Coming Soon Vol. XXX

The Message Riddim [Don Corleon Records]

'Rise Up' by Ce'Cile

Okay! First up this week is a riddim which has been destroying everything in site over the past couple of weeks or so - It’s the latest from the greatest in the game, Don Corleon - The Message Riddim. Although the riddim follows in the line of others such as the Drop Leaf, Seasons, Major & Minor and some of Don’s other more prominent Reggae work, this one is unique because, just as the title would suggest, unlike those pieces, the Message is geared towards material of social and cultural contexts and not love songs. For the ‘body’ of the riddim, Corleon taps several of the usual suspects of his riddims such as Pressure Busspipe (HUGE tune in ‘Jah Love’), a surprising Ce’Cile in less familiar terrain, Richie Spice, Protoje, Da Professor and even Kartel as well as Sophia Squire, Ikaya and an increasingly regular Ky-Mani Marley. To my ears this thing is breathtakingly beautiful (yes - I just said breathtakingly and that’s probably the first time I’ve ever typed that word) - It is really really nice and I may just slap a review on this one.

Potential Rating: 4.75/5
Releases soon
Digital

“Most Wanted: Assassin” [VP Records]

'Do It If Yuh Bad'

Next up is another very big deal of sorts (kind of) as VP Records doubles up on its ”Most Wanted” series in March. Along with the previous installment for the erratic Tiger, we’re also going to get an edition from my favourite Dancehall artist of the past few years, Assassin. This is interesting because it kind of is going to make me hypocritical because when you do this with people such as Vybz Kartel or Bushman or the likes I’m going to complain because the tunes aren’t very old or obscure at all, so you’re really not digging too far back for what is essentially a ‘greatest hits’ style release. But of course I’m not going to complain about that here, because I love Assassin’s music. HOWEVER, I would’ve certainly enjoyed if the tunes were pulled from just a bit earlier, but songs such as ‘To Make Money’ and ‘Do It If Yuh Bad’ (both on the album) almost strike on what I’m talking about (they could’ve done ‘Wi Ah Bad From, Wah Gwann’ . . .). And if you haven’t tapped into what’s going on with Assassin then definitely check this one when it drops and hopefully it isn’t the only piece of business between VP Records and the current most talented Dancehall artist in the world in 2011.

Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases on March 29
CD + Digital

“Covers For Reggae Lovers Vol. 2” [VP Records]

I pretty much always get this series confused with one of the other two other Lover’s Rock series from VP Records, ”R&B Hits In Reggae Style” and/or ”Songs For Reggae Lovers” and you probably do as well. So, to add some distinction, here we have the latest edition of ”Covers For Reggae Lovers”, which is REALLY close to ”R&B Hits In Reggae Style” in actuality and very close to ”Songs For Reggae Lovers” (which has a new installment releasing this week) in title. I’m probably not going to be able to make the connections here to most of the originals, so instead, I’ll just tell you who good is on the album - We have Sanchez, Richie Stephens, Sadiki, Maxi Priest (with Richie Stephens), Tinga Stewart (alongside Elaine Shepherd), Hezron and even Maurice. If you REALLY like Lover’s Rock then you have some big things going on early in 2011 and here’s another.

Potential Rating: 3.5/5
Releases on March 22
CD + Digital

Ragga Ragga Ragga 2011 [Greensleeves Records]

The more interesting of VP/Greensleeves series releases making the post this week is the latest edition of ”Ragga Ragga Ragga” with its excellent cover and usual madness of some sorts. This year not much has changed and you get most of the expected faces on such a release. There’s Kartel (three times), Mavado (twice), Ele & Bounty Killer, Chino and I-Octane (both of whom are becoming more and more frequent on VP releases). Of course Gyptian is mixed in and even Buju. Still, as far as tracks, the main point here may be the possibility that ”Ragga Ragga Ragga 2011” may just be the first actual CD with Spice’s BIG hit from 2010, ‘Jim Screechie’.

Potential Rating: 4/5
Releases on March 8
CD + Digital

“Journey To Israel” by Singing U [MZ Kwo]

Here’s an album you may not give a damn about, but I’ve been waiting on it for a year or two! Singing U FINALLY delivers his third studio album (I THINK), ”Journey To Israel”. I haven’t been over impressed with the Portland born singer (who I think is now based in Germany) or anything, but he’s just been doing very solid work and I thought that the notion of him having a new album was an excellent one and here it is! From the sound of it (the album is on Juno - have at it), that’s a quality which well carries over into his album which doesn’t actually follows the ‘script’ of being only a heavy Roots Reggae album. I hear some Dancehall and even some Soca involved in as well and I’m definitely looking forward to digging my teeth into this one - You should join me.

