First up on my radar this week is the latest release from veteran singer, Natty King and his WellOWell Production imprint, the Talent Riddim. Early last year, Natty King would deliver a brand new, very well received studio album, "Rebellution", and his flare for delivering big sets in the year's early months continue into 2023. The Talent Riddim, at its core, is a very pleasant and relatively straight-forward composition (though we never do get an actual clean version of it, so.....), but NK and company were sure to place it in the very capable hands of some extremely 'talented' vocalists, who do some very impressive things with the track. Joining 'The Man From the East' are the likes of Ginjah, Warrior King alongside Infa, Lutan Fyah, Turbulence, Chezidek, Perfect Giddmani and longtime Natty King associate (who, I believe, has been something of a mentor to the singer), Trinity who gives both a solo version of 'Fence' and a combination of the tune with U Brown. Though there's nothing here which I would call GREAT, the Talent Riddim is very solid from beginning to end and I think most fans of modern Roots music will thoroughly enjoy it.
"A Breath Of Fresh Air" by Freddie McGregor [Stingray Records - 2023]
Legendary singer and captain of the big ship, Freddie McGregor (who is apparently doing much better these days) is back with a brand new album and he's gone in a very familiar and FITTING direction in order to make it happen. "A Breath Of Fresh Air" finds McGregor linking with Stingray Records from out of the UK. If you know anything at all about Stingray and the McLeod Family who runs it, you know that they largely specialize in a brand of Reggae music which is well rinsed in an old school sound and is heavy on the Lover's Rock as well. So, such an outfit making an album with the 'Born A Winner', comes as a very welcomed union. I'm still going through this one (and may review it next month, actually), but early winners include the likes of 'I'm Going Home' [BOOM!], 'Work' and the closer 'Peace and Love'. When I saw McGregor had a new album about, I was definitely excited to hear it and when I found out who was behind it, it took it to another level and you should definitely take a listen to "A Breath Of Fresh Air".
{Note: Apparently "A Breath Of Fresh Air" has been slow in making its way to various digital sources, so it may/may not be currently available on your favourite, but it is out there}
'Behind The Wall' by Freddie McGregor [Rebelmadiaq Sound System & Records - 2022]
Quickly, also coming from McGregor this week is a HUGE new tune courtesy of Rebelmadiaq from out of Spain, 'Behind The Wall'. This song has ROYAL sound about it and I noticed it while going through "A Breath Of Fresh Air" and, again it's early days still, but it's probably better than anything on that album and it's probably the single best piece of work that I've heard from Freddie McGregor in quite some time.
"Babylon kingdom, yes, it must fall
I catch them behind the wall"
The Blak Karpet Riddim [Blak Karpet Productions - 2022]
It certainly isn't the worst idea one could have when they have a big riddim - to go ahead and name it after themselves to, perhaps, some familiarity going forward in your listener-base and that is precisely what Blak Karpet Productions has done with their latest LOVELY creation, the Blak Karpet Riddim. I'll give you a perfect example of what I mean here: Though I thought I knew the name Blak Karpet, I wasn't entirely sure and a quick search revealed that they had indeed already been behind a few releases, most notably the Miracle Riddim from a couple of years back (which carried Lutan Fyah's GENIUS pandemic-inspired 'It Still Deh Deh') ["Now the vaccination and it still deh deh. Dem seh house-to-house locked and it still deh deh. Six feet social-distance and it still deh deh"]. Now, after the Blak Karpet Riddim, chances are pretty solid that I won't have the same issue going forward anytime soon! While some of their previous drops were a bit thin in terms of number of tunes, that is not an issue with the Blak Karpet Riddim as it is spread out across TWENTY-SIX TRACKS, clocking in at nearly two hours worth of big vibes. As you would expect with so much material, the list of vocalists is all over the place with big names such as Sizzla Kalonji, Capleton, the aforementioned Natty King & Mr. Peppa, I Wayne, Lutan Fyah, Norris Man (more on him in just a second), Perfect, Chezidek and Turbulence all making appearances, as well as names which you may not be as familiar with such as Jerimus, Amejah (who gets two tracks and may actually be an official BKP artist), the wicked Kush Bashan, Peas Head and others who turn in fine efforts. I do have a couple of complaints that I'll register here, one being the fact that, even with THAT many tracks, they couldn't mix in an instrumental and, again, despite so many tunes and wonderful backing singers on several selections, unless I'm forgetting someone, you will not find a lead female vocalist touching the Blak Karpet Riddim, which is remarkable in a bad way. Still, for what it was, it was probably at least in the discussion for Riddim Album of The Year 2022. It was excellent (and in my younger days, I would have salivated all over the prospects of reviewing this LOADED release) (I also hear a little Satta Massagana Riddim on this one, maybe that's just me though).
