Stuff: The End?!

No. Not really. Well, kind of. Maybe. But, perhaps not. Somewhat. Eh?

Time to go!

Yow!

Longtime since we do one of these and I specifically waited until I was at least 65% unconscious before I began to write it, so I wouldn't write too much. I'm thinking that's a pretty good idea at this point. So before I tell you what's going on around here, two things on the top of my mind.

• First of all, I haven't checked the messages today, so I hope she didn't link us again, which will make this seem . . . Kind of late I suppose. But we have a really nice person who deals with us occasionally by the name of Susan. I'm not going to tell you who she is exactly, but she's a . . . Reggae business . . . Type of person. She always has good information and observations and I just wanted to say that she's REALLY the type of person I'm happy to have met in doing this. Just a top class individual! So biggup yourself Susan, we really appreciate everything you do and, like I said, you're such a nice person and I definitely love nice people! And thank you and I do agree about that album cover! But perhaps they were thinking 'less is more'.

Completely Random Picture

• Secondly, and this is totally random. Am I so completely socially awkward that I'm the only person who has EVER done this? I recently heard from a friend of mine who I met back in University and she reminded me of an 'incident'. Have you ever talked about someone . . . To that same person without knowing it? I remember sitting in a class once and watching some film or something and this guy next to me had his mouth wide open the entire time and he was breathing like he'd just ran four or five marathons. So I'd lost touch of what I was supposed to be watching and tuned in, almost exclusively, to the noise emanating from the area of this gentleman's face. After the class was over we were walking out, everything got shuffled around a bit and 'someone' asked me how I enjoyed the film and of course I said something along the lines of "it was nice, but I couldn't focus because the man sitting next to me was breathing like he was exhausted" . . . And "someone" was that same guy, with the loud face. So please keep that in mind if you're ever trying to get my attention: Sometimes "my attention" just does not exist!

Wonderful!

Still with us? If not, here's a picture of Lenora Crichlow.

Doing a great job of being human

Okay! Speaking of Lenora Crichlow! The second series of the Canadian version of her wonderful show, "Being Human" is back on the air. It, of course, features the also lovely Meghan Rath. I don't know how many episodes have shown thus far, but Bredz sent us one and . . . Yeah, Rath is a very very attractive human being and I don't really like TV, but "Being Human", either one of them, work for me. And I think that the UK version of the show is back on in March.

And speaking of stuff with vampires in it, I did see a little bit of a new film called "Underworld: Awakening" and I'll have to see the rest of it someday in a theatre, because it looked absolutely outstanding and I did like the first 2-3 movies from that as well. And I saw all of the new "Conan" movie also, but I didn't like it.

Is that all??? No!

Messages. I know we haven't been answering a lot of messages lately, I've been feeling a bit anti-social and I do hope to get to those sometime and we actually did a few. Oh! A looooooooong time ago someone from Canada sent a message asking where they could get the EP for Sara Lugo's new single, 'Locked Away'. They said that it wasn't available in their area, but I believe it's gone global now, so everyone, everywhere pick that up. And biggup Lugo because we did some press releases for her a few weeks ago and we haven't heard back (at least I don't think we have), so apparently they liked the work and everybody also pick up her album, "What About Love" - it is stupid not to.

Now available in your region . . . probably

Is that it??? Fortunately I've forgotten what else I had to say, so here we go: What's going on?

I like this place. Writing this blog is pretty much a form of therapy for me and I need pretty much every drop of therapy I can get, particularly when it's free. But! I have stuff to do and, shockingly, I'm still young enough to try and do a few things - accomplish a few dreams that I've had. And I've never wanted this place to become the type of blog which was kind of randomly updated. I think I distinguish myself from everyone else who writes Reggae because I normally have this MOUNTAINOUS amount of free time and, I can write all day long, and when I'm at my best, I do. So what does that mean? Well in the immediate future it means that we're going on a break, which is what we do in February anyway. I'm not at all thrilled about Soca so far in 2012, but . . . I'm looking forward to becoming thrilled. There will be no Fay-Ann and no Bunji at Soca Monarch this year (at least not competing, but can you imagine if they did a medley at the intermission) (WHAT!), but we'll jump up in their absence (Destra is coming back again, however) and I have actual work to do related to it all now and everything seems to be working out properly (finally) and I'm just looking forward to everything (and someday, hopefully, you'll be sitting in a theatre somewhere in the world, taking in the Carnival experience in 3D).

