What I'm Listening To: September 2022

"I Am Kazayah" [Tuff Gong Worldwide - 2022]

First up today on my radars is an excellent EP release from a just as impressive pair of sources as the legendary Tuff Gong releases the debut set from someone with whom it's well time you have gotten familiar, the potential LOADED Kazayah, "I Am Kazayah". Kazayah's is a name which has popped up and remained one to keep an eye on fairly recently and "I Am Kazayah" comes well anticipated by many - yours truly definitely included. The five-track release features some stellar material from both her previous recent work and completely new tunes (at least new to me), highlighted by the wholly THUNDEROUS opener, 'Rise'. 'I Know', which features MediSun and 'Mr. Sunshine', which is particularly delightful, also standout, but every tune here (the others being 'Let It Flow' and 'Sweet' (with its SWEET riddim)) all possess fine qualities of their own. The competition will surely be steep this year, but "I Am Kazayah" is probably at least in the discussion of one of the finest EP's Reggae has produced in 2022 thus far and if you haven't become acquainted with her wonderful music, now would be the time.

{Note: I started to write ' "I Am Kazayah" by Kazayah', but I did not want to insult your intelligence}

{Note 2: It's not like it's "I Am Kazayah" by.... Busy Signal or something}

{Note 3: Biggup Busy}

'Clean Hands [Psalms 24]' by Queen Makedah [Queen Makedah - 2022]

Speaking of someone with wonderful music, also be sure to check the latest from one of the biggest Reggae talents from out of Israel, Queen Makedah, 'Clean Hands'. This tune featured on Makedah's most recent album release, "Peace Process" from 2020 and gets a remastered polish for its featured release here. The tune features lyrics in both English and Makedah's native Hebrew (at least I think that's Hebrew) and is backed by a GLORIOUS video clip presentation (which should probably be in here somewhere) that you also really should take a look at. Again, should you find this tune to be of your liking -- and you should -- also be sure to check out the balance of "Peace Process" as it features music of a similar level although 'Clean Hands' is probably THE class of its lot. 

'Glory' by Jah Mason [Rebellion City Productions - 2022]

I have also been listening to quite a bit of Jah Mason music over the past couple of weeks or so and while primarily it has been from his older catalogue (the "Life Is Just A Journey" album, especially ["Some so captivating, manipulating - what's yours is theirs, automatically taken"]), I've also gravitated towards this relatively fresh single courtesy of Rebellion City Productions, 'Glory'.

"Hey, give The Creator the glory

No puppet-master story

Now dem going down slowly

Hey, give The Creator the glory

No puppet-master story

Weh dem ahgo do fi control mi?

Alright dem things no look as it really seem

Nah go mek dem shatter mi dream

Plant food inna di earth 'longside di green

Boil, mi cook, mi fry, mi steam

Mi wash, mi rinse, mi dry, mi clean

Check yuhself before you pick di beam

One door close, another let in-

AND NOW DEM AH WONDER HOW MI GET IN"

Aside from being an impressive lyrical display by the Mason, the vibes on 'Glory' have same a powerfully CHILLED appeal to them that it definitely has caught my attention. Jah Mason has, perhaps quietly, strung together a very strong last couple of years or so with big single releases and 'Glory' has to be considered amongst his very best in recent times for me. 

 

Elijah Prophet 2022

HILARIOUSLY, after going what seemed like ages without releasing projects, it seems as if there is no stopping the venerable Elijah Prophet lately as, following last year's solid "Going Home" with Costa Rebel, the big voiced singer is back at work in 2022, most recently with a pair of outings. Coming from Zion Productions Music and Samaras Music, respectively are "Jah Calling" and "Crime Is On The Rise". The former is an EXCELLENT set (that I might review at some point), featuring big tunes such as 'One by One', the title track, 'The Truth' and others; while, for their part, the eight tunes which comprise "Crime Is On The Rise" also contain a share of highlights - such as the opener and title track, 'Guns Out' and 'Wondering'. I will say that, between the two, "Crime Is On The Rise" (a trait you most certainly would not have guessed based on the title alone) comes on a more old school and Lover's Rock type of vibes and I definitely prefer Jah Calling". However, altogether we have NINETEEN new-ish types of songs from one of the greatest and, perhaps, most overlooked, voices in all of Reggae music. 

"Ruff Rider" by Tanya Stephens [VP Records - 1998]

And lastly, in the old and obscure categories, on my radar lately is a title whose reasoning for being there should go without saying (but I'll tell anyway in a few days), as I have been listening a great deal to "Ruff Rider" from the great Tanya Stephens on VP Records. You probably wouldn't think of such a thing given its title (and its cover) but this album, like much of Stephens' work, was a lot more than it seemed initially. There are some truly EXCELLENT, high-powered songs on "Ruff Rider", especially during its first half. 'Draw Fi Mi Finger', the all kinds of fun Gadaffi produced 'Big Ninja Bike' (across the woefully underrated Nice Little Baby Riddim) and 'Cry & Bawl' alongside Bounty Killer being some of the best of them,  but the latter portions of the set (sixteen tracks long) also served up memorable material such as '1-1-9', 'Man Fi Rule' ["Man fi rule: Dat a di plan yah. But nah go rule Tanya"] and '#2'. For what it was, in retrospect, it may have been one of the most underrated Dancehall albums of its day in an era which was very good for Dancehall albums (...and how I miss it so!).