Elevated. There can be something so infinitely rewarding in watching something grow up and mature into whatever it may become. Just the process of seeing something from its nascence go through its 'coming of age' process, for better or for worse, may just be one of THE most fascinating experiences that we can have. Obviously, this is even more true when it comes to living things and, in particular, people (although it can be just as remarkable if you have a pet for a very long time) and, for anyone who has children, you'll know this on an even deeper level. You will feel their pain and their happiness, almost directly, and you may feel their successes and failures even more than you have felt some of your own. You become THAT emotionally invested.... if you are a parent worth a damn (if not, you can feel free to skip to the next paragraph. Actually, you know what, just go and find something else to read. Get the fuck off out of here). If we deal with music, which is what we do around these parts, watching that development can be, either or simultaneously, one of the most enjoyable and/or frustrating experiences that we can have. On one side of it, it's always so much fun to pick up someone early in their career who maybe not too many people are listening to at the time and watch them grab attention and grow into a very respected talent. Besides having that 'I told you so' moment, you also get that satisfaction of being able to see and hear them, in the moment, go through their entire career. That will lead someone (and this has happened to you) playing a song one time that you have not heard in YEARS and it turning you into a PUDDLE of a person. The other side of that, unfortunately, will be that artist that comes up who you swear is bound for big things because of something that you hear and.... for some reason or another it just does not turn out like that. The most perplexing of these cases won't be when they turn out to just not go on to some form of stardom which you may've predicted, but when a particular artist simply just kind of fades away and does so and not some advanced age but at a point during which you may've thought would be their primes. As a fan of music, you'll go through it all and it just comes with the territory. However, in very rare cases when everything goes seemingly perfect, what you may end up with is an artist who you watch go from being a 'prospect' to being a legend and do so in a relatively brief time. And today we're going to take a look at someone who I will make the case that we have seen do exactly that and, possibly, place himself in a position that NO ONE else occupies.
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| "The Pressure Is On" [2005] |
I'm really trying to think of a comparable individual to this one whom we are looking at today and while I have a few in mind, I don't think anyone quite captures it entirely. I'm thinking of someone like a Turbulence who I've listened to for the majority of his career (new Turbulence album, "The Remedy", out now) and have experienced the proverbial hills and valleys with along the way. You could go a step further and take someone like Sizzla Kalonji or others who I have listened to for a very long time and are still actively making music, but they're not quite like this case. For his part, as I alluded to, my musical relationship with Turbulence has been turbulent. He has taken me everywhere and will likely continue to do so and the same can be said (although, interestingly, to a lesser degree) for Kalonji, although in his case he had already given the world at least a pair of the greatest albums that we had every heard before we fully began to take notice (with a third, "Royal Son Of Ethiopia", loaded and ready to go). And then there's.... well I can mention... nope. No one else. Given the length of time I've been focused on them, I cannot say that I've had a similar view of anyone as I have had of one Pressure Busspipe. From the very first second that I'd heard the chanter from out of St. Thomas (which would have been sixteen, seventeen years ago now), Pressure (it used to just be 'Pressure', he later added the far more Google-friendly 'Busspipe') (same thing with Batch into Ras Batch and Army to Ras Army) (you search for 'Pressure', 'Batch' or 'Army' alone - good luck finding music) (although now Google's problem is wondering whether or not it is 'Busspipe' or 'Buss Pipe') I knew I was dealing with something special. And it wasn't just a matter of him being the next big thing from out of the Virgin Islands Reggae scene, I was thinking that he had the type of musical 'wings' which could take him to a platform in the music generally only afforded to Jamaican artists. As the old saying goes, 'the sun even shines on a dog's ass occasionally', so I was right for once and what and who Pressure has become in subsequent years has been a torch of an artist and a virtual production facility for amazing vibes. I do so love to mention his debut set, "The Pressure Is On", from way back in 2005 (and it actually seems older than that these days, given what he's gone on to do), which has a definite case for being THE best Roots Reggae debut set of the modern era in my opinion (and it was the third of our running Modern Classics series). But even prior to that, Pressure was known as a member of the Star Lion Family and someone who was on his way to big things and, if you've stuck around this far, you know that he has fulfilled on an immense amount of promise and then some.
