For this mix, I compiled dancehall revisions of classical music and opera-referencing tracks; songs that mix famously recognizable melodies and sparse, bass-heavy breakdowns. Most of these tracks came from a time when dancehall was in direct communication with UK-based sounds, creating a feedback loop with jungle, rave, and what would eventually become dubstep, and I love the creativity and versatility of the period, it really felt like anything was possible. 

The genre (and mix) is heavily indebted to Andrew Bradford’s Opera House label, who came to define the skeletal, devastating sound of 90’s dancehall, while also infusing a kind of maximal drama that is also shared by classical music (see: Tchaikovsky firing off real cannons for the 1812 Overture). Hope you enjoy! 

I also wanted to try and back up my cultural consumption with some kind of material support, so I made a donation to support a group of Trans Jamaican artists coming to the US - link is below if you want to donate as well.
https://gofund.me/2f77f7f2

Tracklist:
Left Side - Tall Up Tall Up (Version) [Stone Love Music]
Elephant Man - Tall Up Tall Up [Stone Love Music]
Danny Brownie - Vintage Old Bruck (Version) [Main St.]
Andreas "Brotherman" Christophersen - Classic Riddim (Version) [Minor 7 Flat 5]
Cocoa Tea- Let The Dancehall [Minor 7 Flat 5]
Chalice - Dance Hall ‘Monic [Peace Pipe Records]
Buccaneer - Da Opera [VP Records]
Scare Dem Productions - Eyes a Bleed (Version) [Price Less]
Taxi Gang Feat. Robbie Lyn - 5th Of Beethoven [Taxi]
Classical People - J.D.F (Version) [Opera House]
Marie Claire -  Dancehall Opera [Krush Proof Muzik]
Rainbow Castle Production - Warhead Caan Dead (Version) [Rainbow Castle Productions]
Steely & Clevie - Nine Night (Version) [VP Records]
Buccaneer - Classical Party [Kingstone Records]
The Taxi Gang - 5 O'Clock Version [Taxi]
Mad Lion - Phantopra Opera Hall Mix [Spinnas]
Clifford Smith - Violin Riddim (Version) [In The Streetz Records]
Andrew Bradford - Skettel Concerto (Version) [Opera House Records]
Buccaneer - Fade Away (Version) [Opera House Records]
Honorebel & Alicia - Con Te Partiro [White label]
Black Slate - Mozart in Trenchtown [Unit 8 Records]


Shout out to Henry’s Records in Scarborough, where most of these records were found: https://www.instagram.com/henrys_records/?hl=en

And there's a good retrospective of Opera House Records over here:  https://www.theransomnote.com/music/playlists/gone-to-a-rave-the-wild-bashment-of-opera-house/

Classical Dancehall

Bee A