Tenet. If you really think about it, there is a very finite number of things that capture our attention as human beings. As diverse as we most certainly are... our selection of entertainment, en masse, isn't quite as varied as one might think. Sure, you'll have your moments where you can find a supreme level of joy in something as simple as watching an ant go about his business, when it comes to what you're willing to actually pay for or spend more time doing, things are damn simple. For example, you've probably seen enough movies in your life to have a decent shot at predicting the ending of some confusing film that is currently in production, right now. You can pick up enough clues, here and there, to get relatively close to what its conclusion - and you may not even need to see the entire thing to get there (the next superhero movie that's made... I think the 'good guy' will win at the end) (just my thought). The musical side of this is... well, I was about to say that it's slightly "more complicated" but it really isn't. There's a Dancehall song, what is about? There're the '3 Gs' of Dancehall music: Girls, Guns and Ganja. The exception to this would be a dancing song, which're far less prevalent these days but, for the most part, most Dancehall songs you come across will be about one of the three. This isn't, at all, a critique from me. If it ain't broke, don't fix it and, as someone who LOVES Dancehall (and who is fighting the urge to say something negative about the current state of the genre...), the extent of creativity to which some of these artists can go within that narrow frame of thought can be downright astounding. One of those G's, in a truly major way, is prevalent throughout the entire genre of Reggae music and is so to the point where the argument could be made that the music, itself, has proven to be one of its greatest pieces of advertisements ever. If ganja has a theme song (and it just might), it is a Reggae tune. If it has a spokesperson or a celebrity endorsement... he/she makes Reggae music.
And there would be a nice handful of candidates for that position. Historically, SURELY the great Peter Tosh would have been up for the role but the modern era has also produced a number of healthy, potential candidates. Take, for example, the most honourable Burnhard Spliffington [bka Perfect Giddimani] who has done more than his part in populating the topic with big tunes ["DON'T WORRY OR PANIIIIIIIIIC! Cause my chronic is organic, so take a draw from it!"]. The same could be said for Lutan Fyah ["A just a little bag of herbs fi mi officer. I nah sleep a jail fi no ganja"] or, if you wanted to take a bit more 'mystical', you could even tap Ras Batch ["The root, the stem and the flowers - bring down therapeutic showers. Magnificent medicinal powers"]. That man's dedication to promoting the herb is second to none. If you wanted to grab a spotlight you could go to the likes of Collie Buddz & Marlon Asher who've both score international hits in the field and even personal favourite of mine, the Ganja Baby (although I've heard that sometimes her friends call her Ganja Lady), Queen Omega; or any number of others ensuring that songs about marijuana remain nearly as tied close to Roots music as do songs praising His Majesty.
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| 2010 |
Another prime choice MIGHT be... oh I don't know.... maybe Chezidek?? It's weird thinking about it now because back when I first began to listen to his music, I don't think that I ever would have expected Chezidek to go this route. No. I am not at all surprised that he has gone on to have a tremendous career; making some of the finest music of his era and becoming a personal favourite of mine but the fact that he has gone on to demonstrate such an incredibly high penchant for making songs about ganja, in particular and in retrospect, was definitely not expected a quarter of a century or so when I first took major note of the St. Ann native. His early works such as the GORGEOUS Xterminator produced debut, "Harvest Time" ["Inna dem mind!"] was devoid of any tunes on the subject if memory serves me well (and it might not), as was its unearthly strange followup from three years on, 2005's "Rising Sun". In fact, Chezi had probably been in the process of making a name for himself for the better part of a decade -- going back to his REALLY early work -- (look up a WICKED tune called 'Congregation' from the late 90's for a taste of that and in a different style) before he made a significant drop out in the herb yard. Since he did plant that seed, however, the proverbial flood gates have been opened and, he has been one of the most delightfully unavoidable proponents of marijuana in all of Reggae music. Because of that and because why not the venerable Tad's Records have put together a specifically loosely themed set and... it isn't the first time. The brand new "Marijuana Prayer" actually follows 2010's "Herbalist" from the same label. That should really tell us something about not only Chezidek's music, in general, but the perception of of those who actually make and put the music together (industry folk!): He now has TWO albums from the same source centered around marijuana. Furthermore, if you take that aspect out of play, the man has just been making some EXCELLENT music and been doing so with Tad's. Along with the aforementioned "Herbalist" was another album Chezidek did with Tad's, back in 2020, by the name of "Hello Africa" which was absolutely fantastic and since then, there was also "Never Stop" for Irie Ites (also fantastic). Chezidek has been on a roll and I'm wondering if that run continues into 2026, with the new release.