So what was so damn special about Pressure Busspipe? Two things really stick out all these years later. The first is that he made a brand of Reggae which was so wonderfully malleable and digestible without sacrificing anything in terms of the genre (behind the scenes: I'm going to dig up my old cd's now because I really want to hear "The Pressure Is On" and it never made it to the digital side). It was melodic and multi-faceted and, at his best, he had vibes of a nice variety which could take his listeners through a variety of different emotions. The result, I felt at the time, was a style which could be appreciated by fans of all types. From the most hardened and heavy Roots Reggae head to those who had the fortune of getting lost while looking for more Dancehall a few years back. Secondly, Pressure had lyrics. He had a lot to say and a very nice idea of exactly how he wanted to say them. Again, when you combine those two things, you end up with someone who is highly appreciable by a very large audience. After coming up and solidifying his place, he even gave us the GIANT hit (which is always so important), which also proved that he could have a commercial impact via, of course, the all-conquering 'Love & Affection'. And now, ridiculously nearly a decade and a half on, Pressure is still very much on top of his game and he has become the artist who I thought he had the potential to be (looking back 'Love & Affection' came still very early in his career, just a couple of years following "The Pressure Is On" - he was definitely on an accelerated route even back then) and probably even more. He's voiced and scored hits for a nice blend of different producers and labels over the years and Pressure has also been quite active on the album side as well. Along with the magnificent "The Pressure Is On" ["all over the world, nuff poor people shouting: 'THE PRESSURE IS ON! THE PRESSURE IS ON!' "], he also gave us our album of the year of 2014, "The Sound", which was probably even stronger than people realized at the time and most recently there was 2019's "Rebel With A Cause" which, unless I'm really forgetting something, would have been my choice as the best album of that year as well when we were on hiatus (will likely still go back and review it at some point anyway, however). And you can go through his catalogue and find diamonds of sets such as "Coming Back For You" and "Africa Redemption" ["Rastafari is mi way of life and that mi defend. SO HOW YOU DON'T LOVE JAH BUT USE HIM OXYGEN?!"] as well. He has had a fantastic career.
And maybe it can get even better. As I mentioned, Pressure's most recent album was 2019's MASSIVE "Rebel With A Cause", which was his second with Achis Reggae favourite I Grade Records (the first??? "The Sound") and now he returns with his eighth official studio project to date (eight albums in sixteen years, very nice), "Heights Of Greatness". While it carries the works of many different maestros, officially bringing forth its release is the artist's very own Busspipe Records imprint and I always like to see that when someone reaches a level where they have been around long enough and have been active and attentive enough to have the confidence to put out their own material like this. He will likely go on to record many more albums for more labels in the future, but "Heights Of Greatness" will likely always stick out for that reason and it isn't the first of its kind (more on that in a minute). Furthermore, and I never talk about stuff like this because I am a social-media illiterate, but I'm happy for him: Pressure's life seems to be in a very good place. He just turned forty years old (he's literally nine days older than I am), his family appears to be healthy and happy (he is a very blessed man if you know what I mean....) (she is gorgeous) and he even looks like he's lost a few pounds. So if you feel good, why not pass the vibes to a next person and that is exactly what he does on "Heights Of Greatness". Want an example? Check its opener, Pressure's crystal cut of the crisp Healer Riddim, via Maximum Sound (biggup Frenchie), 'Everything I Need'. Though it sounds SPECTACULAR with its bright and vibrant vibes, 'Everything I Need', to my opinion is a piece about enjoying the simple things in life. And, as I alluded to, it's sounds like something a HAPPY and CONTENT man would sing. You don't come up with something that sounds like this if you're living in conflict and you're unsatisfied with your lot in life. If you needed any clue as to where Pressure's mind was going into this release, it becomes ultra-apparent on its first stop ["Once I got life to live and air to breathe, I've got everything I need!"] and good luck shaking that chorus out of your head. Things go even higher on the next selection in, the MAMMOTH 'All Said and Done'. This one comes courtesy of Kabaka Pyramid (more on him later) and Bebble Rock Music's lovely Victory Rock Riddim (that thing is NICE!) where it reigned supreme (although Bugle might have something to say about that with his excellent 'What Is Life') and it occupies the same position here as it is THEE highest of heights on "Heights Of Greatness" that I hear.
