The Best Reggae Album of 2010: "Long Journey" by Naptali

Naptali - Long Journey [Oneness Records - 2010]

With the final word on 2010 still to be written, what we can most certainly do is to analyze who had a great year, a poor year and who . . . .didn’t do much of anything at all. What I’ve done, or attempted to do, over the past couple of days is to look at those artists who, out of hundreds, if not thousands of possibilities, have managed to distinguish themselves based on the quality of their albums. Well, now we’re going to look at someone who has even managed to set himself apart from even that class of his peers again, in terms of albums, The Great Naptali. Previously an only slightly known name to me, the Clarendon native, much like the creator of my favourite album of 2009, Lion D, seemed to pop up from out of nowhere and when he did, he did so with such a majestic sense within his vibes that it became downright impossible for me to ignore.

When I think of albums which I rank as great, although there’re exceptions, I try to put them into ‘normal’ categories in terms of the overall sound and the riddims and the lyrics and delivery and everything like that. When they score high in most or all of those, I then look for something EXCEPTIONAL which makes it them standout. Naptali himself is a standout, even before you get to the music, but when you are so fortunate as to dive into his vibes, what you hear is such an odd set - Naptali, at his best, makes absolutely NUMBING music. Although it can be quite simple and very straight forward, he makes a type of music where you can play his album from the very beginning and simply lose track of how many songs you’ve heard and not due to lack of attention either. That, amongst many things is what makes him standout and it’s also what makes his debut album, as it has been in my opinion since the day it dropped, March 12, 2010 - The Best Reggae Album of 2010. ”Long Journey”.

The Music

1. ‘Show Dem Love’

While it’d be nice if you could pay a close attention to the opener of the album, ‘Show Dem Love’, I’d overstand if you’re more interested in the RELAXING nature of the tune which prevails here. From the very first sound here (and thus on the entire album), Naptali, with his sing-chanting type of style, just develops this wonderfully serene type of vibes which, for my clearly overactive mind, makes perfect sense when tied into the message of the tune (and the album itself later) - Showing love isn’t hard. It’s easy.

Best Lyric: “Rescue me from my enemies. Oh Jah please save my soul. You put food upon my table, give me faith to take control”

2. ‘What Goes Around’

While not as straight laced as the opener, the second tune on ”Long Journey”, ‘What Goes Around’, still has an abundance of power which comes largely due to the way the tune is delivered (and, of course, what is actually delivered). It’s almost straight chanted at points, but by its end, the song becomes this quietly BRILLIANTLY mixed selection of a praising track. The album isn’t exactly lacking in such things, but if I were to hold this song up as an example of the type of music you’re going to hear on the album, you’d probably be pretty damn interested, especially when I told you that there were two or three tracks which were even better (but not by much).

Best Lyric: “Rastafari, the King of all things. HE always protect I, under HIS wing. No tek Rasta life fi joke, ah serious ting, HE guide us through thick and thin, oh Most High”

3. ‘Long Journey’

The title track for the album probably and fittingly offers its signature lyrical moment as well (see below) and one which clearly is so significant in taking in the album as a whole. Besides being so impressive lyrically, again, the sound here is just SO NICE. The word ‘vibe’ is one which is overused (by me) in Reggae jargon by just about everyone, but in this instance it is so fitting because the VIBES of this one are literally jumping off the player and right at the mind of the listener - Just as it should be.

Best Lyric: “I am on a long journey. This journey that I trod it only filled with poverty. I know JOY awaits me, so I hold the faith and wait patiently”

4. ‘And They Cry’ featuring Sara Lugo

Who knew??? These days, the notion of a Naptali - Sara Lugo combination would be absolutely mouth watering to me before I’d stop and realize . . . Oh yeah, I’ve already gotten that, haven’t I. ‘And They Cry’ meshes together two talents which seem so PERFECT together in Naptali and Lugo as both aren’t necessarily the most excited types in the world and with these exquisitely melancholy riddim underpinning them, they work a MAGIC together which was not to be missed (and hopefully Naptali can return the favour in May when Sara Lugo reportedly drops her debut album).

Best Lyric: Sara Lugo “Why. Why! They ask you lord, do there have to be wars with guns and swords. If we are human with minds and thoughts, people have to learn how to use their words”

5. ‘Grandma’ featuring Arofat

Quick - How many ‘Mama tunes’ have you heard in Reggae music? To answer it myself I could probably say well over 500 at this point and while Naptali is no different in that respect - He kind of is. ‘Grandma’ is his ‘Mama tune' which is his apparent ode to his Grandmother (duh!), who I believe has passed on (I THINK I saw a picture of Naptali standing besides what was captioned as her grave). I never knew the woman AT ALL, but I’d be willing to guess that she’d not only be very proud of her grandson today, but she’d LOVE this song as well.

Best Lyric: Naptali “Cuz if you miss me, don’t be worried, worried. Cuz it’s my time, to complete my journey, journey. Know that I’m leaving, leaving tomorrow, tomorrow. I’m just a pilgrim passing through”

6. ‘Fire Bun’

Quick again - How many ‘fire bun’ tunes have you heard in Reggae? In this case, I’d probably estimate at upwards of 300 or so and . . . While Naptali is no different in that respect - He kind of is (sound familiar?). This tune might be the most identifiable on ”Long Journey” because it actually uses African Beat’s 2009 update of the unforgettable Bad Boys Riddim. While the song won’t capture the world’s attention in the way as the riddim’s namesake has, it’s an excellent track and one which ‘fuels’ itself over it’s excellent duration.

