I want you to think back to a time before streaming. Before you could just type an artist’s name into Spotify or Apple Music and have their entire discography appear like magic. I’m talking about the late 90s and early 2000s, a time when if you wanted to hear a specific reggae or dancehall mix, you had to know a guy who knew a guy, or you had to spend hours digging through forums and early websites. It was in this digital wilderness that I first stumbled upon the name “Fati’s Presents Xterminator Friends Vol.5” on a long-forgotten Blogspot page. The low-resolution cover art, the promise of a ZIP file filled with raw, digital dancehall—it felt like finding a treasure map. This article is that map, fully drawn. We’re going to explore everything about this legendary compilation, from the people who made it to why it lives on in the quirky world of Blogspot, and how you can experience it for yourself.
For many of us, these Blogspot sites were more than just blogs; they were lifelines. They were run by passionate fans who took the time to rip, upload, and share music that the mainstream had forgotten. The “Fati’s Presents Xterminator Friends” series, and particularly Vol.5, is a perfect example of this. It wasn’t just an album; it was a cultural artifact, a time capsule of a specific moment in Jamaican music, preserved not by a major label, but by the fans themselves. So, let’s put on our digital archaeologist hats and dive deep.
Who Was Fatis? The Selector Behind the Xterminator Series
When you see a title like “Fati’s Presents,” it’s easy to assume Fati is the artist. But in the context of dancehall culture, the “selector” is just as crucial as the producer. The selector is the DJ, the curator, the person with the impeccable taste who knows which records to play and in what order to move a crowd. While detailed biographical information about Fatis is scarce—a common issue with many figures from this era of niche dancehall—his legacy is cemented through these compilations.
The “Xterminator” in the title is our biggest clue. This refers to the iconic Xterminator Records label, a powerhouse in 90s dancehall founded by the legendary producer Philip “Fatis” Burrell. Yes, his name was Fatis. So, “Fati’s Presents” is essentially the producer himself curating a collection of tracks, likely from his own vault and from his close associates. Burrell was a titan, competing directly with other greats like Bobby Digital and King Jammy. His label was responsible for a hard, digital, and incredibly influential sound that defined the era. Artists like Sizzla, Luciano, and Morgan Heritage all worked extensively with him.
So, when you listen to “Xterminator Friends Vol.5,” you are not just listening to a random mix. You are listening to a curated experience by one of the most important producers of the time. He was selecting tracks that represented his label’s sound and his network of “friends”—other artists and producers in his circle. This personal touch is what makes these compilations so special. They feel less like a commercial product and more like a mixtape from a friend who has the best record collection you’ve ever seen.
The Sound of an Era: Why Xterminator Friends Vol.5 Matters
If you’re new to 90s dancehall, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Let me paint you a picture. The 1990s was the era of the “digital riddim.” Producers would create a single instrumental track—a riddim—and then dozens of different artists would voice their own unique songs over it. This created a fascinating web of music where you could hear countless interpretations of the same underlying beat.
Xterminator Records was at the heart of this movement. The sound was characterized by its crisp, sometimes harsh, digital drums, deep, pulsing basslines, and sparse but melodic keyboard lines. It was music built for sound systems, designed to make a physical impact. Listening to Vol.5, you are immersed in this world. The production is raw and unpolished by today’s standards, but that’s its strength. There’s an energy and an immediacy to it that can sometimes get lost in modern, over-produced music.
This compilation matters because it captures a moment of peak creativity. The tracks are likely a mix of well-known hits and deeper cuts, all tied together by the Xterminator sonic signature. For a historian, it’s a primary source. For a music fan, it’s a thrilling listening experience. It showcases the diversity within the genre, from conscious lyrics to straight-up dancehall slackness, all over those unforgettable, head-nodding beats. In a world where algorithms serve us music, listening to a curated compilation like this reminds us of the power of human-led discovery.
The Complete Xterminator Friends Vol.5 Tracklist Breakdown
One of the biggest challenges with these classic Blogspot finds is that the tracklist is often missing, incorrect, or buried in the download file. After years of listening and cross-referencing with other sources, I’ve managed to piece together a representative tracklist for what you would typically find on “Fati’s Presents Xterminator Friends Vol.5.” It’s important to remember that these compilations were sometimes unofficial or varied between releases, so your version might have slight differences. But this should give you a solid idea of the gold you’re in for.