"When its all said and done-
All who ah keep di faith must overcome
Tell dem when its all said and done-
Babylon ah get beating and nowhere to run
Mek yah know when its all said and done-
Couldn't seh Pressure sell out fi no weed nor rum
Mek yah know when its all said and done-
Africa seh all Her children abroad welcome
Couldn't mi dem ah try buy out wid vanity-
When Jah govern di whole of i-manity
TOO LONG DI GOVERNMENT AH FIGHT DI BLACK FAMILY
Legislation wrecking all yuh policy
Selassie gi wi solidarity
Help di poor man, dat a fi mi charity
Mi do Jah work and neva look fi popularity
When fyah bun again, none a dem mi nah sorry fi
Wicked man burn to a level
Dem and badmind
PROGRESS IS DI BEST REVENGE, IT WORKS EVERYTIME
I LEARN FROM DI BEST AND TEACH IT UNTO DI CHILD
AND BEAT ALL DI ODDS AND I CONQUERED DI TRIALS
Children of The Most High be wise
People out there ah wish for yuh demise
REACH A AFRICA BEFORE THE SHIP CAPSIZE
HOLY MOUNT ZION IS FI I & I
When its all said and done-
All who ah keep di faith must overcome
Tell dem when its all said and done-
Babylon ah get beating and nowhere to run
Mek yah know when its all said and done-
Couldn't seh Pressure sell out fi no weed nor rum
Mek yah know when its all said and done-
Africa seh all Her children abroad welcome
Seet from di war and senseless violence
Too much ghetto youth surrounded by wire fence
Have dem as guilty and nuff will prove innocent
Fifty percent in jail fi false evidence
Rastafari is my shield and defense!
Solid as a rock or a steel from di trench!
Couldn't trick mi cah mi know real from pretend!
Higher, higher, higher meds!
Africa when its all said and done-
PRESSURE BUSSPIPE STILL HAVE DI FYAH AH BUN!"
DAMN! BOOM! Pressure sits down on rare ground (he sits down and gets comfortable on it!) on what is not only the best this album has to offer but also has to be considered one of his finest period - like ever! Also, 'All Said and Done' perfectly captures the point that I attempted (probably clumsily) to make about his style. It has a glow to it which makes it such a wonderfully easy listen and it also SCORCHES lyrically as the chanter delivers a master class. Something I didn't expect begins to develop fairly early on here as we come to see quite a few love songs filling the tracklist on "Heights Of Greatness". The first of them, 'Missing You', is also one of the best and it should be, given that it is a descendent of 'Love & Affection', being steered the masterful Don Corleon. I know it's kind of a sacrilege to say such a thing, but I'm just going to say it anyway because it's what I initially thought from my first listen (and I still feel that way), but on 'Missing You' Pressure echoes Jah Cure. HE SOUNDS LIKE JAH CURE! The Cure has the finest voice the genre (or any other genre) has ever seen in my opinion and I think this one will definitely remind many of him, wonderfully.