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases on March 11
Digital (and likely CD)

“Heat” by Little Roy [Pharos Records]

'Heat'

I’ve never been a really big fan of veteran Little Roy’s over the years, but I’ve heard so many good things about his forthcoming release, ”Heat”, that I thought that it’d be a pretty good idea to let you know about it. The album comes courtesy of someone named Pharos Records that I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of, but is apparently out of the UK and they actually did his last album, ”Children of The Most High” (like I said, I’m not a fan). I’m enjoying what I’m hearing on the album clips hear and as I mentioned, I’ve heard so many nice things about this one that it actually seems amazing that it’ll be another month and a half before it releases, but I’ll be picking it up.

Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases on March 20
CD + Digital

The Nyabinghi Riddim [Bombrush Records]


'Terrible Stranger' by Sizzla Kalonji

Next we have the latest creation of Bay-C (from TOK) and his Bombrush Records imprint, the Nyahbinghi Riddim which dropped in sometime last year and has now made its way to album form. As the riddim’s name would suggest, this is definitely a Roots heavy riddim which is centered around a Nyah drum set. So, intelligently so, Bay-C two masters of such compositions, Sizzla Kalonji and Tarrus Riley (whose ‘Shaka Zulu Pickney is MASSIVE) and they’re joined by the likes of Konshens, Christopher Martin, Shane-O and Bombrush’s own Sleepy Hallowtips.

Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases Tomorrow
Digital

“Journey” by Qshan Dia [J&D Records]


'Too Late'

Yes - I’m writing a ’coming soon’ post for an album which is a decade old, but it’s a good one and it’s also one which effectively checked out of circulation maybe half that time ago, but it’s coming back. Vincy born baritone voice sweet singing Qshan Dia should be a much bigger name than he is today, but thankfully his career seems to be getting in gear these days almost ten years after he dropped his debut and only album to date, ”Journey” for J&D. Well, making wonderful timing, the album, which is nearly impossible to find in CD form these days has been brought back (by VP Records, I believe) and is going digital. It wasn’t GREAT or EARTHSHAKING (and certainly not breathtaking), but it was very good music (my personal favourite (which I knew on site) was ’God’s Identification’) (also loved ’Too Late) and here’s another opportunity to take a listen and check Yami Bolo and Richie Spice making guest stops.

Releases on February 15
Extremely hard-to-find CD + Digital

“Changes” [EP] by Gentleman [VP Records]

I thought that I’d mention Gentleman’s new EP release, ”Changes”, not based on the EP itself, of course, but more based on what it means. In advance of big new releases, sometimes VP Records puts out a digital EP (Etana is apparently so big that she got two) (more on her tomorrow) and that’s obviously what’s going on here as well as this piece was presumably dropped in advance of the full-on album from Gentleman, 2010‘s ”Diversity”, finally being given a full wide ranging release by VP. Stay tuned.

Releases on February 22
Digital

“Genesis” by Maikal X [VP Records]

You can pretty much see what I just wrote about ”Changes” and apply it to this case as well because after a year or so of being stuck in Holland and only on Dutch iTunes, Maikal X’s debut album, the impressive ”Genesis” is finally given a worldwide release date by . . . VP Records. This isn’t very surprising as in 2008 Greensleeves picked up the worldwide release for Ziggi’s outstanding sophomore effort, ”In Transit” and, of course, that album, just like this one comes courtesy of Rock ‘N Vibes Entertainment.

See Review
Releases on February 15
CD + Digital

‘Keep The Joy’ [single] featuring Anthony B by Smiley [Love & Unity Music]

And lastly (after writing my ass off) - Coming soon this week is Achis Reggae favourite Smiley who taps another outstanding Jamaican chanter (after Junior Kelly), the about to be talked about Anthony B for his latest single, ‘Keep The Joy’. This damn song had me VEXED for the better part of about three days or so because I KNEW I’d known that riddim from somewhere and you’ll never guess where it caught on. I had this big sounding voice in my head and I couldn’t quite put my finger on whose it was, but I got it into my head that it was Mark Wonder and it was! I had the lyrics wrong (I was thinking, “oh Mama, don’t cry”) for the tune which turned out to be ‘Don’t Cry’, which of course . . . Features Anthony B! The Al.Ta.Fa.An. Produced song exists on the chanter’s MASSIVE ”My Hope” album, the ”Mark Wonder & Friends” set and two of the singer’s previously released tunes as well (and of course I wanted to know the name of the riddim and I knew that ”My Hope” had such information printed within its case, so I dug it up) (that’s what happens behind the scenes here at Achis Reggae people! Top notch research in a shoebox!) (and the riddim’s name is the Strength). Anyway, that goes to show what a truly small world it is and this one sounds like a big tune, looking forward to hearing it.

Potential Rating: 4/5
Releases on February 18
Digital

- In Stores Now -

“Rasta Love” by Anthony B [Born Fire Music]


'Love Is The Answer'

Okay so, ANTHONY B HAS A NEW ALBUM. It’s the same album (it even has the same title) of the release which was supposedly coming out on VP Records in 2009, but as it turns out, ”Rasta Love” becomes the direct followup to ”Life Over Death” from 2008 - On his own Born Fire Music label. Okay, so I recognize a few of the tunes on this album but not too many, so I won’t even try to go on about it a great deal, but I will tell you that it features combinations with the likes of Peter Tosh, Ky-Mani Marley, Gyptian and even George Nooks so yeah, it’s a big deal and get it before we do and tell me how it is. I do have a bit of a feeling about this one, but I’ll save that - right or wrong - for my review which is almost guaranteed to come later this month.

