From the Dancefloor 2 – by Sapna Sanghvi

Inna di Dancehall

I’m not entirely sure how this happened to an indie kid from Ashton-under-Lyne raised on Oasis and The Jam, but over the past few years I’ve become something of a dancehall and bashment fanatic. So although I don’t generally play this stuff when I DJ, I thought it only right I record a bashment mix:

Sapna plays some great tunes on Soundcloud

If you’re new to the genre then it’s a decent starting point, as it includes classics like ”˜Heads High’ by Mr Vegas, Beenie Man’s ”˜Who Am I’ and the landmark first ever computerised dancehall riddim ”˜Under Mi Sleng Teng’ by Wayne Smith. Plus new tracks by Cham and Jamaican superstar Vybz Kartel. If you’ve not heard ”˜Clarks’ by Vybz Kartel, check this out. Hilarious and genius in equal measures:

There’s something about bashment that COMPELS people to dance. They just can’t help themselves. The ”˜dutty wine’ is up there with one of my favourites (to watch, not to do) and is brilliantly executed in Tony Matterhorn’s video for his track of the same name:

2010 has seen a mini resurgence in the genre with vocalists like Ms Dynamite, Serocee and Lady Chann spitting ragga verses over 130bpm bass music tracks, and collaborating with producers like MJ Cole, Toddla T, Redlight and DJ Zinc, amongst others. David Rodigan, arguably dancehall and reggae’s most respected broadcaster and DJ, at the ripe old age of 59 has compiled the latest Fabric Live mix (http://www.fabriclondon.com/label/fabriclive/54). So go spend your Christmas pennies on that and check out the madness that ensued when Sir ”˜RamJam’ Rodigan touched down at Murkage: