Need help with reggae tracks please

[sashadjuric]

Hello forum,

I have a track question I need help with. I am currently making a mixtape for myself and friends. I’m looking for a specific vibe to the mixtape (but more on that later).
I have made the intro and now am up to placing the songs in sequence. I have gone through 3 different start versions, but I’m not happy with the flow and vibe.
The tracklists I’ve had was:

1[SUP]st[/SUP] edit:
1. Intro
2. Morgan Heritage – The return (chopped up sections not whole song)
3. Konshens – The realest song (blended in with backbeat of MH TR)

2[SUP]nd[/SUP] edit:
1. Intro
2. Alborosie & Ky Mani – Natural Mystic (chopped up sections not whole song)
3. Steel Pulse – Roller Skates (blended in with backbeat of AK NM)

3[SUP]rd[/SUP] edit:
1. Intro
2. Carlton Livingston – Come one come all (chopped up sections not whole song)
3. Cocoa Tea – Sunset in Negril (blended in with backbeat of CL COCA)

The vibe of the mixtape (which is probably why I’m having a hard time finding suitable song matches) is pretty specific. If possible, I want to make a mixtape (and please excuse the abstract descriptions) to have the following vibe:
* Good to play at BBQs, etc
* Something to dance to and possibly have the same dance vibe as a club for the over 30s (not moving into dancehall etc, more great production reggae)
* Good energy (not too political or weed orientated, I will do these mixtapes later)
*”Big tune” tracks and high production songs (not straight B sides, unless the vocals were re dubbed eg. Alborosie’s Rastafari Anthem over Collie Buddz’s Come around instrumental).
* A “head nodding” mixtape
*Be about the same kind of themes:
Big up Africa, Jamaica and the islands eg: Sunset in Negril, Jhikoman & Peetah Morgan Afrika Arise
Love of reggae music eg: Roller skates, Reggae Tempo by Determine and Capital D, Rasta got soul Fantan Mojah
Good vibes: Feelin Irie by Jah9, Rastafari Way by Dre Island

Basically if these following songs can show the general direction I’m looking towards:
Mr Vegas – Reggae Live
Morgan Heritage – Strictly Roots
Stephen and Damian Marley – Jah Army
Alborosie – Rastafari Anthem
Steel Pulse – Your House
Steel Pulse – Roller Skates
Blend Mishkin & Roots Evolution Ft. Exco Levi - Settle Down
Cali P – Guiding Shield
Cocoa Tea – Sunset in Negril
Dre Island – Rastafari Way
Fantan Mojah – Rasta Got Soul
Gentlemen – Love Chant
Jhikoman & Peetah Morgan Afrika Arise
Alborosie – Kingston Town
Koro Fyah – Eyes Red
LMS – Rastafari Mi Salute
Morgan Heritage – The Return
Protoje feat Chronixx – Who Knows
Tarrus Riley feat Captain Sinbad and Bel – World Wide Rebel
Damian Marley – We’re Gonna make It
Ziggi – When The Youths Cry
Protoje - Kingston Be Wise

As you can see, the BPMs and vibes are close (for a large chunk of the list) but not really flowing. The mixtape will be80mins (just like my others) and will start at the lower bpms and progress to the faster tracks. I’m blending and beat/key matching these to progress from head nodding/danceable to the faster dancing reggae tracks (Steel Pulse – Your House). Obviously from trails and testing, it’s hard to speed up reggae without it sounding different, so the bulk of the tempos will have to be within 10bpms of each other (not that I’m expecting anyone to bpm tracks, I will do that, just to give you an idea).
The songs will all be chopped up and not just played in its entirety. Every track will be about 2 mins (Intro+1xverse+hook+outtro mixed into next song), so for an 80min tape, I’ll need at least 40-50 raw tracks to work with. It would be awesome if I could have 100-200 similar sounding songs to the list so I have a bigger canvas to work with.

I appreciate any help you guys could give me. I really want this mixtape to be of a higher production than my previous mixtapes, and I guess I really dove in to the deep end since Reggae isn’t my specialty genre (was re-introduced to Reggae a few years ago by a friend showing me a Rodigan Clash). Most of my Reggae knowledge comes from late 80’s, early-mid 90s Reggae (Jimmy Cliff, Maxi Preist, the Marley’s of course etc).

Thank you in advance...

PS:Blend Mishkin & Roots Evolution Ft. Exco Levi - Settle Down is the anchor vibe of the mixtape. I've got this tune in my head 24/7, so this kind of vibe.