CD [Hopefully Digital]

{Note: Upon further research (I.e. actually looking at the tracklist) I do know quite a bit of the songs on this album, but I’ll keep my feelings to myself until I hear it full on}

‘Nature’ [single] by Tarrus Riley & Prince Koloni [Transportation Label]

I figured that I’d actually make it ‘official’ because I’ve been mentioning it a lot lately - Jamaican star Tarrus Riley links with Prince Koloni from out of Suriname to make a big single which is currently combusting all over the globe, ‘Nature’. The tune is receiving a very nice push and is now available for your digital consumption and hopefully it’ll lead to something pretty big (for Koloni, of course) like an album, which is reportedly on its way in 2011.

Digital

‘In Love With Me’ [single] by Blazer Dan [Freezeland Entertainment]

Biggup Blazer Dan who may actually have a full length album dropping this year, but until then, Freezeland Entertainment (from out of Canada, I believe), are releasing a single for the singer which comes in a very nice Lover’s Rock old school style, ‘In Love With Me’. It’s a bit different than what I’m used to hearing from Blazer (that type of stuff is next), but it’s a very nice song and we wished he may’ve gotten the chance to do more of it - If you do not know, Blazer Dan was killed last October in his native Trinidad.

Digital

The Pitch Bend Riddim [Jusshane Productions]


'Deuces' by Ms. Alysha

And lastly, I always try to make it a point to mention Soca releases and this week we have a digital release of a very nice piece, the Pitch Bend Riddim from Jusshane Productions. It’s a very ‘formal’ production obviously as the three artists voiced are Mr. Raymond, Mista Vybe and lyrics machine Ms. Alysha! So check it out, not too heavy on the jump and wave, but cool cool Soca indeed.

Digital

Big Tunes #44

Pretty interesting week yeah??? Pretty interesting group of songs this week to match also. I got so much this week, I literally got 5 Soca songs this week - And I narrowed it down to two of them for . . . Pretty much no reason and I manage to mix in some Reggae and I have no idea what my tune is this week so I'm going to pick some Reggae too to balance it out. But we have one real veteran, one kind of veteran and a completely new person so - Yeah - Let's do it.

Okay, first up this week is Denis from Florida who I'm pretty sure is 'secretly' from Greenz because this is the second song he's ever sent and the first was a combination between Sizzla and Mr. Killa so - Yeah. Anyway, this week he does me a bit of a favour because I never heard this tune from last season. Everyone is searching for Jenny, but only Synnah knows where she is, she's 'Down In De Cocoa' (with a Jab Jab apparently). MADNESS!

We're going to alternate Soca:Reggae this week (so notice the colour changes and also notice the fact that Julian from Da Ville told us how to just get the audio blocks from Youtube so big him up and also biggup Bredz) so next up is by far the most decorated of participants on this list this week, JP (who is either from North Carolina or New York by way of Guyana - I think is North Carolina) (damn I hate being dumb) who comes through STELLARLY (not a word) with a most remote drop from the year I was born: It's Sowell Radics (biggup Matilda) with 'All Nite Jammin'. The vocals on this tune are very nice, but what stands out is actually when they stop and that SWEET (!!!) riddim just continues out. Excellent selection, as usual, from JP. Happy 2011 my friend.

And lastly from my wonderful readers this week is a tune from Nat (a girl) who is originally from Brazil, but is now doing her studies in Toronto. Nat is a rookie to this post, but I 'know' her from longtime - She's a Reggae head who's starting to get more and more into Soca. Hopefully I've had a bit to do with that, but definitely living in Toronto probably has helped as well. This week she doesn't venture out too far by pulling in Shurwayne Winchester along with Collie Buddz on the remix of the former's big hit, 'Allequa'. I still prefer the original (but not by a lot), but biggup Nat who said that she's about to become a regular here and she listens to a lot of strange shit, so stay tuned.

Okayyyyyyyy! I still have absolutely no idea what I'm picking this week and I'm simply writing this to kill time while I'm thinking about it . . . OKAY! I have a good one I think. Because we talked about him this past week and I'm probably going to mention him again tomorrow - It's Prince Koloni with an older big tune, 'Thank You Jah Jah' and if you love (and you might) or you just want to hear more, you can find this tune on his debut (I THINK) self titled album which apparently is on iTunes so enjoy!

• Happy Earthday Robert Nesta Marley
• Reviews this week for Etana and . . . Hopefully Alpheus or maybe Ele
• Biggup Nico The Mighty and biggup Ras Jay
  
• I should probably say something about the Superbowl and here it is: Bredz thinks that Greenbay is going to win 20-10.
• Wanna participate? Link us at AchisReggae@hotmail.com. We do your big tune suggestions each and every Sunday, unless I find something better to do.
  

