FEATURED VIDEO
Ladyhawk Double Header

THE FADER MAGAZINE

_54 DOWNLOAD
Current Issue #54

For our annual icon issue we focused on the now-legendary r&b songstress Aaliyah—celebrating her life by talking to the people she was closest to. In addition, we also have features on Sweden's newest popstar Lykke Li, the subsonic thump of bassline and El Guincho's new tropicalia.

COLUMNS

F2

F2_issue1_cover DOWNLOAD

Issue #1 New Disco

The FADER's new digital-only quarterly publication powered by Timberland focusing on how classic genres are being reexamined and reinterpreted in 2008.

#1 BEST THING

Exclusive Freeload: Caps' Aaliyah U R Missed Mix

Aaliyah_default_third_column

Excluse mix of Aaliyah's music

FADER/SOUTHERN COMFORT 7" SERIES

Number Six

Check out the latest edition of our FADER/Southern Comfort limited edition 7-inch featuring BLK JKS and Esau Mwamwaya.

7inchhighlight_default_third_column

Artwork by Ian Hundley

FADER RADIO

The Let Out on East Village Radio, Fridays, 6-8pm EST

Jam palaces, trash updates, special guests, random guests off the street and all the music you could possibly want to hear in two hours, brought to you by the editors of The FADER and made possible by Dewar's.

Boredcat_default_third_column

With your hosts:
The FADER editorial team

The FADER Email Newsletter

Get weekly highlights and exclusive content from thefader.com delivered via email.





  • Stephenmcgregor_main
    Photo of Stephen "di Genius" McGregor from F48 by Martei Korley

    Freeload: Assassin, "Money" (Work Out Riddim)

    We profiled dancehall producer Stephen "di genius" McGregor back in Issue 48 in our Beat Construction section, detailing his rise from son of Freddie to teenage riddim killer, and even projecting that his relationship with Sean Paul might launch him into the big time. SP is on McGregor's new "Work Out" riddim, but it's Assassin who really gets it with his "Money" version. Read the story after the jump and head over to McGregor's MySpace to get the equally new "Overcome" before we put it up here and freak out some more over Mavado.


    Download: Assassin, "Money" (Work Out Riddim) more...

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    about 2 hours ago
    Bookmark and Share

  • Ghetto Palms: Freestyle & Go Go

    Busysignal_main
    Photo outtake from F39 By Peter Dean Rickards
    Every week resident FADER selector Eddie STATS runs through dancehall riddims and other artifacts from the ghetto archipelago.

    This week I wanted to shine a light on the Freestyle riddim, the extremely stripped-down soundtrack to Busy Signal’s current 45 "Cool Baby" along with a riddim run of Bobby Konder’s "Go Go" riddim. "Go Go" has been playing in the juggling for some months now--I think ex-FADER editor Nick Catchdubs put me up on it back around New Years--but it fit not only rhythmically but conceptually (freestyle, go-go— get it? If there was a hi-NRG riddim I would have thrown that in, too). At the end I tacked on one extra Collie Buddz tune on 2006’s Sidewalk University riddim (if you need justification, see the Collie Buddz clause established in Ghetto Palms #2). more...

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/14/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Bugle f. Mavado, "Set Me Free"

    Bugle_main
    It's hard to call this song a jam because it sounds like the dancehall version of Shawshank Redemption, but that's exactly what it is. We admit that we'd most likely post audio of Mavado ordering Thai food, but for real this song is weighty. Bugle is becoming pretty well known for these depressing quiet storms produced by Daseca, but clearly Mavado still runs things.


    Download: Bugle f. Mavado, "Set Me Free"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/13/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Sean Paul, "Grip" (Sand Fly Riddim)

    Seanpaul_main
    Original photo from F23 by Peter Rickards
    This is going to sound really messed up, but we had to tell Mom yesterday that Sean Paul's voice had officially surpassed hers in its ability to make us feel good about the world. We were like Happy Mother's Day! You've been replaced! And then she took our flowers and shoved them down the garbage disposal. But there's just something about the multi-tracked Paul vocal that sets off a chemical reaction in our brains. So it's not like we've consciously chosen Sean Paul over our mothers, but well yeah, it's kind of a wrap. Sorry, Ma!


