Hatred vs. Hot Beats

We here at Polyrhythmiques love dancehall reggae. Marching beats, synthed-out bass, and raw lyrics bring out some instinctive desire to raise two fingers in the air and buck shots. However, we have always been disappointed with the close-mindedness reggae artists maintain towards gays. Case in point: Movado's 2008 "Dem a Fag", on the Self Defense riddim. Turns out Movado was actually referring to rival Jamaican deejay Vybz Kartel. The two have been battling since 2006, and while Movado's accusations against Vybz's sexuality are harsh, the slightly auto-tuned cries of "fuck ya mudder" on Mr. Kartel's "Wha Dat Fah" seem far more incendiary. Fortunately, both artists bring precise delivery to almost evey riddim they touch, so the feud is far from becoming boring.

Movado: "Dem a Fag"


Vybz Kartel "What Dat Feh"

2008-bit Future Ish

Screwston, TX's Squincy Jones has produced an excellent mix to wrap up the oh-eight; a brilliant cocktail of where sound is right now.  With Nintendub, he blends wobbly dubstep with chopped and screwed Southern rap, topping the whole concoction off with 8-bit Nintendo loops.  Primo.  (via dj/rupture, sort of).

Kwaito

In ZA the gangster musik that makes you scared comes equipped with kick drum on every beat - musik that still reps the tuffest of the tuff but aims to keep folks steady dancing. South Africa's Kwaito music matured alongside 90's era stateside hip-hop, but with a stronger injection of Chicago house influencing the pace. If you want the info, go check whoever put all this in. Or listen to this writer's alma mater give it the documentary treatment.


Here's a couple joints from that web video site thing.


Mzekezeke:




And a lil Tkzee:

Menahan Street Band, Lil' Pookie!

This shit is jammin. I found it on Emusic. Which is the shit, if you don't know. Then i see Soul-sides O-dub done already done a write up. Go listen over there. In a nutshell "Dude from the Dap-Kings does his own ting." Aside from a slightly suspect Rocky rendition, this is on some instrosoul that you need when you're looking out the window at work and it's 4:30 and already getting dark. Young Hova already took it pop though, so even when your lil' pookie goes diggin in your crates for the futurefunk rave music that they vibe to you can be like, "That shit got sampled before it even hit the shelves! Keep looking, pookie."

Keeper of the Drums

Perhaps no deity represents the melding of cultures better than Shango (alternatively Chango), the Yoruba God of Thunder and the keeper of music.  The worship of Shango, initiated by the Oyo of West Africa, survived the horrific Middle Passage and found a new home in the Caribbean.  With manifestations throughout the West Indies, South America, and his native Africa, the power of Shango resounds, much like the double-headed Bata drum he controls.  The heartbeat of the Motherland proves unhindered in its planatary thump.

(photo courtesy Santeriamistica)