Best Lyric: “Dem warring, for money and powah. Dem don’t care, for the people weh ah suffah. Dem sale di ghetto people like rice & sugah. Ah righteousness mi use light dem like fyah. Mi bun dem out (!) cuz dem don’t care fi wi. Dem neva set di tings so mankind can live free. Hey you! Look around, tell me what you see. I see all di brutality whoa”

7. ‘Seven Miles’ featuring Luciano

After learning just how much of an influence and a mentor legendary Roots Reggae singer, Luciano, has been in the career of Naptali, it would have been such a big disappointment if ‘The Messenjah’ didn’t check in on the debut album of his disciple. Fortunately that isn’t the case because not only does he appear on ”Long Journey”, he does so on what is CLEARLY one of the album’s main attractions and not just because he’s here. ‘Seven Miles’ Listening to this BEAUTIFUL song which speaks on Black redemption and Black unity in the name, honour and works of Marcus Garvey, you can really tell how similarly vibed these two artists are to my ears and hopefully this isn’t the final time the two link up like such (and I would think that Luciano would be pretty happy to see me claiming an album from Naptali the best of a year in which he himself had two releases, although he probably would’ve wanted to be in the top ten).

Best Lyric: Luciano - “Black is the foundation of the human nation, the origin of civilization. There’s no doubt or any question”

Naptali - “I saw seven miles of Black Star Liner, sailing in, by the children of the Father. Seven miles of Black Star Liner - It’s not about race, it’s a Blackness mi refer”

8. ‘What They’re Fighting For’

Chasing the combination with Luciano is a pretty un-Luciano type of song, but one which definitely demonstrates a certain difference between the two (if you needed more evidence). On top of that, ’What They’re Fighting For’ is just a big tune and damn interesting also. What happens here is that, besides the obvious anti-violence rhetoric, Naptali kind of projects this wonderful imagery of just how special it would be when we’ve achieved an anti-violence state of things. The first is so common that alone I probably wouldn’t directly comment on it (unless the tune was special) (and it is), the first and the second together is something different and in this case it’s a real winner.

Best Lyric: “So tell me what we‘re fighting for and taking life? Equal rights we need to all unite in a time like this. Listen oh please, let’s live in love and let the violence cease”

9. ‘More Love’ featuring Lutan Fyah & Arofat

Building on the subjectry of the tune before it, ’And They Cry’, as well the opener is the third and final combination on ”Long Journey”, ‘More Love’. Featured here alongside Naptali is his apparent good friend and talented chanter, Arofat and a “talented chanter” of the highest order, Lutan Fyah. I’ll speak more on this later, but if you read my work to any degree, I’m sure you can imagine how my face must’ve LIT UP when I saw that Lutan Fyah was also on this outstanding album (and of course I didn’t actually see it, so I’ll imagine with you). Fyah adds a very nice bit of spice to the album and specifically on this good natured tune and although he doesn’t steal the show completely (and it is better that way in my opinion), both and he Arofat do excellent work alongside the star here on Oneness’ General Key Riddim.

Best Lyric: Lutan Fyah “Ah no money we did cry fah, we need a betta living. Hungry belly pickney deh yah street side chilling without education to utilize. Hey we need to share and finalize”

10. ‘Rise Up In The Morning’

The riddim on ‘Rise Up In The Morning’ is just so HEAVY and dominant that it almost sounds like a changeup, but when it gets going you can kind of start to see that nothing really does change, but it’s just a BIG song. Naptali almost seems to revel in having such a composition at hand because he uses it to deliver an INSPIRATIONAL message of living each and every day and each and every moment within the care of His Imperial Majesty and he also uses it to set the stage for the album’s biggest moment which follows.

Best Lyric: “Some lost dem way and can’t find direction. The Most High Jah is the ONLY solution to save mankind from that evil illusion. I see dem headed for destruction”

11. ‘Redeemer’

The boom. The first song that I actually heard from this album and knew that it would be on this forthcoming album was ‘Redeemer’ and I loved it when I heard it and going on a year later, I STILL love it and probably even more so these days. Of course, as I said, the title track and a couple of others would definitely serve this purpose and do it well, but if you REALLY want a prime example of Naptali at his remarkable best, you’ll check ‘Redeemer’, a tune on which the artist gives MASSIVE thanks and praise to His Imperial Majesty. There’s also a very ‘smooth’ nature to the song, but it’s also obviously a very natural vibes to it which makes me think that it wasn’t planned out and crafted to the smallest detail, but Naptali just went into the studio and gave the listener HIMSELF. VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY nice to meet you my friend.

Best Lyric: “What’s the problem with mankind? How dem so ignorant and so vile? For simple thing dem try to take away your life, why dem don’t learn to live upright?”

12. ‘The Law Of Attraction’

‘The Law Of Attraction’ is somewhat of a deceiving track as, over the months, it’s grown to become less and less WEIRD to my ears. When I first heard it, I pegged it as the ‘love song’ of the album, but it really isn’t and, given it’s kind of ‘worldly’ feel, you wouldn’t even be led to think that in retrospect. What it is, instead is a BIG sounding anthem for the world and Naptali’s idea of the ‘law of attraction’ isn’t one which is shared between you and I, but it’s one which is shared between every living human being presumably (as he says, “it is the power to your mind” - Meaning LOVE of course).