    Download: Sean Paul, "Grip" (Sand Fly Riddim)

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/12/2008
    Bookmark and Share
  • Sponsorship

  • Video: Vybz Kartel, "Money Fi Spend"

    Okay, you can't make two songs that are totally different and call them the same thing, Vybz. Even George Foreman named his kids George 1, 2, 3, etc. and those things were separated by time. Your two songs named the same thing came out at the same time. It doesn't make any sense. It leads to total praise anarchy. Because if we go, Hey Vybz, we love your song "Money Fi Spend" and you're like Thanks, Fader. Yeah, that song "Money Fi Spend" is one of my best works, you're not only not getting a real appraisal of your work but you're robbing yourself of the sense of pride in completing a piece of art. Man, these songs are both awesome.

    Exhibit A: "Money Fi Spend"
    Exhibit B: "Money Fi Spend"

    Update from Contributing Editor and Ghetto Palms columnist Edwin 'Stats' Houghton:

    "Welcome to Jamrock."

    posted in Music, Video    tags: caribbean    05/07/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Ghetto Palms: Demarco

    Demarco_main
    Photo outtake from F53 by Martei Korley
    Every week resident FADER selector Eddie STATS runs through dancehall riddims and other artifacts from the ghetto archipelago.

    You need look no further than the pages of the current issue of FADER to know that Demarco is straight caning it back a yard right now, both as a producer and as the reigning auto-croon singjay. So it seemed destined he was finna get his own column and it seemed doubly destined it was fittin to start out with a run of the “Shoot Out” riddim which he a) produced and then b) killed by voicing the biggest tune of the set on "Duppy Know Who fi Frighten." more...

    posted in Music, Audio, Reviews    tags: caribbean    05/07/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Warrior Queen, "Things Change"

    Warriorqueen_main
    This is exactly how all mornings should begin, with a woozy and spare yet happy times dancehall jam. Should we stop saying jam? Guess what? We can't! We also can't encourage Warrior Queen enough to photoshop more crowns onto her head because she is amazing. Thanks to Paul Devro for making our day so far.


    Download: Warrior Queen, "Things Change"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/06/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Video: Mr. Vegas, "Mus Come A Road"

    Last week we gave you the song, and this morning we've got the video (from OnSmash) which is sorta like Cliffs Notes for The Harder They Come.

    posted in Music, Video    tags: caribbean    05/05/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Busy Signal, "Cool Baby"

    Busysignal_main
    Photo from F39 by Peter Dean Rickards
    Maybe we've been listening to too much trance lately, but the new Freestyle riddim, produced by SSMG and voiced here by one of our favorites Busy Signal as "Cool Baby", seems like the future of minimal dancehall. It sounds like something we could've done but didn't because we don't know how and puts Busy's voice in the spotlight because his voice is wild. There's also a pretty good version with Bling Dawg called "Jamiaca" if you need more.


    Download: Busy Signal, "Cool Baby"

    Bonus: Busy Signal Gen F from FADER 39

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/02/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Santogold, "Your Voice"

    Santi1_main
    Photo from F51 by Jason Nocito
    Santogold is nearing Akon levels of post frequency on The FADER. At last count we're at Santogold-376 vs. Akon-592. And Akon's been pretty quiet lately while Santi just put her album out this week. "Your Voice" is not on that album, but it does share its good vibery. Maybe it was recorded during those phantom Kingston sessions with Diplo and Switch? Who knows. It's great though and much needed to get us going on a Friday morning. And of course, thanks to the dudes at RCRD LBL.


    Download: Santogold, "Your Voice"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/02/2008
    Bookmark and Share
  • Sponsorship

  • Freeload: Mr. Vegas, "Mus Come A Road"

    Mrvegas_main
    Photo from F44 by Martei Korley
    This spring has been particularly potent so far for dancehall/reggae singles. There hasn't been a "Jamrock" or "Burnin" or any major breakthrough crossover song (yet), but as you may have noticed right here on this site, there has been a steady stream of excellence. "Mus Come A Road" has technically been around for a minute, but it is a major jam and we are celebrating it's officialness today along with Mr Vegas as he is having a little release party for it and its video at Club Element on Houston tonight. We'll put up the video when we get it, but until then you can grab the song and read our Gen F on Vegas from F44 after the jump.


    Download: Mr Vegas, "Mus Come A Road" more...

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    05/01/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Ghetto Palms: The Drumlane Riddim

    F43_walshy_main
    Photo outtake from F43 by Lauren Fleishman
    Every week resident FADER selector Eddie STATS runs through dancehall riddims and other artifacts from the ghetto archipelago. This week, guest columnist and selector extraordinaire Walshy Killa of the mighty, mighty Black Chiney Soundsystem test drives the Drumlane riddim.

