The 10 Best Reggae Artists Without Albums

Unsurprisingly, as there are less people to 'serve' with a 'regional' form of music, in Reggae, the idea or main goal is not always to actually release an album. Most artists will release virtually random single after virtually random single, no matter how high on the food-chain they may be, in hopes of gaining that one which will ultimately make itself a hit, with only a handful or so of artists building song after song specifically for an album. However, I happen to LOVE albums and I love the promotion it offers for artists worldwide if for nothing else, helping the music get on shelves in front of eyes who previously would not have come on a blog like this. But acquiring such a status and such a physical project is often quite difficult and the merging of VP Records and Greensleeves Records have made things even more complicated. Thus, I submit for your approval, a few names who HOPEFULLY shall be arriving at a store near you soon. The Top 10 Reggae Artists Without Albums.

{note 1: Solo studio/label compiled albums ONLY. An artist having an album as part of a group, a live album or a mixtape (no matter how impressive and official looking it may be, still qualify for this list}

{note 2: I specifically focused on active artists and those who I don't know of having projects scheduled already (sorry Mischu Laikah and Jah Nyne)}

{note 3: Artists are ranked according to overall talent, marketability and how GOOD I think an album from them would be}

{note 4: The prospects scale is 1-5 with 5 being an album is all but guaranteed and 1 being absolutely no way in hell you'll ever see one}

{note 5: No Soca (sorry Faye-Ann & Skinny)}

#10. Timberlee

In about year or so, provided that she doesn’t have an album at that point (and she might), Timberlee will AT LEAST find herself in the top half of this list as hers is specifically an exercise in development. She shares that with quite a few names on this list but in Timberlee’s case in specific (and actually think she actually knows it) she’s come quite a long way in her time and the attraction will be, on her album, to see if she’s risen to the point where, as a Dancehall artist, she can keep the attentions of her listener with enough DIFFERENT MATERIAL, which is often more difficult than it may seem in the genre.

Prospects (of having an album)? 4/5 - Pretty solid here. Timberlee rolls with the boys of Ward 21 quite consistently and in doing so makes herself pretty available to such occurrences. You might have to give up a pretty penny to get it (because it might be Japanese) but you should probably expect a debut album no later than 2011. But, she does have an edge to her DEFINITELY, so expect the unexpected in any case.

#9. Demarco

The man of many voices. Demarco can do pretty much anything in the music, even produce and the results, thus far, in my opinion, have been kind of unusual. With his propensity being to HEAVY DJ at times and HEAVY sing, autotune sounding style, you just don’t know exactly what to expect on his releases. Thus far, however, what we’ve gotten has been HITS as the Kingston native has been one of the most successful young artists on the local scene as is slowly seeing his profile raise internationally also.

Prospects? 3/5 - In my opinion, Demarco would have had VP Records written all over him, with his way of broadly categorizing himself, I think he would have been write up their alley. HOWEVER, a dissolution of the deal with former manager, famed producer Shane Brown of Juke Boxx (who himself has a VP deal as does his most popular artist, Dancehall ace Busy Signal) means that isn’t likely, at least not anytime soon. You’d have to think he will have a release at some point but it may not be anytime soon.

#8. D’Angel

A pretty face never hurt anyone. The one thing I may not have taken into COMPLETE perspective in making this list is MARKETABILITY and this artist, D’Angel, has about as much of that as almost the entire list put together. Be it the constant controversy surrounding her name, her extremely generous nature or her. . . Yeah look at her, slapping her name on an album cover will have people picking it up and walking to the counter to buy it wondering if her name is ‘Da Angel’ or ‘danjel’ because they don’t know a thing about her. Oh yeah. She has HITS and SKILLS too, which are continuously getting better.

Prospects? 5/5 - It may not be VP Records (but it might) but even before anyone knew who she was as an artist, D’Angel was talking about releasing a “project” as was Beenie Man. An album is probably already in the works for her. Hopefully one with lots of pictures.

#7. Prestige

WHO??? A former regular of Kemar McGregor’s No Doubt Records, Trelawny native Prestige makes a downright ENCHANTING brand of modern Roots Reggae music, but the attraction, at least for me, is his consistency. You CONSISTENTLY make BRILLIANT music in the presence of the greatest Roots producer in the world and then, upon leaving his presence on a consistent basis, you KEEP doing it? Winner!

Prospects? 3/5 - From a technical aspect, unfortunately I might have to say that Prestige’s prospects of releasing an album in his career are perhaps the most unlikely of anyone on this list. His popularity, at least thus far, hasn’t been sky high (although right now he’s enjoying an elevated status) and definitely internationally he hasn’t been very popular either. He is the type of artist who I feel would be more appreciated in Europe, however, and regardless of where his travels take him, I wouldn’t bee too surprised to see a European label call his name one day for a project.

#6. Lady Passion

A couple of years ago, Lady Passion dropped a rather OBESE self titled EP which was nine tracks deep (including one interlude) and was probably more like a demo than an official EP (in terms of what it contained, it was an actual EP to my knowledge) but the thing (whatever it was) was DAMN impressive. The St. Croix native has been one of my favourite young artists for quite awhile now (yet, she’s still a “young artist”, she‘s actually 30) and I’ve actually been surprised that she hasn’t advanced in her career further than she has, because the talent is definitely there.

