reetings! I am Dan Pollard, a dancehall fan from southeast England where dancehall is scarce and difficult to get a hold of. Despite this, I manage to get my fix one way or another. What attracts me to dancehall? Pure energy. Dancehall is the most exciting type of music I've heard (without being too crazy). I’m here, basically, to give the dancehall novice a starting point to go from by detailing my ten favorite riddims of all time. 10 to 1, let's go.


10. Badda Badda (1999)
Producer: Andre “Suku” Gray
Label: Mentally Disturbed

“Psychadelic and maaaad to the bone!” Ignoring Sleng Teng and Punanny, this is most voiced rhythm I know of. Everyone from Alley Cat and Beenie Man down to Ward 21 and Zebra have made appearances on it. Along with Bellyas, this was one of Ward 21's first rhythms produced on their Mentally Disturbed label. The raw sound is what makes it so appealing—what with its spaced out organ riff which waves in and out of the metallic thumping. After four hits of the bass hammer, what sounds like two submerged underwater gunshots are heard. The pure strangeness of this is what attracts me. On a few cuts, you can hear "Badda badda, bust da badda badda". Ever heard a DJ juggle a couple of cuts from Badda Badda and the organs clash? You’ll soon love it as much as I do.

Memorable Cuts: Ward 21 "Haters", Zebra "Selassie Warning", Sean Paul "Faded", Ward 21 presents Bounty Killer “Psycho Med”


9. Double Jeopardy (2001)
Producer: Cordell “Scatta” Burell and Ce'cile Charlton
Label: CeCo

Amazingly, this was Scatta's first rhythm in the Greensleeves Rhythm Album series and first release overall. The riddim was usually a battlefield for deejays to vent their anger toward others. This “passa passa” is common in the world of modern dancehall and is pretty much accepted by the artists, record labels, producers and fans. Some may find it disturbing, but many find it entertaining (as do I). Wrath-filled deejays using it include Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Kiprich, Hawkeye, Cecile, Mr. Vegas and Madd Anju. Its position on this list is based purely on the catchy string riff I can't help to hum. Nice composition of such a simple rhythm and some well thought out lyrics from the artists on it.

Memorable Cuts: Tanto Metro & Devonte “Double Jeopardy”, Hawkeye “My Style”, Elephant Man & Ce'cile “Bad Gal, Bad Man”, Lexxus “Do As I Say”


8. Mad Ants (2002)
Producer: Donovan “Vendetta” Bennett
Label: Don Corleon

“Inna me Karl Kani with a bottle all tall Kani, tough a lie, spliff a light, spliff so till me high”. The first Vendetta produced rhythm in the Greensleeves Rhythm Album series and still one of his best today (even though it wasn't created by Donovan). I can't imagine how musician Shiah Coore must have played this one back to Vendetta; all of the instruments seem like they come from another planet. The bassy whine sounds like a warped flute, whereas the 'wappy' liquid claps remind me of typical 'porno' electric guitar licks. Two versions of Mad Ants were created with minor changes to keep the listener awake. Newcomer Vybz Kartel took both and had his way with them, producing one of his biggest hits to date “New Millenium”. Nice nice nice, great to whistle to (if you like that sort of thing) and guaranteed to move you in some way.

Memorable Cuts: Alozade “Out A Dat“, Vybz Kartel & Wayne Marshall “New Millenium”, Ward 21 “No Apologies”, Mad Cobra “Boom Wuk”


7. G-String (2002)
Producer: Lloyd “John John” James Jnr.
Label: Awful Music

Jammys has been the scene of dancehall and reggae from the beginning and is still producing fabulous beat-makers and artists like Ward 21 and Wayne Marshall. John John, son of King Jammy himself, is a tremendous producer and possibly my favourite. The biggest hit on this one is by the four-piece, gully boy band Ward 21. “Hey Gal” can be found on the album U Know How We Roll on Greensleeves Records. There’s so much happening, in fact, that it's easy to lose concentration when listening while at work or driving. Clinks here, thumps there and strings everywhere.

Memorable Cuts: Ward 21 “Hey Gal“, Bounty Killer & Angel Doolas “Fitness”, Buju Banton “Freak Mi Out”, Beenie Man “Memories”


6. Ngozi (2003)
Producer: Lloyd “John John” James Jnr.
Label: John John Records

Another John John production. Ngozi was highly underrated and looked upon has a semi-roots rhythm. I have nothing against roots; without it, dancehall wouldn't be around. It’s most interesting, though, for its use of guitar—which is becoming ever more popular in dancehall. This combined with the slow beat of the resonating bass drum, with more otherworldly percussion, forms a clean sound for any artist to chat their stuff over. A few months after its release, Vybz Kartel, Sizzla and a few others did just that. So, on those warm nights when you can't get to sleep because of the heat, stick the needle on this and do what Bounty and Spragga tell you to (if you're into that sort of thing). Ngozi, a rhythm I can bop my head and chill out to at the same time.