The Fighters Riddim [ZionProductions Music - 2022]
Next up, we touch down in Costa Rica for a quick stop to pick up the latest from ZionProductions, the Fighters Riddim from late last year. This one caught my attention for a couple of reasons, the very first of them being the fact that it contains music from Elijah Prophet, which is always a good thing. His tune, the excellent anti-violence piece 'Stop the War', comes right off his 2022 album, "Jah Calling", which ZionProductions released last summer. After 'Stop the War', the reason I stuck around for 'round 2' of this fight was a MAMMOTH tune by the name of 'Find the Time' from veteran, Norris Man.
"I don't wanna be no suitor
I wanna be a contributor
Will make my work stand the test
My reward is life and it has to manifest
For long, hard times of tales they have told us
Find the time yeah, to study things and-
Observe all what Jah has create
Find the time yeah, look around you
Remember life is the only thing that we have left"
BOOM! 'Find the Time' has such a POWERFUL vibes around it and I went into to it not really expecting a damn thing at all and it CAUGHT ME! It is such a BEAUTIFUL song! Efforts from Rasmanuel (in Spanish) and Stefyah fill out the Fighters Riddim, but I will likely always think back to this one for one immense shot from Norris Man (and the riddim, itself, is delightful. It's very well done).
"Kingdom Call" by Indra [Reality Shock Records - 2023]
Last year, we told you about an album from Achis Reggae favourite, Mikey General, by the name of "Hold A Heights". That album came via one Reality Shock Records from out of the UK and it also featured OUTSTANDING background vocals from one Indra Rudder who, herself, now has a brand new album courtesy of RSR, "Kingdom Call". The Bajan born songstress has an ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL voice and it comes roaring through throughout this lovely debut (I THINK) release. Indra has a.... an almost Jazzy quality to her sound and, when you mix that with Reggae (you get Sara Lugo if you're lucky), the results can often be BEAUTIFUL (have I mentioned Sara Lugo???) and, "Kingdom Call" features some GOLDEN material. Standouts include 'Wake Up Call', 'Wolves', 'Cold World', the opener 'Fresh Wata' and others. Just a very curious sound on this one which, I hope, a lot of people give a shot - an excellent set.
'Hope' by Lutan Fyah [Riddim Wise - 2023]
No older entry this week, but instead a big new tune that has recently popped up on my radars from another favourite of ours as the latest from Lutan Fyah, 'Hope', is VERY nice. The song comes through well the dependable Riddim Wise from Montreal (and the press for this release actually says that the relationship between artist & label is one dating back a decade now) (it sounds like it) and is probably some of the Fyah's finest work that I've heard in a little while (and he's already been fairly active in 2023, so that is saying something). Just a beautiful vibes with a, fittingly, beautiful message and a GORGEOUS song. Take a listen for yourself and that's what I'm listening to.
"Tings ah get hard a yard and abroad
But it really doesn't matter to me
They think you gone falter, put down yah guard
But it really doesn't matter to me
When this escalate and di violence arise-
People gwan dead, mi know di bodies ahgo pile up
Still seh mi ah laze and toil
STILL AH HOLD IT OUT, MATTA OVER MIND
They demand every leverage and ah try to surprise you
One day di people ahgo rise up
They caan take di little bit a weh wi work for
Give it all your heart when a work time
Once there is life, we still got hope
We living inna difficult time, but wi still gone cope"
'Mission Impossible' by Perfect Giddimani & Lutan Fyah [Giddimani Records - 2023]
Okay so, little bonus action here that I simply felt the NEED to mention as veteran duo and favourites of ours, Perfect Giddimani & Lutan Fyah, once again team up on a big new tune, this time for the former's own Giddimani Records, 'Mission Impossible'. This one is delightful but it also has just a bit of a BITE to it as the two talented chanters do exactly what you would expect them to and deliver a quality piece. 'Mission Impossible' is a song about the importance of Rastafari in the world today on both smaller (and interpersonal) levels and grander ones as well. The results are mightily impressive, highly lyrical and a song which you should listen to... like right now. Okay, NOW, that's what I'm listening to.
"Load di chalice and di spliff
Give praise from di heart, Jah praise
I & I TRANSFORM FROM DI DEVIL
FROM DI KING, WI NO DRIFT
Dem get defeat, this a must, wi no fake
One - two, Nyahbinghi, Kette Man ah call through di earth
First up today on my radars is an excellent EP release from a just as impressive pair of sources as the legendary Tuff Gong releases the debut set from someone with whom it's well time you have gotten familiar, the potential LOADED Kazayah, "I Am Kazayah". Kazayah's is a name which has popped up and remained one to keep an eye on fairly recently and "I Am Kazayah" comes well anticipated by many - yours truly definitely included. The five-track release features some stellar material from both her previous recent work and completely new tunes (at least new to me), highlighted by the wholly THUNDEROUS opener, 'Rise'. 'I Know', which features MediSun and 'Mr. Sunshine', which is particularly delightful, also standout, but every tune here (the others being 'Let It Flow' and 'Sweet' (with its SWEET riddim)) all possess fine qualities of their own. The competition will surely be steep this year, but "I Am Kazayah" is probably at least in the discussion of one of the finest EP's Reggae has produced in 2022 thus far and if you haven't become acquainted with her wonderful music, now would be the time.