Prospects? 4/5 - Lady Passion, like the #4 artist on this list, is interesting because REALLY, I wouldn’t be surprised if she never has an album. I wouldn’t be surprised AT ALL. However, with the company she keeps (she apparently tours quite frequently with Messenjah Selah and Tuff Lion) and with talented VI artists seemingly having very little difficulty in getting projects out there (if Ickarus can have an album then so can Lady Passion, dammit!), you just have to think that eventually, it will be her turn.

#5. Bugle

Interestingly enough this entrant on the list is probably one of the (if not THE) most proven hitmaker on it as well. To my ears, the extreme level of attraction in Bugle, as an artist, is due to his equally extreme uniqueness. Bugle’s music tends to come with quite a bit of. . . Bugle! He’s not the most colourful artist you’ll find here (he may in fact be the least actually) but what he does is introduce a level of UTTER DESPAIR into his music, lyrically (which is his strength) and also vibes-wise. Bugle taps into emotions perhaps previously untapped by ANY artist in the history of Dancehall to date and we love him for it, don’t we.

Prospects? 5/5 - Besides his level of popularity, Bugle is also backed by one of the strongest young imprints in the game in Daseca. I’d be pretty shocked if by the end of 2010 or so Bugle hadn’t made his album debut and done so with BEAUTIFUL results.

#4. Suga Moss

Who in the hell is Suga Moss? Alongside Prestige, he would definitely rank as the two least known names on the list but, as you can see based on his ranking here, definitely he has shown himself to be one of the most talented. The Gwada native has shown himself to be one of the most INTELLIGENT artists on the scene today and, despite not having that album, also one of the most consistent. As a very vocal and visual part of the famed and STRONG Black Unite camp of French, Afro-French, Afrikan and French West Indian Reggae artists, he CLEARLY is one of the most talented of the already well talented lot.

Prospects? 3.5/5 - Also a part of that Black Unite camp is its most noticeable member, Afrikan Reggae star, Lyricson who is a very good friend of Suga Moss’. Moss has also voiced alongside Tiwony and Straika as well. All of them have albums. Will Suga Moss? PRO. . . BAB. . . LY.

#3. I-Octane

You could well make the case for I-Octane being number one on this list (of the two artists I rank over him, one of them is SLIGHTLY less skilled with a helluva lot more salability and appeal at this point and the other is just as skilled with just a bit more marketability in my opinion) and, based on face value alone I would assume that his would be the best album you could get from anyone on this list RIGHT NOW. I-Octane is a work of art! His style is so refreshing and the good part is that it only figures to get MUCH better at some point. An album from I-Octane??? I can’t wait.

Prospect? 4/5 - It would have been so nice had Tad’s, when they signed up his good friend Teflon, for his debut album Motherless Child signed Teflon up for his debut also as I genuinely feel that not only is Octane potentially more skilled than Teflon (and I think Teflon would agree with me on that), that he’s more skilled than he is RIGHT NOW. That being said, when VP Records, foaming at the mouth out of happiness due to their successes of their most recent young Roots signees, Queen Ifrica, Duane Stephenson, Etana and, of course, Tarrus Riley, reach back into the ‘bag’ for another round, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them draw for I-Octane.

#2. Spice

We should have known a few years back when she was (lyrically) kicking the hell out of Elephant Man on nearly each and every stage (and studio) she took to, that Spice definitely had some SUBSTANCE behind all of her flare. Since then, she has seen a astronomical rise in terms of popularity linking with any and everyone and, besides that, her skills have also improved. You’ll also be inclined to forget that she has the attentions of the legendary Dave Kelly as well and, albeit on a far too infrequent scale, about twice a year she’ll be afforded some of the best produced riddims in the game from him. . . On top of all the other madness she brings of course.

Prospects? 5/5 - Spice, your phone is ringing. Its VP or Japan, they want to talk you about doing something next year.

#1. Bramma (De Bomba)

Pretty much anyone who has been reading me with any type of regularity has heard the name Bramma before as I mention it almost any chance I get. Why? Because its been quite awhile from last I’ve heard a Dancehall artist who has impressed me SO much. Bramma’s skills, particularly at this young stage in his career, are OFF THE CHARTS, he doesn’t follow in the line of names like Vybz Kartel, Aidonia and Busy Signal where they develop a style virtually based on how many words they can loop together and how fast they can do it (which is DEFINITELY impressive, don’t get me wrong), instead, in my opinion, Bramma comes in the mold of someone like Assassin and dating back to Spragga Benz and even Beenie Man to a degree, where the overall musical feel denotes an individual who is simply playing at a higher level than most of his peers.

Prospects? 4.5/5 - Having linked with Stephen McGregor and Big Ship, who release albums quite frequently (kind of quietly), its almost a sure thing and I wouldn’t even be surprised if it happened before the end of 2009. After SO MANY mixtapes from the youth, the wait is now on and it shouldn’t be long for the first of many HUGE albums to come in his wonderful career.