BUT! We will be back kind of . . . I don't know how it's going to work, but we were talking about perhaps making this page an archive and starting anew on another one. I don't know how that's going to work, but we'll let you know. So that means I won't be around in February, but there is SO MUCH nice music jumping up this month such as:

Coming in February

I'm still working on listening to those, but I can confidently tell you right now that, I-Octane's album is EXCEPTIONAL. It's very very good. And there's a lot more out there too, everybody check out releases from Da Professor and Midnite in 2012.

And that's it! We'll be back in March[ish] with probably a new location. Don't send me anything on a link at least for a couple of weeks because Bredz is coming down. Biggup everyone! I'm tired! Biggup my family! Get to see some people for the first time in a little while. Biggup Susan, like I said, James for sending us the new Fred Locks album (I think that's releasing in February also. Biggup Zojak Worldwide. Biggup Sherkhan, I will take a listen to that when we get back and I always wanted to write a review for Basil's album too, so we'll be doing that also! Hey Heather! Go and check out all of my friends on the sidebar over there. Biggup Dale Cooper, check out his new blog (Dale Cooper I randomly got four tunes from Aima Moses awhile back, one of them 'Don't Come Close', is pretty good. Biggup Nico. Angus the man who I want to be like when I grow up and Camille also, hopefully he'll have me back someday (he better. I'm wicked!). Everybody check out United Reggae. And blah blah blah blah (biggup Nadia Batson). I forgot people, but I'm falling asleep.

Oh! And biggup everyone who reacted to 'Album of The Year' related stuff. Actually it was quite positive. The most interesting bit of info is that someone from Macedonia or Montenegro (some European country beginning with an M) (maybe it was Moldova???) who wanted permission to reprint that madness in their own language so biggup Montenegro or Macedonia.

That's it! Go find something better to do with your time for awhile. Won't be too difficult (AT ALL!).

Here's a song. Favourite old random tune right now!

'Team Up' by Jah Mason

Have fun everyone! We'll see you new and improved when we get back.

Do not respect authority! Do not remember to take your medications! Do nothing productive with yourself! EVER!

BALANCE & No Behaviour - NONE!
RasAchis

Lyrics!: The Roundtable Vol. 1

A simple celebration of the spoken word.

{Note: Vol. 2, whenever we get there, is all female artists}
{Note 2: Stuff Tomorrow}
{Note 3: Nooooooooooooooooo behaviour}
{Note 4: NONE!}

"My powaz mek the wicked disappear
My powaz manifest and Rastaman seet clear
My powaz mek the wicked disappear
My powaz manifest and Rastaman seet clear
My powaz mek the wicked disappear
Selassie I seh fi harness it and tek good care
Any hour babylon fi disappear
Black Man yah nah fi fraid to acknowledge yah fears!

Clutch in gear!
Clutch in gear!
Pressure haffi, go explode the frontier
Hey babylon, yah destruction get near
Standin on di Afrikan shore, mi ah stare
Chant Nyahbinghi, thump di bass and di snare
Mi seh yu nah fi ask if a turban mi wear
If ya Black, ya Black
Well if not, then what do you care?
So much frustration and tears"
-Pressure Busspipe from 'My Powaz'

"Some juvenile no tek no talk
Inna broad daylight, dem ah walk wid di gun
Skylark wid di gun
Siddung pon sidewalk wid di gun
Serious, nah laugh wid di gun
Dem life ah go dung wid di gun
When Kingfish come, mi si nuff a dem ah run wid di gun
Dem flex wid di gun
Tek fence wid di gun
Talk bout self de fense wid di gun"
- Busy Signal from '2 Much Gun'

"Mi dun si dem move!
Mi dun si dem flex!
Mi get fi ovastand seh nuff ah flex lak Rex!
Mi dun si dem move!
Mi dun si dem flex!
What kind a move dem ahgo mek next!