Best Lyric: “Do you believe in faith and circumstances, in your destiny and your ? I have to tell you that it’s all about creation. Creation of your mind”

13. ‘We The People’

As if this album were short on ‘feel-good moments’ (and it wasn’t) here’s another VERY impressive on in ‘We The People’. This song is actually a bit of a social commentary or a social observation as well (because despite its title it does have a detached sense to it in some instances) and it is STERLING in both cases. This song I feel could’ve did a major damage if it were afforded the opportunity because, again, the vibes are just so nice and so quietly upful and IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD which can definitely be the story of the album as a whole.

Best Lyric: “Mankind - Don’t be so greedy. Show some love to the poor and the needy. Over the world, people are feeling. Feeling the wrath of the enemy”

14. ‘Seven Brothers’

And, surely in a move approved by his mentor, Naptali goes biblical to wrap up ”Long Journey” with ‘Seven Brothers’. He also does it with the obligatory Reggae move of ending the album with a Nyah drum backed tune (and it‘s acoustic also). For me, this excellent tune reaches on levels of unity and coming together and how, despite the fact that everyone is different in so many ways, it is well still possible to come together and make things happen. It sounds amazing and places a very fitting cap to an even more amazing album preceding it.

Best Lyric: “Seven brothers. Seven different minds. Seven different thinking at the same time. Seven times rise. Seven times fall. And neva you end up with your back against the wall”

Synopsis

Usually when I do these things I immediately begin to attempt to find the ultimate and prevailing meanings and sentiments behind the messages of the album and while I am going to do that here (although it’s pretty obvious in this instance) I would like to speak on ”Long Journey” in the prior sense - Before the album was released. I was SO looking forward to getting this album and largely because of my feeling going into it - Something just told me that it would be a truly SPECIAL project and looking back on it, even with that much anticipation, it most certainly didn’t disappoint and months later it’s still impressing. Also it should be said that, at least in part, this album definitely gave me one of the biggest ‘gifts’ in Reggae of 2010 which was the priceless Sara Lugo and, again if you read me to any extent, you know how much of a fan I am of hers these days and it also gave me a reason to take an even more interested look at Arofat as well.

So! On to the business at hand - As I alluded to, in my opinion ‘sizing up’ Naptali’s ”Long Journey” is fairly simple work, particularly when you look at it as I just wrote it - NAPTALI’S LONG JOURNEY. The album, at least for me, is one which is ultimately centered around the notion of self development, self confidence and the ‘power’ of one’s self and believing in it and utilizing it. The one kind of ‘frill’ mixed in there, however, is the acknowledgement that this is a current process. We’re not looking back on it as something which has already been completed, it’s still ongoing through the duration of this album and the presumption is, almost, that this process has neither a beginning nor an end, on the whole.

I said that the title track offered the greatest glimpse into the meanings of the album named after it and, directly it also contained THE signature lyrics of the entire album in my opinion on the tune’s chorus.

“I AM on a long journey
This journey that I trod it only filled with poverty
I know joy awaits me
So I hold the faith and wait patiently”

The word “am” certainly does place the tune in a very current and ongoing state. I also think that the very nature of the song has something to do with its meaning as well. It’s a very lively and attention-grabbing selection, but at the same time there is no sense of urgency or terror in the song. What happens is that it ends up conveying that while certainly this message is crucial and important, it’s not going to hurt! You’ll be okay with it. Embrace it!

Two very significant aspects also join in and make appearances on this long journey of Naptali’s. The first, of course, is His Imperial Majesty and exactly how important Naptali feels that it is to make this trod in honour of HIM. Since you knew I was going there - ‘Redeemer’.

“Yes we need to keep on doing
The positive that we always doing
King Rastafari never go down
No, dem coulda neva take His crown
When I look at The Motherland
I see my people facing starvation
The younger girls getting molestation
Why the innocent head ah buss like bomb?” “I know that my redeemer leads
I know that Jah Jah never leave us alone
I know that my redeemer leads
I know that Jah Jah never leave us alone
And I will keep on -
Giving thanks and praise, always”

The problem presented is always a current one here and even after Naptali offers a sight of the true wickedness that exists, he still writes the solution to the problem as a very current one. And you’ll go back to what I said just before about this process - it has “neither beginning nor an end”. What else do you know of with such traits??? The song just before ‘Redeemer’ also does a great job at conveying this message as well, ‘Rise Up In The Morning’.

“As I rise up in the morning
First thing
The Binghi youth keep yanting
Unto mi King
For the giving of life
RASTAFARI LIVE AND NEVER DIE”

WHAT! Sometimes it’s just too simple. And you’ll hear similar things on tunes such as ‘Seven Miles’ and really throughout the album as well indirectly.

The other crucial feature of Naptali’s journey is LOVE. Firstly (and obviously), there’s the opener, ‘Show Dem Love’ which, in such a beautifully balanced way unites both that message with a fitting style of vibes as well.

“Stick around, give a helping hand
Try fi help the weak even though you are strong
Di youth dem in di street, dem need motivation
With opportunity so they can find food fi nyam”

“Show dem love
That’s what they need
Lots of opportunity so they can achieve”

This tune has a VERY interesting lyrical development in the second verse which begins with -

“Rescue me from my enemies
Oh Jah please save my soul
You put food upon my table
Give me faith to take control”

If you take that and go back and look at the first passage I printed from the tune, you’ll see how the focal point of the tune has shifted from “them” to “me” which is an excellent way of either DIRECTLY personalizing a tune (I.e. ‘I need some help’), or even showing solidarity with those in need (I.e. ‘I am one of ‘them’).

