......In The Making: A review of Freedom Legacy by Queen Omega!!!!

Generations. This is the portion of the review where I would normally latch onto some random, ridiculous and mi-nute aspect of the artist, label or album that I am about to review and spend the entire overly long and rambling paragraph grinding that point and spreading it out to other (fairly useless) examples and tangents. It's my style. It's just what I do and I'm not sorry. HOWEVER, today doing such a thing just felt kind of pointless (if you do love the rambling, it will certainly return on the next review (biggup Anthony B).... or you can just click on any of the six hundred others and get your fix) because I have been waiting for this one for such a long time and the artist and the project in question today came fully-equipped with an arsenal of delicious points of discussion. If I were to compile a list of my absolute favourite artists of all time, somewhere near the top of it, you would definitely find one Queen Omega and it's been that way for quite some time now. While these days I cannot actually recall how or when I had the grand fortune of stumbling across her wonderful work, what I can do is to point you to an album which reached way back in 2001 (...I am so old) by the Green House Family, called Queen Omega. That set, with its very simple, unassuming and blue-tinted cover, was the full introduction to one Jeniele Osbourne, from out of Trinidad. We've covered the delightful Reggae exports from the home of Soca thoroughly throughout the years (doing it right now, technically) but for me, the backbone of that stream of talent (talking about some truly gifted people like Marlon Asher, I-Sasha and many more) became Queen Omega and it still is today, more than two decades on. She's also, in my opinion, THE single most gifted female Reggae music has EVER produced and, again, if I were to make that list of favourites and her name was as high as #2, I would not be surprised at all. Why?? What I heard on her debut album, first and foremost, was a SERIOUS talent and one which, though it may've lacked refinement at the time, more than made up for any shortcomings with such a NATURAL sound. Osbourne may be talented at a variety of different things. I would not be surprised at all, but if ever a human being were put on this planet to make music, IT WOULD BE SHE! in terms of modern Roots Reggae where we have artists of all types - be it singers, chanters and those at various stages in between (biggup Norris Man), Queen Omega is all of those. She can do them all and do so on a level where, as a fan, I find myself equally as excited if she takes on a tune in a lighter vibe where she's going to showcase her vocals or if she chooses to absolutely WRECK some poor producer's riddim and put it to the sword as a chanter ["The voice of Queen Omega makes the world tune in. With versatility, sometimes mi deejay and sing. ONCE MY MIND IS MADE UP, I CAN DO ANYTHING. Nothing is impossible with The King Of Kings. Mi just hold a vibes and sit down pon riddim"]. In glimpses and in large enough flashes, such a devastating talent was on full display to me on her debut album (I actually own that album on disc, which is definitely one of the coolest pieces in my collection).

2001

Fortunately I wasn't the only one who thought so. From there, the 'Ganja Baby' (and I have it on good authority that sometimes her friends - they call her 'Ganja Lady') would check back in 2003 with "Pure Love" for Jet Star and again with the same label the following year for "Away From Babylon". The latter being one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. It's been proclaimed a modern classic on these pages and it is a nearly perfect display of one of the most skilled artists I have EVER laid ears on. 'Burdened' with following "Away From Babylon" was 2005's "Destiny", which was also excellent, for Special Delivery (remember Special Delivery???) and then, in 2008, the venerable Mad Professor gave us "Servant Of Jah Army" ["Inna Jah army, nobody can harm mi. Sweet like honey, watch di man dem ah swarm mi"]. NOW [!] had you told me in 2008 that, though we'd get a steady stream of RIDICULOUSLY impressive singles and two or three EP's from her (most recently 2001's "Stars Align"), it would be FIFTEEN FUCKING YEARS before we'd get another full album from her.... well.... I mean..... yeah.... probably would have cried.

