Top 20 Reggae and Dancehall Albums of the Decade (2000-2010)

In the decade commonly known as the noughties, dancehall music became an integral part of popular culture.

As Tony Blair and George Bush waged war in the Middle East, Paris Hilton’s reggae single, Stars Are Blind, was a top 10 hit in 17 countries, and Sean Paul (below) topped the US charts with Beyoncé after finding success with MTV teens.

Photo: Marlon ‘Ajamu’ Myrie

Between 2000 and 2006, CD sales rocketed and the Caribbean music industry expanded thanks largely to a lavish number of collaborations between Jamaican musicians and American stars such as Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Jasmine Sullivan and No Doubt.

But the fad didn’t last long.

Midway through the decade, gay-rights activists launched an international campaign accusing seven leading dancehall stars – Vybz Kartel, Sizzla, Elephant Man, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Capleton (below) and Beenie Man – of recording ‘murder music’.

Almost immediately, single and album sales plummeted, gigs were cancelled and sponsorship deals evaporated.

Neither the artists nor their representatives were able to resolve the dispute and it soon became evident that pop’s love affair with dancehall was over.

The campaign was devastating for Jamaica’s music industry, but as Bob Marley sings in Coming in from the Cold: ‘When one door is closed… another is open’.

While commercial revenue streams dried up for many of the scene’s top acts, a younger generation of performers emerged; inspired largely by the man credited with kick-starting Kartel’s career, Don ‘Corleon’ Bennett (below).

His Drop Leaf and Seasons instrumentals were game-changers that paved the way for a huge resurgence of 1970s-style reggae known as ‘one-drop’.

At a time when Jamaican musicians were being praised for turning reggae into pop, the Bennett-led roots revival confirmed a return to traditional values and helped to establish newcomers like Gyptian, Alaine Laughton (below), Fanton Mojah, I Wayne and jailed singer Jah Cure.

In the latter half of the decade, Usain Bolt introduced dancehall culture to the Olympics, Jah Cure was released from prison, Beenie got married (then separated from his wife after just seven months), and Buju (below) found himself in a US federal court denying allegations that he led an international cocaine smuggling operation.

In 2010, Buju’s case was declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision. 

Following a second trial in February 2011, the singer was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence.

Elsewhere, Stephen ‘Freddie’s son’ McGregor earned recognition as one of the industry’s most promising young producers, and the Red Bull and Guinness ‘riddim’ introduced an aspiring singjay named Movado.

The singjay style (an elaborate fusion of rap and singing) can be traced back 40 years to roots legend Johnny Clarke and later artists such as Barrington Levy, Tenor Saw and Junior Reid.

Remarkably, throughout the noughties Reid (below) confirmed his legendary status recording hit collaborations with hip-hop acts Mims, Game and Wu-Tan Clan, while US chart-toppers Nelly and Akon popularised the art form.

Back in Jamaica during the summer of 2007, Movado’s debut album, Gangster for Life, was the most played and sought-after CD on the island.

By 2010, the singjay’s rivalry with the most popular underground rapper of the decade, Vybz Kartel (below), had established both artists as icons for a new generation of dancehall fans: middle-class teens who listen to reggae mixes on smartphones and spend more on mp3 downloads than CD albums.

Advances in technology have drastically changed how consumers buy music and merchandise. Rewind 12 years and things were very different.

In 1999, every weekend thousands of reggae fans in Kingston, London and New York would travel to a local retailer for a fresh fix of dancehall culture.

That year, essential purchases included Bounty Killer’s Look on 7-inch vinyl, the latest Renaissance mixtape and a VHS copy of British Link Up.

Today, VHS tapes are obsolete, vinyl is vintage and the most popular reggae destination is not an internationally acclaimed record store such as Aquarius, Body Music or Jammyland, but online retailer iTunes, owned by the world’s most valuable technology company.

None of us can safely predict what the future holds for Jamaican music, but considering the last decade; prepare for an exhilarating ride.

Following the global economic downturn of 2008, a return to the bling-bling excesses of noughties dancehall is unlikely.

Instead, expect conscious acts such as  Tarrus Riley, Richie Spice, Morgan Heritage, Queen Ifrica, Etana, Gentleman and Damian Marley (below) to lead in the development and modernisation of reggae in the Age of Aquarius.

RIP Alton Ellis, Anthony ‘Tubby T’ Robinson, ‘Baby’ Wayne Parkinson, Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd, Dr. Lez Henry, Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy (below), Gregory Isaacs, Jean Adebambo, Junior ‘Jooks’ Delgado, Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott, Louisa Mark, Peter Harris, Phyllis Dillon, and Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson.

