Extended Play: The Best Reggae EP's

Of the many nice recent developments that the digital medium has brought to Reggae music, definitely one of the most interesting has been the proliferation of the Reggae EP. In just a short while, we’ve seen it used in nearly countless ways; be it just ahead of albums, to meet the demand of music from or to entirely introduce a new artist, or even just as collections from an established name, EP's have flooded the scene and, already, are quite difficult to keep track of as they are released at very impressive rates. Today, however, we place a cap on things and examine some of the best EP’s to date. Extended Play: The Best Reggae EP's

{Note: No multi-artist compilations}

{Note 2: Though it sticks to the last few years, we intentionally avoided any 2014 releases}

{Note 3: No Soca}

#10. "Same Difference" by Ziggi Recado [Rock 'N Vibes - 2010]

Ziggi Recado's "Same Difference" album definitely had a multi-purposed direction. Of course, it existed to push more great music from Ziggi and would arrive, ultimately, a year ahead of his next full release, but it also served as a kind of reintroduction of the artist to the masses. Previously known as just 'Ziggi', as you can see emblazoned on the cover for "Same Difference", this release would mark Ziggi's official renaming as 'Ziggi Recado' (and in a genre like Reggae where Ziggis and Ziggys aren't very difficult to find at all) and, in retrospect, they chose a very clever way to make things certified and official. Musically speaking, "Same Difference" was also interesting. Featuring more than one production of Necessary Mayhem, including the very popular 'Ganja Smoke In The Air' [bka 'Joker Smoker'] would also feature the legendary Marcia Griffiths as well as the WICKED 'Baddest'. 

#9. "Not The Same" by Denham Smith [Oneness Records - 2013]

Almost serving as something of an addendum to his debut album, "Come Wid It", which arrived just a year before, Denham Smith's HUGE EP set from 2013, "Not The Same" really just continued the introductory phase for many to this wonderful talent. Vibed courtesy of the outstanding Oneness Records from out of Germany, this project was probably one of the best promoted on this list and, as you got into the music, you quickly figured out why. Pinnacled by an absolutely enormous title track and an opener in 'If A Me Alone’, "Not The Same" was sublime! Also present was 'The System', a very underrated track in my opinion and other gorgeous contributions as well. The virtually inescapable Jah Sun featured.

#8. "Same I Ah One" by Midnite [I Grade Records - 2013]

As the latest in an ever increasing and expanding cache of good ideas from I Grade Records, just a few years back, the biggest label in the Virgin Islands turned to the idea of producing pre-album EP's. And if I recall correctly (and I never do), the very first of these was born for the "Kings Bell" album from Midnite in 2011. On the most recent set, the label returned to Midnite in a big way as, just ahead of the then forthcoming "Beauty For Ashes" was an EP release surrounding the album's first single, "Beauty For Ashes". Most remarkable here, perhaps, was the  fact that - along with the actual song and four more mixes of it, the "Same I Ah One" EP answered some big questions of the album. This set dealt exclusively with combinations. Pressure Busspipe featured on the title track, while Ras Batch and Lutan Fyah would also answer the call on 'Weather The Storm' and 'When Jah Arise', respectively. As was the case with "Kings Bell', "Beauty For Ashes" also turned out quite well and definitely this set helped to peak interests. 

#7. "Sara Lugo"  [Oneness Records - 2009]

The debut self-titled EP from German powerhouse Sara Lugo, would arrive a couple of years ahead of her outstanding debut album, "What About Love", and it would also include a pair of her best songs ever. Both 'Rock Steady' (the best version of the song) and 'Familiar Stranger' appeared here as did the lovely 'Mother & Child' and even 'And They Cry' alongside Naptali (which I had forgotten was on this set). Ultimately, what this set is best remembered for, at least by me (besides the two giant songs), is for helping to bring to attention, formally, one of the absolute most delightful and fascinating artists in Reggae music today (and, looking back, one of the most in both cases in a very loooooooooong time). Lugo has gone on to become a favourite of ours in the years since and this EP helped to ignite what is sure to be a fantastic career. 

#6. "Africa Is Our Home" by Jah Turban [SJP Records - 2010]

You may have missed it but, back in 2010, a release came via the wicked Denmark based Jamaican chanter, Jah Turban, "Africa Is Our Home", which has gone on to become one of my favourite and one of the most meaningful EP releases to date (even though its four years on and we're still waiting for an album). Through the set's six tracks, Turban dazzled and, in some cases, did so in an unforgettable manner. Highlights here included 'Babylon Doom', the title track and definitely the big closer, 'Move Vampire'. The other three selections, still, were very good as well - in 'Mystic Of Jah' (especially that one), 'Show Some Love' and 'My Empress' Jah Turban showed more top notch talent and though he doesn't seem to be as active these days as I would have hoped, Jah Turban will likely always be someone whose releases I keep an eye and an ear on for the foreseeable future and much of that is because of what we heard on "Africa Is Our Home". 

