Top of the Trops – Best of Tropical Bass 2011

Wow. Already writing my second annual review feels weird. And great at the same time.
That baby called tropicalbass.com will turn 2 years soon, and we are still more than happy with it. 2011 was an interesting year for the musical styles we prefer and also for the blog itself. We were happy to welcome Caballo as a new contributor and get more and more embraced by a even wider scene all around the globe. Perfect point to give some shout-outs: to all our readers, to all that producers, DJs and fellow bloggers, to everyone we met during the year, to all the headphone companies out there and everyone who shared some inspiration with us.
All of you keeping the game running and pushing good music forward – keep it up in 2012!

2011 was definitely intense for Tropical Bass related styles. Moombahton finally really took over, heavily pushed by Mad Decent in the US, and Dupstep, Brostep and Moombahton became the holy trinity for College students. For Moombahton this led to a quite akward situation, on the one hand still with one foot in the underground, at the same time hitting the big mainstream circus and causing a total frenzy with everyone and your mother producing some Moombah. Juke and Footwork invaded European clubs and nerdy music magazines as the next big thing. Shangaan had a short international exposure. The European feuilleton at last discovered Cumbia, years too late. 3Ball Guarachero not only hit every available teenager in Mexico, it also made it’s way up to the US with “Intentalo” getting into broadcast heavy-rotation and 3Ball MTY performing at the “Los Premios Billboard Awards 2011”. You could attach a -ton suffix to almost everything. Kuduro went Pop while the world discovered Angolan House. Moombahton brought back the Dembow. Everyone discovered Jersey Club. Blackberry died. Bus couldn’t swim. Vybz Kartel got up and down. Everything got occupied. Kim Jong Il not only dropped the bass. Pan pipes and steel drums resurfaced. Everyone bounced. Been there, done that, over!

Here are our picks of the past 12 month, enjoy:

ANDRÉS:
Top EPs:
DJ Pickster & Melo – AZ Gunslingaz EP [download]
Andrés Digital – Inna Reggae Cumbia Style EP
Mykol Orthodox – Hi Fashan EP [download]
Rafael Aragon – Curandero EP [download]
Los Reyes de la Milanga – Cabeza 42 EP [download]
Collie Buddz – Playback EP [download]
Cecile – Jamaicanization
Alborosie – Times Revolution

Top Mixtapes:
Erick Rincon – The Backbone of my Tribal Experience [download]
Uproot Andy – XLR8R Podcast (March 2011) [download]
Destination Sound – From Dub till Dubstep [download]
Andrés Digital – Tropical Fever

Top Remixes:
Johnny Cash – Personal Jesus (Goofee Remix)
Johnny Cash – Personal Jesus (Gooffee Remix) *Click ‘Buy’ for DL* by gooffee
Tego Calderon & Lil Kim – Lighters Up (Caballo latinozo Remix) [download]
Harry Belafonte – Jump in the Line (Codes Remix) [download]
Goy Karamelo – La Trampa (Un Mono Azul & Dj Karim 2011 Remix) [download]

Top Producers:
Dreadsquad (General Big Up for constant good work!! Tons of ultratight tunes)
Alguacil Dubkiller (Another general Big Up for good work, sizzling Tunes and Remixes!!)
Also always fresh and inspiring: MC Zulu, Grodio, Jon Kwest, DJ Orion, Isaac Maya
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CABALLO:
Top Overall:
Guapo Feo – Oro en Polvo
Guapo Feo – Oro En Polvo by barneyiller
Indidginus- Sofa Surfer

Top Dancehall:
Symbiz – Who Cares?
Damian Marley – Set Up Shop

Top Dubstep:
Noisia – Tommy’s Theme
Bassnectar – Divergent Spectrum

Top Latin / Salsa:
Captain Planet- Dame Agua
Los Pirannas – Toma tu Jabon Kapax
Palmacoco – Veneno
Latino Resiste – Azucah Selectah (Compilation) [download]

Top Moombah:
Chong X – Inti Tayta [download]
Shazalakazoo – Bang Bang
Dirty Talk – P.O.T. (FS & Reid Speed Remix)
Mendez – Adventures in ULTRACORE

Top Champeta:
La Makina del Karibe – El Maki Man
Kinky Electric Noise – Perreo Digital

Top Cumbia / Digital Cumbia / Villera:
Plaid feat. Björk – Lilith (Dengue Dengue Dengue! Cumbia Refix)
Sancocho e’ Tigres – Lujo De Pobre
Pedro Ramaya Beltran – La peluca
Wachiturros – Tirate un paso
Super Guachin – Piratas y fichines

Top 3Ball:
3Ball MTY – Inténtalo (Me Prende)
Latino Resiste presents 3BALL (Compilation)

Top Tuki:
Pacheko & Pocz – Tukilove
Jairo Mendez – Orden y Disciplina

Top Kuduro:
DJ Znobia – Ku duro em musica
Buraka Som Sistema – Komba (Album)
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JELKA:
Top Tunes:
Copia Doble Systema – One Day, Revolution (Schlachthofbronx Remix)
Copia Doble Systema – One Day, Revolution (Schlachthofbronx Remix) by COPIA DOBLE SYSTEMA
Matanza – Puya
The Unlimiters – Hard Times (So Shifty Remix)
The Very Best feat. Moroka – Ndekha
Laza Morgan feat. Mavado – One By One
Feral – Chit Chat (Club Mix)
Stylo G – Call Mi A Yardie (Murlo Remix) [download]
Antony Santos – Vete (Uproot Andy Moombachata Remix) [download]
Busy Signal – Mad Mi
Vybz Kartel – Half On A Baby (Mosca Remix)
Orquesta feat. Zuzuka Poderosa – Dona Sandra (Sonora Remix)