Video Drop #17

{Note: Please excuse the absolutely and assuredly AWFUL writing which accompanies some of these. I believe I passed out several times while doing it}

‘Fame Is Gone’ by Stevy Mahy [Directed by Pasquale Pagano]

First up this week we have a video which quite forced my hand to do a ‘video drop’ this week - It’s the latest single from “The Beautiful Side of A Kreyol Folk Trip” from Achis Reggae favourite Stevy Mahy (who I just discovered actually Face-booked our review of her album) (Stevy we love you!), ’Fame Is Gone’. This was definitely an interesting choice following the devastating ‘Beautiful’ and the lovely ‘Something About You’, but when you consider the likelihood that this tune is probably the most English she delivers on the entire album, perhaps it makes sense. Seemingly to mark the occasion, Stevy and company head to the States and make stops in what appears to be New York, Las Vegas and California. I do so much love the colours in this one and definitely following Stevy Mahy is fun (especially when she’s showing off those hips). Anyway, while I may be reading into things too much here, I think that the connection here is that she goes to all of this big and quite glamourous places and she’s able to do so without a big fanfare - She somewhat fades away in these places which is what would also happen when the ‘fame is gone’. Very well done.

Video Rated: 4.75/5
Video - Song Link: 4.75/5

‘Two Lontan’ by Methi’S [Directed by DeeJay Slam]

Next in, speaking of glamourous (and Frenchies), is another Achis Reggae favourite with a new single from their latest album, Methi’S with ‘Two Lontan’ from ”Mon Nid D’iles”. The video is helmed by the same DeeJay Slam who also has made his own artist, Kénédy, look absolutely SPECTACULAR on his past three or four clips and he does a pretty nice job on Methi’S (who shocks all by proving herself tall enough to actually drive a car) as well (if you are a Zouk singer and want to look GOOD, you may want to call up DeeJay Slam for your next video. The video itself isn’t spectacular, but it is very colourful and the main thing which I’ll say about it is that it actually makes me enjoy the song CONSIDERABLY more. The tune was always very accessible and had a nice vibes but it sounds even more so, on both sides here, as we check in on a day in the life of Methi’S.

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

‘Nature’ by Tarrus Riley & Prince Koloni

Reggae superstar Tarrus Riley teams up with up and coming Prince Koloni from out of Suriname (I think he lives in Guyane now) for a big piece of ‘green’ tune, ‘Nature’ which has been receiving quite a bit of attention (as does anything which Riley does these days). It’s also been released digitally and they’ve now made a video for the tune even. The song is fairly straight forward and the resulting video certainly doesn’t surprise any at all. It’s just showing off the nice scenery (CLEARLY of two different areas as you never see Koloni and Riley with each other) and it, effectively, serves its purpose and I’d definitely imagine that this tune would continue to do a bigger and bigger piece of damage and do so far reaching.

Video Rated: 3.5/5
Video - Song Link: 4.25/5

‘Rasta Love’ featuring Ky-Mani Marley by Protoje [Directed by LeAnn Ollivierre]

Here’s the latest much discussed most interesting venture from the most interesting Protoje from his most interesting debut set, ”Seven Year Itch”, ‘Rasta Love’, which features Ky-Mani Marley and finally gets its own video. This video is excellent! Protoje has (short) history of doing excellent things with his ‘musical visual aids’ and this time the Dreamseeker does him very nicely. The video follows the tune for the most part as we meet a young lady having difficulties with her family, her Father in particular because she’s fallen for a Rastaman. Of course you’ve heard hundreds and hundreds of tunes like such, but this one is slightly different. She sneaks out runs amongst him (played by Protoje), his friends and elders and you can genuinely see how interested and how COMFORTABLE she is with them which is certainly an experience had by so many people, male and female. It ultimately does become a rather normal love story, but definitely the interest here comes in the young lady and watching her move closer and closer to her ’natural element’.

Video Rated: 4.75/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Taking You Home’ by Romain Virgo [Directed by Karl Durrant]

Another Achis Reggae favourite with another latest single from another latest album - The outstanding Romain Virgo brings in his latest video from his big 2010 self-titled debut album, ’Taking You Home’. I’ve grown to love this tune over the last year or so and by the time it arrived I was pretty happy that it was chosen to be featured next. The video features a (SEXY, chocolate) young lady who had been . . . Beaten by her boyfriend (who looks like Admiral T) and has (THANKFULLY) left him. She runs into a most accommodating Virgo in a café and the two become acquainted. This video comes close, but never crosses the line of being damn sappy and I really like it. I like the way that when you see the features cut in with the boyfriend, it’s very dark and ‘grayish’, but when she’s with Virgo, we actually get to go outside and enjoy the scenery, which is literal and, at least I’d suggest’ figurative as well. Well done.