#4. "Raise Hell on Hellboy" by Bounty Killer [Payday Music - 2009]

Grrrr! After all of these years, the prospects of finding a seemingly perfectly angered version of Bounty Killer in a fine form remains one of the biggest attractions that Dancehall music has to offer. Though he can be consistent, as has typically been his case, the Killer needs a bit of a 'challenge' and extra 'motivation' and he had bountiful amounts of both back in 2009 when he released 'Raise Hell On Hellboy for the wonderful people at Payday Music. For what they were, this EP carried a couple of bonafide classics in 'Mi Enemies' and the devastating 'Chatta Box' and songs such as 'Ungrateful Hellboy' weren't extremely far behind. Obviously, most… okay, ALL of the arsenal here was aimed in the direction of former Killer protégé, Vybz Kartel and it never really did pinnacle in the way it likely should have (and now it never will, or at least not until they're both very, very old men), but hearing the Killer at his destructive best, as I said, is something I could just never tire of.  

#4. "J Boog" [Washhouse Music - 2011]

Not very far at all ahead of his the forthcoming and heavily anticipated album, "Backyard Boogie", the sweet singing J Boog put together a compilation of some of the things he had been working on up to that point and released eight tunes and nearly half an hour's worth of it on this sublime self-titled EP. The main attraction here was the tune which was (and remains) the main attraction of his entire career, the Don Corleon produced 'Let's Do It Again', but it wasn't alone. I came back to this release and had completely forgotten the quality of songs such as 'Coldest Zone', 'So Far Gone', ESPECIALLY 'It's So Hard', 'Every Little Thing' and others still. An EXCELLENT release and 2014 would be a lovely year for a new album from J Boog in my opinion and in yours too.

#3. "Liberation" by Ziggi Recado [Dredda Records - 2012]

Just a couple of years ago, Ziggi Recado, again, did something really interesting with an EP release. Where the first entry on this list had the intention of reintroducing the artist, "Liberation", one could make the argument, also did the same thing and it did it in a way which was hard not to pay attention to. First of all, the set was his first of substance following the split between Recado and his longtime homebase, Rock 'N Vibes, and for it he linked with our friends at Dredda Records… twice. Though officially an EP, "Liberation" was basically an album dosed out in two volumes over the course of about six months or so. The first edition was impressive with big tunes such as 'Rising', 'Green Medicine' and 'Merciless' shining (biggup Oneness), but the second volume was even better. It carried the single best tune on the whole of this project which was the title track (one of the greatest lyrical assaults of Ziggi’s career in my opinion) as well as golden tracks such as 'Pure N Divine', 'The Anchor' alongside Mr. Mojo from Morgan Heritage, 'Till The End', 'Nothing But Love', 'Balance' and… I've just named every song on the EP as Ziggi Recado just snuck an extra album in on everyone.  

#2. "Lively Road" by Smiley [Love & Unity Music - 2010]

"I just caaaaaaaaan't take the distance no mooooooooooooore!" I'd have to wait even longer for an album from Aruban born Dutch standout, Smiley, but what he did back in 2010 in the form of "Lively Road" made the waiting a bit easi… actually no it didn't make it easier - it made it harder! "Lively Road" was MAMMOTH! It took some of the tunes (two in particular) which really helped to bring Smiley and his infectious style to prominence and placed them on a single project and that project was sublime. Of course present were both 'Distance' and Smiley's first big hit 'Dem A Wonder' alongside Junior Kelly, but it also offered the House of Riddim produced 'Big Money Bag', the title track, 'Da Weed' and other very sizable moments. Also, and this is a quality shared by the top three entrants on this list, "Lively Road" came off like an album and a good one. The songs ran so nicely together and it really had this downright seamless presentation which isn't always in attendance on EP's. 

#1. "Lead The Way" by Kabaka Pyramid [Bebble Rock Music - 2013]

And at the top of the list and leading by example is the scalding Kabaka Pyramid who, just last year, did wonders with his own 'EP', "Lead The Way". Checking in at ten tracks and nearly forty minutes (and it had bonus songs and a deluxe edition which made it even longer), if they'd call this his debut album, I don't think anyone would have had a problem with it (it probably would have made our best albums list and likely its top ten) and his subsequent debut album (and 2014 will just be incomplete if it doesn't give it to us) will have some considerable work to do in topping this EP. In my opinion, these days the Pyramid has very little in the way of peers when it comes to lyrics -- he is SURELY one of the best in Reggae music today -- and if you haven't noticed that, tunes such as 'King Kabaka', 'Lead The Way', 'LIBERAL OPPOSER'… (and I'm on my way  to naming every tune here again) showed that fully. What he is capable of doing with the spoken word these days is as impressive as anyone and he did SPECIAL things in that arena with "Lead The Way": The Best Reggae EP.

