It's been a long time since we first made acquaintance with the unusually voiced singer from the sweetest place on the planet and it has been a VERY fun twenty-ish years or so. From his earlier days as, seemingly, the latest find of the mighty Xterminator Productions up to today, where he sits as a full veteran and proven hitmaker; Chezidek has had an incredibly STEADY and compelling career. Relatively recently, he's also become a 'certified' (as if such things are official) (they are not) favourite of mine and a CLEAR choice for a feature like this. So, here's a tiny collection of some of the greatest songs I've ever heard from someone who has consistently provided GEMS throughout the years. Signatures: Chezidek.
{Note: Next? Bunji Garlin}
1. 'Let I In'
Shall forever open. Though not the most obvious selection, I choose to begin this list with a tune called 'Let I In' because.... yeah, it fits, doesn't it?? This downright STUNNING track was carried on the singer's golden Xterminator guided debut set, "Harvest Time" (more on that later), way back in 2002 and while it came at a time while many were still trying to figure out what to actually make of the unusually voiced Chezidek, 'Let I In' SOARED. Aimed at oppression in various forms and seated atop a MAJESTIC track, 'Let I In' not only sought to remove societal barriers but it also, fittingly, helped to firmly place the singer on the radars of many. Myself included.
2.'Bun Di Ganja'
REAL HARD. I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I was including too many songs on this list of a similar nature but then it occurred to me: It's my list and I can do whatever I wanted to with it. It's damn difficult to leave out this COOL tune from the Irie Ites (told you we might be hearing from them again), on their cut of the Strange Things Riddim, 'Bun Di Ganja'. The song, in total has a big vibes but, in particular, there are stretches of 'Bun Di Ganja' which SOAR!
"Herb haffi bun
Chalice haffi light
Caan get no herb, wi no have no appetite
Babylon just ride pass, pon di bike
Nah dash weh mi weed from mi know seh dat nuh right
Dem caan lock wi up, it would cause a big fight
Mi nah go a jail, not even fi a night"
3. 'Walk With Jah'
King & Saviour. JSR also worked magic alongside the singer (they should really think about doing another album together at some point) to the tune of what I still regard as the brightest highlight on a set brimming with them, "Judgement Time", 'Walk With Jah'. 'Walk With Jah' was a praise. It's a simple as that. You've heard thousands such tracks and it added nothing at all new to the category, BUT IT WAS STUNNING! There is something so devastatingly and powerfully SIMPLE to 'Walk With Jah' that it, literally, freezes you. It demands your attention and does so today just as much as it did when I first laid ears on it.
4. 'Inna Dem Eye'
KING MAN COME. As it stands, RIGHT NOW, the biggest tune in my opinion that Chezidek has ever done is the EPIC 'Inna Dem Eye'. The song featured the artist putting on a historical display -- one of the greatest such tunes that I can EVER recall hearing -- in celebration of all things Rastafari. The basics of such a piece were not surprising at all but this tune was of an entirely unusual quality. Chezidek ASCENDED with 'Inna Dem Eye' and he's still going up.
"21st of April, 1966
King Selassie I make that visit
RASTA MEK DI BABYLON DEM LOOK LIKE RUBBISH"
5. 'Kill Dem' featuring Queen Omega
Hot like the equator. NO! I did not forget about this tune (I did forget that it was Irie Ites' though, so my apologies). Never one for doing too much in the way of combination -- at least in my opinion -- Chezidek and Irie Ites did all the world a favour on his most recent full release, "Never Stop" from a couple of years ago, when they pulled in the incomparable Queen Omega to link for 'Kill Dem'. I will continue this series and I will eventually get around to doing one of these features on the Queen and if you have read my work to any degree, you know precisely in just how high esteem I hold her and 'Kill Dem' did not disappoint. She does threaten to steal the show, but Chezi also more than holds his own as the two unite and send one straight to the hearts of oppressors WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.
6. 'Leave The Trees'
And let them be. Chezidek' distinct GREEN TUNE, 'Leave The Trees' was very close to not making the cut until I did a very basic search to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything... I was. 'Leave The Trees' was this very 'well-ventilated' and OPEN tune touching Chezidek's favourite topic (it's also likely Marlon Asher's favourite Chezidek tune as well). The vocalist would look at things from a variety of different perspectives apart from the typical route; the most interesting of the lot being the harm on the environment committed in the name of the insistence of certain individuals on FIGHTING A PLANT... A PLANT.
7. 'Inna Di Road'
Blood dem ah shed. Despite the undeniable heft of its direction (probably be the biggest social commentary Chezidek has ever done, 'Inna Di Road' probably, most immediately, sticks into your mind (about fifteen years later) for just how DAMN COOL it was. I won't overlook it at all: You could very well make the case that it is the best written tune here, as it comprehensively takes a look at several social topics, namely violence and general crime and does so BRILLIANTLY... but there is a certain confidence and succinctness that came through 'Inna Di Road'. It had the vibes that he had rehearsed (and rehearsed and rehearsed) it a few dozen times before actually recording it. Whatever was done in preparation for arguably the biggest hit of Chezi's career - IT WORKED.
