Although opinions tend to differ quite greatly on the topic, I myself am someone who feels than a Reggae artist’s career, in some shape or another, should ultimately lead him/her to an album. Not just because people like me like to write about them, but, as someone who used to live for a decade or so in an area where the music was all but completely unavailable (a place called Detroit in the States), I can attest to the fact than an album GREATLY helps promote an artist to the international world and even sometimes locally. While Caribbean people are notorious for not purchasing albums, if you are someone who can impress the scene locally with an album and then present it to the international world, the likelihood that your album will impress them as well is all but guaranteed. Thus, I find it rather strange that SO MANY of our artists emerging in a certain time frame have a distinction of either not having any album to their credit or just having one or two, despite registering careers well more than a decade old. this is the case particularly in the Dancehall where albums over the past five years or so seem to be either reserved for the TRULY top notch artists, the odd and unusual one-offs from labels we’ll probably never hear from again or, of course, the mighty popular and ever-present Japanese market these days. So we have so many (some of them) talented Dancehall DJ’s and singers who have yet to be FORMALLY introduced to foreign ears and attentions. Artists like Roundhead (who apparently had a deal with VP Records for quite awhile which never produced anything), (the not so talented) Danny English, Angel Doolas and Gringo (aka Don Mafia) have yet to have album releases (at least not to knowledge) despite the fact that most of them are either already or pretty much so, household names on the local Dancehall scene, have been for quite awhile and rather frequently at one point or another appeared on many of the big Dancehall and Reggae compilations. I could even go further with names like Predator (thankfully), Kid Kurrupt (two victims of the apparent indecisiveness of Greensleesves Records), EVERY other member of the once famed Dutty Cup Crew which birthed Sean Paul (of which Kurrupt is a member also), Zumjay, Desperado, Mr. Peppa, Calico and the list goes on and on of artists who came around even later who didn’t actually make it to the level of an album release. Of course some are more surprising than others but you would have simply thought that by the sheer number of albums once being released (and the list of those who HAVE had albums and aren’t at the top level is arguably LESS impressive than those who haven’t in terms of quality and skill) for the Dancehall. Is it a matter of overlooking them or simply them not being so fortunate as their peers? Who knows?
What we do know is that here and there we seem to STILL, fortunately be dealing with many such artists, some of whom, even today are pursuing avenues to get their DEBUT albums out to the masses. Just last year we saw the WICKEDLY CREATIVE Madd Anju release his debut album, Madd Bwoy Anju which was ultimately pretty well received. Likewise, back in 2007 we saw longtime Dancehall DJ/producer veteran Delly Ranx go foreign with his Japanese released debut album, Break Free. This allows those two artists to join the likes of Silver Cat, Frisco Kid and a few others in that same pack in terms of years who have released but a single album (and Delly is already at work on his follow-up to Break Free). But, hey, it’s a start. Well, now the wheels of progression are allowing yet another veteran Dancehall artist the opportunity to make his own well overdue debut on an album owning his and his name alone, Harry Toddler. Once belonging to a WELL regarded pack of artists owing their presence to Bounty Killer by the name of the Scare Dem Crew, Harry Toddler is a name which has been around from approximately 1992 or so as an up and coming DJ to look forward to. Having entered the once might Scare Dem alongside a virtually revolving door of members with the core being himself, loud voiced singer Nitty Kutchie (who has at least one solo album himself), the world’s most agitated old looking young man Boom Dandimite and, of course, the incomparable Elephant Man. The group had an album of their own, the now cult-classic like Scared From The Crypt way back in 1999. Since then, having gone their own ways as solo artists, although rather sparingly (and CAREFULLY) coming back together through the years, none of the members outside of Elephant Man have managed to have much success outside of the occasional hit. Ele having become the Dancehall STAR many would have predicted from the very ODD Seaview Gardens native. Now, after having watched Nitty Kutchie release his album, Jah Deliver me, back in 2005, Harry Toddler brings forth his own debut, Info for the fine people at Down Sound Records who have a bit of history with Toddler and Scare Dem likewise (and you Boom Dandimite fans out there, all 17 of you, have to continue to wait unfortunately). Harry Toddler didn’t just all of a sudden reach out with an album having spent the years since the basic fall of Scare Dem sitting around his house, instead, Info comes as a result of a basically ‘cashing in’ type of strategy (something several of these artists who haven’t had albums have failed to do) by Toddler and Down Sound as he has managed to perform a career rebirth of nearly EPIC proportions over the past year or so. He even managed, at this relatively advanced stage of his career to score on the local charts as well and do so multiple times. All of that has gone into making Info a pretty well anticipated project in Dancehall circles amongst the hardest of hardcore Dancehall heads. I myself have never really been too keen on Harry Toddler, but I have even found this release a bit difficult to ignore and obviously I picked it up. Info certainly isn’t the best Dancehall album you’ll ever hear and nor is Harry Toddler the most talented DJ you’ll ever hear but it definitely has more than just it’s fair share of its moments.
