VI Reggae's #1 Draft Pick: A Review of Serious Matters by Revalation

It was just a few years back when I first caught wind of an artist by the name of Pressure coming out of the Virgin Islands Reggae scene that was supposed to be an updated, more ‘Jamaican normative’ take on the scene of the region dominated and flooded by the STRANGE sounds of Midnite and Bambu Station. Before then, my primary experience with Reggae music was through the aforementioned Midnite and Vaughn Benjamin isn’t exactly someone whose music I would give to ANYONE as a fair and accurate introduction and representation to/of ANYTHING besides. . . Vaughn Benjamin’s music. If I recall correctly as well, I had just gotten into Batch also and the piece I was focusing on at the time would have been the Jah Guidance album and, again, I wouldn’t exactly use the Jah Guidance album “as a fair and accurate introduction and representation to/of ANYTHING besides. . .” the Jah Guidance album (although its growing on me still to this very day). Pressure was like Sizzla, Capleton and Anthony B. He was FAMILIAR and well talented and just a few years later you see the fulfillment of that talent he showed which manifested itself on his debut album, The Pressure Is On (remember that). A year or so after that, WONDERFULLY I came across a next artist by the name of NiyoRah. Niyo was from out of the same St. Thomas camp as Pressure, the now famed Star Lion Family, and showed yet another side of the kind of chanting singjay (to this day I maintain that he sounds A LOT like Jamaican chanter Warrior King when he chants, but you can also think of artists like Gentleman (Niyo is a more talented singer) and Turbulence (Niyo is a less talented DJ and probably singer as Turbulence’s voice is WELL underrated in my opinion)) which was, again, very familiar. And while NiyoRah has yet to make the kind of HUGE dent which his good friend Pressure has but he is, in my opinion arguably more talented and maybe has an even larger upside in his potential should he get the welcome opportunity to show it in Jamaica. Those were two of the very first familiar type of sounding artists that I started vibing from out of the Virgin Islands. Since then, we’ve added names like Ras Attitude as a WICKED chanter, the fiery stone voiced Ancient King, baritone voiced Harry Mo and others such as Massiah, Volcano and another member of the Star Lion Family, Ickarus; all making music which sounds like what you’d find in today’s Jamaican Reggae scene. 

Now you can argue as to who is who in that pack and how TRULY talented they really are but you really can’t argue that all of those names, to a degree have had a hand in inspiring an even younger generation (and outside of maybe Batch and MAYBE Vaughn Benjamin, I don’t think I’ve named an artist here yet who has actually reached the age of thirty) of talented artists and now we’re starting to see that effect. Coming from the same EXACT set of circumstances which spawned the named internationally popular and well regarded Pressure Busspipe is Revalation. When I say same exact, I mean EXACT! Young Revalation, like Pressure, was born in St. Thomas and despite the fact that he officially doesn’t come via the Star Lion Family (which I think is only because at the time that group was coming together, Revalation was probably living in Tortola where he has apparently spent quite a bit of time growing and living as well) and developed in the more modern scene in the Virgin Islands and availed himself to many of the same channels as his slightly older friend. The VERY interesting thing comes here: Pressure’s debut album, the aforementioned The Pressure Is On, came via Tsuni Records (which has seemingly disbanded but if they NEVER release another thing EVER again, they will be remembered for that and that alone, whoever ‘they’ were) but t he actual production was done by Studio 340 from out of Florida by wonder-pair Dean Pond and Eno Stafford. Not only that but the same group (I think mainly Pond) was instrumental in the development of VI Reggae star Army’s early career as well (producing his first two albums, Yesterday’s News and Struggler). If that isn’t the mark of some FINE work and credentials then I don’t know what is (and you can add to that the fact that Pressure, now under the wings of Jamaican ACE super producer Don Corleone, STILL works with Studio 340 and the I’ve heard a few very recent singles from the chanter with the label as well). So if history can repeat itself (and it can) then EVERYTHING would tell you to bank on Revalation becoming the next big thing out of the VI Reggae-wise because that same Studio 340 unit (340 being the area code for St. Thomas where Pond is also from I believe) is on board for the debut of Revalation, the very well done Serious Matters. I have to say that I had NEVER even seen Revalation (nor his curiously spelled name) on any of the mixtapes that I routinely get from out of the VI which is astonishing to me as when I really got into the album you can OBVIOUSLY see what is going on with his talent level. I would make the comparison here to when I first heard Turbulence (everyone else as well) and noticed how much he, too having developed in the same Xterminator camp, sounded like Sizzla. Revalation sounds quite a bit like Pressure and just like Turbulence in the case of Sizzla, he too has things which he does better and not as good as Pressure Busspipe. Also like Turbulence, the case here will be to see how Revalation goes about distinguishing himself from Pressure. In this case for Serious Matters which is primarily about introducing Revalation to everyone outside of the Virgin Islands, that doesn’t seem to be the intentions as Pond and Stafford not only don’t steer Revalation from similar pieces as Pressure (although almost naturally Revalation’s style lends itself more comfortably to R&B than Pressure’s does) they even haul in Pressure himself. 

