On Tuesday, the 19th of November 2002, the legendary Sizzla Kalonji released an album by the name of "Da Real Thing", which was produced by the even more esteemed Bobby 'Digital' Dixon, on VP Records. Almost immediately when the project reached (and probably even prior to it, in retrospect) word began circulating that Kalonji had, once again, soared to levels previously reserved for his 'dualling' opuses, 'Praise Ye Jah" and "Black Woman & Child", respectively. The latter of those sets (which is my favourite album all time) was also produced by Digital and, if I recall correctly, I once heard Sizzla in an interview speaking on the background of "Da Real Thing" as he had intended to name it after what would become one of its best known tracks; before Digital suggested that they name it "Da Real Thing", perhaps in response to criticism the August Town native was receiving for recording more controversial material. What ended up happening was absolutely remarkable and places it in a very select group. To my opinion this class would include album such as Buju Banton's "'Til Shiloh" and "More Fire" from Capleton - as modern Roots Reggae music which grew to a point where they began to receive more international and, dare I say, 'mainstream' attention. Roots, historically (at least in the hands of anyone not named Marley), has not been as 'transferable' as its sibling, Dancehall, for obvious reasons, but we have seen the odd tune here and there, and the even odder full album, reach that level where the wider-reaching musical world has a very difficult time ignoring, despite the fact that it has made NO concessions at all and sacrificed nothing in its sound. "Da Real Thing" was fairly straight-forward and TYPICAL Roots Reggae for its time. It was also absolutely brilliant.
Three years after its initial release, VP would send up "Da Real Live Thing", a re-release of the original album, containing three more selections including the golden Bobby Digital produced 'Bright Sunshine' and the even stronger 'Be Still' ["Thou shall not kill. Be still. Go hold a sabbath on the hill"] [BOOM!]. "Da Real Live Thing" would also include a DVD which included a pair of interviews and, most notably, a WICKED Kalonji performance from VP Records' 25th anniversary celebration in Miami in 2005 which included, unsurprisingly, renditions of several tracks from "Da Real Thing". I should also mention that the re-release version was EXQUISITE. It's probably one of the finest put together albums that the label has ever done and, holding it in my hands today, more than seventeen it has a certain FEEL of importance to it and, though pretty easy to find still these days, I am very happy to own a copy.
It has been a minute from the last time I dusted off my copies of the album and took a listen and, these days, I'm being TORTURED (and I mean that in a good way) by songs which don't get the biggest level of attention such as the.... amazing 'It's Amazing', 'Trod Mt. Zion' ["Dem act as if dem don't got no sense"], 'Rejoice' and, in particular, the simply STUNNING 'Bless Up'. This is an album which, from a lyrical point of view (a staple, really, of any piece of work by this artist when he's anywhere near his best), all of these years later, has me thinking of new ideas STILL. I'm literally wondering if it is CHANGED through the years or if I'm now more open to it; either case is just fine with me.
Today we celebrate twenty years of life with one of the greatest albums ever created by (anyone) my personal favourite of all time, the immortal Sizzla Kalonji who, on this day in 2002, once again demonstrated just how potent he could be with the landmark "Da Real Thing" - an album for the ages.
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