And there’s also ‘More Love’ -

“We give more love to the ghetto youths dem
We bring more joy to the hearts of our children “

And later ‘We The People’ which was the song which I remarked was a bit detached and observational so as to denote, again a process which is ongoing. And to sum up that final point, it appears that Naptali is saying that this long journey would be so much ‘BETTER’ if someone cared and LOVED enough to help one another.

Surely, I’ve pounded those points adequately and would love to continue (and I just might someday) but hey all have a purpose here don’t they? What Naptali managed to pull off on ”Long Journey” was such a LOVELY statement of his talents as an artist and I didn’t hear a more compelling thing in 2010. Was it a modern classic (of course it was), that remains to be seen, but it was The Best Reggae Album of 2010.

The Best Reggae Albums of 2010 [#'s 10-2]

{Note: No compilations or reissues}
{Note 2: Dancehall - Yes. Soca - No}
{See #'s 20-11 here}

NiyoRah

The Best Reggae Albums of 2010

#10. “Diversity” [Deluxe Edition] by Gentleman [Bush House Music/Universal]

Beneath the ruins. Placing the big deluxe edition 2010 album from German standout, Gentleman, ”Diversity” on this list is probably the hardest any of the entries here because of how it actually worked out. If you just take the original, one disc release, there’s a pretty good chance that it resides in the ‘Honourable Mentions’ file, but the double edition is different. If you were strip away from the twenty-eight tracks between both and whittle it down to about seventeen or eighteen, you’d legitimately have a five star album on your hands. Still, as a whole the project was excellent and with the likes of Tanya Stephens, Sugar Minott, Rebellion The Recaller, Million Stylez, Luciano and others, it also may’ve been one of the most star-studded releases of the year as well.

Best Tune: ‘Changes’
See Review

#9. “Black Gold” by Toussaint [I Grade Records]

Soul roots. I spend so much time talking about how I’m growing increasingly depressed by our wonderful music being diluted by other genres and just making a mess of it in many respects - But sometimes it works out. Let the prime example of that be ”Black Gold” by Toussaint who kind of did it in reverse by taking Reggae and adding to his own base - Soul music to form this BEAUTIFUL subgenre called ‘Soul Roots’ which was on full display on what was arguably the most interesting release of the entire year, ”Black Gold”. In retrospect, besides having an American Soul artist making a Reggae album in St. Croix with the VI’s dominant label, I Grade Records, one of the most interesting and impressive aspects of this album was just how NATURAL and INSTINCTIVE it came through. While it is apart of this new and interesting genre, it’s never actually acknowledged in the music and it all came together FUCKING SEAMLESSLY on undeniably one of the year’s most fascination and just BEST albums.

Best Tune: ‘Nobody Knows’
See Review

#8. “Black Gold” by Duane Stephenson [VP Records]

Remember him? I had to go back and take another VERY good listen to Duane Stephenson’s sophomore album from VP Records, ”Black Gold” (yep, that’s the title) (look at the picture if you don’t believe me), because I honestly hadn’t spun it in a month or so and really the discussion around has . . . Well it’s pretty much stopped at this point hasn’t it. That’s a real shame because, much like the case with the album I’ll speak of at #3, when you look back at this album, it was just such a COMPLETE experience of an album that it left virtually no vibe, no range of emotion or no sonic encounter to be had and it was seriously as good as it possibly could have been. And that’s very interesting to say about Stephenson because often times he’s overlooked in favour of the likes of Tarrus Riley, Etana and even Queen Ifrica who’re the artists more closely identified with the current Jamaican Roots Reggae upswing and in ”Black Gold”, he released a project which could stand up to the best of his peers.

Best Tune: ‘Cycle Goes On’
See Review

#7. “Babylon Nightmare” by Jahdan Blakkamoore [Lustre Kings Productions]

Mr. X. As the most recent entry on this list and one which is still very much on my players, I kind of had to temper my seemingly growing affection for ”Babylon Nightmare”, the most much anticipated 2010 release from the flaming Jahdan Blakkamoore. As you can see, I didn’t fair too well knocking this one down much as it ranks all the way at #7, but it’s well accurate and well deserved. As I said, in the review for the album, no one in 2010 THRILLED lyrically the way Jahdan did (although #6 made a WONDERFUL attempt at it). Be it due to the Hip-Hop colours he obviously had or . . . I really don’t care anymore. The man absolutely DAZZLED on an album and it seems to have ‘wings’ as well. While I wouldn’t at all complain if Blakkamoore wanted to make it 3 out of 3 in terms of releasing albums in consecutive years - The work he did on ”Babylon Nightmare” figures to carry WELL beyond next year and the year after that and the year after that and the year after that and the year after that . . .

Best Tune: ‘Flying High’
See Review

#6. “Red Pond” by Junior Kelly [VP Records]

I needed that. I ask you - Is the world not IMMEDIATELY a MUCH better place to be when Junior Kelly drops a new album (and particularly his first since 2005)? Kelly certainly spruced up 2010 by FINALLY delivering the latest installment of what has been a most underrated yet unmistakenly BRILLIANT career. Though the album has seemingly, for the most part, faded from the radars of most, perhaps it’s a miniature version of Junior Kelly himself - I imagine that years from now we’ll all wake up and realize how GOOD we had it when he was in his prime years and although we can argue whether he still is or isn’t, with material such as what was to be found on the MIGHTY ”Red Pond”, I don’t really care. This thing was just SO on-target and SO well carried out that it seemed as if he’d given the whole of the five years in between albums to perfect it. Of course that wasn’t the case and the fact that it wasn’t makes it even more impressive.

