2010 Top Ten

Writing a top ten list is such an egotistical effort, but a close friend asked me for one, and after a bit of thought I came up with something. Most of these are tracks I listen to at my desk at work, in the car, and in some cases from behind the dj booth. Here they are, in no particular order, and watch out for NSFW imagery, images, lyrics, and everything else that makes a track good:

Mungo's Hifi feat. Brother Culture "Wikidness" (Tes La Rok remix)
Conscious lyrics and evil bass conspire to shake the foundations.


Hypnotic Brass Ensemble "Spottie"
Brilliant cover of the Outkast classic. I deejayed a friend's wedding (a rarity for me), and suggested this for a recessional. Of course they loved it. This record absolutely turns out any late night Atlanta crowd.


French Montana feat. Curren$y "So High"
Sunroof music. Curren$y is amazing. Somebody clue me in on the vocal sample.


Big Boi "Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty"
I'm just gonna post the intro because the whole thing bumps from start to finish. You already know.


Nas & Damian Marley feat. Dennis Brown "Land of Promise"
The album definitely had some weak moments, but this was not one of them. I have spent entire days blasting this with the bass all the way turnt up.



The-Dream "Yamaha"
I usually listen to this and think, "Damn, I need to listen to more The-Dream."


Cut Chemist "Sound of the Police"
This mix is perfect. South American and African classics and a new take on turntablism? I haven't really even heard the term "turntablism" since about 2001 and somehow Cut Chemist makes it all relevant again. Read my full review, written back in August, here.


Sissy Nobby "Lay Me Down" (DJ Sega remix)
I couldn't find a youtube clip for DJ Sega's version, so you'll have to follow that link, or listen to this L-Vis 1990 take. Unfortunately, the video doesn't feature any of Nobby's raunchy lyrics, but my good buddy Ben Coleman of Judi Chicago is an L-Vis 1990 fan (and he's turned me onto the stuff a bit) so the clip stays.


Major Lazer feat. Collie Buddz & Lindi Ortega "Good Enuff (Cash Flow Dub)"
Gorgeous tune.


Los Rakas feat. Faviola (Uproot Andy Hold Yuh Riddim Remix)
Here's another one that I was really digging all summer. I considered putting Gyptian's "Hold Yuh" on the list as well, so we'll just let this count for both songs. I'm really impressed with the Spanish raps from Los Rakas, and Uproot Andy rarely disappoints. Truly a great tropical song.

Tropicaaliyah

A little late with this one, but at POLYRHYTHMIQUES we always keep our clocks set to Island Time, and we definitely don't wear wristwatches. Brooklyn's DJ Still Life hooked up a serious set of Aaliyah remixes last week on the 9th anniversary of her death. Still Life's cumbia treatment of "Try Again" is the pick here, and kudos go out to anyone willing to rethink three of Timbaland's masterful turn-of-the-century productions. All four tracks available free here.

Muqabla Hum Se Na Karo

Amazing dance off complete with costume and style changes, from 1969's Prince, with vocals by Bollywood legends Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, and Asha Bhosle.

RIP Sugar Minott

I remember grabbing this album from Hoodlum's in Tempe, AZ, having learned about it from an Easy Star records e-mail (they used to spam me with info on what sounded like the dopest parties in NYC). Never got to see Sugar live, but I always wondered if Goodie Mob knew they shared a track title.

REMOTE CONTROL

Back in April of ought-eight, DJ Godtrilla 3K (ATL/LA) cued up the turntables in the deep forested West Sussex Studio for a little twitterpatin'. REMOTE CONTROL is a smooth succession of Caribbean and African sides, along with a little narration from the one-and-only Charlton Heston. Uplift your consciousness as you step into spring. Download link here.

Polyrhythmiques Upgrade

Dookie Platters is assuming his government name and writing for Atlanta newspaper Crib Notes blog. Check out the first post on Yung Joc 's Atlanta-to-Africa connections. Crib Notes is focused on Atlanta's local musical happenings, so we'll still be posting that international goodness here at Polyrhythmiques on our normal erratic basis.

Other Lands

Brasil-based producer, deejay, and remixer Maga Bo recently dropped another 40-minute mix of impossibly unclassifiable heat. Vocalists from all corners attack the mic over a stew of diverse drum patterns, dub-hall basslines, and electronic flourishes. Surprisingly pleasing stuttering cellphone speaker buzz shows up in track three for that special touch of genius. Check here for the tracklist, here for Maga Bo's slightly more drum-n-bass-y Os Cacos mix, and look down for his outstanding collaboration "Fire" with Senegalese emcee Xuman (from 2008's Archipelagoes on Soot Records).