Memorable Cuts: Bounty Killer, Spragga Benz and Angel Doolas “Under Age”, Vybz Kartel “Best Friend“, Junior Kelly “Joy and Splendor”, Sizzla “Step Pan Dem”


5. Barbershop aka Baba (2003)
Producer: ???
Label: Free Willy

What a riddim! This deserves a much higher place my chart but there's only a limited number of spaces. The bass line is what clinches it. But, like with any popular rhythm, there's also a beautiful string accompaniment. Using the same sample that 2002’s Party Time employed, the best mcing I’ve heard on it is conscious tunes from Beenie Man ft. Ghost and, of all people, Vybz Kartel (check the sample). Kartel's wondering if anyone would buy his music if he'd hadn't been successful with his previous tracks (“Sweet To The Belly” on Egyptian, presumably) and Beenie is questioning the real intent of the police. Lord knows why Greensleeves or VP didn't take this up for proper retail release. The real unsung jewel of 2003.

Memorable Cuts: Mad Cobra “Anywhere“, Vybz Kartel “Band Wagonist“, Buju Banton “Relax and Watch”, Sizzla “Making a Sad Mistake”


4. Space Invaders (1998)
Producer: Stephen “Lenky” Marsden & Frenchie
Label: Maximum Sound

I first came across this masterpiece when flipping through the website of Maximum Sound. Buried within a whole heap of samples was an instrumental. I then downloaded and listened. I was blown away and all I could think was “Where do I buy?!”. Alas, the vendor advertised on the website no longer stocks the 7”s (due to it being six years old!). You all must agree that it sounds way ahead of it's time compared with other 1998—and onward—releases like Badda Badda. The sound is indeed spaced-out and filled with plenty of random noises placed in time with the beat. Like Time Travel, another Lenky release, there weren't many tracks cut on Space Invader. I believe there are 7 in total. Two of those are available for download just below. General Degree's “Bust Di Door” is particularly good. Prepare for warp speed.

Memorable Cuts: Degree “Bust Di Door“, Mr. Vegas “Got To Be Me“, Chico “I Go Wild”, TOK “Physical Attraction”


3. Clappas (2003)
Producer: Alex G, Riprock and Dow Jones
Label: South Rakkas Crew

Clappas is the very first rhythm I heard—the source for my obsession to a fantastic genre of music. Before hearing of dancehall I was purely a hip-hop boy. Growing up in a predominantly white area of the country means that the local stations play commercial dance, rap and pop. One night, as I was listening to the Monday night hip-hop show on BBC's digital radio station 1Xtra, I accidentally left it on after the show had finished. At 10pm was Robbo Ranx's Dancehall Splurt. I thought to myself “What hall?” I honestly had no clue to what it was. My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to leave it on. The show opened with Clappas. Need I say more? Clappas is a wonderful piece of music and is another rhythm way ahead of its time.

Memorable Cuts: Capleton & The David House Crew “Clappin'”, Assassin “Have Dat Lock“, Ward 21 “Hotta Betta Phatta“, Mr. Vegas ft. Aisha “Ghetto Pickney”


2. Panty Raid (2003)
Producer: Lloyd “John John” James Jnr.
Label: Awful Music

This is the last John John rhythm, I promise! Trying to put the composition of this rhythm into words puts terrible strain upon my brain so I'll do what I can. Or, at the very least, you've always got the samples! Like G-String, this has a lot going on; lots of bangs, clicks and pops. It could easily be the soundtrack for a horror movie. 4 out of the 15 cuts available are radio friendly (2 of those are rhythm versions!) Slackness rules this one. The queen of slackness, Lady Saw, relates her views on everything sexually oriented in “Two Night” and Vybz Kartel teams up with Spragga Benz to voice the most sold cut on the rhythm in “Bedroom Slaughteration”. My favoured cut however is Version 1, an instrumental. The fiendish riff plucked on the synthy electric guitar, the drum roll, the vocals from the many talented artists—they all make this rhythm what it is. Panty Raid came very close to taking the top spot.

Memorable Cuts: Elephant Man “The Lead”, Ward 21 “Pum Pum Party“, John John “Panty Raid Version 1“, Vybz Kartel “Bad Man”


1. Time Travel (2003)
Producer: Stephen “Lenky” Marsden
Label: 40/40 Records

On first hearing the opening of Bounty Killer's “Many Gal” I was stunned. My eyes literally opened as my subwoofer shook down the house. All 10 artists on this rhythm, created by Stephen Marsden aka Lenky, producer of other popular rhythms such as Diwali, Masterpiece and Dreamweaver, have their own mini version which Lenky has custom crafted to suit their vocal styling. Various synthesized, unique string riffs adorn the tracks giving each one its own soul, so to speak. The base for Time Travel is a simple, middle eastern sounding drum beat which can be vary in speed, depending on the track and how you're feeling when you listen to it. Check Vybz Kartel's Up 2 Di Time album and Wayne Marshall's debut album Marshall Law for strong album tracks using it.. In my opinion, this is the single most underrated rhythm of recent times. Only 10 artists voiced? What a waste of rhythm album space! VP's Riddim Driven “Time Travel” only came with one 12”. Now bless your ears with the samples!

Memorable Cuts: Bounty Killer “Many Gal“, Vybz Kartel “Sen On”, General Degree “Specialist“, Assassin “Roll In”

And remember: if you like the samples, support your local independent stores!