Video Drop 11

‘Party Till December’ by Lady Saw [Directed by Jay Will]

Okay so , when we have royalty, of course royalty goes first - Such is the case this week as the reigning Queen of the Dancehall, Lady Saw delivers the video for her first official single from her brand new album, ”My Way”, ‘Party Til December’. The first thing you’ll notice, of course, is the song itself which is, to my opinion, pretty damn strange, but it just so happens that the subsequent video pretty much locks it like a glove. The video is simple enough - It finds Lady Saw relaxing one night playing around online, probably checking Achis Reggae, and her man is set to go out and he’s leaving her because “my girl no like go out” and tells her not to wait up. Of course she has no intentions on doing any such thing because in a little while, after she’s dressed and fully accessorized, a friend (with more ASS than is earthly necessary) picks her up and she and Ms. Hall hit the town. The video is kind of MATURE party, it gets hype, but it doesn’t override the song and it’s very strange tempo. Lady Saw looks good throughout (despite a few bad wig choices) and love the colours and everyone just having a good time - but keeping it COOL, just like the song.

Video Rated: 4/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Nah Let Go’ by Gyptian [Directed by Ras Kassa]

In next is current Reggae and Lover’s Rock poster boy, Gyptian, who comes in with the second official single and video from his current very popular album, ”Hold You”, the pretty obvious choice, ‘Nah Let Go’. The song itself has kind of grown on me, which is saying something because I kind of liked it when I first heard it and definitely this video had a certain feeling of inevitability with it. It didn’t start out too well, with the kind of movie-ish theme, but definitely “directed by Ras Kassa” generally means goodness and the video eventually finds it course and rights itself. What we have here is Gyptian and his special lady playing kind of a Bonnie & Clyde type of them (minus all the shooting and shit, of course) and the two harmlessly rob grocers and who knows what else along their way before shacking up (and getting that woman out of those ridiculous clothes and showing the GOODS before the video goes porn-ish (which was hilarious, I have to admit)) to count their take and to see if each other’s body parts are in proper functioning order. The next morning Gyptian, obviously delirious, leaves the sleeping cutie who is angered and Gyptian attracts big attention on the road again. He ducks out (hiding in his BIG ASS ORANGE CONVERTIBLE) and is only caught that night at a dance attended by the law and, more importantly the sleeping cutie, who wants her fucking car back, but Gyptian hops along anyway and the two make up in the end. The video is STRONG and despite its kind of movie like stylings, I was damn entertained and you will be as well.

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 3.75/5

‘From The Beginning’ by Lyricson [Directed by Talyysman]

It was about a year ago now and probably more, when one of my favourite LEAST active artists, the ridiculously talented Guinea native Lyricson, dropped a few videos (most notably ‘Dream Of’ and ‘Glad You’re Mine’ from the Sugar Riddim), which were presumably in anticipation of his forthcoming album, ”Messages”. Well, we’re at least a year on now and still no album, although apparently it’s set to drop in about a month and a half (early November) and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on it. FOR REAL THIS TIME (I hope), Lyricson now brings forth a next new video for the tune ‘From The Beginning’. First things first - This video is . . . Whatever. It’s just Lyricson kind of standing around, mainly in a field, singing and then his friends (who may or may not be members of the Black Unite crew) and . . . Yeah he’s just singing. There is some very nice scenery as well and the pictures, of course, of His Imperial Majesty are also very well fitting. HOWVER, the big deal here is that this tune is MAMMOTH! This thing is gorgeous! And it really got to the point where I didn’t really care what was going on in the video (and not that much was, anyway) and was just tuning in on the lyrics of the tune:

“King Rastafari ah open every door
The love of Selassie is true and so pure
With Jah Jah by my side I’m so safe and secure
My love for Jah just keep growing more and more”

BIG! I’ve been telling you for years now that Lyricson has very few equals in Reggae in terms of pure talent and this album is going to do a HEAVY damage.

Video Rated: 3.5/5
Video - Song Link: 3.25/5

‘Chrissening’ by Edwin Yearwood [Directed by Get Bizzy Browne]

Still with the occasional ‘stray’ from the Carnival season - Here we have what is definitely the biggest of them all, ‘Chrissening’, which was the big tune from Bajan Soca superstar, Edwin Yearwood in 2010. It’s a big tune, that goes without saying (even though I just said it) and the subsequent video, whatever it ended up being, would definitely have a good opportunity to be a great great time and . . . Well that’s exactly what they ended up doing. Besides the immediate beginning of the tune (which is ridiculous), definitely the highlight for me comes when the leading lady notices a ‘stray’ of her own. Seemingly somewhere in the latter stages of losing his fucking mind, the gentleman hops along the road (head clearly gone) and soon thereafter the madness ensues. The song definitely has that kind of Buffy ‘Anything’ vibe to it and that’s just what happens, everybody wines everything and everybody else. Fences, cars, trunks, cones, gas station pumps (and pampers), flags - Nothing is safe in this damn video! And I love it.

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Like Rain’ by Ishi Dube [Directed by Tim Cash]

Fun video. I think I mentioned this one a little while back (because it’s also currently available on digital download), but I thought that I’d dig a bit into the video (I think the director of it actually emailed us a couple of weeks back). Anyway, friend of the blog’s, Ishi Dube, pushes a new tune, ‘Like Rain’, which is presumably from his new album, but is just a nice vibes on its own. The tune is kind of Hip-Hoppish, but I still like it (so you know its serious now) and the video too, is also pretty much what you might expect from more of a Hip-Hop tune so it matches in that respect. As you might expect here, the emphasis is on the water and the rain and I was even going to remark on the nice colours, before looking back at the sky behind the dancers outside and, even then, you see that they apparently matched it up so well, that they shot it on a rainy day. The dancers, ultimately harmless, even are nice touches just emphasizing the tone of the vibes and I like it. It’s not the best video I’ve ever seen, but it’s just well done and well thought of and definitely looking forward to Ishi Dube’s next project, as artist or producer.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 4.65/5

‘At The Awa Bar’ by Sahra Indio featuring the voice of Ruff Scott [Directed by Skillrchi]

And lastly this week (unless I decide to add something else) is Achis Reggae friend and favourite, Hawaiian based songstress, Sahra Indio, who brings forth her latest video piece, ‘At The Awa Bar’, a tune which features prominently on her latest piece, the ”Marijuana Music” EP, which is currently available digitally right now. The tune itself is very nice and features the respected Ruff Scott accompanying Indio on the vocals (subbed for by Selector O in the video). Okay, apparently the Awa Bar is a bar (or a night at a bar) in Hawaii, where I now want to go. I don’t know if anyone was paid for advertising or if Sahra Indio has stake in this bar, but . . . Yeah, you’re probably going to watch this video and come away with the same thought that I just had - I’d really like to go to this place! Like most of Indio’s vibes, it’s just a really COOL and MELLOW place with the occasional emphasis and strength being felt as well.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5