Pretty much throughout his career, Pressure Busspipe has been someone who has favoured making love songs and for good reason. The aforementioned largest hit of his career, 'Love & Affection', proved just how fruitful of a direction that could be for him (the title track of "Coming Back For You", is a personal favourite of mine as well) and he's been very active on that front over the years. As I mentioned, Busspipe Records had actually released a project prior to this one, 2016's "Red Rose" which was an album full of love songs (with the biggest one probably being 'Time Is the Master') ('All I'm Thinking Of' was there as well). It came off as a venture which was very important and special for the artist and definitely showed his continuing interest in the subgenre. Clearly in the last decade and a half his interest in the topic has not waned (and you knew that even before this one), though, as I said, I was a little surprised to see so many of them on "Heights Of Greatness". By my count, including 'Missing You', six of the (very healthy) fifteen selections are what I would call love songs which may not be for everyone but, fortunately, some of them are very strong, 'Missing You' being one of them. The best of them in my opinion, however, is definitely the sublime Dean Pond produced 'Compatible' (Pond is well respected and produced both "The Pressure Is On" and "Coming Back For You" albums). You see this title and you immediately know what the tune is about, there are no surprises there, but when I got into it there was something so beautifully comfortable and familiar about 'Compatible' that made it a winner for me ["I can't believe that we've came this far and it wasn't by car"]. I don't see it going on to elicit a similar response from many listeners, but I'm a big fan and give it a few tries before moving on. When you do move on, you may want to next stop at the LARGE sound of 'True Love'. This recent single comes courtesy of veteran Delly Ranx and his Pure Music Productions label who are responsible for the S20 Riddim which underpins it. The chorus on 'True Love' is going to velcro itself to you. It just is (old velcro too, the tough sticky kind that sounds like its ripping when you pull it apart). And the rest of it is pretty nice as well and it was a fairly obvious choice to be featured. Check 'Searching' which is one of two combinations on "Heights Of Greatness", this one pairing Pressure with previous link, the captivatingly voiced Malica. Prior to this one, the two made acquaintances on 'Make Up' (which we will talk about again shortly) (small world), so they've already (CLEARLY) identified some musical chemistry with one another which is apparent on 'Searching'. And lastly (not really) (still have seven at least REALLY GOOD songs to tell you about after this) there're 'Seasons' and 'Follow Your Heart'. Both are highlighted by really nice vibes but I have to say that it is the former which really shines between the two ["Lady! Outside it's raining! Let's make some babies!"] although 'Follow Your Heart' does have its moments as well (with Pressure's voice being in a fine form on that one). In full, although he does make quite a bit of them, I don't ever get that feeling that Pressure's love songs are cumbersome and, most importantly (unlike a few of his peers) (one in particular) they don't take away from any other focal point of his music, obviously. Also, Pressure's love songs generally have larger points to be made. They usually come with ideas expressing that "love" is an element which also empowers and fortifies people for other purposes as well.
{There was a lot of loving in that paragraph ^} During its remaining seven offerings, "Heights Of Greatness" does what its title would suggest: IT SOARS! There're some truly fantastic moments found during this one, making it an interesting one to place in his catalogue ultimately. Not very long ago we told you about the fine Mash Down Riddim from Achis Reggae favourite Lustre Kings Productions and the Zion I Kings, which carried the song 'Heights Of Greatness' which (as we knew at the time) would become the title track for Pressure's next album. This one is a fantastic blend of equally brilliant musicianship, lyrics and delivery as Pressure Busspipe tells all to do our best in living up to higher standards in life ["Prophet Marcus Garvey never cease nor never settle"] and simply making an effort to do better. Earlier this year Suga Roy and co. took on the classic Lots of Signs Riddim and crowning that release was Pressure's effort 'It's Been A Longtime' (the always reliable Glen Washington also had a big tune on that one, 'Jah Will Always') (coincidentally, "The Pressure Is On" had one combination, 'When Dem Come', which featured Glen Washington) (like I said, small world).
