Rhumba’s ‘Journey’, Teflon’s Brimstone And 9 New Dancehall & Reggae Songs For Your Playlist

The Reggae and Dancehall world has dished out some brand new tracks to update your playlist this week.

The compilation is a dynamic mix of new and seasoned acts –  watch the videos, read the reviews, and stream the playlist below.

Rhumba – Journey

Jamaican singjay Rhumba takes listeners on a journey to the rural suburbs to sermon his revulsion with the haters who want nothing more than to see “man fi rise and dead”, and “gunshot fi buss man head.” He’s successful now, ‘driving a Mercedes’ – “man a real shot caller, so mi call shot” he says, but it has really brought out the green-eyed people in his life. He might be smoking harder these days from the pressure of it all but Rhumba knows God is guiding his journey.

The 23-year-old singer delivers a rap-infused mix with this new release, an intentional move it seems as he’s always striving to make an international appeal.

“What I would like to achieve musically is to see how well my music can have an impact on people not only in Jamaica but worldwide on an international level,” he told the Jamaican Observer some time ago.

Teflon – Brimstone

Teflon sees a change for the worst in his people; the Reggae singer’s new single Brimstone has a strong message for them. Don’t forget your purpose and stop trying to please the crowd, he says. He abolishes the pagans, the radio stations and calls out the ones that bleach their skin – “someone need to come stop dis.”

Taking viewers back to their roots, he strips away modern-day embellishments to bare half-naked dancers, moving to the beat of African dundun drums while fire spitters blow flames in the surrounding as he chants the chorus, “It just brimstone, lightning, flames….”

The track appears on his new album, Years A Pain.

Kerry John – Doh Follow

Trinbagonian singer, Kerry John celebrated his birthday with the release of his new single Doh Follow on March 11. It is his second Afrobeat track said to be part two to his previously released, Look Over Me. “I sing this song with my soul and I hope it touches yours!” he said upon the premiere. The single is another positive outpouring by the 30-year old who renders himself a leader among the rest.

We doh follow badmind and critics. We doh borrow money and we doh owe nobody he says, “I work hard for everything I make, by the sweat of thy brow I shall get.” King John as he calls himself, instead does his own thing and welcomes only positive vibes.

Dovey Magnum – Say

Atlanta-based, Dancehall artist Dovey Magnum has something Say this week with her latest single. The narrative however finds her consumed with lustful feels bringing forward a pretty raunchy and rude release. Dovey reveals it’s been a long time since she has “buss a bad wine” and she simply can’t wait any more. The verses go on and on as she begs her beau to fulfill her needs.

The new single comes on the heels of her real-life “love story to a badman”- Taxic, the music video of which released two weeks ago. She also dropped another Respectfully prior.

Skeleton Don – Protect My Life

US-based Dancehall artiste Skeleton Don (also known as Stylez) isn’t perfect and has made some bad choices in his life. In his new single, Protect My Life he admits that he has also been a bad friend, only ‘linking’ them whenever he’s in a crisis, but he wants to be a better person and make things right.

On the flip side, the Reggae crooner shares his experiences with ‘friends who turn into enemies – “how much people mi help and dem still tun roun’ dont like me,” he sings.

Shot in Mexico City, Mexico, the music video finds Skele Don at the end of his journey as his Jeep Wrangler fails to go on any further, but like the lyrics say, “a nuh nuttn, dem cant drain mi energy”, he pops a bottle of Hennessy and simply reflects on his life.

Quada & Daddy1 – Haunted

Fast-rising Dancehall talents, Quada and Daddy1 bring an exciting fusion of style and flow on this collaborative new single, Haunted. The Unruly and 6ix Real prodigies rep their street cred, taking listeners through their ruthless encounters of guns blazing, bullets flying, and drive-by shooting, which leaves their victims to their demise – “not even cave dark like we,” avers Quada.

Daddy 1 says he’s no Mike Tyson, as is no gangster, his men and gun will do the job easier. “Dis who, dis bro gad and mi will find yuh” – “6ix dem dark and bombocl—t vicious,” he warns on his segment of the track.

Nklyne – Revenge

Nklyne in another of his profound issues is absorbed with vengeance but it’s the realism he carries with the narrative that makes this one as deep and impactful as they come.

Though he seeks Revenge for his dawg, Nklyne knows all too well that his friend is exactly where he belongs. “Mi tell yuh son, nuh come be like yuh, make it stop right desso, bruk di cycle. You madda sey you deh a heaven but mi know a hell yuh gone cah yuh a di devil. ‘Mount a boy weh yuh lose wid the K yuh carry, cold heart, no remorse, yuh neva sarry.” Nonetheless he hunts his friend’s killers in the music video to prevail justice.

Tommy Lee Sparta – Time To Die

Dancehall deejay, Tommy Lee Sparta is the untimely grim reaper to take the souls of his targets in his new single Time To Die. Instead of an ordinary scythe his weapon of choice is his “40 Cal” with a “gun shot inna yuh face.”

The deejay instills fear on his victim as he journeys them through his cruel methods of kill, then croons an unbothered jingle, “I hear the angels call your name tonight, time to dieeee,” in a merciless sounding demeanor.

Tarrus Riley – Be Great

Spurring upful Reggae rock vibrations, singy singy Tarrus Riley encourages the masses to be great in this new release. Pulling on inspiration like Mohammed Ali’s mindset, Bob Marley’s attitude, Marcus Garvey’s mood, and Bruce Lee’s skillset, he channels a little motivation on the hook, “You got to be great, great, great like the great ones before us … so much greatness around us.”

The song is riddled with motivational quotes while the visuals play out a skit of a young boy’s dedication and drive, conveying a message to believing in yourself.

Chino McGregor – Raggamuffin

Chino McGregor in his new single Raggamuffin is on a mission to take viewers back in history, to the times of Kunta Kinte, King Selassie and even as far back as Cain and Abel days, he says.

While the music video shares scenes from the 1972 Jamaican crime movie, The Harder They Come, as well as Rocker, Smile Orange, Roots, Scarface and other documentaries, the Reggae singer tales the life of raggamuffin – a man firm on his hustle, “real lion heart, haffi do weh him haffi do to survive, make ends meet yuh seet and haffi keep you two feet firm in di street,” some jobs might be shady but he’s got to feed his family.

The track, Raggamuffin plays on a nostalgic Reggae-rock riddim, fitting the visuals – more of which share iconic moments with his father Freddie McGregor and Dennis Brown performing together on stage.

Christopher Martin – Rent Free

A late video entry on Chimney Record’s Style A Style Riddim but Christopher Martin does not disappoint with his single Rent Free. Released two weeks ago, the new visuals arrived this week, to see the Dancehall singer living his best life in the Magic City.

The mansion, yacht, pretty girls, and his fleet – a Rolls Royce, Mercedes and Audi R8 to name a few, Martin says he doesn’t mind living in his hater’s heads because he knows he dwells there rent free.

“Mi life have dem worried, yah, we a live in a dem head scotch free and we nah pay nuh rent, nah. Just a run through dem mind every night and day like current. Yuh nuh like me, dat a your problem. A weh so much landlord come from? And we nuh owe dem nuh rent!”