Assuming they don't frequently get a taste of reggae/dancehall and will more than likely be limited you will need to play some of the more crossover popular artists

Sean Paul- anything from him
Mr Vegas- more older stuff
Tanto metro & devonte - everyone falls in love
Shaggy- older stuff
Shabba ranks- older hits
Barrington Levi - dangerously
Buju banton- older hits
Beenie man- older hits, but recent hits can work
Snow- anything for you
Elephant man can be thrown in the mix too

It wouldn't hurt to find reggae/dancehall makeovers of songs the would know or even artists they know on a reggae/dancehall riddim (think Alicia keys on the 85 riddim 'ghetto story')

With a crowd that's not familiar with this genre it's best to stay with 'old' stuff. Mid 90's to about 03 should be a safe gauge.

Also the key is to feed em some of what they know, then give em a few of the newer stuff in moderation. Best I can suggest for now

Oh yeah, what kind of crowd(age, race) on average. That can play a key factor also

its a mixed crowd, ages from 21-35 in Houston Texas. Thanks for the suggestions.

its a mixed crowd, ages from 21-35 in Houston Texas. Thanks for the suggestions.

Beenie - Hmm Hmm
Collie Budz - Come Around
Wayne Wonder ft C.N.N. - Anything Goes
Serani - No Games

These are my four go-to tracks to transition into reggae but I'm open format and only spin a small set once in awhile.

Others include:

Heads High
Black and Yellow (DJ Deville - Crooklyn Clan)
Deport Them
Who Am I
Gyptian - Hold Yuh (find a proper edit)
My Chick Bad (Over another Riddim - See Crooklyn Clan)
Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go
Beenie - Dude
Lumidee - Uhh Ohh
Rupee - Tempted To Touch
Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On
Get Busy *great video*, We Be Burning, Like Glue - Sean Paul

Get up to about 120 BPM:

Marley and Nas - As We Enter
Kat Deluna
Mr Catra (Brazilian MC - Can work with this type of set too, try Machuka)

Being in Houston you already have a pretty heavy Caribbean population. I would check out Club Riddims. Although they are a primarly West Indian club, it will give you an idea from the early warm ups what to play.

In my experiance, what I play at home when it comes to the latest in Dancehall and Reggae doesn't translate 100 percent when I come to the states to play.

When playing for a mixed crowd that is not too familiar with the latest in Reggae or Calypso I tend to play the hitters that make it on MTV. Mostly older stuff.

Now when I am in NYC or Philly, I notice I can be a little more up to date. Just depends on how up to date your crowd is.

Thank You Austin!

Thank you Mighty

Chaka Demus & Pliers - Murder She Wrote
Cutty Ranks - Who Say Mi Dun
etc

You should have a pretty solid idea now....

Besides is it a full set of reggae/dancehall or just a 'sub'set?? if the latter, you have more than enough ammo listed here already.

Even if they are into more current hits, throw some or most of what was suggested and you gonna get the "oh that's my shit" and "I haven't head this in a while" reactions....then you can go from there.


Good luck man!!!!

www.facebook.com

Part of Jazzy Jeff's reggae set from the Do Over in Portland the other week.

From memory he also played Chaka Demus & Pliers - Murder She Wrote, Snow - Informer, and a Bob track.

More throwbacks:

Here I Come - Barington
Mr Loverman - Shabba
No Ice Cream Sound - Osbourne
Infiltrate - Sean Paul
Champion - Buju
Make It Clap - Busta (crossover)
Letting Go - Sean Kingston
Beautiful - Damien Marley ft Bobby Brown
Action - Terror Fabolous
All That She Wants - Ace of Bass (basic edit down to rap parts only)
Girls Dem Suga
Dude
Who Se Me Dun
Shy Guy - Diana King
Fuma Ganja -
20 Inch - Cutty Ranks

King of the Dancehall by Beenie Man
Classic Anthem Kings Party Break "Ladyz"
Gasolina - Daddy Yankee
Bumpy Ride - Mohombi

One more track I love to open or close this set with is Burn It Up - R. Kelly ft Wisin and Yandell, it may not fit with your particular set/crowd but I just love this track.

Jeeze just going through the list those are ancient. lol. We play those on "old school" nights or when we want to do a flashback segment.

I covered the throwbacks, post some new tracks mighty

Of course a lot of the tracks I posted I have redrums and edits for that bring them back to life...

White ppl lost interest in reggae when it turned all Bo bo bo more fiya more fiya.

T.O.K. - Chi Chi Man

this is basically it - if you're not playing for a reggae-specific party, just play like 2 or 3 old hits and keep it moving...

reggae is not popular at the moment.

Some new ones I've been playing.... Too many to list but these are some of the more popular ones.

Konshens - Gyal a Bubble

Konshens - Stop Sign

Demarco - 630

Mavado - Come Round

Popcaan - Naughty Gurl

Mavado - Caribbean Girl (Overtime Riddim)

Junior Gong Marley - Affairs of the heart

Mr Vegas - Bruk It Down

Vybz Kartel - Party Meh Seh (Worldwide Riddim)

And everything else on the (Worldwide Riddim)

Demarco - I love my life

Konshens - Sidung

A bunch more that I can name but one of these days I will save my playlist after I finish the club.

^^^ Mighty Dragon is Tommy Lee breakin out there yet??

Go Go Wine - Kartel

Show It - Demarco

Romie - Beenie Man are some fail safes in my area.

Usually older riddims seem to work for crowds like this such as....

Buyout, Joyride, Liquid, Applause, Coolie Dance, Kopa, Smash, and so on.

Last I hear Kartel got some vibes against Tommy Lee.

^^^ yeah heard the same thing. But honestly I dont try to keep up! It's like a Soap Opera with some of these guys!!

This is a regular track for all my reggqe reggaeton sets. Get the acapella drop it in then cut in bring it back instrumental