5. Vybz Kartel – “Hi/School/Business”
Locked away in jail for yet another year, far away from the comforts of a top-flight recording studio (or so it is said), dancehall legend/cult hero/accused murderer Vybz Kartel continued to show why he’s the Werl’ Boss by leaking out some of the most interesting music of his career. Our favorites all came with one-word names: there was the funny and ridiculously catchy Rvssian-produced “Hi,” which we premiered here on LargeUp back in September, the Shabba-esque, thought-provoking, double take-inspiring (“did he say don’t bleach your face?”) “School” and the raw (and funny, in its own crass way) club single “Business.” We couldn’t pick just one. —Jesse Serwer