Whether you're in Brooklyn or Notting Hill, West Indian Carnival weekend is a good opportunity to reflect upon the year in soca and dancehall, when DJs really bring out their A game to pump up the various parades, parties and spontaneous street dance-offs. The trusty dudes of The Heatwave got a jump start on the festivities, compiling a mix that not only proffers the year's various dancehall megahits—Gyptian! Vybz! Busy Signal!—but illustrates how Caribbean-inspired strains like UK funky, "Jafrican" and the strange new genres known as "Major Lazer" and "Nas" have melded together and sprouted new sounds ever more in 2010. Even if your town doesn't have a jamming Carnival weekend coming up, it's worth throwing on your most elaborate headdress and wining it out dolo in your mirror to this mix, it will hype up your life. Or, as the Heatwave instructs, just make your own Carnival wherever you are. Tracklist after the jump.
Download: The Heatwave's Carnival Bashment Mix
Chaka Demus & Pliers - Intro
Gyptian - Hold Yuh
Vybz Kartel, Popcaan & Gaza Slim - Clarks
Gappy Ranks - Stinking Rich (DJ Shredah Refix)
Mr Lexx - Dem A Pree
Dolamite - African Oil
Busy Signal - Jafrican Ting
Busy Signal - Bare Gal
Leftside - Dem Gyal Deh
Vybz Kartel - Turn & Wine
Terro 3000 - Likkle & Neat
Beenie Man - Good Inna
RDX - Deliver Me
Nas & Damian Marley - As We Enter
The Heatwave & Serocee - War Dance
Serocee - Badeng
Lady Chann & Ward 21 - Ease Up
Lady Chann & Sticky - Sticky Situation Pt 2
Marvin Brown & Sticky - Mek Some Noise (Special)
Mad Dog - Tek De Floor (Special)
Ms Dynamite & Zinc - Wile Out
Spragga Benz vs Roska - Yuh Body Squark (Blend)
Mr Vegas vs Roska - Heads Squark (Blend)
Gyptian - Nah Let Go
Mavado & Stacious - Come Into My Room
Rihanna - Rude Boy
Rihanna & Assassin - Rude Boy (Remix)
Vybz Kartel & Spice - Ramping Shop (Seani B Refix)
Capleton - Slew Dem (Al Fingers Refix)
Mavado - Nine Lives
KMC & Vybz Kartel - Going Mad
Skinny Fabulous - Charge Up
Demus - Spranging
Recka - Hyperactive
Problem Child - Fear None
Beenie Man - Wuk Up Yuhself
JW & Blaze - Palance
Busy Signal - One More Night
Gappy Ranks - Heaven In Her Eyes
Busy Signal - Da Style Deh (Special)
Busy Signal - How Yuh Bad So
So Shifty, Ward 21 & Natalie Storm - Clap
Mr Lexx & Congorock - Babylon
Vybz Kartel - Mr Officer
Mavado - Hope & Pray
Vybz Kartel - Bicycle
Vybz Kartel - Slow Motion