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

‘To Live’ by Diana Rutherford [Directed by Sherkhan]

Lastly this week (even though I know I should include Wayne Wonder, I’ll have to get to it next time, because I’m entirely too lazy at this point) (even though it’s . . . Thursday and I’m not posting this until Saturday) (Yay for me) is the new video from another favourite of mine, Sherkhan and Tiger Records, who serve up the video for the latest single from ‘The Tigress’, Diana Rutherford - ’To Live’. This is a pretty flashy video for a pretty flashy tune as we follow Rutherford, in a very fashion-showy/runway-ish style to various photo shoots (they might want to go and contact a gentleman by the name of DeeJay Slam). Of course the highlight is the fact that she looks REALLY good and when you look good and you are willing to appear . . . Looking good - That’s a good thing! The song clearly has outer-Reggae aspirations and it’s damn catchy and, again, Rutherford is pretty easy on the eyes so perhaps that type of thinking isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

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

'Born For This': A Review of "Live On: Tribute To Culture" by Kenyatta Hill

It’s almost become a cliché these days - Hearing an artist saying something along the lines of “I was born to make this music” or my personal favourite, “I never choose the music, the music chose me”. I can even distinctly remember Reggae oddity I Wayne, when he first arrived on the big stage of Reggae music crediting the wind as his greatest source of inspiration. Seemingly it is the allure to the word ‘natural’ and ‘nature’ which drives such statements as, perhaps there exists some mythical artist who does nothing but make music night and day because to him, it is as ‘natural’ as breathing. The absurdity of most of those situations understood, certainly there are some situations where almost LITERALLY music was something which became less of a profession or a thing to do for someone and was actually more of a LIFESTYLE or a culture of sorts. In Reggae, of course we look at people like the Marleys and the Morgans - These big families of Reggae musicians who come from this ever extending line of blood related predecessors. In their case, there’s never a surprise of what or who, more importantly, is next to take up the music because (particularly with the Marleys) doing so is just what is expected of you and perhaps not by your family, but YOU, Reggae fan, if you ever met someone with a dread or a just Caribbean accent named Marley, what is the first thing that would come into your mind? Exactly. Also, going around the actual family setting we can think about certain artists coming up in various places around the world who came up in situations where music was maybe not the ONLY way out of poor conditions, but it was the most obvious. I look at someone such as Beenie Man or Bounty Killer or even Elephant Man who grew up in the very violent ghettos in Kingston and looked at music IMMEDIATELY as something which could change the course of their lives and the lives of their families and all of these years later, we see how successful they managed to become. But, with all of those things being said, those are, admittedly more obvious examples. My name isn’t Marley, I didn’t grow up in a ghetto (I grew up in a Garden) and you can obviously see what I spend my time doing, Jamaica is just a very musical place - One could argue that it is a NATURALLY musical place. Still, even with that being the case, perhaps it is an even greater source of nature which would allow a man to SUDDENLY become the lead voice of one of the greatest Reggae groups of all time.

'Daddy' [Not on this album]

I don’t know Kenyatta Hill, but seriously out of the MANY stories we deal with each and every week, his is one of the most remarkable of them all as a man of . . . I don’t know, I’d guess Hill is in his 30’s and he would have been in his late 20’s or so when his career began. It was August of 2006 when his Father, the legendary Joseph Hill of Culture, passed away and immediately after his death, the career of his son began and IN HIS PLACE! Having been a lead ENGINEER for his Father, Kenyatta didn’t get the opportunity to perform at some show in some obscure corner of the world in front of 100 people. He didn’t sing songs on some elevated piece of wood in a yard in Kingston. He dove in head first singing his Father’s music which just happened to be some of the greatest and most well recognized that our genre has to offer. Kenyatta Hill, most impossibly, was looked at to REPLACE his Father. And he has done excellently! In only four and a half years, his career now comes ‘full-circle’ as he releases an album of him singing some of Culture’s greatest work, ”Live On: Tribute To Culture”. Previously, he had done a similar thing on an album from 2007, ”Pass The Torch” which featured him singing tunes alongside his Father (and included a song certain to make you cry, the HUGE tune, ‘Daddy’ and you can guess what that one is about), but just as was the case when Joseph Hill died, this time, Kenyatta is all on his own (technically). Just last month, we saw what could happen when such a thing goes on in the scope of modern Reggae as the (normally) STERLING Bushman served up what was pretty much a dud in ”Bushman Sings The Bush Doctor”, an album featuring him singing the songs of another Reggae great, Peter Tosh. I almost had to compare these two, because I didn’t get very far at all through ”Live On” without asking myself the question I found myself asking myself somewhere in the middle of Bushman’s album: ‘Where in the hell is passion?’ Fortunately, Hill had a proper response because he brings the passion and the intensity where it is supposed to exist on every song, so while it isn’t Joseph Hill singing Joseph Hill’s songs and it never will be again for us, it is another individual seemingly BORN to sing this music. He didn’t hatch this idea a few years ago, it was kind of given to him, but surely Kenyatta Hill has grown up with this music apart of his life and he was, actually, BORN into it, so who better to carry the mantle? Of course, he doesn’t have to do it alone. At the production helm of ”Live On”, shockingly and fittingly, is one of the greatest producers of Reggae music in the world - Who happens to not be very active in terms of Jamaican Reggae music, Dean Pond and his Rymshot Productions imprint. The brilliant Pond is best known for his work with Virgin Islands Reggae music and has produced and played for just about EVERYONE, but as of late, he’s been most associated with superstar Pressure Busspipe, for whom he has produced two of three albums - both 2009’s solid ”Coming Back For You” and the opus debut album, ”Pressure Is On”. Pond also did manage to run out a very nice album, ”Closure” for the Jamaican born Maurice - But certainly his wouldn’t be a name thought of to manage this project - But very few are more capable. The album comes off absolutely without a hitch or a glitch as Kenyatta Hill does his Father more than proud.

