Yaksta’s ‘Ambition’ And 11 New Dancehall Songs To Listen Right Now

In a mix of positive, uplifting, sexy, and even fiery new releases this week, we’ve found a few Dancehall and Reggae tracks to update your playlist right now. A few of these artists are new and overlooked, while others are pretty well-known in the game.

In all these are the picks of the songs that have appeal, will entertain and downright give you a buzz.

Yaksta – Ambition

The astute and assured Bush Lawd, Yaktsa is staunch in delivering a message to the youths. He takes the time to send some wisdom and advice their way in his new single and video for Ambition. The track emphasizes the importance of focusing on hard work and creating generational wealth instead of fixating on the hype and material things. “Boasting about name brands, weh cost over 8-grand when Mr. Chin have the same one fi di cost of straight pants. Why own a Ferrari with nowhere to park it? Why shop a Louis V when there is a Target?” He asks these questions in his verses to execute his lesson.

In speaking about what the track represents, Yaksta says, “In today, as a society, we focus more on the flashy material things and what is more expensive. I am standing from a different viewpoint; I believe that building generational wealth and focusing less on the expensive materials are steps in the right direction. This is for young and the young at heart”. Yaksta noted that the track is to build awareness and for his fans to shift focus, as the song is a movement in a bright direction.

Ambition is the first track off the compilation Africans for Africa, slated for release later this year.

Busy Signal – Quick Move

Dancehall artist Busy Signal always has a witty way of bringing his message across. Here’s another bit of inspiration for the youths, but with Busy’s way, he levels with them by imagining himself in the midst of the hustle that he tries to encourage them to do. “Dawg mi tell yuh say we make money quick quick, hustle that quick quick, mash di works quick quick … Gansta nuh sleep, stay up stay up stay up seven days a di week,” he says to demonstrate how hard he works. Then with some motivation, he continues, “Whether you a take bus, walk or drive, gwan make the money, gwan hustle and strive. Hustle and nuh sleep, stay up stay up stay up!”

The video for the track is a simulation of something you’d capture on your phone while driving across several parishes on the island. Other scenes show Busy looking out from a grand balcony over a plush countryside tucked amongst calm waters, a deliberate setting to show where his hustle has lead him.

Busy has another new release, Bring Rum that dropped just last week.

Ape Drums & Silent Addy Featuring Projexx – Mek Money

American DJ and record producer, Ape Drums in a teaming with Miami/Jamaican DJ and producer Silent Addy have provided some pretty pulsating tones in this collaboration with Dancehall artist Projexx. The single Mek Money sees Ape Drums deliver a subtly trap-infused dancehall banger that shows just why he has continued to be heralded as an innovator in both the dancehall and dance/electronic music spaces. Projexx catches the riddim effortlessly and sends upfull vibes with his Dancehall flows as the entire crew takes on the picturesque sights in Ocho Rios Jamaica to rouse a little FOMO for their audiences.

“Addy and I have been trying to make a record that represents all of what we do and what we believe in musically,” Ape Drums says. “‘Mek Money’ does that perfectly, especially with Projexx. Him being from Jamaica, it was only right we shot the music video there. We directed and shot the whole thing ourselves and we’re super proud of how it came out. The idea was to have it be half recap of the trip & half music video, and I hope everyone will enjoy.”

Also, stay tuned for Ape’s upcoming EP due out this spring via Mad Decent.

Shane E Featuring Kan Whyte & Chapta – Burger Belly

Shane E is back with a few squaddies, Kan Whyte and Chapta to take on his feud with the Up Top Camp, those, in particular, are none other than the boss, TeeJay, and captain, JDon. The crew teamed up for the single Burger Belly to throw direct and sinister threats at their rivals, the ‘learners, nerds, baboons, and cartoons’ as Shane E puts it, and even goes as far as including their colleagues.

Shane E fires off, “You rise the devil now, mi wake. Weh you temp mi fah? A bet mi make the nozzle dance like Shenseea, and Money Head send Romeich yuh dead picture. A hell raise now, mi tun up the temperature,” to assert the war is on and everyone associated with the Up Top Camp is on the radar.

Burger Belly is the follow-up to Shane E’s other diss tracks aimed at the Up Top Camp, trailing Gun Play, and Sandy Park.

Gentleman, Konshens & Jugglerz – Change Of Thoughts

German Reggae artist Gentleman and Dancehall deejay Konshens are on a quest to evoke a Change Of Thoughts among all generations across the nation. On a skippy Afrobeat and Soca-sounding medley, the two musicians sing a bouncy uplifting tune about unification – “one love, one aim, one vibration,” hard work, deep dedication – “each one, teach one,” and more education.