Best Tune: ‘Nuthin Wrong With The World’
See Review

#5. “Romain Virgo” by Romain Virgo [VP Records]

Wow! With the exception of whatever ends up being #1 on this list (I like how I say that, like I have no clue as to what it is) I can definitely say that no single album on this list is as IMMEDIATELY gripping as the self-titled debut album from potentially one of the biggest artists to come around in quite some time, Romain Virgo. It certainly doesn’t take a very long time at all to be entangled and entwisted in an album WELL beyond the nineteen years of its star. Looking back, I’m still most struck at how we look at Virgo, ostensibly, as this type of Sanchez-like love song singer, but he’s not that at all. Instead of being ‘the next Sanchez’ or Gyptian, he seems headed to creating his own most interesting legacy - One which is part Lover’s Rock and part Roots singer - But at the EXACT same time. His album was a BEAUTIFUL weaving of both styles and CLEARLY one of the best of the year.

Best Tune: ‘Mi Caan Sleep’
See Review

#4. “Judgement Time” by Chezidek [Jahsolidrock/Not Easy At All Productions]

Too short . . . Right? I can remember most people (myself included) remarking quite vividly and adamantly on the number of songs on "Judgement Time”. The album only had eleven vocal tracks and with seventeen in full, that meant that the remaining six were riddim versions. Initially this was a probably, but when you really look at it, what it means is that Chezidek and Dutch label duo, Jahsolidrock and Not Easy At All Productions had less room for error than most albums you’ll find here. Well, as it turned out they didn’t make too many mistakes AT ALL. It says a great deal about an album which is so ‘brief’ that I can sit here and call it (and I am) arguably the most sonically pleasing Roots Reggae album of the year. Be it the actual riddims or the specs on the audio - WHATEVER - ”Judgement Time” just has this SOUND about it which takes the listener to very nice places by itself. When you add on top of that the fact that it found the singer in one of the best forms of his career altogether and writing excellent also, what you had was an absolute POWERHOUSE of an album. I don’t give a damn how many tracks it had.

Best Tune: ‘Walk With Jah’
See Review

#3. “Matsahyel” by Iba [Outpost Music Workshop/Negus I Records]

He has found Jah. In 2010 I only gave out four 5star reviews (and only 3 of them were for albums which would qualify for this list) and this is the first of the three on this list and it’s probably the least known of the three and partially because of that, I wanted to REALLY go back and have a very thorough listen to it again so as to be able to defend its very high ranking here when not only compared to more well known material, but more recent and current material as well and I was really thinking about moving it out of the top 3 - Until I started playing it again.

What I heard on ”Matsahyel”, the third studio album from VI Reggae veteran Ras Iba was, as I alluded to previously, such a COMPLETE musical experience that I’d rather happily continue to be the only one still championing the cause of the GREATNESS of this album. What I hear is sonically pleasing (of course it is, it‘s vibed by the incomparable Tuff Lion), it’s deep, the lyrics make a very direct and powerful point on EVERY song and it was simply the best album that it could have been and for me (and maybe only for me) that was a spectacular piece.

Best Tune: ‘Mission’
See Review

#2. “Feel Your Presence” by NiyoRah [Denkenesh Records/I Grade Records]

Bruk down barrier. Just in case there was any remaining further apprehension in ANYONE regarding the ‘combining‘ of the two regions, hopefully that was taken care of when St. Thomas based, Dominica born VI Reggae star, NiyoRah, traveled to Jamaica to work with Andrew ‘Bassie’ Campbell on what would ultimately become his third studio album and my choice as the year’s second best Reggae album altogether, ”Feel Your Presence”. Previously Pressure Busspipe had enjoyed a great deal of success with super producer Don Corleon and the woefully overlooked King Cephas went the other way in linking with Tuff Lion and then there was this piece, wonderfully coming right in between both of those situations in terms of popularity.

Besides the circumstances surrounding its release (which was also very interesting because it came through Denkenesh, NiyoRah‘s very own label), this album was highlighted by an even further refined and detailed version of an artist who had already come quite a far way in both regards. The version of Niyo on ”Feel Your Presence” could do absolutely anything with the vibes - He was truly the finished product which DOMINATED in 2010.

Best Tune: ‘Feel Your Presence
See Review

The Best Reggae Albums of 2010 [#'s 20-11]

Admiral T

In retrospect, how good was 2010 for albums? Pretty good I’d say. While I, and many people, were kind of down on it during it, when it ends and we can see exactly how many big names delivered albums in the year and how many surprises there were from names we knew and names we’d like to get to know more, I’m going to have to say that it was a very good year for Reggae albums. AND, not only was there stuff like that, but there was good stuff too! Wait! Some of it was even GREAT! And I’m going to help you out because I know you’ve had a hard year and you weren’t paying good attention - So I’m going to streamline things for your benefit (and because I have nothing better to do with my time) by showing you the best of the best. The 20 Best Contemporary Reggae Albums of 2010.

{Note: No compilations or reissues}
{Note 2: Dancehall - Yes. Soca - No}
{Honourable Mentions: “Shotta Culture” by Spragga Benz, “Genesis" by Maikal X, “Messages” by Lyricson, “20ten” by Bryan Art and “Dancehall Anarchy” by Lieutenant}
{See #10-2 Here}

#20. “Never Lost My Way” by Ginjah [No Doubt Records]

The here & now. The first of five debut albums on this list in total also, arguably, features one of the most interesting artists on the list altogether, the extremely talented Ginjah who made his debut in 2010 for the best Roots Reggae producer in the world, Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor and his No Doubt Records imprint. I’d hate to exaggerate or even ‘talk up’ more than usual things but - OBVIOUSLY the connection here between producer and artist is SO strong so as to have so much of Ginjah’s finest work on this single album from this single producer. ”Never Lost My Way” lacked in spectacular moments in retrospect, but what it did have going for it was an artist and a sound which seemed so damn HAPPY to simply BE (“when mi sing, mi no haffi rich, ah no money man ah look afta dis”) that it caught the listener and I personally was happy that it ‘was’ also.