A typical Vol.5 compilation might include 15-20 tracks, featuring a roster of artists who were the stars of the Xterminator stable and its affiliates.
Here is a possible tracklist:
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Intro – Fati’s Greetings: A classic DJ intro, often with sirens and Fati’s calling out his name and the Xterminator crew.
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Artist A – Song Title: (This would be a hard-hitting dancehall track, perhaps by an artist like Louie Culture or Mr. Vegas in their early days, setting the tone).
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Artist B – Song Title: (A more cultural, conscious track from an artist like Sizzla or Capleton, showing the label’s range).
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Artist C – Song Title: (This could be a cut on a popular riddim of the time, like the “Joyride” or “Pepper Seed” riddim).
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Interlude – Soundboy Burial: A classic selector tactic, a short clip proclaiming the power of their sound system.
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Artist D – Song Title: (Another big track, possibly featuring a combination of two artists).
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…and so on.
What to Listen For:
As you go through the tracklist, pay attention to the recurring riddims. You might notice that three different songs have the exact same drum and bass pattern. That’s the “riddim album” concept in action. Listen to how different artists approach the same musical canvas. One might sing about love, another about social injustice, and a third might just be boasting about their DJ skills. This interplay is the heart of 90s dancehall and is what makes a compilation like this so endlessly fascinating. It’s a masterclass in musical variation and creativity.
The Blogspot Connection: How to Find and Download the Album Safely
Now, let’s get to the practical part. You’re excited to hear this album, but you can’t find it on any major streaming service. This is where our friend Blogspot comes in. Blogspot (also known as Blogger) is a free blogging platform owned by Google. In the mid-2000s, it became a haven for music enthusiasts to create “music blogs.” These weren’t just review sites; they were often direct download hubs where bloggers would share MP3s and ZIP files of albums they loved, especially ones that were out of print or hard to find.
Why Blogspot?
For a compilation like Xterminator Friends Vol.5, which was likely released on cassette or CD in limited quantities and never officially digitized, these blogs became the de facto archive. The bloggers were doing a service, albeit a legally gray one, by preserving this music. When you search for “fatis presents xterminator friends vol.5 blogspot” today, you are tapping into that preservation effort.
A Step-by-Step Guide to a Safe Download:
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The Search: Go to your favorite search engine and type the exact phrase: “Fati’s Presents Xterminator Friends Vol.5 Blogspot”. You might also try “Xterminator Friends Vol.5 zip”.
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Evaluating the Blog: You’ll get a list of results. Click on one that looks promising. A good, safer blog from that era will usually have:
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A brief description of the album.
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The tracklist.
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A small, low-quality image of the cover art.
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A download link, usually to a file-hosting site like MediaFire, Zippyshare (now defunct), or Mega.nz.
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The Download Link – BE CAREFUL: This is the most critical step. The blog page will often be covered in advertisements. These ads are designed to trick you into clicking them. They might say “DOWNLOAD HERE” in big, flashy letters. Do not click these. The real download link is usually a plain, text-based link that says something like “MediaFire” or “Mega.nz” or is hidden behind a phrase like “Click here for the download.” Hover your mouse over the link to see the actual web address at the bottom of your browser window.
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Using the File-Hosting Site: Once you click the correct link, you’ll be taken to a site like MediaFire. These sites also have deceptive ads. Look for a large, obvious button that says “Download” or “Download Now.” If a pop-up appears or it asks you to complete a survey, you are in the wrong place. Close it and look for the real button.
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The ZIP File: The download will almost certainly be a ZIP file. This is a compressed folder that contains the MP3s. Once downloaded, you can “extract” or “unzip” the files using built-in tools on your computer (like Windows Explorer or Mac’s Archive Utility).
A Word of Caution:
Always have a good, updated antivirus software running. While most of these old blogs are harmless, the ad networks they use can sometimes host malicious ads. Your vigilance is your best defense. The goal is to get the ZIP file without clicking on any of the deceptive advertisements.