Mi tell dem live clean and dem gone live dutty
Selassie I commandment?
Dem run go bruk it
Dem heart, it no clean
Dem mind, it smutty
Watch how dem ah move lak a dogs and puppy
Caan escape!
No care how dem lucky
Watch how dem ah flex lak Jason & Chucky!
Well you no si seh dem a walkin duppy!
Dutty livity!
Mi ah beg unuh fi lef it!"
-Jah Mason from 'Si Dem Move'

"Mek gal bend up dem back lak chiropractor
In di Soca thing, I am di Soca reactor
I am bad, lak a nuclear reactor
Mek people wave up dem rag, just like helicopter
IN DI SOCA BIBLE I AM DI FIRST CHAPTER!
Any time I perform, dem bwoy caan perform after!
Soca Monarch night is going to be a disaster!
Shake down stadium, from pillars to rafters!"
-Mr. Killa from 'All Gettonaz'

"I don't want no CD, no MP3
Don't want no love to come download me
So fed up with technology -
Computer lovin is not for me
Let's take it old school, like '83
Put me pon di table, like a record - spin me
I wanna feel ya needle baby (DAMN!)
Scratch it, scratch it, scratch it, scratch it, scratch it for me!

Like a record, spin, spin, spin, spin me yeah
You're my DJ spin, spin, spin, spin me yeah
Love the way you play, spin, spin, spin, spin me yeah
Me yeah, me yeah, me yeah!

Put me on wax, oh yeah I want that
And then you press me and I'll press back
Love when you set me all in your rack
I know that I'm at the top of your stack
And you can pitch it if you wanna go slower
And you can mix cause you got the power
Just when you thought it was gonna end
You wheel me, wheel me, wheel and come again!"
-Alaine from 'Spin Me'

"Carnival in TnT is so special to alla we
Like we need blood in wi veign
That's how wi feel about Port of Spain
When di posse dem come in town
Beating pan and all bongo drum -
It's madness everywhere
Carnival is yah true freedom
Mek a noise or a joyful sound
And jump up in di air!

Everybody tek a jump, tek a jump, tek a jump up now!
Start to wave, start to wave, start to wave up now!
Start to wine, start to wine, start to wine up now -
Because - It's Carnival!"
-Ms. Destra Garcia from 'Carnival'

"Rastafari recognize the root of it all!
This ya iniversal concept is the truth of it all!
You must remember babylon denomination dominate dominion, amphibian, opinion - the spook of it all
Africa levitify and purify earth
I am not doubting my essence, mi nah scrutinize worth
Plant mi okra, mi ganja - maximize earth
Multi-complex
Complexion: Blacker than dirt!
Permedial structure, six pointed, erect and invert
Like locks to Rasta, ferments are antennas of earth
Breath of life, better life inna Kilimanjaro!
Africa strive, gathering might, now the cock it a crow
Trumpet sound! Gather around!
Just lift up unoo voice!
Man anoint ganja joint, the ash give it spice
We got - foods for your belly and the herbs to heal
Plain and simple, know it as it is. WHOA!"
-NiyoRah from 'African Chant'

"There's so much that we can do
And so much that we can say
Everyday that pass by, I keep getting stronger
Morality is fading is away
The children have nowhere to play
Indeed we are here, can't let this go further!
Go tell dem seh:

LION RULE THE EARTH!
And don't send parasites
Tell you all you caan come close!
Mek you know you caan come close!"
-Aima Moses from 'Don't Come Close'

"The earth start shaking, the sky start falling, this is not a place for me
Volcano erupting, the mountain collapsing, it's a calamity
I need to go where the big diamonds shine
Where I can slow down and clear up mi mind
Oh Zion!
Yes, I need to be myself -
Close to my Motherland

I wanna go home!
Oh Jah take me away
All my people they are lost, dem so far away
Go home!
To my island in the sun
4,000 miles away from babylon
I wanna go home!
I don't want to be elsewhere!
Dem gone far away!
Go home!
To my island in the sun
4,000 miles away from babylon

I saw so many places
I met so many faces
Still many more to see
My book have many pages
My life so many stages
It's just my livity
Babylon by bus man, mi caan stop
I'm trodding the world right, round di map
Mi tired but mi legs gonna keep mi right up
Yes I Jah, I shall never give up!
-Alborosie from 'I Wanna Go Home'

"It's all about simplicity
Living in a unity -
With your Brother, your Sister, your Uncle and Auntie
Simplicity!
As a bird in di tree
Fly away impurity
Fyah bun negativity