Special thanks and honourable mentions: Bagga John, Bobo El Numero Uno, Gammo Speng, Henry Prento, Jacquie Juceum, Jah Shaka, Loosh, Mikey Koos, Mr Midas, Mutabaruka, Nicky Ezer, Odessa Chambers, PC Mistri, Rasites, Rowan ‘Spider’ Johnson, Robbo Ranx, Sharon Burke, Sophie McKay, Trevor Sax and Tuggawar.

The list below, compiled in conjunction with Ziploc City sound system, comprises 20 popular dancehall and reggae artist albums that either achieved exceptional sales or made a significant social impact between 2000 and 2010.

TOP 20 REGGAE & DANCEHALL ARTIST ALBUMS OF THE DECADE (2000 to 2010)

20. Put the Stereo On – Gappy Ranks (2010)

In the noughties, most of his contemporaries abandoned reggae for grime and hip-hop, but Gappy refused to jump ship. The gamble paid off and today he is widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s most promising entertainers. His debut album, produced by the London-based Peckings label, includes Heaven in Her Eyes, which topped the British reggae charts for 13 weeks.

19. On My Mind – Da’Ville (2007)

On My Mind is an inspired selection of smooth love songs that flows effortlessly from start to finish. Da’Ville’s third album features contributions from legendary saxophonist and producer Dean Fraser, Sean Paul (Always on My Mind) and Marcia Griffiths (All My Life). Other standout tracks include My Grade and his update of Dennis Brown’s classic Have You Ever Been in Love.

18. Dragon Fly – Ziggy Marley (2003)

Almost 20 years before Bob Marley’s youngest son, Damian, stormed the pop charts, his eldest son David, aka Ziggy, achieved international success leading the family band, Melody Makers. Ziggy’s solo debut blends reggae, rock, jazz, and electronica, and includes contributions from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and modern classics such as Melancholy Mood and Get Out.

17. Great Controversy – Luciano (2001)

In the 1990s, the self-proclaimed Messenjah established himself as one of reggae’s leading social justice campaigners. He matured in the noughties, and so did his music. This album exemplifies the development and, in addition to contributions from UK musicians Leroy Mafia and Dave ‘Fluxy’ Heywood, features an excellent cover of Peter Tosh’s anthem Legalise It.

16. 2 the Max – Maxi Priest (2005)

Lovers rock godfather Maxi Priest is the UK’s biggest reggae star. This well-produced album includes one of the biggest-selling singles of 2006, I Believe, and confirms the relevance of a singer who rose to prominence on Saxon sound system over 20 years ago. Stand out tracks include the covers Fields of Gold (Sting) and Wild Fire (Dennis Brown and John Holt).

15. Gangsta Blues – Tanya Stephens (2004)

Tanya’s fifth studio album includes a collaboration with Wyclef Jean (This is Love), an anti-war anthem (What a Day) and a first-class ode to the passions of forbidden love (It’s a Pity). She may be the only female on the list, but her addition is by no means a token gesture as this self-produced effort ranks among the best reggae concept albums ever recorded.

14. Stays on My Mind – Sanchez (2002)

Sanchez has faced criticism for his tendency to record cover versions rather than original material. He hasn’t kicked the habit, so material from R&B stars such as Sisqo (Incomplete) and Usher (U Got It Bad) is included. But contributions from British singer-songwriter Lloyd Brown ensure this CD is remembered for original compositions Frenzy and How Could You.

13. Parables – Tarrus Riley (2006)

Don’t be fooled by his unassuming demeanour, Tarrus (the son of veteran singer Jimmy Riley) has an extraordinarily large female fanbase and is destined to become one of reggae’s biggest stars. The US-born singer’s sophomore effort is produced by Dean Fraser and includes hits such as She’s Royal, Stay with You and the thought-provoking System Set (Willie Lynch Syndrome).

12. Spice in Your Life – Richie Spice (2006)

Singers Spanner Banner and Pliers (one half of chart-topping duo Chaka Demus and Pliers), enjoyed phenomenal success between 1988 and 1998, but the 21^st century belongs to their little brother. This breakthrough album established Richie Spice as a first rate singer-songwriter and includes some of the biggest hits of the noughties: Earth a Run Red, Marijuana and Ghetto Girl.

11. Too Bad – Buju Banton (2006)

Buju’s best album in years finds him returning to the 1990s styles and rhythms that made him famous. The 17-track CD album includes monster anthems such as Nothing, Me & Oonu, Better Day Coming and his biggest hit of the decade, Driver. Additional highlights include a collaboration with singjay Pinchers on Don and Dupes and the sombre retrospective Fast Lane.