Well I can guess I can dry my eyes now. It was a few weeks ago, at the end of January, that we got the news OFFICIALLY that, after a very specific stream of singles, Queen Omega was set to deliver her brand new and first album in a decade and a half, "Freedom Legacy". The album would come via the same France based (Paris to be exact, I believe) Lions Flow Productions imprint (in association with Baco Records) (and, specifically, one Florentin Coquelin and Christoph Grossniklaus produce every song on this album and they get help from Julien Reichen on a couple of them as well) that has been responsible for much of the Queen's recent output (though she has continued to work with a healthy mixture of producers in the last couple of years as well) and FINALLY common sense has prevailed and the world is a much better place because there is a new Queen Omega album in it! Thinking back now, I cannot actually even think of a relatively substantial rumour saying that the Queen had a forthcoming set at any time (despite the fact, as I said, that she did have EP's), which is pretty odd, but we're going to forget about all of that right now: IT IS MARCH, 2023 AND QUEEN OMEGA HAS A NEW ALBUM and we get to talk about it [WHAT!]! While I do not have a great deal of knowledge of LFP, looking through their catalogue - they have been fairly active within the past half decade or so. Most notably there 'was' a pair of riddims in the Switzerland and Zion I Matic, respectively. The former was a GORGEOUS composition which featured some very gifted vocal talents such as Ras Attitude, Fyahstone and two others who we'll tell you about in just a second (Austin James also had a really beautiful tune on that riddim called 'Colour of A Man's Skin'). As for the Zion I Matic Riddim it 'was'.... it actually doesn't 'WAS', it IS -- because it shares the same 24th of March release date as "Freedom Legacy" (WHAT!) (they've been busy!) -- it also carries some tremendous vocalists including two of personal favourites of mine, the majestic Mark Wonder and [Prince] Theo Nyeemiya (BOOM!), as well as that same duo that I just alluded to being on the Switzerland (and, speaking of favourites, they also worked with Jah Marnyah on an older tune called 'Life Mission'). Both riddims are lovely and when you combine that with the actual work that they've done with Queen Omega and while Lions Flow wouldn't have been the first label to come to mind as doing the work on whatever the next Queen Omega album was, they have WELL demonstrated themselves more than capable of potentially delivering a magical release with the artistic piece of dynamite they have responsible for the vocal and lyrical duties, on paper and functionally. For her rather giant part, the Queen has remained in a fantastic form (..... throughout her entire career) and though I would have literally hoped for like FIVE or so albums in the past decade and a half, she also figures to be primed to deliver one of the finest albums of her career. So with such a setting, certainly "Freedom Legacy" lives up to expectations and proves to be an EXCELLENT set. Right??

Yep. Of course it does. Wonderfully, "Freedom Legacy" is built on the strength of combining previously released material with some which will be brand new to listeners. Now I'm a nerd (and probably a rare case) but, when I got a look at the official tracklist for this one, I got SO damn excited and curious in both going in my head and singing the pieces that I had already known and then looking at the new selections (and guests they brought in, in some cases) and trying to imagine what type of song that might be! Like I said, I know I'm not in the majority, but even more than musically, I was already well enjoying the 'process' of "Freedom Legacy" before I actually dug my claws into it. Well, it's here now, so I do not have to wonder anymore and neither do you because I'm going to flat out tell you that Queen Omega's very first full album release in a decade and a half (I turned twenty-seven the year "Servant Of Jah Army" reached, I will be FORTY-TWO this year) (DAMN!), "Freedom Legacy", gets going with four of its five previously heard selections, the very first of which, 'See You Down' is absolutely staggering and the single finest offering on the entire album in my opinion. Despite its direction (or maybe BECAUSE of its direction, at least in part), the one word that comes to mind when I hear 'See You Down' is POWER. It is a POWERFUL tune from its message of being sure to not only present yourself as an upful and positive person, but to actual BE such an individual; all the way to the way it is displayed. The Queen pushes her disruptively beautiful vocals near their peak at times and the results are thunderous! With this piece she REALLY goes into the idea of finding things and PEOPLE who bring you joy and doing your very best to involve them in your life. It not only soars on this album but, to my opinion, it's one of the best tunes Queen Omega has ever done and I wasn't at all surprised that it was chosen as the first chapter of "Freedom Legacy". Not too far behind at all, however, is 'Fittest', which almost seems to indirectly build upon the core sentiments of the opener.  Where 'See You Down' is about not showing your weaknesses and doing what you can to limit them, 'Fittest' is all about completely ridding yourself of them as best as you can because it is NECESSARY. There is such a presence to 'Fittest' and it is EDGY and... grimy! There is something appreciably dramatic and profound behind it and it gets into an area where you consider the importance of something in the music beyond sound and lyrics. Whatever THAT quality is - 'Fittest' BATHES in it.

'Micro Chip' may be the most familiar track on "Freedom Legacy", as it originally appeared a few years back (never when I first heard it would I have imagined that it was leading up to something I'd been looking forward to for.... over a dozen years or so at that point). When you really dig into it, though you will hear songs like it, 'Microchip' is one of the finest dealing with the topic of not getting lost or ran over in the digital age.