I could ah live in di old time days
When it's King Selassie I everyone ah praise
Living in the order of the perfect way
No joking, skylarkin, got no time to play
And Mama tek care of the youths so dem nah stray
Together as a family nuff time wi ah pray
Papa work hard to provide everyday -
And so it haffi stay
But the system designed to make things complicated
And everyone seem so frustrated!
Everywhere mi go, it's X-rated
But a you ah create it!"
-Queen Omega from 'Simplicity'

"Would try fi fight mi down
Try fi push I around
I know - Jah is always there
Would rejoice if I drown or get crush by di pound
I know - Jah is always there
In everything I do and in everything I say
I know - Jah is always there
HE brightens up my days
So to HIM I always pray
I know - Jah is always there!

Jah give I di blessing
Wicked heart, you, I'm addressing
Seh neva try to hold I down
I teach yah lesson
Who Jah bless, you cannot be cursing
And Hail Selassie I upon HIS throne
Everywhere I go, I know Jah is always there!
Therefore I know, inna mi goings I must have no fear!"
-Warrior King from 'Jah Is Always There'

"Bwoy no come dis yahso
Nah go live fi tomorrow
Lyrics weh mi have ah fullup a carT and bruk a wheelbarrow
Mind you lose yu marrow
Family inna sorrow
Weh di music constant, cross di world and mi ah run yahso
Claim seh yu ah lock yahso
But mi open up yah tow
Build some more school so ghetto youth dem can teach yah know
Seet deh now, mi have yahso
Right ya now mi rock yahso
Right ya now, I'm talkin to di man weh inna dat mirror

Mi badda dan di rest yah know
Tougher dan di rest yah know
Al dem ah talk, mi seh a mi dem caan test ya know
Good, better, best yah know
Neva let it rest ya know
Good become better and di better becomes best yah know"
-Beenie Man from 'Badder Than The Rest'

"Likkle children live what they learn
No bodda gwan lak a nah your concern
Good example must set for dem today
Doh lead dem astray
Don't mess up dem self-esteem
No bodda tampa wid di youths dem dream
Youths don't change your beautiful skin
Everybody couldn't be a browning!

If a bleach a must di one fi mi clothes
Neva rub mi forehead and mi nah go rub mi nose
I no want fi look like the King of Pop
So mi drop a thunderball inna dem bleaching shop
If a bleach, a must di one fi mi clothes
Mi ask dem why dem dweet and still nobody knows
Some seh dem waan to look like the King of Pop
So mi drop a thunder ball inna dem bleaching shop

Legalize di herb and ban di bleaching cream
Cuz a peer white man mi see ah walk pon di scene
Blue soap ah sell more than rice and sardine
Is like dem forget about Martin Luther dream
I no wear skirt, just look pon mi good
Mi neva wear tights so mi bun Robin Hood
And watch the type of clothes weh you go buy dung at di mall
And mind people think you have ties with Ru. . .
Some bwoy ah wear blouse and ah talk bout dem ah jig
Black woman no cut yah hair fi wear di Indian woman wig
Watch dem!
How dem look like Leprechaun?
Cah dem bleach out dem face and forget to rub dem hand
No colour lak Black, longtime mi know dat
And when mi si di Black puss, mi nah turn back
If I bleach, I mussi tek crack
I rather stay Black, Marcus Garvey love that!"
-Exco Levi from 'Bleaching Shop'

"There's nothing to worry about
Cause he'll be there
I have no doubts

In times like these when you find yourself in trouble
Take it easy, take it slow, don't make it double
In times like these when you find yourself alone -
No matter where you are, you walk in trouble zone
You feel the sky is falling on your head
Don't worry cause He said He would be there
He will guide you, trust me
He will brighten up the dark
Shine His glory on you, help you out when times get hard
No matter how big your troubles may be
With Him by your side, they're always tiny
You need not worry
Need not struggle
Need not fret
Cause all He really wants for you -
Is the best!"
-Sara Lugo from 'Nothing To Worry'

"Dis here a di King, di Prophet and di Higher Priest
There is no better way for me to trample the beast
Mi celebrate Jah Jah victory and Mussolini defeat
The power of Selassie I has no limit
Children be ready fi di Emperor!
Selassie is the Conqueror!
The People Protector
HE is our saviour