Best Tune: ‘Never Lost My Way’
See Review

#19. “Mi Deh Yah” by Clinton Fearon [Makasound/Makafresh]

The push. Wonderfully, with 2010 now in hindsight, I can fully say that, surprisingly one of the most talked about albums of the year, particularly on the internet was ”Mi Deh Yah” by the much revered former member of The Gladiators, Clinton Fearon. And while I don’t think that I was as high on this release as a great deal of others, these days every time I listen to it, slowly but surely, I think I may get closer to what they heard here. As it stands now, however, even with what is perhaps a diminished viewpoint of the album, it was still an all around SOLID piece and definitely something you’d expect from an artist with Fearon’s wonderful background and rich musical foundation.

Best Tune: ‘Feeling Blue’
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#18. “Put The Stereo On” by Gappy Ranks [Greensleeves Records]

Half blast. About four or five months on from its release date, these days what I most find myself recalling of the debut album of breakout UK star Gappy Ranks, ”Put The Stereo On” is how it only featured half of the vibes of the artist. Largely produced by the historically old school Peckings Records, the album flew through in on the strength of a similarly vibed title track and the other eleven tracks did nothing but boost those type of vibes and, honestly as the time has gone on, musically speaking, I do have a slightly better appreciation of this album than I originally did I believe. Reportedly, Ranks is set to deliver the other half (the new school) of his vibes on an album later this year, but when he puts them both together on a single release, he’ll rather easily stroll onto the top half of a list like this and probably the top half of the top half also.

Best Tune: ‘Heaven In Her Eyes’
See Review

#17. “Reggae Music” by Ossie Dellimore [Skank Records]

Time has come. It had been a decade since the last time the world was treated to a brand new album from the outstanding St. Vincy born Reggae singer Ossie Dellimore and it had also been quite some time from since we had first been told of his forthcoming sophomore release for Skank Records and while it seemed, at times, as though he may never have another album, when it finally did materialize, "Reggae Music" was well worth the wait. Much like in the case of Fearon, this one was just CONCRETE all around, there wasn’t very much in the way of ‘loose’ areas or soft spots and Dellimore definitely did dazzle as well (did you catch that?).

Best Tune: ‘Caribbean & American’
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#16. “Teach Them Right” by Apple Gabriel [Jahsolidrock/Not Easy At All Productions]

Welcome back. Much like in the case of Ossie Dellimore, ”Teach Them Right” was the first solo album from the well respected former member of the legendary Israel Vibration group, Apple Gabriel, in a pretty long time. Unlike Dellimore, however, the time in between its release and the 1999 release of its predecessor ”Another Moses” was full of downright heartbreaking occurrences for the singer. So, obviously, being the artist he is, Gabriel would have had a great deal to say and he excellently put it to song on ”Teach Them Right” for a pair of Dutch labels in Jahsolidrock and Not Easy At All Productions (who I’ll tell you about again tomorrow) . . . And hopefully it won’t be 2021 when we next get an album from Apple Gabriel.

Best Tune: ‘In The Jungle’ [“wash me clean and I will be clean”]
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#15. “I-Ternal Fire” by Capleton [VP Records]

Over a medium fire. It hadn’t been quite as long for Capleton as it had been for either Ossie Dellimore or Apple Gabriel, since the last time he had an album, but it sure did seem like it. When he FINALLY did return, in 2010 with ”I-Ternal Fire”. The album certainly caught critics off-guard to a degree because it wasn’t the same fire breathing scaldingness (word???) which was to be found on his previous efforts for VP Records. HOWEVER (!) listening to this album these days, while it does lack that type of intensity that we’d come to know from Capleton over the years, I’m well of the opinion that in a few years’ time after we’ve had a bit of time to settle with the album, we may just look back on ”I-Ternal Fire” (as the title would indicate) as a timeless piece because it may just be regarded as THE best lyrical effort of the Prophet’s entire career.

Best Tune: ‘When I Came To Town’
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#14. “United States of Africa” by Luciano [VP Records]

Edgy? Luckily I wasn’t the only one who seemed to notice that the version of the legendary Roots Reggae singer, Luciano, that appeared on his first album of 2010, ”United States of Africa”, came with a bit of an edge to his vibes which definitely worked in this case. While the Frenchie, from Maximum Sound, produced album may’ve caught a few people by surprise to an extent, the same level of quality we’ve come to expect from ‘The Messenjah’ was well intact on an album which, although it seems to have faded a bit in terms of the perception of it, isn’t a GREAT way away from some of the best releases from the artist (including another which will appear on this same list shortly).

Best Tune: ‘Be Aware’
See Review

#13. “D.O.B.“ by Busy Signal [VP Records]

Growth. The way I did this list, for the most part, having not heard some of these albums in a minute or two, was to go back and give each two or three cursory spins through and briefly compare them to my reviews and see if the same thoughts existed. ”D.O.B.” is the first instant here thus far where I didn’t have to go back at all because I’ve been spinning it THOROUGHLY as of late and since it was first dealt with back in July, my opinion of it has grown CONSIDERABLY, probably more than any other album on this list (it probably was headed for the ‘honourable mentions’ section, but I could now make a strong case for it being top ten). The attraction is simply the fact that Busy Signal is WICKED! Listening to one of his albums, in terms of the ground he covers and the ‘colours’ he uses is like listening to three or four from someone else - It’s really a strenuous workout of an album. Who else could cover songs from Phil Collins, The Commodores, mix in Bounty Killer, a Salsa track, an a cappella and have it STILL be Dancehall and oft-brilliant Dancehall at that.