"Babylon dem trick mi!

Dem waan microchip wi!

YOU NO SI DEM CRAZY, DI WHOLE A DEM GONE INSANE!

Though di road is slippery-

Yah children have the victory!

I know The Almighty Father's works never go in vain

Nobody pon di streetside ah walk

Quarantine: Caan leave ya house after dark

Social-distancing tearing us apart

No greeting with a hug, everybody wearing masks

Conspiracies and lies  - it break di people heart

Countless dead, but look at di aftermath

The universe is saddened

The Father, Him ah wrath

Economy - it's broken, wi haffi restart

Replan, rethink, take time to reflect

Each one, teach one - there's no time to neglect

Put di differences aside, spiritually connect

To di source of life, to di one who blow breath

Under His wings wi abide and rest

No one no bigger than Yah, Vatican no ready yet!

The world is changing, we're looking for the best!"

Queen Omega also sounds absolutely amazing during 'Micro Chip'. It is one of the strongest vocal demonstrations you will hear on this album and, again, it too ranks alongside the very best that "Freedom Legacy" has to offer. 'Wise Queens' is the very first (of four) combinations that you will encounter here and, for what it is, you almost have to call it LANDMARK. 'Wise Queens' features a pair of extremely gifted female artists in Jalifa and Kushite (who I alluded to previously as being present on LFP's previous riddims), who are also from out of Trinidad. The background setting here is tremendous and all colours of fascinating and materializes from those circumstances is PRECISELY of the quality one might expect. The mixture of the styles is so interesting with the battering ram that is Jalifa on one end and the softer and more malleable Kushite on the other ["And is yah fyah no normal. A CONFUSING FYAH, LEFT DEM LOOKING FOR GRAVEL"], with the Queen bringing them both together from somewhere in between ["Jalifa, Kushite, Queen Omega - fyah caan extinguish. Three empresses, so divine and distinguished. If you no royal in yuh heart, you caan sing this! Lava pon di wicked government, dem cannot win this. Satta massagana that is I & I English! Truths and rights, I ah live and ah speak this"]. They also made a video for it bringing together dozens of upful and wonderfully displayed Trinidadian women, befitting of what a powerfully DIVERSE land it is. 'Wise Queens' is MOMENT music. You do not forget things like this coming together in such a nice way (and I'm thinking that somewhere in Trinidad there're a whole heap of younger women who are coming up and hearing this song who, in a few years' time, I will be sitting right here writing about as well, having been inspired by a track like 'Wise Queens'). 'Lioness' is the most recent featured drop from "Freedom Legacy" and it is another offering built on the idea of importance of uplifting and RESPECTING women in society. What I really enjoy from 'Lioness' is how it isn't the kind of stereotypical 'mama song'. It does have those elements to it, particularly early on, but what it subsequently develops into is.... something so fully encapsulating of qualities shared by great women and not just focusing exclusively on their biology (meaning their ability to give birth). 'Lioness' goes much deeper [coincidentally, Queen Omega has another recent tune by the name of 'Real Lioness' with Massive Dub Corporation which, at least as far as I can tell, is unrelated to this one, but is also DEFINITELY worth checking out because it is also beautiful]. 