Glory!
Glory!
Glory dat wi hail
Haile Selassie I and Marcus and Emmanuel
If you don't love my people and my culture, go to hell
Anyway mi ahgo sing it and ah ring it like a bell"
-Takana Zion from 'Glory' featuring Capleton

"Wreckage, wreckage!
Di system fi crash
Mystery babylon ah go collapse
Di one ya name
Wreckage, wreckage!
Di system fi crash
Bun di babylon flat!
Wreckage, wreckage!
Di system fi crash
Mystery babylon ah go collapse
Di one ya name
Wreckage, wreckage!
Di system fi crash
Biggup all di poor and have-nots

A Rastafari a di first
HIM touch Geneva Conference and HIM utter every words
Peer gun bun up, none of dem couldn't serve
Yow dem man clean, none a dem neva work
That's why dem waan to diss di Rightful Ruler fi di Earth
Seh dem want to, kill off di born and birth
Posion gas dem use kill off di boys and girls
Boom drop!
Yow, mek mi parent dem ah splurt
Di warriah dem ah, fi go dive inna dirt
Slit dem throat because dem coming blood thirst
Watch dem helicopter bust and lite a surge
Caan diss di little children weh inherit di earth
Biggup Nannyville and biggup dung a Dunkirk
Selassie I seh fi put di woman inna dem skirt
Selassie I run di century weh dem call 21st
Alla di enemy haffi get up and splurt
Slaving di people and talk bout dem ah work
Babylon, mek you fi switch and convert
Tell di ghetto youth dem seh praise Rastafari every night and day
Earthquake shake di earth!
-Sizzla Kalonji from "Wreckage"

"Run di place!
Run di place!
How dem a gwaan lak seh Assassin caan dun di place?!
Run di place!
Run di place!
People seh a upside down, dem waan mi tun di place!
Run di place!
Run di place!
Memba seh wi have di fyah tune weh ah bun di place!
Run di place!
Run di place!
'Talk How Mi Feel', yeah da one deh come stun di place!

Well Assassin is a DJ weh di people rate
A lyrics?
You know wi have whole heap fi waste
If a riddim?
Riding like wi deh steeple chase
So mi waan know a wah dem mek wi pree di case?
Hah!
A mussi true mi nah bleach mi face
And true certain thing you caan gimme fi taste
Mi nah buy di charts dem
Nah cheat di race
No, wi nah pick up no freaky ways
Fi wah?"
-Agent Sasco from 'Run Di Place'

“Don’t let the poor and the needy be devour
The chastisement of poverty is in imminence ya
Inna di whole world, mi mean look at the big picture
An eleven foot, six hundred pound tiger
Him get fed up, all of a sudden -
What dem ah pet him mouth fah?
Inna an instant, he remember his true nature
Not to mention black mamba and king cobra
Mek any weh ga, thank ya, for well being oh Jah!
Did distillation of the balance tek iniquity law?

Dem did camp pon diamond and gold inna Africa
And have retirement home down inna Ecuada
Dem did ah flood out media ya wid dem propaganda
Then the dangerous situation need mediator
See wah groove to dis ya riddim ya, no bodda wid dat
Mek di whole Dancehall come alive with what
A riddim of comfort, a riddim of hope, a riddim of niceness out ya
The brightness of a one countenance change another demeanour
Inna one bag a desperate decision out ya
In dis time, neighbour ahgo haffi help neighbour
This ideological divide, way deep down ya
Mek dictator come compel dem supporter
Fe draw hardware, dem ah draw, not pon canvas Jah”
-Vaughn Benjamin from 'Black Mamba'

"No food fi di poor and di hungry
Shootout pon di boundary
Clothes dutty and mi caan go a laundry
If mi get a white shirt, dat a luxury
Big boss, have you any work in the factory?
Cah mi caan find flour, saltfish and ackee
Time past till all mi hair get natty
Mi no waan tun inna John Gotti
So mi juss, hold up mi head high -
High to di sky
Dem caan stop a man weh ah try
Mi nah stoop fi di M-O-N-E-Y
Cah mi doh want a piece of di babylon pie
Jah Jah know is an ocean of tears I cry
Fi di youth dem weh missing and di one dat die
I si how dem bring drugs and boom, bye bye
So mi nah stop bun dem till di day I die!
Is like dem waan mi kill mi bredrin fi a loaf of bread
But I shall not live on bread alone
Mi nah go sellout mi bredda dem fi loaf of bread
Dem waan mi dead, dem waan di john crow fly ova head
Tell dem my heart still beats like an Afrikan drum
Juss words and power from an Afrikan son
You don't have to rich to be happy
Mi si smiles pon poor people face and dem doh even have it"
-Gappy Ranks from 'Peace & Joy'