    Ever imagine yourself in church, like one of those real Roman cathedral looking ones, and then just jumping up, breaking the shit out of everything in sight? Well, the Drumlane would be like the background music as you do it. more...

    posted in Music, Audio, Reviews    tags: caribbean    04/30/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Video: Serani & Bugle At The Shortwood Teachers College

    There are precious few things that can cheer us up on a rainy New York Monday morning, but one of them is Serani and Bugle performing their hits on a tiny stage for about 75 students at the Shortwood Teachers College in Kingston. No rushing the stage, future educators of Jamaica.

    posted in Music, Video    tags: caribbean    04/28/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Demarco, "Police"

    Demarco_main
    The funny thing about Demarco is that if you mention his name to some Jamaicans, you might get a blank stare in response. Then if you try to clarify by saying the name of his biggest song thus far, "Fallen Soldiers", dudes will be like "Oh the fat guy!" And then you're like "Yeah!" And then they're like "Yeah down here we call him Sean Kingston." And you're like "Damn." Still, we stay up on Demarco happenings and we like this new song, especially today.


    Download: Demarco, "Police"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    04/25/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Video: Stack$ and Jah Cure, "Flying High"

    Stack$ (the nom de rap of aspiring MC and wealthy music biz scion Yannique Barker), has spent the past year or three traveling in the same Miami money-rap circles as Rick Ross, Scott Storch and one-time Gen F-er Nox, looking for a hit that might finally justify his existence put him on. "Flying High" is not said hit, despite the enjoyable guest spot from FADER fave Jah Cure, who just signed to Stack$' iced tea-funded SoBe Entertainment. However, "Flying High"'s ode to chalice blazing reeks with goofy (and surprisingly welcome!) throwback charm, just in time for short pants season. Seriously, does this shit not sound like Inner Circle? What you gonna do when they come for you?

    posted in Music, Video    tags: caribbean    04/24/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Mavado, "Brown Bottle"

    Mavadoeye_main
    Photo from F42 by Andrew Dosunmu
    We played "Brown Bottle" on The Let Out a couple weeks ago in a fit of oh-shit-it's-warm dancehall joints and we are sipping Dewar's. We just realized we hadn't put it up on the old web portal, we had this crazy photo of him from FADER 42, and we just saw a clip of dude in the new Grand Theft Auto. So that's a lot of reasons to put something on a website.


    Download: Mavado, "Brown Bottle"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    04/21/2008
    Bookmark and Share
  • Sponsorship

  • Freeload: South Rakkas Crew, "Mad Again (DJ Sega remix)"

    Madagain_main
    South Rakkas' Mad Again 12" just released on vinyl and digital and it's loaded with remixes by 8-bit Boy, Fake Blood, Jokers of the Scene, and Drop the Lime. But the dudes over at Mad Decent, being the generous souls they are, just put up this unreleased DJ Sega remix on the blog and it's Friday and this is Friday music so we are posting it too. Get details on copping the 12" over at the Mad Decent blog.


    Download: South Rakkas Crew, "Mad Again (DJ Sega remix)"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    04/18/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Freeload: Serani, "Doh"/"Stinkin' Rich"

    Daseca_main
    Daseca
    Walk down the right block in New York and you'll find a car parked with some Tonka-looking stereo system sitting on the roof blasting Daseca tunes from sunrise to sunset. As far as we can tell corners are the new cafe. Currently, Serani (the 'se' in Daseca) is making a run on Mavado for most rewinds with "Doh" and "Stinkin' Rich," and now that the sun is out and morning temps are drifting into the 60s, dudes are taking their time before heading on to work or whatever, catching some rays, having a beer (not us, no way!). Also, not coincidentally, Serani is artist of the month for April in Montego Bay's weekly paper. Just saying.


    Download: Serani f. Bugle, "Doh"


    Download: Serani, "Stinkin' Rich"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    04/17/2008
    Bookmark and Share

  • Audio: Jahdan Blakkamore, "Go Round Payola"

    Jahdan_main
    Our man of the ever-expanding bass palette, DJ Rupture, gave us the go head to post the first single off he, Matt Shadetek and Geko Jones' Dutty Artz label from Jahdan Blakkamore. Get a fuller Jahdan bio over at the Dutty Artz blog but keep in mind dude was the voice of "Sound Bwoy Buriel" and "Brooklyn Anthem" ie two songs that we play when we want to get blunted and sit on our fire escapes during New York's jungle summers. "Go Round Payola" was produced by Shadetek and if you're looking for brethren, it fits nicely into the sound dubbed "trancehall" by our own Eddie Stats in his new feature on BK's Ricky Blaze in FADER 53.

    Jahdan Blakkamore, "Go Round Payola"

    posted in Music, Audio    tags: caribbean    04/16/2008
    Bookmark and Share

Sponsorship