Best Tune: ‘Opera’
See Review

#12. ‘Write My Name’ by Luciano [Footprintz Music Group]

Version 2. I very well may’ve been the only one (as usual) who thought so, but in my opinion the best album Luciano released in 2010 was the lesser known and underplayed ”Write My Name” from Footprintz Music Group. This album seemed to be a little less mechanical in nature and, inherently, more of the ‘standout’ type of vibes were present and it offered more spectacular moments in my opinion as well. Furthermore, there’s the matter of the title track for this album being so all encompassingly wonderful on just about every damn level that I can think of. A very strong supporting cast helped to make this one a pure winner and an arguable top ten album also . . . Well at least to me it does.

Best Tune: ‘Right My Name’
See Review

#11. “Instinct Admiral” by Admiral T [Don’s Music/Universal]

Phenomenal. 2010 was a pretty awful one for Dancehall albums. Spice’s album never materialized and neither did Beenie Man’s and . . . Really Busy Signal was the only one REALLY hitting hard in terms of Jamaican artists (unless I’m REALLY forgetting someone), but that wasn’t exactly the case with French/French Dancehall artists as several of the top artists drop full length projects in the year. That included THE biggest dog in the yard currently, the absolutely LIGHTENING that is Admiral T who returned to us with his first album in four years, the colourful ”Instinct Admiral”. The album, somewhat like ”I-Ternal Fire”, was somewhat toned down showing a certain level of maturity in the Admiral, but DEFINITELY there was more than enough musical acid for older fans of the Admiral’s seeking that energy boost which he always offers. Guest spots from Soca star Machel Montano, Fanny J, Patrick St. Eloi from Kassav, Lieutenant, Young Chang MC and even Busy Signal himself, helped see this one to the highest of heights and make it my choice as The Best Dancehall Album of 2010.

Best Tune: ‘Hands Up’ featuring Busy Signal
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The Top Ten Reggae Songs of 2010

Junior X

We deal with artists and producers and riddims and labels and albums and so forth and so forth - The basis of it all, however, is definitely THE big song. Whatever that means to you, you can hear an artist with an excellent tone of voice or an artist with a dynamic stream of words, but it is when that is ultimately put into an actual song when it is most likely to grab your attention. 2010 was brimming with such offerings and amidst the carnage, I thought that I'd serve up ten of my own personal favourites. Thus, I submit for your approval, The Top Ten Reggae Songs of 2010.

{Note: Dancehall - Yes. Soca - No}
{Note 2: This was pretty ridiculous and because of that and despite the title, just consider this ten of my favourites. I could've actually done a Top 50 (which was a request), but not even I have that type of time}
{Note 3: List is based completely on my own opinion and doesn't take into consideration commercial successes of the songs or lack thereof}

#10. ‘I Wish’ by Spectacular [Ghetto Scorp Production]

The blue moon. Consider this one example #7 or so of exactly how wonderfully destructive the LOUD Spectacular can be when at his best. He has this largely ridiculous ability to NATURALLY create melody despite seemingly spending long spans of time shouting as hard as he can. Usually the results are nothing too exciting and just when you begin to tune out, he drops a boom like ‘I Wish’.

Best Lyric: “If I have a genie, rub di bottle, mek it happen so. Milk and honey and silk and satin so. Puff up like a cloud, white like a cotton so. Money nuff nuff, woman run gone shopping so. Good tings mi wish for, good tings happen now. Bad tings dem wish fah, bad tings ah happen now”

#9. ‘Opera’ by Busy Signal [Stainless Records]

Only busy. If you didn’t know it before the year kicked off, 2010 merely reinforced the thought that Busy Signal is the most inventive DJ of this era and arguably one of the most such of all time. At the clinical heights of insanity of a gift was ‘Opera’ from his 2010 album, ”D.O.B.". The song, like several of Busy’s masterworks, the tune played off a very interesting riddim which kind of ‘vanishes’ at a certain audio point and is simply carried along by a destructive stream of words. In this instance specifically, ‘Opera’ was one DARK tune which was absolute brilliance as well.

Best Lyric: “When it comes to badness, neva you diss us. Things we no discuss. Head ahgo sever like discus. Mamma see you cry, seen vomit too, she disgust - Afta dis bust”

#8. ‘Dispear’ by Damian Marley & Nas [Universal]

Like Burning spear and such and such. In retrospect, the direct combining of Reggae and Hip-Hop on ”Distant Relatives” from Damian Marley and Nas may not have had the lasting impression on me that I anticipated, but what did was the best song on that album to my ears, the EPIC ‘Dispear’. This song is immediately attention grabbing because of its very URGENT nature which causes a kind of BIG intensity that isn’t very normal at all after the tune’s intro (which is excellent as well) and it prevails throughout the KNOCKINGLY addictive and educational madness which ensues.