"Some artists nowadays -

Look like a gaze dem ah gaze
They're making music to gain some fame
But it's all in vain
But when Messenjah and him crew touch down
A strictly worries in town
Wi lick dem with words, power and sound
A roots & culture wear di crown
Some a dem ah push bad vibes and dem nah hold no rem
Dem ah gwan lak dem a di roots, but dem a di branch and stem!
Dem shoulda know wi ruling so from way back when!
Dem know dat Papa Luci is a living legend!
Dem caan tek di fyah weh Jah Messenjah send!
Seh nuff a dem come ya and deceive Jah children!
Dem ah gwan lak dem a mi friend, but dem a bag a heathen!
Mi bun dem and scorch dem again! [SCORCH!]
Well then-

Carry mi music over rub a dub market
And a di music sell off!
Carry mi music over rub a dub market
Even di producer haffi laugh [Ha ha ha ha]"
-Luciano from 'Rub-A-Dub Market'

'And Another!': A Review of "The Laboratory" by Da Professor

We really do ask a lot of them. Along with what is their main role -- making great music -- we, as fans, whether we want to admit it or not, really do demand quite a lot from producers of this wonderful music. Not only do they have to make great riddims, they also have to link it properly with artists and then they have to do this on a consisted basis. Not only that, but they're also in charge of making sure everything is promoted properly and people like you and me can get our hands on it when we want it. And fans are greedy as anyone, so you also get into rather strange situations where a producer, if he/she is to thought of on big terms, must also have the ability to push HITS and this is so for individual fans - Most ridiculously whether or not that actual fan likes the tune in question - It doesn't even matter. Failure to do all of these things will guarantee the usage of the horrible 'fell-off' around near someone's name and detaching the label can prove to be a career long struggle. Why anyone would want such responsibilities is a mystery to me. Thankfully, however, many do seem to (struggle from some odd sort of mental illness) do want all of that on their plate and those that are able to do it are subsequently afforded a status unlike anyone else in Reggae music. For an example see Don Corleon. Not only has he handled all of that, if you REALLY think about it, he's also very quietly managed to excel in yet another area of note for a big producer - the 'art' of finding and then (even more importantly) DEVELOPING and providing us, as fans, with big new talents. Corleon has been so good at this, in fact, that he's even managed to develop old[er] artists as well (when was the last time you heard Ce'Cile doing a social commentary???) (and a GOOD one?), but when his time is done, the lineup of vocalists with whom his imprint will be linked with is downright STAGGERING. Names like Vybz Kartel, Wayne Marshall, Alaine, Munga Honourable, Pressure Busspipe and Protoje checker the past (and present) of the legendary producer and he's had all of them, arguably, at their absolute bests in terms of their respective skills. He's also brought out the best in people such as Natural Black and Jah Cure and it is no coincidence. With all of that said, it should be no surprise at all that Don Corleon is back at it again and this time he's bringing one of his most colourful and most talented artists to date.

Meet Da Professor. In that list I just ran through you have some of the most interesting background stories and characters in recent Reggae history, but I don't know that I can say that any of them are as musically diverse and wholly CAPABLE at such an early state as Da Professor. I still don't know a great deal of him, but apparently the Kingston native has lived somewhat of a nomadic existence and along his many journeys, clearly he's picked up a taste for several different styles which he's so wonderfully packed together in a bundle of vibes which is damn infectious. And as a result, Da Professor has arrived at a rather strange point in his career where his name may not carry the densest of weights in Reggae circles, but his talents have more than arrived at a point where the next step must be taken.