Sticking with that line of thinking, there're two new offerings on "Freedom Legacy" which well come to mind. The first is the album's closer, 'Win', which I was SO much looking forward to. This piece is interesting because its central theme isn't about empowering women (although it does do that a bit), but what it does do actually, is to link up Queen Omega with another of the most curiously gifted female artists that Reggae has ever seen. If you've never heard Soom T before, I'd struggle to describe her and would, instead, likely just tell you to go and have a listen (my personal favourite is probably a song she did years ago called 'Na Na Na', for Necessary Mayhem) and figure it out for yourself. Specializing often in a more old school form of Dancehall, the Scotland based Soom T has a very youthful delivery so what will happen is you will inevitably find yourself wondering exactly whose daughter is..... absolutely SHREDDING some riddim. She delivers words in streams and torrents generally only seen amongst the true masters of the spoken word (I'm sitting here working on this review with a Bunji Garlin video playing in the background. Bunji Garlin would be a fan of Soom T, if he isn't already). 'Win' is a blast! It is so much fun to listen to with these two going on what appears to be a LOVELY take on the Bam Bam Riddim to my ears. The song, itself, is just about overcoming obstacles and gaining successes, big and small, in life. It also demonstrates the true versatility of the Queen as though she does not completely match Soom T, she delivers in a style which both shows her ability to do that (or something like it. Unless your name is Soom T, you're probably not doing EXACTLY what that woman is doing. DAMN!) but also makes use of the natural resonance of her voice. BOOM! The other song that 'Lioness' brought to my mind here is 'Love Your Way', because though it also strikes on an ultra-familiar topic, it does so in a very 'fresh' way. 'Love Your Way' is track that you've heard from many a male artist singing about women and a few women singing about themselves, but I haven't heard many women singing such material about men (the one that does come to mind is 'Avocado', from the walking institution of higher learning that is Jah9) (and I'm sure that I'm forgetting some, but my point is that it isn't a type that you hear very often. I wouldn't even call it a love song, it's more of a 'song of admiration' in my opinion). The word that Queen Omega says here that really sticks out to my ears is "hygiene". Again, you'll hear so many songs about women taking care of themselves and the importance of being clean, but she throws it back to the men. EVERYONE needs to be clean and healthy and then, of course, she goes onto other things such as setting a proper example for (and being present for) the youths. These are things that she clearly is not only attracted to but also admires in people, in general.

"Male child, bout you mi haffi sing

From yuh to yuh feet, I just love everything

Yuh physically fit, yuh working out in di gym

Yuh take care of yuhself, man yuh win, win, win

Can't forget to give di ratings to yuh Empress

Cuz mi know she have an input on how yuh look best

Yes, Queen, you must biggup yuh chest

You a di perfect match

Yuh blessed!

Confidence level right up to di sky

Great success inna anyting yuh try

Highly intellect, book smart and streetwise

No competition, cause you win di prize

Big man ting, yuh stay cast for dat, you a true born king!

Self respect, self elating and disciplined

Full up a wisdom and understanding!"

Should you be on the look out for a more ("more", not entirely) stereotypical but GORGEOUS love song, Queen Omega also has you covered in a couple of different ways. 'Agape Love' which features an impressive vocalist from out of New Caledonia, Marcus Gad. It isn't completely a 'oh baby I love you' type of an effort and it is HEAVY! The riddim tracking 'Agape Love' has to be one of the, if not THE, finest on the whole of "Freedom Love" and the duo make the most of it by delivering one SWEET vibe centering around love. This "love" is, at least at times, one that can be given to a partner or a FRIEND who just does nice things for you. The Queen talks about things like him teaching her how to fix her car if it breaks down and her teaching him how to cook. You don't have to be married or madly in love with someone for that to happen, so I definitely appreciate the more broad approach here. THAT type of love song does come later on but even it roams a bit from the center. Someone dropped a BOMB on Queen Omega, she LOVED it and she's going to tell you all about it on 'Dynamite'. Given what she says, it almost comes off as more of a young love ["... and like a little girl, you make this big woman blush"] (where that person that you're interested in can literally do no wrong.  They can literally pick their nose, you even think that is kinda cute); she's infatuated, she knows it and she enjoys it. The sound on 'Dynamite' also kind of matches that tone. It's a free vibe and relatively simple, but the FORCE she puts on it takes it somewhere else. This one probably took three or four listens, but I came to REALLY enjoy it and it is one of my favourites on this set and I'm thinking I rarely say that about love songs anymore. Where 'Agape Love' and 'Dynamite' deal with an outward love of others, the SOARING 'Extraordinary' is more about the inward affection you have for yourself. This song is about self-confidence and esteem and APPRECIATING YOURSELF. There's probably a very thin line somewhere between confidence and conceit, but there is not a damn thing wrong for giving yourself credit and treating yourself well for doing good things and being a good person (if you think about it, you do it for others virtually all the time. When your dog does what you want it to, what do you say to it???) (there's nothing wrong with doing that for yourself). 'Extraordinary' also comes with a bit of a hidden feature in being the album's longest composition by seventeen seconds, so its final moments give the listener a delightful moment to appreciate the beautiful riddim behind it. I love songs like this because they can hit you both in a broad way -- don't be so damn hard on yourself -- or specifically -- you did good today, go have some fun -- and it will likely hit so many people in so many different enlighteningly impactful ways. Continuing with that theme, in a way, is 'Natural Melody' which is a love song of a certain kind (biggup Gentleman) - this time Queen Omega espouses on the smaller things in life which can bring joy and don't necessarily put you back much, if at all ["Appreciating the rainfall, the shelter under the trees. Ain't nothing better than the natural melodies"]. She also branches out on things like having a good attitude and, again, being confident in yourself. 'Natural Melody' almost has an R&B-ish sound to it which, for the 'nature' of what it is, works quite well. I wouldn't be surprised if Queen Omega wrote the song and sang it and a riddim was made to back her, as it works so well; and you simply cannot miss rapping (not deejaying, RAPPING) near the end of one SWEET selection.