As I mentioned when we dealt with the Bushman album, when you embark upon a project like such, you really have a nice opportunity to give a new life to your songs. As popular as Culture was, I was never their biggest fan (I wasn’t the biggest fan of Peter Tosh’s either actually but, like in this situation, you’re almost inherently familiar with their music) and listening through this album it definitely gave me a few reasons to go back and question my choices of my favourite Culture songs - Offering up a few more possibilities. The prime example of this on ”Live On: Tribute To Culture” by Kenyatta Hill, is the opening track, ‘Behold’ which is a song I knew and respected, but hearing it here? I LOVE IT! It’s not my favourite song from Culture, but it is my favourite tune on this album. TEARS! The song is nearly paralyzingly beautiful and when I first dropped in on it, I was so surprised because like I said, I remember the song, but I don’t remember it sounding this good, but going back and vibing the original now - I have a new found respect and love for it and I’m sure I won’t be the only one to say that. MASSIVE start. Next up is a tune which didn’t need much of a boost in my eyes, one of Culture’s biggest tunes ever in my opinion, ‘Iron Sharpen Iron’. This tune is pretty near impossible to screw up and Kenyatta doesn’t even come close to making it dip much at all. And finally from the opening lot is another tune in ‘Armagiddion War’ which I haven’t paid a great deal of attention to in its original state and although not a standout for me on this album, it sent me back to have more than a couple of listens to the big version and you can well bet, again, that I’m not the only one thinking such a thing - So when you sing a song proper and give it a life and give it an emotion, this is what can and usually does happen.

I can remember when everyone really first got a listen to Kenyatta Hill’s voice, how much it was said that he sound so much like his Father and their voices are very similar, but I think the slight difference (the younger Hill’s voice isn’t as consistently high and he also seems to have a slight more EDGE as well) is what ‘helps’ because it turns out that several of my favourite tunes on ”Live On” aren’t really my favourite Culture songs. A song like ‘Land Where We Belong’ is another strong example. I barely even remembered this one and got well into the second minute of the tune before I caught on, but it is GORGEOUS! ‘How Did I Stray’, although entirely more familiar, is another tune which really shines on this album and is one of the best lyrical performances as well.

“21,000 miles away from home and you bring I here and treat I like a brute
Tell I, how did I stray
If you were the stranger and I were the host, I would not dare treat you like this
Tell I, how did I stray
Where’s the justice and where’s the freedom?
And see how you treat I in apartheid system
Tell I how did I stray”

Easily ‘Lion Rock’ is another tune which would fall into this category and maybe even embarrassingly so. The song was the title track for a Culture album (which I own), but I just . . . Never thought too much of it. Here it is exceptional and, again, going back and spinning the original and so is it. I mean the tune is just so strong that you wonder how I wouldn’t have noticed it (the answer is called ‘getting old(er), of course). And finally on this note would be ‘Fussing & Fighting’, which would be another tune that I was well familiar with prior to ”Live On”, but was one which I didn’t think much of, these days, however, it’s sounding much much better. In my own personal case, it comes to just changing. As I’ve spoken on considerably over the past few years, as I get older I find my tastes changing and while my collection of Culture tunes and albums is fairly large, I just wouldn’t have felt the onus to go back and have somewhat of a random listen to tunes which I didn’t recall so much, were it not for this excellent release.

Now, when you can get my attention and make me go drifting back through the archives for tunes which I was previously somewhat lukewarm to - That’s one thing - Giving me a nice dosage of some of my favourite songs is another still and there’s a nice sampling of such songs on ”Live On” as well. I’ve always loved ‘International Herb’ and it’s always made me smile as well. Joseph Hill had a way with words and tones which just kind of made certain songs, to me at least, seem kind of funny because he made them seem ‘casually important’ and ‘International Herb’ was such a song definitely. Kenyatta doesn’t quite capture his Father’s unique quality on the song, but he does give it a style of its own and I love it here as well. ‘See Dem Come’ is probably my second favourite tune on the entire album and it’s also one of my favourites from Culture.

