Over the course of the past few years, we've seen WOMYN taking their rightful place in all forms of Reggae music, but particularly within the scope of Roots Reggae. It is in this arena, in my opinion, that it is most important because a lot of the times the messages conceived in modern Roots Reggae, BY DEFINITION, are either messages which simply cannot be told without a female representative ("King and _____???) (King and Queen) or are BEST TOLD by female and as the old saying goes anyway, 'empower the woman and empower the world'. So, because you almost certainly, by this point, know and love names like Queen Omega, Etana, Dezarie and Queen Ifrica, I thought I'd introduce (and reintroduce in a few cases) a few very righteous women. The Ladies In Waiting: Up and coming and unknown Roots Reggae artists.
{note: Artists are listed in no particular order}
Malika Madremana [America]
Of course, you know the very first name on this list is one our favourites around here, Empress Malika Madremana. The US based and born of Puerto Rican extract Madremana is a bit of a veteran these days actually, but unless you’ve REALLY been paying attention (or live in the Western US) (most likely California), you probably wouldn’t even know it. While her popularity may be in question, her musical consistency isn’t. working predominately with Blaak Lung of Greensphere Records, Madremana has not only managed to identify her sound, a rather lithe and bouncy brand of modern roots EDUCATION, but she’s also released two albums in the process. In the future, while the schoolteacher figures to broaden her horizons in terms of who she works with, you can probably put a lock on the consistency still being her as it is, essentially, her calling card.
Lady Passion [St. Croix]
From one obvious to a next - Next in is potential Cruzan superstar, the oft-discussed (around here) Lady Passion. Passion is pretty much a veteran at this point and I STILL firmly believe that she has superstar potential written all over her as she simply offers, in my opinion, a figurative musical ‘bridge’ between so many different genres that it’s damn hard to hear her music and not have at least SOME type of reaction. Generally that reaction will be positive and, as evident by her recently released debut album Rain On Me it’s a reaction she’ll probably be able to sustain as following singles here and there (and an EP), on the album she showed herself to be increasingly CONSISTENT also.
Nubian Natty [St. Croix]
Problems! The obvious connection that is often made of Nubian Natty is to Dancehall star Macka Diamond in terms of simply how they sound (although their actual music is entirely different from one another’s) and just like Macka, Nubian Natty is a GRAND agitator. Her music tends to come with am almost ‘uncomfortable’ underlying edge to it. Uncomfortable because it isn’t exactly flowing from the skies (like one of the other artists on this list), but she isn’t shy about hiding the fact of things which piss her off! Want an example? Pick up her debut album, Nah Go Like Me from Groundbreaking Records.
Empress Robertha [Jamaica]
In terms of PURE SKILL, Empress Robertha, in my opinion, may just have one of the greatest claims on this list of having the most, period. The reason why I say this is because she seems to have a base style (which is primarily a very smooth, but vibrant singing/chanting style), but she seems capable of so easily adapting it and crafting it to convey a variety of colours and emotions without changing it, at its core, AT ALL! You listen to her music to any type of extent and you can see it crystal clear and I tend to liken Robertha to a feminine version of someone like Warrior King. She should prove to be at least as successful when given proper spin, which you can do by scooping up her debut album from Kickoff Records, Solid Ground shortly.
Positively Nelsons [St. Croix]
And then there’s the every present Sparkles and Auset, the delightful Positively Nelsons. The sister duo has seemingly been on the scene for an eternity and have kind of garnered an unusually devoted fan base. I know people SERIOUSLY who will proclaim the Nelsons one of the hottest acts on the scene today and apparently, it’s their intention to maintain such a fervent attraction amongst their most faithful as just last year, the dup released their third and fourth albums respectively, Know Where You’re Going and So, Let Dem Talk virtually within minutes of each other (the latter was the stronger of the two to my ears).
Mada Nile [St. Croix]
Meet a woman who, on this list, I’d LEAST like to have pissed off at me, Mada Nile. Originally, part of the Sound V.I.Zion camp (from Batch and alongside Ras Attitude and Ahfya), the fiery Mada Nile has since (apparently) struck out on her own with the release of her most recent work, the fitting titled On My Way on her own imprint. Nile’s style, for me, is very much akin to someone like Perfect’s where she goes from smooth and romantic to downright INSANE and can do so within the same tune and even within the same breath at times. She’s definitely an artist who keeps her listeners on their proverbial toes with her music as failure to REALLY pay attention can be dangerous and downright fucked up. Don’t believe me??? Pick up anyone of her three albums and see for yourself.
[Fire] Pashon [Jamaica]
Out of all the wonderful things Sugar Minott has brought to the world of Reggae music, all the wonderful music, all of the artists he mentored, EVERYTHING: Potentially his greatest gift will go down as the gift of his own daughter, Fire Pashon. Unlike many of the children of famous big time artists, Pashon doesn’t seem to have been bothered at all by the rather lofty expectations heaped upon her by half the source of her blood lines and has been afforded (or afforded herself) the opportunity to GROW and MATURE as an artist. The result is an artist who is very confident in herself and her talents. Her sound is well mature, but not stale and mechanical and, generally, equally very interesting and simply well done. Oh and Pashon, between you and I, you sexy.
Marlene Johnson [Germany]
Between you and I, despite writing a review for her most recent album My Typ O' Smoove and being largely impressed by the artist, I do confess to having some type of inner ‘trepidation’ surrounding this next artist, Marlene Johnson. I don’t know what the hell it is about her, but something about this woman just strikes me as being odd. It CAN’T be anything musical, however, as Marlene Johnson is another artist like Lady Passion where, because of her style (Reggae, with elements of Jazz, R&B and maybe even Hip-Hop), she’s almost impossible to ignore. Combine that with the fact that when she does work, she does so with some of the biggest names in the business and has linked with the likes of Ward 21, Natty King and extensively with the German based Yah Meek. So they all can’t be wrong. . . Or can they??? Hmmm. . .
Empress Cherisse[Trinidad]
You’re dealing with some strange, mystical, mythical and powerful STUFF when you bring up the name of Empress Cherisse. The Trini native has attracted quite a bit of attention in the span of now two albums to her credit (Serenity and Merkaba (which she shares with the group, Anchants), but I don’t know anyone who’s quite sure of her origins. Musically speaking, I once held her in a certain regard of being what she was in terms of incredibly STRAIGHT FORWARD. However, after a couple of years or so (and literally hundreds of spins) the variation which she does have is definitely showing itself and I’ve rather quietly added her to my list of artists ‘to watch’ where she figures to stay for quite awhile (and I dare you to listen to this woman’s BEAUTIFUL music and not feel something something NICE).
{learn more} (or just google her, the woman has like 100 Myspace pages)
Empress Nyingro [St. Lucia/St. Croix]
And lastly on the list is the entry who, I know the least about (even less than Cherisse) and wouldn’t it be so fitting given her situation. I’m PRETTY sure Nyingro is married to the invisible lyrics genius that is Sabbattical Ahdah and just as he does figure to be destined to be the King of the VI Reggae Underground, she too seems destined to be its Queen. Musically, she’s not very far from the Ahdah as she seems to come through with a message and a point to make and come rain or shine, she doesn’t care, she’s going to say what she has to say before the end of her tune. DEFINITELY keep an eye on Nyingro in the future (and I mean keep an EYE on her. The woman is gorgeous!).
FYI - You have incorrectly listed one of the artists for Positively Nelsons. The sisters are Sparkles and Auset not Sprinkles and Auset.
ReplyDeleteThank you much and it has been corrected.
ReplyDelete