Raggamuffin by Anthony B & Irie Ites

We just told you about it a few days ago and it did drop. Check the latest from legendary chanter and the original fireman, Anthony B, 'Raggamuffin', which reaches across the ASAP Riddim via Irie Ites. Easily one of the strongest tunes from Anthony B in recent times, 'Raggamuffin' is BIG! The press release I read (if I did read it correctly) said that II would reveal the rest of the tracks on the riddim sometime next week and I'm damn looking forward to it because the early results have been special.

"Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga, man a raggamuffin

So no matta wha you hear dem ah talk, dem caan do wi nuttin

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga ragga raggamuffin

Mi hair and mi clothes ragga ragga, but my heart is full of love

Wi no si nobody weh wi fear

Shout it loud and clear

Si di enemies dem out there

But wi still ah say love and care

Wi no si nobody weh wi fear

Shout it loud and clear

A time fi di wicked dem disappear

Cah dem ah destroy di atmosphere, yuh hear?

DON'T BE SO JUDGMENTAL 

DON'T JUDGE I, YOU DON'T KNOW I POTENTIAL

As you si mi, you ah ask bout credential

Memba mi a Ras, mi no dread weh a rental

Hey, so a time fi check yah mental

Cah di message in di music is essential

Hail Rastafari: The Eternal

Bobo man stand up in Jah Army as a Colonel!

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga, man a raggamuffin

So no matta wha you hear dem ah talk, dem caan do wi nuttin

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga ragga raggamuffin

Mi hair and mi clothes ragga ragga, but my heart is full of love

Babylon caan mek Rastaman run

So get up, stand up and come

Thy will must be done

And I will overcome

Babylon caan mek Rastaman run

So get up, stand up and come

Dem caan stop di fyah from bun-

Underneath Jah Jah star and sun

I ah bring a message from Jamrock

From wi ah lift up soundsystem pon van back

Yeah, it's not easy when yuh born Black

So wi haffi rise up and look beyond that

I never join no gang and buss shot

I become a musician and grow my dreadlocks

So I keep on looking forward, mi no look back

And I hope everybody can get that

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga, man a raggamuffin

So no matta wha you hear dem ah talk, dem caan do wi nuttin

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga ragga raggamuffin

Mi hair and mi clothes ragga ragga, but my heart is full of love

Wi no si nobody weh wi fear

Shout it loud and clear

Si di enemies dem out there

But wi still ah say love and care

Wi no si nobody weh wi fear

Shout it loud and clear

A time fi di wicked dem disappear

Cah dem ah destroy di atmosphere, yuh hear?

Don't be so judgmental

Don't judge I, you don't know I potential

As you si mi, you ah ask bout credential

Memba mi a Ras, mi no dread weh a rental

Hey, so a time fi check yah mental

Cah di message in di music is essential

Hail Rastafari: The Eternal

Bobo man stand up in Jah Army as a Colonel!

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga, man a raggamuffin

So no matta wha you hear dem ah talk, dem caan do wi nuttin

Man a raggamuffin

Ragga ragga ragga raggamuffin

Mi hair and mi clothes ragga ragga, but my heart is full of love"

New From Queen Omega!

Okay so, when last we left the great and incomparable Trini Reggae empress, Queen Omega, it was November and she was delivering her latest creation, the very colourful "Stars Align" (there is no way I haven't mentioned her since then, but I like that intro so I'm keeping it), her varied and well-received EP from last year and, in my opinion, Reggae music's current most gifted female, is back with a couple of HUGE new tunes to get her 2022 started in a fitting form.

'Thunder Storm' [Irie Ites Records]

Most recently (just within the past week or so now), the Queen reached with the MASSIVE 'Thunder Storm' via the well reliable Irie Ites from out of France, on their new ASAP Riddim. This version of Queen Omega is flaming! She is more than a little perturbed at the state of affairs in the world and not only that, but she is in a downright STUNNING lyrical form.

"I si di Devil roaming and ah move widout disguise

I SI DI FALL OF BABYLON WHEN JAH PEOPLE RISE"

This one will probably go on to be one of my favourites from the Queen (which is saying a great deal), because it is EXCELLENT and, every once in a while, you just need to let off a bit of steam. Steam let off for Queen Omega on 'Thunder Storm'. And biggup Irie Ites, who're slowly rolling out their latest creation, the aforementioned ASAP Riddim as, along with this tune and a previous combination featuring Beenie Man, King Kong and Nuttea, they're also bringing, 'Raggamuffin', a tune from Anthony B which is set to release tomorrow as of this writing. 

'Florilège' w/Lyricson & Red Fox [X-Ray Production]

Queen Omega also popped up recently alongside another Achis Reggae favourite, Lyricson (I wrote a review for a Lyricson album in December, still  hasn't posted yet) (coming soon!) and Dancehall veteran, Red Fox for another French outfit --this one we have  never talked about on these pages -- L'Entourloop. In a wildly entertaining medley style, 'Florilège' finds all three artists dazzling... but you cannot tell me that it isn't the Queen who reigns supreme with her highlight-reel like vocals.

Just as was the case with 'Thunder Storm', 'Florilège' is also part of a bigger project as L'Entourloop is set to drop their new album, " La Clarté Dans La Confusion ["Clarity In Confusion"], on the 10th of June. L'Entourloop's previous efforts appear to have ventured somewhere between Reggae and Hip-Hop and, seemingly, this one does the same, but along with Queen Omega, Lyricson and Red Fox, Reggae heads will be delighted to see names such as Kabaka Pyramid, Ken Boothe, General Levy, Tippa Irie, Manudigiital, Alborosie and even Bounty Killer attached to this project. 

So you already know what I'm thinking, don't you???? It's the same thing I've been thinking about for the past fourteen years now... but I won't jinx that. Instead, I'll just suggest that you take a listen to some of the BIG vibes dropped by one of the most talented Reggae artists of all time, the incomparable Queen Omega and maybe we can hope for..... okay, yeah, just do that.