Of course it does [DUH!]. Despite the way I built this review and the title and central theme around "Marijuana Prayer", I don't want to make it seem as if that's all that's going on here - it most certainly is not. This is a... Chezidek album. It's full of the various ideologies that he typically covers in his music (many of which permeate Roots music, in general, just as much as ganja and if not, more) which is just fine by me. Also, there is a compilation effect here as you very well should be quite familiar with some of these songs. The opener for "Marijuana Prayer", 'Ganja Business', however, is new to my ears and eyes. Tackling a classic track whose name I don't feel like looking up, Chezi uses a rather FRAIL chorus to deliver what I'm going to consider a VIBE. I don't think there was a lot going into the planning station of 'Ganja Business' and developed almost entirely organically. That's not a critique at all. For what it is and, specifically, where it's placed on the album -- to kind of set the stage for what is to come -- I have no problem with 'Ganja Business' but better material is to come. I'm even more confident in the freshness of 'Caah Believe' as I'm almost certain it is the first single for "Marijuana Prayer". I can remember when it popped up on my radar initially, maybe a month or so before the album's release and I was damn curious to hear it (because it was a new Chezidek song... had no idea at the time that an album was forthcoming behind it). This tune deals with the persecution and prosecution of this plant and the ridiculous way in which is occurs. If not for the presence of something truly special later on, 'Caah Believe' would be my favourite song on this album. It is FANTASTIC. It's one of the better written efforts Chezidek has turned in as of late and if you want to talk about making a point, that DEFINITELY goes down here and in such a HUGE way!
"A how you run come and demonize, after you say you decriminalize?
Now mi seet clear wid my eyes: You only waan wi buy kush from di big guys
Look how hard di small farmers toil-
Inna di sun, put him suckers in di soil
And dem likkle dream you come spoil
Just to mek di big guys smile
You dun know, he ain't gotta dime
Yet you want come charge him a fine
If him no got it, you waan fi lock him down fi a long, long time
Him neva know, him neva know THERE WAS A LIMIT TO WHAT HIM COULD GROW
From di time that him hear seh ganja free, pure seed him ah sow
Inna di hills and him neva come a road
Mi caah believe, caah believe
Dem still ah lock up farmers fi ganja
Mi caah believe, caah believe
Dem still ah lock up people fi weed
Traditional ganja, farmers inna Jam
It look like dem no waan wi have nothin fi nyam
Dem buy froreign weed from up a Uncle Sam
And wi fi ah plant pure cabbage and yam
Seh dem decriminalize but you si it was a sham
Dem neva legalize and dem neva did ah plan
But food deh haffi eat for each and everyone
Di foreign investors and di natives of di land
Sacramental ganja fi di Rastaman
Medicinal marijuana fi di hospital
Recreation ganja, recreational
Free Jamaican ganja, international"
CLEARLY Chezidek and Tad's knew that they had something serious on their hands when they wrapped up 'Caah Believe' and they were right; making it an obvious choice for a single for this album. Charged with tailing 'Caah Believe' is the excellent title track which comes pretty close to equaling the levels set by the song just ahead of it. 'Marijuana Prayer' is a lot of FUN and you don't typically use such a term to describe such a tune but that's the one that first came to my mind and stayed there (clearly it's still in there). This one features Chezidek doing exactly what you think he's doing in lifting up the positives of ganja but it's done in a variety of different ways. He sings and he does that wonderful chanting style that I wish he would employ more often and then the song is just afforded a minute (half a minute) to go on its own as the singer takes a step back for a wonderful stretch and a great touch in my opinion. Previous single, the now... classic [?] 'Leave The Trees' is also on board "Marijuana Prayer", just as it was on the aforementioned "Herbalist" release (and it also appeared on his 2007 album, "Inna Di Road"). This song MIGHT have been the first indication of Chezidek's prowess in this spectrum as the tune, produced by Our Promotion, was a significant and remains one of his most popular to date. 'Leave The Trees', as its title suggests, is more than just a song about ganja ["It's not just about smoking. It's my medicine, my food and my clothing"]; it's also a GREEN song. It stands up for the proper care of the environment, in general, and it definitely made an impact with the masses (and this does appear to be just a remastered version of the original, not a re-recording) (but I could be wrong). 'Let's Stay Together' probably made its first rounds four or five years ago at this point and its appearance on this set comes as no surprise. I've never been crazy about this song (it's almost... kinda country-ish and doesn't have the greatest of direction) but, for whatever it's worth, it does feature an impressive more typical vocal delivery from Chezidek. He just sings the song as straight-forward as you're likely to get out of him and it is pleasant to listen to. Similarly vibed but substantially stronger is the next track in, 'Got To Go Home'. What separates the two, for me, is how well the latter is written. It's a repatriation song but there's something kind of SPICY about 'Got To Go Home'. You listen to its tone and you get one thing from it but if you actually listen to what Chezidek is saying... you can tell that he's a little pissed off!