"Not The Same" by Denham Smith

"Not The Same" by Denham Smith [Oneness Records]

I'd been really meaning to go back and have more of an intensive listen to an album which reached just last year by the name of "Come Wid It" from a very 'flexible' and gifted vocalist by the name of Denham Smith. Though I hadn't gotten around to it fully just yet, the clips from the album sounded very impressive and what I have read from, in terms of reaction, has been quite positive and Smith had been added to an unfortunately healthy list of names who I would like to listen to more when I got the opportunity to do so. Well, while I still do have to go back to deal with "Come Wid It" properly, getting my attention focused on the works of Smith became properly done recently as he linked, fully, on a brand new EP project with one of the most reliable sources in Reggae music today in my opinion, Oneness Records. Though not as active in 2013 as they've been in previous years, the German based label has been a virtual production factory of top notch material over the past few years working alongside such cavernous talents as Naptali, the incomparable Mark Wonder and, of course, Sara Lugo. So, when you've earned their full attention and respect, I simply cannot put things off any longer and today we take a listen to what Denham Smith and Oneness Records have been working on -- one of the bigger EP's of the year -- "Not The Same".  

#1. 'If a Me Alone'

The track at the head of "Not The Same", 'If a Me Alone' comes through with all types of colours and nice vibes for me as it rides the same track as Mark Wonder's golden 'Ancient of Day' from his outstanding 2012 effort, "Working Wonders" (where it was also the first song). Along with that, the song has a very interesting and diverse message as well. You'll hear a billion (literally) songs in Reggae music about people coming together and unifying and such things, but 'If a Me Alone' really makes its case on the fact that unity isn't always possible and sometimes people have to stand alone and stand up for themselves by themselves. I well appreciate the nature of the song which certainly isn't 'antisocial', but inspirational instead as Smith, essentially, seems to say that if no one wants to help you, then help yourself! BOOM! 

#2. 'Collie'

Things take a delightful old school turn on the second track on the EP, the misty 'Collie'. This tune does definitely have some social connotation and relevance to it but it comes off far more efficiently as THAT song which is guaranteed to get heads nodding and feet moving and it WELL serves that purpose. Furthermore a song like this one, which features a handful of different styles, underlines and italicizes exactly what I mean when I say Smith is "flexible". The man can do almost anything with a tune and be good at it - immediately. 

#3. 'Not the Same'

And then there's the boom. The title track for "Not The Same" is a musical powerhouse and the single finest thing that I hear here. The riddim is nice and the vibes really make the song work, but the real showcase here is what is being said. Again, just like the opener, 'Not the Same' goes to acknowledge that harmony with everyone isn't something which is always possible or for the best. In this case, however, Denham Smith takes a next and more aggressive step by sternly pointing out that everyone who is carrying themselves full of negativity and doing nasty things to the world and the people on it have NOTHING in common with him. He is not the same as them. What absolutely dazzles is the tune's second full verse where Smith cracks the perspective of the oppressor and deals with oppression and racism and classism and other things. The presentation here is fantastic as you can hear the passion in his voice and you can also hear the incredulity as Smith comes to comprehend that there are actually real people who think that those things are fine! An amazing song!

#4. 'Rub a Dub Ting' featuring Jah Sun

'Rub a Dub Ting' was Smith's contribution to Oneness' Rub A Dub Man Riddim from last year (when it was actually the riddim's title track). Renamed, it featured on Jah Sun's "Rise as One" album from earlier this year (where Denham Smith featured, as did every other living human being) (you -- YOU SITTING RIGHT THERE -- were on that album). A point is made here of calling this one the 'Oneness Version', but I've yet to here any version of this song with any title on it which was at least very good. This one is no exception. 

#5. 'The System'

The political/social commentary, 'The System', is my second favourite piece on "Not The Same". This song has a very difficult to describe quality to it as, in its ultra-straightforwardness, it is subtly but wholly dynamic in many ways. It is something which, clearly, I wasn't the only one to see as Oneness lets the riddim play on long after the tune's final lyrics have been spoken. As for the idea here - Smith deals with the largely apathetic powers that be who not only do not deal with the issues of many people, but also don't even find out what those issues are. This song didn't require it for me, but I can well see it taking a minute to grow on someone, so give it a few listens if you don't initially enjoy it because, like I said, its power is great but kind of subtle and I think that was intentional. 

#6. 'Riddim Traveler'

And the final selection on the EP, 'Riddim Traveler', is another captivating piece which has so many different facets to it. On one hand you can take it in its broadest sense and say that Denham Smith is dealing with how his music has taken him across the planet and back and across it again, But I think that underlying message here is the overall power of music, in general. How IT not only takes people around the world, but also knowledge and culture and so many wonderful things and ideas. And also how it makes people feel good. Thinking about it now, it is kind of an ambitious piece, but like the EP in full, I think Smith pulls it off very well. 

Denham Smith

Sound good? You can hear it for yourself when you pick up "Not The Same" by Denham Smith from Oneness Records which is in digital stores now.