“Jah Jah see dem ah come
But I & I ah conqueror
Jah Jah see dem ah come
But I & I ah conqueror

I’m not afraid my God of the terror by night
Nor by the pestilence that waiteth at noon
To capture Jah children and take them away”

There’s the somewhat funny ‘Money Girl’ which Kenyatta NAILS completely and he does the same for ‘Wings Of A Dove’ which I think is one of the m ore underrated selections from Culture. That song (which had an album named after it) is another one which has always made me smile and this may be a case where Kenyatta actually takes it up a notch from the wonderful song his Father left us with because it is outstanding. ‘Two Sevens Clash’ is somewhat obligatory and I’m almost embarrassed to call it my favourite Culture song ever, but it is (‘Mr. Sluggard’ is up there as well). The tune contains what has to be regarded as one of the most popular (and best) choruses in the history of Reggae music and, again, Kenyatta Hill makes it sound so nice. This song is so popular that I doubt he’s going to gain many NEW fans with it, but doesn’t it just sound so nice to hear someone who CLEARLY loves and respects this music singing it with a passion. ”Live On: Tribute To Culture” reaches its end with another couple of big and well known efforts, ‘I’m Not Ashamed’ and ‘Natty Never Get Weary’. Both have always been special for me, the latter in particular, and Hill sends things out with excellent renditions a couple of his Father’s greatest hits.

Overall, it got to the point somewhere in the middle of this album where you really feel Kenyatta Hill coming into his own as an artist, but maybe he didn't have very far to come. What I mean is that not only is there the passion that I was seeking, but there’s also a rather large bit of confidence as well and for someone who’s been singing professionally for less than five years - That just doesn’t seem very normal. Surely it helped him that, by the time of this recording (at least presumably), he would’ve had some nice experience singing these songs, but with this material, as the premise of this review would suggest, I think Hill had some help in the fact that he was singing material that he may’ve LITERALLY been born to sing and, at the very least, he’s been around for his entire life. When you size up something like that then ”Live On” definitely becomes a little less surprising although not at all less powerful. Excellent.

Rated: 4.5/5
Rymshot Productions
2011
Digital
Kenyatta Hill @ Myspace

What I'm Listening To: February

The Drop Leaf Riddim [Don Corleon Records - 2005]

Only youuuuuuuu! Clearly one of the best riddims of all time (with absolutely no qualification) - This week the dominant thing on my players (and it was last week as well) was the album for super producer, Don Corleon’s, opus from way back in 2004/05, the immortal Drop Leaf Riddim. While coming through in what would have been the end of Riddim Driven’s and Greensleeves Rhythm Album Series heydays, Corleon (who had multiple releases on the latter) chose to put this one out on his own and through In The Streetz Records (and the same with his two subsequent follow-ups, the Seasons and Heavenly Riddims, respectively) and although fairly difficult to find for most people, it still carried quite a bit of strength in actual album form. Why? Because it was absolutely beautiful. There were the big hits from the likes of Jah Cure, Gentleman, T.O.K and Sizzla (whose song, ‘It’s Ok, in my opinion still, was completely horrible) and tunes such as ‘Your Best Friend’ by Morgan Heritage and ‘I Believe’ by Maxi Priest which were arguably just as strong. Also on board were Bounty Killer, Luciano, Tanya Stephens and Anthony B and a clean track (and Jeffrey Star) and all of that in just twelve tracks which was remarkable and with that “intoxicating” track made this one arguably one of the greatest riddim albums of all time.

“Inna Di Road” by Chezidek [Greensleeves Records - 2007]


'Troublemaker'

Credit for bringing this seemingly older than actually is Massive B produced release from the outstanding Chezidek definitely goes to his 2010 release ”Judgement Time” (which I’m actually listening to even more these days, but I’m tired of writing about it so I didn’t include it here). I think that, following that album, I’ve a pretty healthy newfound respect for all of Chezidek’s music these (with the exception of ”Rising Sun”, of course) and as of late I’ve turned such respect in the direction of ”Inna Di Road”. Definitely the big attraction here was arguably the biggest tune of Chezidek’s entire career, the MASSIVE ‘Call Pon Dem’, but there was also another pretty sizable hit in ‘Leave The Trees’ and just general goodness to be found on songs such as the title track, the heavy ‘Me Nah Run’, ‘Troublemaker’ (LOVE LOVE LOVE that song now!) and a whole heap of others on what . . . Maybe I won’t go that far (you know what I’m thinking) - But this was an EXCELLENT album and one of Chezi’s finest altogether to date.