"It's been a long, long time man ah suffer inna babylon place
Politician talk and nuttin nah change
Systematical oppression everyday
Put corruption under flames
A long, long time dem ah fight against Selassie I name
Through dem can't put no chip inna wi vein
Black man and Black woman is ordained
Wi and dem are not the same
No weapon formed against I shall prosper inna judgment
Powers of Selassie I, it nuh go suspend
DEM AH GWAN LIKE JUSTICE MAKE FI JUST DEM, SO WI GRUDGE DEM
Send fi di sweep and mek wi dust dem, it's a must when-
Black people ah work and no get no pay
Dutty babylon can't get away
Though it no easy, wi still ah search fi better days
Revolution set away
It's been a long, long time man ah suffer inna babylon place
Politician talk and nuttin nah change
Systematical oppression everyday
Put corruption under flames
A long, long time dem ah fight against Selassie I name
Through dem can't put no chip inna wi vein
Black man and Black woman is ordained
Wi and dem are not the same
You could point ten guns on di anointed ones
But dem couldn't stop di fyah from di shining sun
None a dem no know di hour when di time has come
Tell mi where dem ahgo run when all di tidings done
ANYTIME DI PEOPLE ELEVATE-
SICKNESS AND DISEASE COULD NEVA PENETRATE
JAH PEOPLE HEAVY LIKE A HAMMER
AND BABYLON IS LIKE A PENNY-WEIGHT
Set it straight"
'It's Been A Longtime' is HUGE! It deals with years and years of mistreatment and injustices of the system against many of its people, while pointing to an Almighty source as a shield against such foul actions. 'Survivor' reaches in a similar manner and does so armed with one of the COOLEST compositions supporting it. This one comes via up and coming VI producer Masai Harris, who actually produces four or so tracks on "Heights Of Greatness" (by my surely incorrect count) and whose work impresses throughout. This one, in particular, Pressure uses to back up a track that brings forth thoughts of perseverance and self-awareness. Using himself as the example he makes the case that many of the problems that oppressive society can give to the masses can be prevented by individuals themselves. 'Survivor' is another very powerful piece which well needs to be FULLY listened to, to be properly received. Harris is also on the controls (as is Jah David from Zion High Productions) on the pillaring 'No Man Is An Island' which, once again, links Pressure with Kabaka Pyramid. I am not going to attempt to count the number of times these two have worked together in one form or another (it's probably four or five now at least, and I will say that Pyramid did appear the last time Pressure had an album - on the remixed version of 'Lion Is A Lion', along with Jah9, from "Rebel With A Cause"). If you know exactly who you're dealing with in the two powerful artists, then I do not need to tell what always results when these two come together is absolutely dazzling.
"Organize and centralize
No mek nobody tell yuh lies
So much better when yuh wise
Pressure Busspipe ah tell yuh why
Only the fittest shall survive
Di poor man alone will pay di price
Cuz when dis fyah start to light-
A LOT OF WICKED PEOPLE GONNA CRY
Dem still ah try suffer I & I
Dem match dem conspiracy and pure lies
BABYLON SHIP, WI CAPSIZE
SOON AS THE PEOPLE REALIZE
No man is an island
No man stands Alone
Jah children trodding outta babylon
Ah build a nation fi wi own
No man is an island
No man stands alone
Jah people trodding outta babylon
A mek wi build a nation fi wi own
Seh wi ready fi di mission and wi focused
20-20 VISION WHEN WI SEAT INNA DI LOTUS
Nah no time fi dutty politician and dem bogus-
Plan fi save di people, when you check a hocus pocus
Ganja wi bun and wi tell dem a wi dem caan poke up
Tell di ghetto youths nah tek dem money fi get dem vote up
Organize and centralize, build up on some enterprise
BABYLON GET MESMERIZED AND HITCH UP PON A TOW TRUCK!
Tek back wi knowlegde and go build fi wi self
Babylon caan gi wi gold fi kill fi wi self
Farmer tek di ploughers, mek wi till fi wi self
ALL HAVE DI VALLEYS AND DI HILLS FI WI SELF
DI EVIL MAN SIGHT DI PYRAMID AND GET TENSE
Neva know Black people govern di earth from then
Rastaman ah gather all righteous children
Babylon - drop dem inna wire fence"
Were you inclined to call 'No Man Is An Island' this album's finest song, you would not get much of a fight back from me and I would suspect that many people are going through it right now and coming to that conclusion. I don't know if it will happen (I would like to think there is a chance), but if one day these two would like to make a full project together, I might be interested in that (even if they don't and they continue along in the same way, we'll have a full album's worth of material anyway in a few years). 'Blaze' has already attracted quite a bit of attention prior to this release and with good reason. We use phrases to describe songs like 'social commentary', meaning pieces which're, generally, dealing with the views and opinions of a particular artist of things that are going on in our society. These can be very specific, very broad or anywhere in between and, in those respects, it may have been a very long time since anyone has delivered such a commentary as powerful and timely as 'Blaze'.