Enter "The Laboratory" (anyone else think they should've named it "Da Laboratory"???). Although, as I said, he may not have the biggest name, Don Corleon and co. have invested their first big move of 2012 in Da Professor via releasing his debut album. The artist has been on an absolute musical ROLL over the past couple of years and largely based on the music he's done for the ace producer which now, largely, makes up this release. He's proven to be somewhat of a 'secret weapon' as, although he has voice and scored for others, the body of his work and the class of it has come from Corleon and it's clear that two have developed a grand amount of chemistry with each other as, for as varied as Da Professor may be (and he is), his blend matches almost perfectly with the type of STERLING and somewhat R&B tinged productions for which Corleon is known and best at. Also, I think that, perhaps quietly, the case could be made for Da Professor, in terms of actual quality, being the most effective constant figure on those riddims. His work won't receive the same attention as Tarrus Riley, Ce'Cile and others, but he's been churning out work as good as any of them and certainly I'm not the only one who's noticed which has brought us to the door of this laboratory. The album follows another strong debut set produced by Don Corleon, "7 Year Itch", from Protoje just last year and, much like that album, will serve as a bit of a 'formal' introduction for many to the vibes of Da Professor. What they'll find is a very curiously gifted vocalist who is somewhere between a pure singer and a chanter (he kind of reminds me of Ras Attitude to a degree). As you go through the album you'll find yourself (and myself) comparing him to a few different artists. From that - I take a type of style which is so unique that it has no single master and, even more substantially, that Da Professor is so clearly a great fan of the music he makes because he's developed this style which can literally do pretty much anything within the range of Reggae music and throughout "The Laboratory", he puts this all-encompassing talent on full and vivid display. The results are thorough and a fantastic 'hello' from a name not to be overlooked as an up and comer, because should he continue along this road, then he'll have a lot more in common with the big names who've stopped in Don Corleon's studio. Let's take a listen.

Behind The Scenes

Something which may happen here as it often does when you have artists with very dynamic and attention-grabbing styles: What they're actually saying becomes less regarded and sometimes neglected and while I'm not going to go on and on about amazing of a wordsmith Da Professor is (even though you know I want to), don't just pick this album up prepared to feed it to your ears. There is vast amounts of brainfood within as well. A good example of that would be 'Peace & Unity' which gets us started on "The Laboratory" and features Da Professor going all Eek-A-Mouse on the people. The tune has a slight old school feel to it, but it's modern and POWERFUL at the same time and it backs Da Professor launching into some of the best wordplay on the album.

“Bing bada baba bom -

Something must be wrong

What is going on?

Dem ah mash up wi nation

Nuff a move sideways

Some ah worship satan

You haffi, focus yah mind and hold a meditation

Separate yourself from negativity

And you nuh fi walk wid gun a road fi mek di people see

All mi want for fi di youths a long life, prosperity

Unity amongst wi one another

Yow mi seh that’s where the lesson be”

On this album, while definitely a standout for its quality, this tune isn't really out of place at all and it really sets the pace for the subjectry of a large part of the album. Of course you wouldn’t know that from the next two tracks as both 'I'm Yours' and 'Party Non Stop' follow a different course. The former is a sublime old school lover's track which really sparkles, while the latter, as its title suggests, is a tune sure to get heads rocking from listeners. It should probably rank as a favourite of many also as Don Corleon meets Biggie Irie, courtesy of Da Professor. Sweet tune and a most expectedly colourful start from the adroit future star.

'Words'

Within "The Laboratory", there're more than a couple of familiar beakers and experiments in progress and these make up many of the key elements to be fond here, although certainly not all of them. Probably the most familiar of them all is the sizable hit that was 'Words' which came through across the . . . Pretty much PERFECT Messages Riddim. The track finds Da Professor giving thanks and praise to The Almighty and doing so in a very entertaining way. This is exactly the type of tune which can be heard and you can really just find yourself falling into the riddim and the melodies, but if you tune in to what's being said, it opens another wonderful aspect of the wide-reaching song. The recent Antique Riddim underpins 'Touch You', which is one of three official combinations on "The Laboratory", this one linking Professor with the legendary Ken Boothe. It's a fairly straight forward love tune, but it sounds so nice (as does every single song you have on this album) and it does a major damage. 'Wake Me Up' was one of the major lights across the fulgent Monte Carlo Riddim and it isn't difficult to see (hear?) why. This is another love song, but it’s a bit more twisting that 'Touch You'. It's also a bit better to my opinion and probably one of the best on the album. 'Listen' is Professor's cut of the Broken Hearts Riddim and it goes more back towards the nature of the opener as does the also recognizable and quite similar 'Be Careful', which precedes it on the album. Both of the tunes are really strong and show not only that diversity that I mentioned, but that wide scaled ability as well. You can turn out big love songs and draw up these type of pertinent social commentaries - You're really talented and it isn't even debatable (and everybody listen to your Mothers!) (DAMN!). And speaking of big love songs, later we get the glowing and unfortunately relatable for every man on the planet 'Speechless' from the City Streetz Riddim and the almost agitatingly infectious 'Fi Her Type' from the major Major Riddim. I wish you MUCH luck in stripping from your mind either one of them because it just is not happening for me (and I like it significantly more now than I used to).