'Oneness' may just be the biggest standout on "Freedom Legacy" on paper; as it features Queen Omega alongside French veteran Yaniss Odua (originally from out of Madinina) and Bob's son, Julian Marley (who releases an EP, 'Colors Of Royal", on the same day as "Freedom Legacy"). If you've followed Queen Omega's career, you know that, including those appearing here, she's worked alongside some of the genre's biggest names such as Sizzla, Capleton (both of them on the same tune, 'Warning', on her debut album), Anthony B, Mark Wonder (both of those were also on that same album although, oddly, Wonder was credited as 'Archie Wonder') (biggup one of my readers who told me that years ago), Buju Banton, the aforementioned Gentleman and even Ninja Man [WHAT!], but I saw the lineup on this one and I just thought it to be such an interesting trio and wondered where 'Oneness' might go. Where it does head, ultimately, isn't very unexpected - 'Oneness' is about unity. It's about bringing together people and ideas in the name of positivity and good causes. The sound here is VERY straight-forward and I mean that in a good way and the musical common ground that all three find, when at its best, can be downright intoxicating (particularly in its latter stages). Check the monstrous 'Goodness'.

Do you hear that? I mean REALLY, DO YOU HEAR THAT? What a great song! I came across this one and I had to seriously reconsider my choice for the finest moment on "Freedom Legacy" - it is THAT good. 'Goodness' is another heaping serving of positivity and affirmation and... damn does it sound so nice! What happens musically here with a vibe which seems to consistently develop throughout its duration is downright intoxicating to the point where, Queen Omega says she wants some , "sweetness, sugar and spice", and you will find it in this song - like A LOT of it! Finally is 'Ask', another title that had me very curious about its course when I originally saw the tracklist. 

"When you ask, you shall receive

Knock and the door will be open

If you seek, you shall find

When you ask, you shall receive

Knock and the door will be open

If you seek, you shall find

Sweeten yourself with some positive vibes

You've gotta hold the faith if you want to survive

In this baggawire, inna di giddeon time

Only di strongest and di fittest will survive

THE LION HAFFI WALK WITH THE PRIDE

Love for humanity, love for mankind

Respect one another, peaceful inclined

Look at tomorrow, di future is bright

Lay your burdens by di river side!

You have nothing to lose, you decide!"

\

Sometimes in life (many times, actually) you will find yourself needing a helping hand and that is the notion behind 'Ask', which is also a motivational type of song just in case you've gone a bit stagnant. Again, something here that is inescapable is the dynamic vibes around it. 'Ask' is going to definitely feed your brain and your spirit, but it's also going to make you move a little bit! You know what, looking back on it, I could very well say the same thing for a significant percentage of the songs on "Freedom Legacy": They will nourish you in many different ways.

Overall, I'm partial as hell, I'll admit. I absolutely love Queen Omega (once upon a time, she even sang a jingle for my blog!) and had I not enjoyed "Freedom Legacy" as much as I did, it would have been a MASSIVE disappointment, but there were absolutely no concerns with the quality of this release based on the previously released works. They were outstanding and what I hadn't heard quickly showed itself to be on the same very high level. In retrospect, the build-up to the album was perfect. We can now look back and see the fruits of what turned out to be about two or three YEARS worth of work with Lions Flow Productions and while I have no idea at what point the idea went from just making some songs to making a full collection (or if that was the intent in the first place), seeing the progression into something that I HAVE BEEN WAITING ON FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, is a joy. Hopefully I will not have to wait until my mid fifties for a follow-up but for what it is, "Freedom Legacy" is another check of greatness for one of the greatest to ever do it. RIGHT NOW! QUEEN OMEGA IS ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL TIME! Flawless.

Rated: 5/5

Lions Flow Productions + Baco Music

2023

CD + Vinyl + Digital