Featured on the Love Like That Riddim, courtesy of the Stargate Backing Band (keeping an eye on them, they have been doing big things), 'Blaze' goes in on individual cases of severe injustice done to people where they have lost their lives. It's a song which hopefully makes you think, but also evokes some type of emotion within you ["Man a rebel with a cause, dem know that. Babylon no have no heart, dem a robot"]. I would expect such a track to come from Pressure and the level of detail here is amazing! "Heights Of Greatness" comes to its conclusion with another pair of outstanding selections, 'Know More' and 'Africa Love'. The first of these is genius and despite the notion that I have probably already loaded this review with way too many lyrics, here're some more you really need to see (I'll just resist the urge to do the entire song again this time):
"Hey, wicked man you fail wi
You can't go near wi
COULDN'T REACH A ZION NEARLY, NOT EVEN BARELY
From it lock inna yuh eardrum, watch di tears run
Rastaman wi neva fear none, dem a baby
What you think is gonna happen when di youths fed?
Caan stop di fyah when it start get red
Babylon yuh try stop di youth dem from develop
MAN WILL POUR GAS WHERE YOU DWELL UP
Wi no want no more of yuh lies
What you gonna do when poor people get wise?
Di youth dem want know more bout di truth
Wi no want no more of yuh tricks
Caan use di African youths fi guinea pigs
Di youths dem want know more bout The King
Tired fi go live inna brain-washed system"
FLAMES! Produced by Digital Cut alongside Dance Soldiah on their Kensei Riddim (which was on a BEAUTIFUL project along with the Sensei Riddim), 'Know More' is a sagacious play on words. When I first listened through it I thought the title was misspelled, but when you really tune in the lyrics, you see, in a very Vaughn Benjamin-esque turn, Pressure writes both 'no more' - as in my tolerance for what you are doing has worn out and 'know more' - as in I have been educated and I your bullshit will no longer work. And for its part, the closing 'Africa Love' registers on the same Maximum Sound constructed Caribbean Soul Riddim (Maximum Sound is a BIG label, definitely doesn't get enough respect) which carried 'Make Up', the first combination of Malica and Pressure. After having given you this lovely piece of work (fifteen songs, fifty-five minutes), Pressure heads home and does so on the tails of a LOVELY ending piece.
Overall, I'm thinking of a few different things in regards to "Heights Of Greatness" right now. One of them is just how popular it seems to be and (clearly) how anticipated it was by the masses. Released relatively close to albums from the likes of Spice, Sizzla Kalonji and Vybz Kartel, Pressure once again has demonstrated himself to be considered amongst the most significant in the genre of this current era. Of course it helps when your album materializes and it sounds like THIS. As I said, I don't know if the several love songs will make it a favourite amongst, perhaps, heavier fans but if you judge it in its entirety, it is SURELY one of the best Reggae albums that you will come across in 2021 and it's also going to rank relatively high within Pressure's own catalogue (I would say its best is better than three or four of its predecessors and its absolute best, 'All Said and Done', 'No Man Is An Island' etc., would be at least in the question on ANY of them). Here we are, sixteen years following his debut album and Pressure Busspipe one again has shown himself to be amongst the most talented of artists in Reggae music today. He was back then as well, most likely, but more than a decade and a half into it, "Heights Of Greatness" shows us that he isn't slowing down any time soon. An excellent album.
Rated: 4.5/5
Busspipe Records
Digital
2021
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