“Len Out Mi Mercy” by Merciless [Annex - 1995]


'Len Out Mi Mercy'

So yeah - I know you’re probably laughing at me right now for having dug up this old and obscure piece of an album - But I don’t care, I don’t like you that much anyway. As for how Merciless’ ”Len Out Mi Mercy” album (the bastardized version of what would ultimately become still his only remotely serious release to date, ”Mr. Merciless” from VP) made its way onto my players in January 2011 . . . I don’t know. Perhaps it has to do with the Dancehall withdrawal I’m currently experiencing. Still, I am going to at least attempt to make a case for it. If you didn’t know, regardless of what you may hear from just about everyone, Merciless used to be WICKED! He still is actually, but years and years of poor choices, musical and none musical, have definitely outshone that fact as of late. Things were a lot different a decade and a half ago, however, and this set for Harvel ‘Gadaffi’ Hart of the once mighty Annex Records remains a standing highlight of that time. ”Len Out Mi Mercy” shared most of its top moments with the far more well known ”Mr. Merciless” such as the title track, ‘Talk Already’ (madness!), ‘When The Almighty Come’ and of course ‘God Alone’ alongside Action Fire and Little Hero. But, it also happened to contain at least two tracks which are unique to it, ‘Killer From Birth’ which is a bit tune and a personal favourite of mine, the truly ridiculous (“make sure ah nah my name you call”) ‘Scotland Yard’. And fuck you if you’re still laughing (damn album had like four riddims on it, just used over and over)!

“Twilight Sound System Presents Rasta International” [M Records - 2006]

Brando - 'Greater Than Great'

I found this near gem buried on a hard drive that I had been meaning to clean out for the better part of a year or so and when I did, it struck me that ”Rasta International” from Dutchie label M Records (who also put out a very underrated Turbulence album, ”I Believe”, back in 2005) contained a HUGE tune. I didn’t jump there, however (as I was actually considering this one for a vault review), and thankfully I gave the rest of the album a healthy listen because it also contains stellar efforts from the likes of Queen Ifrica, Natural Black, Lutan Fyah, Admiral Tibet, Mikey General and Luciano. Also on board were two tracks from veteran Fred Locks who wasn’t the only name on board to get a double dose on the album. He was joined by a BLAZING Ras Brando who served up ‘Greater Than Great’ and the DEVASTATING ‘The Conquering Lion’ over M Records’ KNOCKING Binghi Riddim.

“Pressure Is On” by Pressure [Tsuni Records - 2005]

'Zion Is Home'

If you’re simply tired of me writing about this album, you can thank Blaak Lung who provided me with the most recent album I slapped a review on, ”Be Ever” (and how interesting and coincidental is it that the producer of this album is also the producer of the next album that I’m going to be reviewing), which contained a tune by the name of ’Prepare’ (big tune), which was a combination between Blaak and Pressure Busspipe. On that tune Pressure says a lyric which I was sure I’d heard before, so I hopped back over to his debut album, the Dean Pond produced ”Pressure Is On”, to find the tune - Which turned out to be the best on the album, ‘Zion Is Home’ . . . And I got stuck! Each and every time I crack this one open, for whatever reason, I find something new to like and that song is . . . actually almost the entire album is LYRICAL PERFECTION. These days I find myself, more and more, complimenting Pressure on just how strong he’s become lyrically, but maybe he hasn’t come that far at all because this is outstanding. And I’ve certainly dissected this album, and done so ad nauseam, but seriously it’s 2011 and it’s been on shelves for nearly six years at this point - You NEED it in your collection.

“Revolution” [EP] by Queen Omega [Special Delivery - 2008]

'Revolution'

On the same drive that I found the aforementioned ”Rasta International” (which I would subsequently clear of ~ thirty gigs of old music to ~ four now) I also found this very nice piece which I didn’t actually remember listening to (stuff just gets BURIED). Well, I dusted it off and gave it a spin. With exception of the title track (actually including the title track) everything on ”Revolution” from SPECTACULAR Trini Reggae Empress, Queen Omega and Special Delivery (who also did her ”Destiny” album) was very familiar. ‘Big Up Papa’ was her cut of the old relick of the Dis Ya Time Riddim, while the other tune, ‘Good Cannabis’ was her offering from the Je T’aime Riddim. Of course the big deal here, however, was the title track which was a combination of Queen Omega alongside German Reggae star, Gentleman (who I find myself writing about more and more these days for some reason) (biggup Protoje) and a MASSIVE tune.

The G-Shock Riddim [D&H Records/Subkonshus Music - 2011]

Tiwony - 'Leaders'

And finally, the newest thing you can dominating on Achis Reggae airwaves as of late has been the captivating new G-Shock Riddim from D&H Records from out of France and Subkonshus from Jamaica. The link is quite obvious when you dig into things. The riddim is an excellent (and actual) Dancehall riddim (Dancehall one-drop riddim too) and it carries a very varied roster of artists. On one side you have names such as Konshens, Delus, Fambo, Nitty Kutchie, Singer J and up and coming very impressive wordsmith Darrio. And they’re combined with names such as Tiwony (who is FUCKS UP the riddim’s biggest tune, ‘Leaders’ and does mostly in English), Straïka D (also mostly in English), Mad Killah and even the Red Eye Crew (mad!) on a big tune. I absolutely love the mix on this one and it’s just into February, but it’s probably my favourite riddim of 2011 thus far. Yeah.