The music video is an abstract combining footage of Gentleman and Konshens delivering the verses of the song around people from all walks of life with sketches of inspirational quotes flashing in the backdrop to reinforce the message of the song. This one will definitely get you in the groove and in a positive frame of mind.

Jahvillani – Barbie Doll

Another great playlist addition is Jahvillani’s Barbie Doll. It’s a song for the ladies that implore confidence especially when they need a little reassurance, and when their haters try to bring them down. “A wah make she nuh stop badmind yuh gyal, a true yuh look like a Barbie doll. Mi baby you are phenomenal and har life complicate, watch har ugly face. A gyal must related to hungry days …” Jahvi sings on a peppy heavy-hitting beat to spur a good vibe.

The video sees a skit unfolding to portray a story of badmind that’s initiated from the side that has a “complicated” life. The idea is, don’t let the unhappy ones get you down, continue striving and doing what makes you happy.

Prince Swanny – Radar

Trini-Dancehall star Prince Swanny is back this week with another new single Radar. He’s focused and steadfast in his journey to another echelon of stardom and isn’t about to let anything or anyone get in his way, which premises the narrative of his song. The young deejay has learned the hard way not to trust friends. “When you moving up in a life, have fi know you frenenemies cah dem lay in a disguise … dats why mi stay to myself, mi nuh trust nobody,” he says. Swanny is simply motivated by the youths in the street, its not like he had a dad growing up so doesn’t look to anyone to inspire him. All he knows is he wants to be a good father and will keep pushing harder to provide for his kids.

Radar is already carrying appeal with the fans as it surges into YouTube ^JM trending top 20. The single follows other new releases from Swanny such as Tribute To Women and Entanglement, which both dropped this month.

Di-Ruption – My Choice

Always brimming with championing words, Di-Ruption in his new single My Choice sends waves of support across the grassroots of society. The young singer says if he had his way, “every ghetto youths would a live star life.”

The song echoes his ambitions to help one and all, in the verses he says, “If it was my choice every youth would a alright, everybody round me would a happy. Badmind couldn’t come round … A nuh every youth want buss gun, youth want know how plane feel when it touch ground. If it was choice, Mummy wouldn’t have to worry bout shopp’n, mi fams wouldn’t gone, much less forgotten. Life would a smooth like silk no milk…”

Other heartening tracks like My Choice from Di-Ruption are Life Changes, Gwaan Fight, Know Where, Gone Too Soon, and Never Grow Up Wrong among several others.

Mr. Vegas – Bun It Down

Dancehall vet Mr. Vegas is at his wits end with the injustices he sees among the Black society. ‘Bun It Down’, burn it all he says, its all a bag of lies told by these so-called “American patriots” He advocates there is no such thing as equality among nations though it is implied by activists and government heads. “So nuh bodda fool you self Mr. Black Man, say a prayer when yuh see di Mr. Top Man, nuh make you eye bat cause if him fear fi him life, yuh drop,” he sings.

This is Mr. Vegas’ newest release since the New Year, his latest single prior was Last Christmas, which dropped in December.

Acegawd – Beast Mode

Dancehall newcomer Acegawd says his heart is in Beast Mode and will no longer be tricked by the people he has extended kindness to. “Vengeance full up these eyes, done listen to weh nuh body haffi say, mi heart in a beast mode.” Then continues to exemplify how he armors up, “You have to kill the part of you weh try see good in a everybody, best way nuh get you feelings hurt.”

The state of ‘beast mode’ sees the deejay donning Goth-like wardrobe and sporting a broken tie-chain around both wrists to demonstrate the rage it took to break free.

Acegawd also has another new release Way Out that dropped last week, which finds him in a similar guarded state and wary of fake friends and people.

Moyann – Sex Me Up

Moyann is oozing all kinds of lustful emotions for that one special someone in her single Sex Me Up. Like the title of the single, she holds nothing back in her verses, “I want to vent to you, show you what I want to do, come rip off my p— now, boy I wanna have sex with you. Nobody never put me in the mood, like you do …”

The visuals take viewers to a remote lodge in the midst of nowhere yet surrounded by lush woodland, where Moyann toils with her yearnings while playing dress up in her many wardrobe changes.

Sex Me Up is a similar follow-up to her other new single Back Seat that she released last month and which again emanate her raunchy desires.

Shakespear D-Dondadda – Still Alive

Reggae singer Shakespear D-Dondadda has seen despair and death all his life; it makes him more appreciative of waking up every day. “Amount a mi friend dem weh mi see gone in a di cemetery, honestly death scary, mi nuh ready fi bury. Ah say it feels so good to be alive, every day another man lose him life,” is just a snippet of this rejoice-full single.

The music video is a patchwork of scenes to portray his thankfulness. Where a skit shows how a man recovers with the help of others from what could have been his death, other visuals find Shakespear at one with nature and in a celebratory mood enjoying life with friends and love ones.