"Reggae Gold 2009" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Reggae Gold 2009 (Various Artists)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

What if “summer movie season” arrived as a dancehall compilation? Arrival — adaptation — rebellion — collapse: Reggae Gold 2009 maps that arc across club anthems and lover’s rock, from neon bashment to devotional roots. It isn’t a film soundtrack; it’s the year’s reggae/dancehall highlight reel, the kind of set that scores parties, road trips, and late-night radio.

The 18-track set opens like a DJ warm-up then spikes into singalong territory: Estelle & Sean Paul’s flirty “Come Over,” Jazmine Sullivan’s island crossover “Need U Bad,” Brick & Lace’s sticky sweet “Love Is Wicked,” Serani’s relationship chess on “Playing Games,” and Mavado’s cold-stare swagger “So Special.” Lovers’ cuts from Beres Hammond, Etana with Alborosie, Tarrus Riley, and Queen Ifrica smooth the edges without draining energy.

Distinctive to the 2009 edition: uptown pop guests rub shoulders with Kingston stalwarts; daggering-era dance steps (“Nuh Linga”) sit next to singjay confessions and one-drop roots. According to the label’s listing, the CD shipped with a bonus DVD of official videos — effectively turning the compilation into its own mini “music movie.”

Genres & themes in phases. Phase 1 (arrival): crossover dancehall — invitation and flirt. Phase 2 (adaptation): one-drop & lovers rock — comfort and reflection. Phase 3 (rebellion): badman brags & street parables — heat rises. Phase 4 (collapse/acceptance): conscious roots & gospel-reggae — a cool-down with purpose.

How It Was Made

The franchise. VP Records’ long-running annual series packages the biggest reggae/dancehall records of the previous season into one disc (often with a video DVD). Per release notes and archives, Reggae Gold 2009 streeted June 30, 2009, with 18 audio tracks and a bonus-video program.

Scope. The 2009 lineup balances chart climbers, sound-system staples, and roots cornerstones. Sequencing moves intentionally from crossover hooks to hardcore bashment, then to mid-tempo culture tunes — a DJ set disguised as a compilation.

Tracks & Scenes

“Come Over (feat. Sean Paul)” — Estelle
Where it plays: Video cut: candlelight, close-ups, and bashment silhouettes; radio-friendly flirt that slides between R&B and dancehall.
Why it matters: The crossover magnet — smooth enough for CHR, island enough for Sunday streets.

“Need U Bad” — Jazmine Sullivan
Where it plays: Rocksteady sway under powerhouse vocals; the video’s seaside palette reads like a summer postcard.
Why it matters: A U.S. R&B star rides a reggae riddim and proves the formula still hits.

“Love Is Wicked” — Brick & Lace
Where it plays: High-gloss hook and dance-crew visuals; a staple in 2008–09 party mixes that carried into this set’s narrative.
Why it matters: The “sing-it-in-a-cab” anthem — pop sheen over yard bass.

“Playing Games” — Serani
Where it plays: Street-lit video vignettes of on-again/off-again drama; mid-tempo pulse ideal for late-night spins.
Why it matters: Relationship chess as dancehall diary — endlessly quotable.

“So Special” — Mavado
Where it plays: Greyscale grit and concrete pride; the chorus turns menace into mantra.
Why it matters: Gully God at his most anthemic — the cut that sets a room’s temperature.

“Nuh Linga” — Elephant Man
Where it plays: Dance-craze showcase; the video doubles as a choreography manual for daggering-era moves.
Why it matters: Pure scene energy — a snapshot of 2009’s dance-floor vocabulary.

“Blessings” — Etana & Alborosie
Where it plays: Warm-light studio scenes and community portraits; one-drop pulse and gratitude lyrics.
Why it matters: The compilation’s heart-center — optimism with backbone.

“Start Anew” — Tarrus Riley
Where it plays: Quiet, reflective visuals; a reboot hymn that floats on Riley’s velvet phrasing.
Why it matters: A lovers-rock pressure release between bashment peaks.

“See You Again” — Beres Hammond
Where it plays: Classic croon and candleglow; the veteran’s presence ties 2009’s pop moment back to 90s lovers rock lineage.
Why it matters: Continuity — the set’s elder statesman touch.

