unreleased)
02. Untitled - Matt Shadetek (Unreleased)
03. Bumbaclat Badman - Chronik feat. Skepta, Wiley & Esco (Slew Dem Records)
04. Skynet Riddim - Matt Shadetek (Sound-Ink)
05. Walk It Out Remix - DJ Unk feat. Andre 3000 & Jim Jones (Koch Records)
06. Do It - Jon E Cash (Black Ops)
07. Go Home - Timeblind (Unreleased)
08. Gigantic Wings - Drop The Lime (Unreleased)
09. Vans - The Pack (Jive)
10. Reign Riddim - Matt Shadetek (Sound-Ink)
11. Reign - Team Shadetek feat. Skepta (Sound-Ink)
12. Gave You All My Dub - Matt Shadetek feat. Jahdan (Unreleased)
13. Separating - Team Shadetek feat. Jammer (Sound-Ink)
14. Cassava Riddim - Matt Shadetek (Unreleased)
15. She Told Me - Noble Society feat. 77Klash
16. Untitled - Timeblind (Unreleased)
17. Japan - Plastician (Terrorhythm)
18. Try Harder - Drop The Lime (Broklyn Beats)
19. Daylight - Team Shadetek (Sound-Ink)

Yep, all that in a seamless 30 minute mix (no breaks in between trax). Head over to Glaciers of Shade, the home of Team Shadetek.

If you like what you hear, please buy the latest release from Shadetek/77Klash/JahDan - the excellent Brooklyn Anthem featuring Courtney Melody from his classic "Bad Boy" hit. Released by Sound Ink and available on BLEEP. Team Shadetek also have a release on WARP Records called Burnerism among others.

Brooklyn Anthem:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/X1BzRw5Vnv0]

For more information about this song and its artists, please click over to Dangerous Bad Boy.

Links

Boomkat
ShockOut
BLEEP
discogs