"Nah build yuhself up like no skyscraper-
Or babylon will crush yuh like paper
The likkle money nuh mek yuh no greater
Yuh laugh now but yuh gonna cry later
Dem got yuh constrained, propaganda campaign
Yuh think yuh escape but dem got yuh contained
Yuh religion nor yuh higher education
Politics nuh mek yuh more safer
Got dem secret organization
DI WHOLE SYSTEM AH RUN BY SATAN
Dem drop di slavetrade but dem still have yuh brain
DEM CONTROL YUH WATER AND YUH FOODCHAIN
Full yuh up a drugs anytime you feel pain
Lock you inna prison if you try-
Wi got to home!"
I call it a song about repatriation and it is but very loosely. Chezidek isn't necessarily saying that we need pack up and go to Africa (although that is an option) but we just need to get the hell outta here. WHEREVER our destination may be, so be it, but the current way things are going is simply unacceptable. 'Got To Go Home' is EASILY a highlight here and the same can be said for the song just behind it, 'One Life'. This one was interesting even before I'd heard it because Chezi has a much older tune by the same name which is downright glorious. It's, seriously, probably one of the best fifty or songs that he's ever done and this version appears to be same one (or very similar to it), just on a different riddim. This riddim is the Party Time (I looked that up, it's the same riddim that backs Cocoa Tea's Good Life, I was about to call it the Good Life before I checked) which goes to make for a more quaint experience. I do still prefer the former but this tune is excellent and, again, another fine example of writing on "Marijuana Prayer" as the singer warns us all to just be a bit more careful in our day-to-day lives ["Mighty men can die from just one mosquito bite"] because we only get to do this once.
The second half of the album makes a VERY familiar turn (and I ain't complaining about it) during its second half but its also serves up three more unexpected lights as well. The first of these is also its very first tune altogether, 'Give Me Your Love'. I know what you're thinking and I was thinking the exact same thing: Yes. That title is absolutely abysmal. It's terrible and it, seemingly, portends something... sappy as hell to come. However, while the song bearing that name most certainly isn't amongst the finest that "Marijuana Prayer" has to offer, it also any the bottom of the barrel that you might've been expecting (...you were). It is a lukewarm love song. For something reaching far higher, check 'Memba Good' and the equally delightful closer, 'Stand Up'. The former is just expressing the totality of a ton of acquired life-experience ["It's a learning, learning journey and you're never too old to learn"] and it's fairly broad. Such songs don't typically appeal to me as much as this one does, however; and I'd probably owe that to 'Memba Good' just being incredibly well put together. 'Stand Up, for its part, is even better (my opinion just changed on that within the last ten minutes. I would have rated 'Memba Good' slightly ahead prior to that). It is STERLING Roots Reggae atop a cut of a classic riddim (it's the Invasion Riddim. Who knows what the original name of that thing is). The idea here is fairly simple: You know right from right -- we all do -- and you/we should be willing to put our foot down, take a risk and stand up for what we know is right. You can take this in a billion different ways (and I think that's the intent) but the unifying thought here is damn strong and leads to an outstanding effort. NOW! I mentioned the "Hello Africa" album and the remaining four offerings, in a kinda/sorta typa way belong to that album. The most identifiable is 'Inna Dem Eye' and I alluded to this one previously. 'Inna Dem Eye' is the best song on this album. It's one of the finest songs he's ever done (it's one of the finest that anyone has ever done) but, had you looked through the tracklist, you already knew that. The other three songs do not appear on the standard release of "Hello Africa", instead they featured on its "Vinyl Cut". 'Deliver Me', 'Fool & His Money' and 'Money Move' represented the difference between versions of "Hello Africa". I thought their inclusion here was a very interesting one because OBVIOUSLY they're here to thicken out things, which is fine but there's also a bit of... 'in case you missed it' aspect going on as well. In any case surrounding the thought behind their collective presence, just as was the case for "Hello Africa", their being here makes "Marijuana Prayer" a better album. It's nearly twelve minutes of added outstanding music and that can only be a plus. Despite, if I recall correctly, 'Fool & His Money' and 'Money Move' being singles and more popular ('Money Move' is all kinds of addictive), the best of the trio remains 'Deliver Me' by the slightest of margins. When that song hits a certain level and plateaus, what we get is nearly euphoric work (you can leave that song on for ages and just enjoy over and over again).
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| 2021 |
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