Top Albums / EPs / Mixtapes:
Dubbel Dutch – Slow Club Mix [download]
Brenmar – Opening Ceremony Mix [download]
Kuenta I Tambú
The Very Best – Super Mom Mixtape
#401 – 3rd World Bootlegs (Compilation)
Jamie Woon – Mirrorwriting
Los Rakas – Chancletas Y Camisetas Bordada EP
Uproot Andy – XLR8R Podcast (March 2011) [download]

Top Videos:
DJ Dus – K Le Pasa

Den Svenska Björnstammen – Vart Jag Mig I Varlden Vänder
João Brasil feat. Lovefoxxx – L.O.V.E. Banana
Yasmin ft. Shy FX & Ms Dynamite – Light Up (The World)
Brenmar – Taking It Down
Anbuley – Kemo’ Yoo Keke
Bamzigi feat. Kaytrixx – Bachette
Chrissy Murderbot feat. DJ Spinn – Bussin Down
Not really comparable but absolutely hilarious: FOKN Bois – Coz ov moni
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LEUB:
Top Tunes:
The Unlimiters – Hard Times (So Shifty Remix)
The Unlimiters – Hard Times (So Shifty Remix) by Highscore Publishing
Noisses feat. Serocee – The Don
Laza Morgan feat. Mavado – One By One
Feral – Chit Chat (Club Mix)
Mr OK – Bwa Mare
Gato Preto feat. B’Crazy – Tschukudu
X-Pensive Nframa – Aunty Adoley (Douster Remix)
Mr Catra & MC GI – A Fila Anda (Samy Ado Remix)
Feral – Superstar
Anbuley – Kemo’ Yoo Keke

Top Albums / EPs / Mixtapes:
FOKN BOIS – The Fokn Dunaquest in Budapest EP
Shazalakazoo – Karton City Boom
South Rakkas Crew – Gangsta Revival EP
Buraka Som Sistema – Komba
Donae’o – Indigo Child
Latino Resiste presents 3 Ball (Compilation)
Symbiz & Singin Gold – Marchin On Remix EP
Indidginus – Sofa Surfer
Boom Shakalaka – Baltik Bass Vol.1 EP
Mama Diaspora vs. Yuriy Gurzhy – 7 Songs, 2 EPs

Top Videos:
Joao Brasil feat. Marina Gasolina – Funk Do Iphone

João Brasil feat. Marina Gasolina “Funk Do Iphone” from Man Recordings on Vimeo.
Rednek – They Call Me
Darey – Ba Ni Kidi
Cholita Sound – Choquechinchay El Jaguar
Wanlov The Kubolor ft. King Ayisoba – Veverita
Beto De Almeida – Balumuka
Gnucci Banana – Famalam Jam
Prince Quan Luv ft. Old Money – Bodega
Batida ft. Ikonoklasta – Cuka
Mr Basista – Basista Skank
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MARFLIX:
Top Tunes:
Omar & Zed Bias – Dancing (Omar is one of my all-time favorite singers since his Acid Jazz days, and 2011 saw many top releases by him.)
Omar & Zed Bias – Dancing by Tru Thoughts
Magic System – Ambiance a l’africaina (So many interesting and moving club music coming out of Africa at the moment, but the crown for this year goes to the heros from the World Music section – still.)

Top Artists:
FOKN Bois (Always liked Wanlov and crew, but with the movie/video clip ‘Coz ov moni’ they finally got me.)
Funkystepz (I have a lot of respect and love for two kinds of artists: those who are pioneers and those who are constantly doing their thing on a high level after the hype is gone.)

Top Video:
FOKN Bois – Coz ov moni (Absolutely. Definitely. Class of its own!)

Top Local Stuff:
Symbiz – Marchin On (Braunschweig is not really Berlin but as the label is from my hood I chose Symbiz with the outstanding “Marching on”.)

Top Album:
Blood – De Experience (Baddy) (Disclaimer: this album was released on my label, but: if you love Soca and Bajan carnival there is no way to ignore this 37 song album by the legendary Andy “Blood” Anderson.)

Top Trends for 2012:
Using real instruments and deep digged samples.
No love for wobble construction kits and tracks done in 10 minutes.
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TOP TOPICS 2011 ON TROPICALBASS.COM:
Cabo Snoop – Windeck [June 2010]
3Ball MTY – Intentálo [August 2011]
Top of the Trops – Best of Tropical Bass 2010 [January 2011]
Die Antwoord – Enter The Ninja Remixes [March 2010]
Vato Gonzalez feat. Foreign Beggars – Badman Riddim [May 2011]
P Money – I Beat The Tune [May 2011]
Doctor P – Sweet Shop [June 2010]
Jon Kwest presents: LIGHTER Moombahton vs. Jungle [December 2011]
Wiley – Chill Out Zone [July 2011]
Tinie Tempah feat. L. Raze – Pass Out (Remix) [February 2010]