“Far Away” — Queen Ifrica
Where it plays: Thoughtful visuals with roots textures; a steel-strong vocal over gentle sway.
Why it matters: Brings the series’ culture wing into 2009’s conversation.

Notes & Trivia

• The physical CD bundled a bonus DVD with official music videos from key tracks — effectively a mini “visual album.”
• Release date: June 30, 2009; catalogue number often listed as VPCD 1849.
• The set peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart and nicked the UK Official Compilations Chart Top 100.
• Sequencing leans intentionally “pop-to-roots,” making the play-through feel like a single DJ holding court.
• Several inclusions were already radio staples the year prior, making this a catch-up-and-canonize edition.

Music–Story Links

Crossover to core. Opening with Estelle/Sean Paul and Jazmine Sullivan invites casual listeners before sliding them toward hardcore dancehall (Mavado/Elephant Man) and roots (Etana/Tarrus).

Dance-craze → memory. “Nuh Linga” captures daggering-era choreography — hearing it years later is instant time travel to 2009 Kingston clubs.

Roots as resolution. Closing stretch (Etana, Tarrus Riley, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica) functions like a film’s final act: perspective after the party.

Reception & Quotes

Trade/retail notes treated the disc as the series’ annual “best-of-the-year” snapshot, with chart footprints on reggae lists in the U.S. and UK. AllMusic logs the official release date and runtime; blog critics were split on whether 2009’s picks felt fresh or already familiar by street date.

“A year-in-review for dancehall and lovers rock, sequenced like a weekend party.” Album roundups

“Useful if you missed a few riddims; less so if you lived them already.” Reggae blog commentary

Interesting Facts

• Two versions circulate on services; metadata sometimes shows slight runtime differences, but both reflect the 18-track CD.
• The UK Official Compilations Chart logged a brief Top 100 appearance the week of July 25, 2009.
• The series often doubles as a visual anthology via its bonus DVDs — 2009 is one of those years.
• Several tracks’ official videos on the DVD matched heavy rotation on Caribbean cable outlets that summer.
• VP continues to curate a living “Reggae Gold” playlist that echoes the annual sets.

Technical Info

• Title: Reggae Gold 2009 (Various Artists)
• Year: 2009
• Type: Compilation album (reggae/dancehall) — not a film soundtrack
• Label/Release: VP Records — June 30, 2009 (CD + bonus DVD)
• Format highlights: 18 audio tracks; companion DVD of official videos
• Representative artists: Estelle feat. Sean Paul; Jazmine Sullivan; Brick & Lace; Serani; Mavado; Elephant Man; Beres Hammond; Etana & Alborosie; Tarrus Riley; Queen Ifrica
• Chart notes: Billboard Reggae Albums peak No. 2; UK Official Compilations peak No. 92 (1 week)
• Availability: Streaming (Apple Music/Spotify) and on physical CD/DVD; cataloged on Discogs

Questions & Answers

Is Reggae Gold 2009 a movie?

No — it’s VP Records’ annual compilation album for 2009 (this edition shipped with a bonus DVD of music videos).

What are the biggest crossovers on this set?

“Come Over” (Estelle & Sean Paul), “Need U Bad” (Jazmine Sullivan), and “Love Is Wicked” (Brick & Lace).

What’s the dance-craze track?

Elephant Man’s “Nuh Linga” — a snapshot of daggering-era choreography and party culture.

Does it include roots/conscious cuts?

Yes — look to Etana & Alborosie (“Blessings”), Tarrus Riley (“Start Anew”), Queen Ifrica (“Far Away”), Beres Hammond (“See You Again”).

How did it perform on the charts?

It hit No. 2 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart and briefly entered the UK Official Compilations Top 100.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: VP Records store listing; AllMusic (date/duration); Billboard Reggae Albums chart; Official Charts (UK compilations); Apple Music & Spotify album pages; Discogs (catalog & credits); World Music Central (press note).

According to World Music Central’s release note, VP set the street date for June 30, 2009; per Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart archive, the set peaked at No. 2; Apple/Spotify listings confirm the 18-track program now streaming; and the VP store page documents the bundled bonus DVD.

November, 19th 2025