The main difference between Revalation and Pressure to my ears is that Revalation has a fine singing voice which he relies on a bit more than Pressure does (who also has one). The result, as I mentioned can often lead to Revalation’s vibes being more along the R&B style which isn’t necessarily a bad thing at times. Getting things started on his debut album, Serious Matters is an EXCELLENT introduction for the artist and the album alike, Self Esteem. This tune has a spectacular sound to it with just a complex and LUSH one-drop backing it and Revalation offering a message of self confidence for the youths with is, of course, essential. Rocking way to start the album with one of its best altogether. Things don’t exactly dip in terms of vibes with Live U Live although it isn’t as strong as the opener (and is a VERY ‘Pressure sounding’ tune). The thing about this one is that it’s just POWERFUL, it grows on you so strong that I would say that from first hearing it I was almost apathetic to it, but you keep spinning and getting into the lyrics of it and you can’t help but appreciate it because of the very nice backing and the fact that over the duration of Live U Live, Revalation just reveals so many nice topics which is a very nice skill he shows several times on Serious Matters. The tune Joy which completes the opening here didn’t really have to grow on me at all, not calling it one of the best here, because it isn’t, but I’ve appreciated it from the very first time that I heard it. Its very well done and really although there is stronger material here, you really couldn’t have hoped for a bigger opening and introduction to the album. 

 When you just scan down the tracklist for Serious Matters there are very clearly two tunes which stand out because of who Revalation voices alongside and those, of course, were the two tunes I was most looking forward to hearing. The first is the somewhat cleverly titles Real Revolutionary (did you see that? Did you get it?) which is the ‘square off’ between Revalation and Pressure himself. You know what? I think they could have done a better tune with it. Of all the times NOT to switch to a Hip-Hop vibes and drop in on the straight forward one-drop like the opening tunes, this was it! It isn’t a bad tune at all (nor are any on the album) but it should have been better. I will say that I think Revalation’s first verse of the song is the highlight here, but we wanted it bigger! Undoubtedly they’ll give it another shot at some point. Petty Thief doesn’t leave much to be desired when Revalation is joined by NiyoRah on one of the more head-bobbing tunes on the album. It comes in with a bit of aggressiveness and a noticeable EDGE to it (especially from Niyo) which is something I wasn’t expecting from the two gifted vocalists but it’s a real credit as Petty Thief proves to be one of the best efforts on the album. All of that being said, its WONDERFULLY away from sharing the stage with his friends that Revalation’s star shines the brightest of Serious Matters when he dips into the SCATHING Flames On! I have been playing this tune from since I first received the album to anyone who would listen and it is BY FAR the best representation of just how WICKED Revalation can be. Again, it sounds like something Pressure might sing but even in that case, Pressure being far more accomplished at this point, Flames On would be amongst his best as well. The tune is an anti-violence tune at its core and one of the finest of 2008, period. MASSIVE TUNE! The other real big solo tune here which sticks out and I’ve actually heard playing a bit around in the Caribbean is the very inspirational You Are Someone. It doesn’t hurt none at all that the tune has a very sing-along type of quality to it (best chorus on the album probably) of course, but it’s a powerful tune and far from a gimmick and one which you really should check out. Not far behind is Jah Is There which is simply about as SMOOTH a praising tune I think that I’ve heard in awhile. That riddim is SPARKLING! The tune features some of the best lyrics on the album as well (they are generally strong as well) and it also has a bit of a lover’s vibes in it as well. As I said, Revalation has a bit of R&B to his vibes as well and such a vibes make their initial appearance on Serious Matters first on Just Getting Even which, at least to my ears, sounds a bit like Pressure’s MAMMOTH Jah Alone on Corleone’s Cruising Altitude riddim). Also check the similarly vibed Hard To Handle which is an even stronger tune than Just Getting Even (that riddim could have been a straight instrumental added on, it is GORGEOUS!). Evil Doers is another such track but with a stronger message and one which, even existing ‘above the riddim’ is very well presented by Revalation. I’ll also mention the tune Bun Weed which is kind of a corny sounding (on so many levels, title included) Hip-Hop/Techno tune. But to be perfectly honest I found myself (shamefully) singing along at times, especially during the chorus, (watch me! “Bun weed! If you love the herb. I feel higher than the birds!”) on the obligatory herbalist tune. Typically don’t like so much mixing of the styles but as this is the first time Revalation is coming through, its a lot easier to accept it as simply part of his musical makeup. However, thankfully Serious Matters goes out on a very Reggae note in both Live It Up Right and Breath Of Life. Live It Up Right is about as average of a tune which is exists on Serious Matters (including the WHOLLY mediocre and crawling title tune) but Breath Of Life is SERIOUS! Coming through with a piano front over a nyah drum backing (interestingly enough which is being played by none other than Vaughn Benjamin himself!) the tune BEAUTIFULLY presents Revalation with a backing so EASY enough to deliver one of the most powerful vibes on the entire album to close things out and I come away wishing they had drawn for the drum maybe once or twice more. 

 Overall, looking at all of the young talents from all over the Caribbean making a way for themselves in Reggae music, you really have to put Revalation at near the top of the pack. Given the talent that he is already CLEARLY bringing into the game (seriously you need to hear Breath Of Life, I’m spinning it now. RIDICULOUS) on his own and combining with the very capable Studio 340 which has already proven their ability to churn out stars, Revalation is almost a ‘can’t miss’ artist and just as I was a few years back with Pressure, I’m wondering why more people haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon (incidentally, S340 also have a fine female singer name Michelle Gordon from out of Jamaica, who sings backing throughout Serious Matters so definitely keep an eye and an ear out for her in the future as well). I’m seeing Revalation becoming a star definitely, you almost have to. In a few years time, you’ll probably see his name alongside that of Pressure because he will have earned it, becoming a household Reggae name and just as Fabolous and Hip-Hop: Absolutely DESTROYING properly spelling words, FOREVER. Yes, he’s that good. 

Rated 4/5 

Studio 340

2008