In terms of style Harry Toddler is most frequently compared to (DUH) Elephant Man and while I do hear a bit of style similar to a more laid back and old school version of the Energy God, another artist I hear quite a bit of in Toddler is Assassin. He lacks the overall talent and skill (and APPEAL) of both, but that is the direction he comes from with, as I said, a bit old school ’flare’ to him as well. Getting things started on his debut album, Info, which should have been released a decade a go is one of the two big tunes which have marked Harry Toddler’s return (can I call it a return if he’s better than he ever was?) to prominence, More Money from Down Sound. Grudge him if you must but More Money is BIG. I won’t even say that it’s one of my favourite Harry Toddler tunes and maybe not even on this album but you have to recognize the wordplay on the tune which is undoubtedly the driving force behind its successes. Big opening. Next up is definitely one of my favourites from Info and Toddler, the LARGE Don’t Run In, Toddler’s cut of the MIGHTY Gear Box Riddim from Truck Back Productions from 2007. Don’t Run In is nearly special and you can still see what I mean by he has an old school flare to him as it isn’t anything along the lines of what Erup did with the riddim with his crazy (but WICKEDLY effective) style on his hit Click Mi Finger or even what Beenie Man or T.O.K ended up doing with the riddim. The tune is just straight forward Dancehall djaying and in my opinion is the best tune you’ll find on Info altogether. Toddler continues to make me look bad for still calling him average on Nuh Man To Mi Ears which closes the opening to info. This tune is a very CLEVER tune announcing exactly where Toddler’s allegiances and interests lie and in whom. It’s kind of oddly vibed for what it is but its high powered nature, thankfully, doesn’t take away from it’s appeal. All in all you couldn’t have hoped for better to start Info.
Info is pretty much ‘littered’ with popular tunes or potentially popular tunes released by Toddler recently. Besides the two openers (two number one tunes) are songs like the WICKED Lue which is an, at times hilarious, play on words. To say it plain and simple: I didn’t know Harry Toddler could do such things with a tune and he’s showing on tunes like Lue a skill level previously void of. . . him. Dresser Bag is another one. While not ascending to the heights of it’s predecessor (Lue), it still represents quite well and does so across Scatta’s SCATHING relick of his own hit riddim, the Martial Arts, with the Self Defense. The adorably big mouthed and voiced Pamputtae checks in on a tune I really don’t even like, Rich Gal, but it’s ultimately worth hearing as ANYTHING the purposefully WELL overstated Pamputtae reaches is at the very least, noteworthy and perhaps Toddler can return the favour later in ‘09 or in 2010 when Pamputtae gives us her own debut album. Another tune I’m very familiar with before going into Info is Nuh Tearing which is easily one of the best here. The tune HILARIOUSLY makes fun of the beggars of the world (and those more local) and does so across Jam 2’s EXCELLENT and old school tinged Record Shop riddim which almost perfectly compliments Toddler. Speaking of excellent riddims, on the following tune, Pon Wi, another clever shot, although of a very stereotypical nature at times, is downright BLESSED by being accompanied by Ward 21’s Dutty Water riddim. And, were that not enough, Toddler’s go at TJ’s MASSIVE Unfinished Business riddim, Hypocrite (aka Real Friends), is also included and features some SERIOUSLY high level djaying, particularly on the tune’s second verse. Besides Pamputtae, Toddler also links more than a couple old friends to join in on Info. The first to make an appearance is Ele himself who joins his old spar on the tune acknowledging those who are no longer with