10. Gangster for Life – Movado (2007)

In the latter half of the decade, Movado quickly rose to become one of dancehall’s leading stars. His debut album features all the hits that inspired his meteoric rise: Gully Side, Weh Dem a Do and Born and Raised. While the Gully god’s melodic tales of x-rated sex and violence may not be to everyone’s liking, his music is undeniably the 21^st century sound of the streets.

09. Youth – Matisyahu (2006)

In March 2006, as Jamaican performers defended accusations of homophobia, American-Jewish rapper Matisyahu (who condemns homosexuality as a violation of Biblical law) was topping the Billboard Digital Album chart. Since then, he’s dispelled any charges of ‘novelty act’ by releasing four more CDs, touring extensively and selling more albums than any other artists on this list.

8. More Fire – Capleton (2000)

At the turn of the century, Capleton’s militant brand of Rastafari-inspired dancehall earned him a sizable international fanbase of conscious reggae fans. His eighth studio album features popular hits such as Who Dem, Hunt You and Jah Jah City, and influenced UK Grime pioneers More Fire Crew to name themselves in honour of ‘The Prophet’s’ seminal work of art.

7. Hot Shot – Shaggy (2001)

It Wasn’t Me and Angel were monster anthems in 2001, and largely responsible for Shaggy’s fifth album selling a staggering 10 million copies in 18 months. Considering it took the best-selling reggae album in history (Bob Marley’s Legend) almost 20 years to record the same sales, Hot Shot probably deserves a lot more credit (and airplay) than it currently receives. 

6. More Up 2 Di Time – Vybz Kartel (2004)

Vybz Kartel is the biggest underground rapper of the noughties and the most influential hardcore dancehall act to have emerged in over a decade. He’s the undisputed leader of Jamaica’s rap-pack and all the x-rated anthems that made him famous are featured here: Tekk, Picture This and Real Bad Man. A significant and groundbreaking album that changed reggae forever.

5. Dutty Rock – Sean Paul (2002)

Any album that successfully combines the talents of legendary figures such as Beyoncé, Sly Dunbar and Mark Ronson deserves praise. Sean’s second album reached number two in the UK charts and number nine in the US, and thanks largely to the addition of song lyrics in the CD inlay, introduced Jamaican culture to a new generation of music fans.

4. On Bond Street Kgn. JA. – Bitty McLean (2005)

Best known for his 1993 UK chart hit It Keeps Raining, Mclean is a former UB40 vocalist whose collaboration with London label Peckings produced this timeless throwback to the 1960s rockstedy era. McLean’s sweet vocals perfectly compliment Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle classics and the results are simply sublime. Stand out tracks include Cruisin’ and My Lover’s Call.

3. Distant Relatives – Damian Marley and Nas (2010)

This album may not appeal to those born outside of the period 1966 to 1979, but that’s OK because Distant Relatives is for Generation X; those of us too young to remember life before TV, but old enough to remember President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher. This excellent collaboration is a 2-for-1 bargain: first-class lyricists delivering politically conscious material over an eclectic fusion of reggae, hip-hop and Afrobeat rhythms. Highlights include militant chant Dispear, Patience (which features a clever Damon Albarn sample) and a reworking of Aswad’s Dub Fire instrumental, Land of Promise.

2. Da Real Thing – Sizzla (2002) 

Prior to the release of Da Real Thing, Sizzla was accused of straying from his cultural roots. But this album silenced the critics. There are notable contributions from Dean Fraser and Wilburn ‘Squidley’ Cole, but it’s Bobby Digital’s updates of the Cuss Cuss and Java rhythms that best showcase the performer’s outstanding vocal abilities. As the author of Just One of Those Days, Solid as a Rock and Thank You Mama, even if he never releases another song, Sizzla can rest comfortably knowing he’s delivered one of the best albums of any genre.

1. Music is Life – Beres Hammond (2001)

Lovers rock is a term coined in the early 1980s to describe a soulful style of reggae made famous by British acts such as UB40, Maxi Priest, and most recently Estelle (her 2008 single Come Over typifies the genre). But while UK-based musicians can take credit for its development, it took a Jamaican crooner, Beres Hammond, to perfect the genre with Music is Life. Hammond is a living legend and this matchless collection of 21^st century love songs is his masterpiece. Highlights include They Gonna Talk and the title track, but honestly, there are too many to mention. Put simply, Music is Life is an essential purchase for any serious collector.