Best Lyric: Jr. Gong - “Mek some bwoy know seh mi nah smile cuz dis spear nah beg friends. Man a run racket. Man a run scheme. Man a run race. Man a run down Benz. Caan trust she, nor he, nor we, nor eye inna contact lens”

#7. ‘Nah Sell Out’ by Khago [Seanizzle]

Got next. Call me a bit of a latecomer to this one as I spent the better part of 2010 enjoying and enjoying and enjoying Beenie Man’s HUGE ‘I’m OK’ (a very late cut of this list), his cut of Seanizzle’s equally sizable One Day Riddim. Also on that same riddim was (Future Fambo’s ridiculous ‘Drinking Rum & Red Bull’ alongside Beenie) young Khago’s breakout hit ‘Nah Sell Out’ which seemed to build itself up throughout the year, ending it as undeniably one of 2010’s finest - One of mine also.

Best Lyric: “Mi an mi friends nah war fi no Hennessey. Cah mi friends dem know wi nah pree bad energy. Khago rise mek many si and bun out bad mind, dutty heart and jealousy”

#6. ‘Nah Go A Jail’ by Echo Minott [Own Mission Records]

The riddler. I can just about guarantee you that you won’t see this tune on any one else’s ‘best of’ list for 2010 (but that’s why you come around here everyday anyway isn’t it???) as fairly obscure veteran Echo Minott linked up with French label Own Mission Records, to create this very dusty and downright HAGGARD sounding tune on their Bun Up Riddim, ‘Nah Go A Jail’. . . And I LOVED IT! I don’t know why exactly, despite the fact that it’s ‘my thing’, I can’t exactly tell you why I was thrilled by this tune the very first time I heard it and have been from ever since - But I just am! Dammit!

Best Lyric: “I went on the corner to sale some weed. Here comes the cop! He signaled me to stop. I disobeyed then I fled away. My new born baby due next day. Can’t afford to spend no time in jail”

#5. ‘Back Broad’ by Spice [TJ Records]

She raw. Far less hieroglyphic-like is (everything else on this list) the next entry here which features an artist, Spice, who had one of the best years to be had in 2010 by anyone. While her biggest hit (which would have been here were this even a top 11 piece), the ridiculous ‘Jim Screechie’, fittingly got most of the attention as one of the biggest Dancehall hits of the year, it was this GEM buried on TJ’s DNA Riddim (and left off the album), ‘Back Broad’, which was her finest piece of work in my opinion. As two of the top four entries here will indicate, I just love GENUINE hardcore Dancehall deejaying which is exactly what this tune was - And a near master class as well.

Best Lyric: PICK ONE! ANYONE!

#4. ‘Duppy Nuh Frighten Vampire’ by Spragga Benz [BoomTunes]

Evil. On one of the year’s most discussed projects, ”Shotta Culture”, legendary Dancehall DJ (I think he qualifies as ‘legendary’ now), Spragga Benz, delivered one of the year’s biggest tracks for me in ‘Duppy Nuh Frighten Vampire’. This tune was angry, screw faced Dancehall and it brought with it an updating of one of the genre’s biggest shots, the immortal Sleng Teng Riddim, for even more fire and months later it’s still blazing as hot as ever.

Best Lyric: “Duppy no frighten vampire. Ah wah dem fool yah deh pon iyah? Dem ah nobody fi conquer yah. Man ahgo bun dem lak bonfyah”

#3. ‘Walk With Jah’ by Chezidek [Jahsolidrock]

The modern classic. From the very first note on this SPLENDID tune, ‘Walk With Jah’ by Chezidek, I was pretty much hooked on kind of the opposite end of the spectrum of vibes from the two tunes which precede it here and the next as well. On one hand there’s that hardcore and intoxicating Dancehall vibes and on the other there exists this equally infectious and SUBLIME type of modern Roots with which this tune was absolutely DRENCHED!

Best Lyric: “When I & I journey inna serious places. I & I see all dem serious faces. See how they fight the righteous and push up their evilous faces"

#2. ‘Dancehall Again’ by Agent Sasco [Daseca]

My point exactly. I can say some things and with my morbidly obese vocabulary it will sound nice and people will quote me and everyone will be happy. However, if someone were able to put into song and make audio what I do digitally, then that’s potentially something special, particularly when “someone” is the genre’s current greatest. That’s exactly what happened when Assassin dropped ’Dancehall Again’ on (shockingly) Daseca’s riddim of the same name. The song simply put Into (brilliant) words and melody what I’ve been saying for the better part of two years or so - Dancehall music has been so fucked up by so many people that the genre, in its most original form, has become the rarity and damn do we miss the old days when it was the exact opposite.

Best Lyric: “Unuh memba when Diwali have the whole world ah clap. And Chaka Demus & Pliers a #1 act? Mi nah have Nuttin against R&B, Jazz and Pop, but wi represent di Gold and di Green and di Black!”

#1. ‘Cross Me Heart’ by Junior X [Tiger Records]

Honest truth. The best song I heard last year, without a doubt, came from the very unexpected source of Junior X who while he had been an artist with whom I was definitely familiar and had been impressed by in the past (most notably by the scorching ‘Plead My Cause’ a few years back), I would never have suspected could deliver like this - ‘Cross Me Heart’. The tune came underpinned by Tiger Records’ excellent Box Guitar Riddim (biggup Sherkhan) and was kind of a double sided piece. On one side it was a ‘light’ type of spiritual Roots track which you saw early in the verses, but as it nears the choruses it transforms and becomes this SCORCHING call to social action and change and in doing so it created a musical chunk of dynamite! It also created The Best Song of 2010.

Best Lyric: “Yes I’m ready to stand up and fight. Yes, I’m ready to stand up and fight for what I know is right. So al Gideon soldiers unite. Been held in the dark, but Rastafari has led all his children to light”