us, Memories. I’ve heard quite a bit of talk regarding the song and as much as I kind of even cringe typing it: I just don’t like it. I don’t like the kind of overpowering direction it goes in and typically we expect something quite a bit more solemn for such a tune and certainly not something a beat or two from being dance floor worthy which is exactly what the electric vibes of Memories prove to be. The rest of the group files in after Ele who returns as well on the BIG Scare Dem Alliance which is a tune between just that - Scare Dem Crew & The Alliance. Amongst those making appearances throughout are Toddler himself, Ele, Mavado throughout, Busy Signal, Nitty Kutchie and, of course Bounty himself amongst others. To my ears, the man of the hour, Bounty, with his two crews, steals the show although both Mavado and later Busy Signal can lay claim to that honour as well (the two have a brief part later in the tune). BIG tune which was quite popular also and appears first and only to my knowledge on Toddler’s album although you can expect it to return should Bounty’s album see the light of day in 2009 (and it should). Still, perhaps an even stronger and definitely more unexpected combination comes in next as Toddler exclaims his newly minted ‘Blond Ras’ moniker more than just a phrase on the tune Vegetarian on which he is joined WONDERFULLY by Anthony B over a BIG one-drop (which I’m sure I know from somewhere) on what proves to be one of Info’s lesser looked at highlights and best tunes at the same time. And speaking of best tunes, Harry Toddler takes his shot at Down Sound’s acoustic vibed Prophet riddim with his tune Pray Fi Dem. I have a hard time with this song because, in and of itself, it’s a pretty nice song but given so much of the vanity material before it and the violent Scare Dem Alliance, it’s kind of hard to reason it’s presence, however, as I said, big tune still (and I’ll say the same of an earlier tune for the women, Super Woman). And heading down the stretch he builds on that vibes directly with the conscious Nuh More Killing, one for the old school heads as it comes over a lick of the class Gunman riddim. Nuh More Killing sets the stage for the closer, Safe Travel, which addresses the crazy auto accidents in Jamaica and drunk and generally careless driving. This tune received (and deservedly so) a great deal of attention because of many ATROCIOUS incidents on the island. I don’t even judge a song like this for it’s audible APPEAL but more for its NECESSITY and I can actually stand firm in saying that Safe Travel has HELPED and such a song’s presence helps any album on which it appears and closes said album on a wonderfully high note.
Overall, I’m almost stuck with this one because I expected SO MUCH to not like it and just kind of have a generally lackadaisical feel about it but that’s not the case. In 2009 so far Mad Cobra has dropped what is the UNDISPUTED number one Dancehall albums of the year and it was that way before Info and after Info, it’s still that way, however, Harry Toddler does A LOT better than many, myself included my have figured. I can relatively recommend his Info album to a kind of a broad audience of ‘modern fans of Dancehall’ but I have to clarify it a bit: Info is ONLY for those fans. If you’re a new fan, you probably won’t enjoy it very much at all because Harry Toddler’s style, even when he tries to change it, is so inherently Dancehall vibed. However, if you are that crazy and hardcore Dancehall head, you won’t LOVE Info, but I can all but guarantee if you’re sitting there saying how much you’re tired of hearing Harry Toddler’s name and how he is an average DJ at best (like I was) then much like he, himself, did on the local Dancehall scene in 2008, Harry Toddler’s album will creep up on you and you’ll probably like what you get.
Rated 3.5/5 stars
Down Sound Records/Zojak World Wide
2009