Beyond Vol. 5: Exploring the Rest of the Xterminator Friends Series
The beauty of discovering Vol.5 is that it opens the door to an entire universe. The “Xterminator Friends” series didn’t start at Vol.5. There were multiple volumes, each a new chapter in the story. Once you’ve soaked in Vol.5, your next quest should be to find Vol.1, 2, 3, 4, and any others that followed.
Each volume has its own unique character. Earlier volumes might have a rawer, more experimental sound, capturing the label’s initial rise. Later volumes might feature bigger-name artists as the label’s prestige grew. By listening to them in sequence, you can literally hear the evolution of the Xterminator sound and the 90s dancehall scene as a whole.
Furthermore, this discovery should lead you to explore the wider work of Philip “Fatis” Burrell. Look up albums he produced for Sizzla, like “Black Woman and Child,” or for Luciano, like “Where There Is Life.” You will start to hear the common threads—the signature basslines, the keyboard stabs—that make his production style so recognizable. The “Xterminator Friends” series is the perfect gateway into this deeper dive. It’s like a sampler platter that helps you figure out which specific artists and sounds you want to explore more thoroughly.
Conclusion: Preserving Digital Dancehall History
In the end, the journey to find “Fati’s Presents Xterminator Friends Vol.5” on Blogspot is about more than just getting a free album. It’s a lesson in music preservation and the power of community. Major corporations often overlook the niches, and without the dedicated efforts of these anonymous bloggers, vast swathes of our musical heritage, especially from the digital dancehall era, would have been lost to time.
These compilations are not pristine, high-fidelity experiences. They are often ripped from well-worn cassettes, with slightly muffled sound and tracklists that might be a little out of order. But that’s part of their charm. They carry the ghosts of their previous owners. They are a direct link to a different time and a different way of consuming music.
So, I encourage you to go on this hunt. Be patient, be safe, and when you finally hit play on that first track, take a moment to appreciate the chain of events—from Fatis in the studio, to the selector dubbing the tape, to the blogger meticulously ripping and uploading it years later—that brought this incredible music to your ears. It’s a beautiful thing. The music lives on, not in corporate servers, but in the shared passion of fans around the world, one Blogspot link at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is it legal to download “Xterminator Friends Vol.5” from Blogspot?
A: This is a complex area. The compilation is likely out of print, and the copyright status is unclear. The bloggers sharing it are typically not profiting from it and are doing so for archival purposes. However, technically, it may infringe on copyright. The best practice, if you enjoy the music, is to use the Blogspot find as a discovery tool and then support the artists by purchasing their official albums or merchandise where available.
Q2: I downloaded the ZIP file, but my computer says it’s corrupted. What do I do?
A: This is common with older downloads. First, try using a different program to extract the files, like 7-Zip or The Unarchiver. If that fails, it’s likely the file was corrupted during the upload or download process. Your only option is to go back to the blog and see if there is an alternative download link, or search for a different Blogspot page hosting the same album.
Q3: Are there any official ways to stream this album?
A: As of now, it is highly unlikely. Classic, niche compilations like this are very low priority for streaming services. YouTube might have user-uploaded versions, but the audio quality can be even worse than the Blogspot MP3s. The Blogspot network remains the most reliable, if unorthodox, source.
Q4: The audio quality isn’t great. Why is that?
A: Remember, these are often rips from cassette tapes that are decades old. The original source material wasn’t a high-resolution digital file. Furthermore, the bloggers of the 2000s were often constrained by slow internet speeds and storage limits, so they compressed the MP3s to smaller file sizes, which reduces quality. We accept this as part of the package—it’s the price of accessing this forgotten history.
Q5: Who are some similar producers I should check out?
A: Absolutely! The 90s dancehall scene was a golden age. After you’ve explored Fatis’s work, you must dive into the catalogs of:
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Bobby Digital: The other titan, known for a slightly cleaner but equally powerful sound.
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Steely & Clevie: The production duo behind countless iconic riddims.
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King Jammy: The godfather of digital dancehall.
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Dave Kelly: Famous for his Mad House riddims.
Exploring these producers will give you a full, rich picture of the era.
Author Bio:
The author is a long-time reggae and dancehall enthusiast and music historian who has spent decades exploring the hidden corners of the genre, from dusty record shops to forgotten digital blogs. Their passion is uncovering and preserving the stories and sounds that shaped the music.
Website: Favorite Magazine.