'Fi Her Type'

And as far as those tunes, in particular, I think that it's really telling about the intended direction of "The Laboratory" that those songs were chosen. They're all slower paced and more calculated than Professor's efforts on the Pulse, Baheba and Bankrobber Riddims, respectively. Yes. He does Dancehall too (more on that thought later).

Things arguably take a step in an even more proper direction in "The Laboratory", when we get a glimpse of the new[er] tests Da Professor and Don Corleon have been hard at work on. Included in this is what is my single favourite tune on the album, (the somewhat familiar) (I think it's just a couple of months from its release) 'Skanking & Rocking'.

“Mi seh, wi skankin and rockin

Reggae music wi droppin

It a mash-up down a yard and it a mash-up a foreign

Any dance wi step up in -

Know wi havin dem poppin

From di big tune dem ah spin, you know wi neva be stoppin”

“So when wi skankin and rockin

All di traffic wi blockin

And from mi likkle and ah grow mi Daddy tell mi seh fi sing

Now mi tune dem ah go hard and mi mash-up every riddim

How mi lovin di music, it come in lak mi medicine”

“Cah dem style yah neva stale

And di melody prevail

And di way di lyrics bad, dem waan fi send mi go a jail

Marley only have mi bail

Da music yah no fail

Selassie I mi hail, like seh a Bunny dem a Wail”

“Dddi riddim so heavy, Don just work it pon di scale

So mi, load up di chalice and then just touch it pon di nail

Mi si, big sound string up and di people dem juss ah rail

Professor tune it so bad til it ah jook dem lak a nail”

The song is completely expected (as far as what it is) as it features the much aforementioned Protoje (and Gregory Isaacs) (not really though) and the two produce total DYNAMITE together. Not as perfunctory, but not unforeseen at all is the rocking 'Treat U Right', the third combination for the album, this one featuring the also very promising J-Boog. This song, for some reason, took awhile to grow on me. It's just a fun tune and definitely there’s nothing wrong with that. Also check the huge 'By My Side', which may be choice as the album's second best tune altogether. Take a photo of this tune and give to anyone who wants an explanation of Da Professor's skillset. Here, he sings, he chants, he deejays, he does it all and the results are shining! We're kicked out of "The Laboratory" right after the album's final selection, the previously released 'Good Times'. In a very Gappy Ranks fashion (he sounds just like him on the song), Professor grips into this one and, again, produces a really big vibed, champion tune.

One thing about this album really prevails for me after going through it for the sake of this review: While it is really really good (and you can skip to the rating and see just how good I think it is), I'm almost left with a feeling that it's just scraping the surface of how effective Da Professor can be. I walk away from it like I did when listening to early albums from Turbulence - that there's just so much potential in there - but at the same time (like a lot of early albums of Turbulence's) it's really strong (now let's all just hope that Professor doesn't start doing mediocre love songs, almost exclusively at some point), which is kind of strange.

Da Professor

Overall? WINNER! I'm not completely in love and overwhelmed by the quality of every song on "The Laboratory", but there're no bad tunes here and, off the top of my head, I'm unable to think of a song from Da Professor's catalog which is complete rubbish. He just makes really good music and, perhaps (I'm over-thinking), where his name came from is how studious he's been in his career to come up with such a style. So, you can add yet another big name to Don Corleon's roster and should this one, in particular, prove even more capable and one day top what is to be found within "The Laboratory", well then maybe he hasn't found "another big name". Maybe he's found the biggest. Excellent.

Rated: 4.35/5

Don Corleon Records

2012

Digital
Da Professor @Facebook

Review #345