8. 'All My Life'
All my days. Three years following the release of the twice aforementioned "Judgement Time", Chezidek reached back with JahSolidRock to deliver its mighty followup, "The Order Of Melchezedik" which would have MASSIVE shoes to fill and it definitely did not disappoint. A dozen years on, THE signature of "The Order Of Melchezedik" is the intoxicating praise that was 'All My Life'.
"All my life, in all my days
THE JOY OF MY HEART IS TO GIVE RASTAFARI PRAISE"
'All My Life' presented the actual ACT of giving praise as euphoric. It and it, alone, is capable of bringing good vibes and feelings to people and he wrapped it up in this BEAUTIFUL package which has stuck with me and likely always will.
9. Ganja Tree
Don't burn down no more! The sweet, SWEET 'Ganja Tree' appeared on 2010's IMMACULATE "Judgement Time", courtesy of our friends from the highest region, JahSolidRock...
Let me tell you something: I KNEW I was going to have 'Ganja Tree' somewhere on this list, so when I started gathering song titles, it was in the very first batch, but it had been a while from the last time I heard it. I'm writing it RIGHT NOW (DUH!) and it HIT ME! It broke me down! 'Ganja Tree' is a classic which has set the deepest of roots all over my mind. I was completely and thoroughly pleased with myself for being able to sing the entire thing from memory despite the time it had been.
"CHALICE HAFFI LIGHT BEFORE THE NEWS READ!"
10. 'Call Pon Dem'
Big conference. A massive credit goes to Massive B, whose glorious (and under-voided , in my opinion) Kingdom Riddim played the perfect backdrop for a tune that still sits as one of the largest and most popular of Chezidek's entire career to date, 'Call Pon Dem'. in order to fully appreciate this one, you have to pay it its respect on two levels. Of course, you want to listen to it and respect it, lyrically and the ideology behind it (which is what we do around here), but 'Call Pon Dem' also JUST SOUNDS REALLY GOOD! It's very pleasing to listen to and damn difficult [impossible] to ignore. It's very infectious and, listening to it all of these years later, there can be no surprise at the heights the tune would reach or the damage that it did in its day.... and still is.
11. 'Harvest Time'
Dinner time. I actually feel quite proud to say that, over a couple of decades later, the title track from Chezidek's aforementioned freshman release is one of a few laying a large and legitimate claim to being THE single best that I have ever heard from him. 'Harvest Time' literally perfect. BIG and DIRECT, but not overstated, the tune had a point to make and it did precisely that in its time with this downright INTOXICATING delivery for the most part. Ranging somewhere between a chant and full-on deejaying, Chezidek delivered a vibe for the ages, saying it was time for things to become more inclusive in the world.
12. 'Who I Am'
Accept me. Given just how productive artist & label have been with one another, such a list would be incomplete (and just WRONG) without at least one contribution from Irie Ites and here it is (I'm actually still putting it together and wouldn't be surprised if I put another one from Chezidek & II in here somewhere) (have one, in particular, in mind). I hate to say it but had I worked on this list as recently as... maybe three or four years ago, 'Who I Am' would not have made it and it would not have even come close. Despite nearing twenty years of age and despite me well being aware of it, 'Who I Am' never really hit me until fairly recently and when it did I heard a certain... quaintness? There's something very COMFORTING about this tune but in a slightly unusual way (it's like finding out someone who you've known for a really long time has twin or something like that). Whatever the case, what was once just a random tune in Chezidek's back catalogue is now a significant favourite of mine and, EASILY, one of the best he's done to my opinion. Certain things that always standout do so here as well but I also LOVE the themes of RESPECT and SELF-RESPECT in a very basic and non-labourious way. It is easy a hell to treat someone decently. It literally requires no effort at all!
"ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM!"
13. 'Herbalist'
High grade campaign. Chezidek was one of several big names taking advantage of the SWEET Jam Down riddim from Danger Zone ["I'm waiiitinggggg"], with 'Herbalist', the riddim's obligatory ganja tune. 'Herbalist', sonically, was GOLD. Underratedly (melodically speaking), the song probably features one of the finest vocal performances of Chezi's entire career and he well took advantage of that most 'promotional' of tracks (it wasn't terribly difficult to be good on the Jam Down. It was very well done). The tune also did damage and was a sizable hit and has gone down as one of his most popular releases to the surprise of NO ONE AT ALL.
14. 'Dem A Dweet'
Inna di open? Finally is this WOEFULLY underappreciated GEM of a tune which appeared on the Bassie Campbell produced "Freedom Fighters" album in 2013, 'Dem A Dweet'. The track took aimed at the more two-faced members of society who spend their time chanting down actions which they, themselves, partake in. Along with being lyrically damn scathing, something that has always attracted me to 'Dem A Dweet' has been its delivery. Originally, Chezidek came up as a deejay and while this one isn't straight-forward in that respect, it is a nearly perfect blend of what Chezidek is known for these days and where his origins lie.
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