{Note: I started to write ' "I Am Kazayah" by Kazayah', but I did not want to insult your intelligence}
{Note 2: It's not like it's "I Am Kazayah" by.... Busy Signal or something}
Speaking of someone with wonderful music, also be sure to check the latest from one of the biggest Reggae talents from out of Israel, Queen Makedah, 'Clean Hands'. This tune featured on Makedah's most recent album release, "Peace Process" from 2020 and gets a remastered polish for its featured release here. The tune features lyrics in both English and Makedah's native Hebrew (at least I think that's Hebrew) and is backed by a GLORIOUS video clip presentation (which should probably be in here somewhere) that you also really should take a look at. Again, should you find this tune to be of your liking -- and you should -- also be sure to check out the balance of "Peace Process" as it features music of a similar level although 'Clean Hands' is probably THE class of its lot.
'Glory' by Jah Mason [Rebellion City Productions - 2022]
I have also been listening to quite a bit of Jah Mason music over the past couple of weeks or so and while primarily it has been from his older catalogue (the "Life Is Just A Journey" album, especially ["Some so captivating, manipulating - what's yours is theirs, automatically taken"]), I've also gravitated towards this relatively fresh single courtesy of Rebellion City Productions, 'Glory'.
"Hey, give The Creator the glory
No puppet-master story
Now dem going down slowly
Hey, give The Creator the glory
No puppet-master story
Weh dem ahgo do fi control mi?
Alright dem things no look as it really seem
Nah go mek dem shatter mi dream
Plant food inna di earth 'longside di green
Boil, mi cook, mi fry, mi steam
Mi wash, mi rinse, mi dry, mi clean
Check yuhself before you pick di beam
One door close, another let in-
AND NOW DEM AH WONDER HOW MI GET IN"
Aside from being an impressive lyrical display by the Mason, the vibes on 'Glory' have same a powerfully CHILLED appeal to them that it definitely has caught my attention. Jah Mason has, perhaps quietly, strung together a very strong last couple of years or so with big single releases and 'Glory' has to be considered amongst his very best in recent times for me.
Elijah Prophet 2022
HILARIOUSLY, after going what seemed like ages without releasing projects, it seems as if there is no stopping the venerable Elijah Prophet lately as, following last year's solid "Going Home" with Costa Rebel, the big voiced singer is back at work in 2022, most recently with a pair of outings. Coming from Zion Productions Music and Samaras Music, respectively are "Jah Calling" and "Crime Is On The Rise". The former is an EXCELLENT set (that I might review at some point), featuring big tunes such as 'One by One', the title track, 'The Truth' and others; while, for their part, the eight tunes which comprise "Crime Is On The Rise" also contain a share of highlights - such as the opener and title track, 'Guns Out' and 'Wondering'. I will say that, between the two, "Crime Is On The Rise" (a trait you most certainly would not have guessed based on the title alone) comes on a more old school and Lover's Rock type of vibes and I definitely prefer Jah Calling". However, altogether we have NINETEEN new-ish types of songs from one of the greatest and, perhaps, most overlooked, voices in all of Reggae music.
"Ruff Rider" by Tanya Stephens [VP Records - 1998]
And lastly, in the old and obscure categories, on my radar lately is a title whose reasoning for being there should go without saying (but I'll tell anyway in a few days), as I have been listening a great deal to "Ruff Rider" from the great Tanya Stephens on VP Records. You probably wouldn't think of such a thing given its title (and its cover) but this album, like much of Stephens' work, was a lot more than it seemed initially. There are some truly EXCELLENT, high-powered songs on "Ruff Rider", especially during its first half. 'Draw Fi Mi Finger', the all kinds of fun Gadaffi produced 'Big Ninja Bike' (across the woefully underrated Nice Little Baby Riddim) and 'Cry & Bawl' alongside Bounty Killer being some of the best of them, but the latter portions of the set (sixteen tracks long) also served up memorable material such as '1-1-9', 'Man Fi Rule' ["Man fi rule: Dat a di plan yah. But nah go rule Tanya"] and '#2'. For what it was, in retrospect, it may have been one of the most underrated Dancehall albums of its day in an era which was very good for Dancehall albums (...and how I miss it so!).
Memories. In virtually all things, making first impressions can be extremely tricky things. Not only can you really never be quite sure whether you got things completely right... you may not even be sure what "right" is! Be it meeting someone new or having your first day at a new job or a variety of different things, if you want to see awkward human behaviour, give them something to do for the very first time and enjoy. While the two-sided personal interaction of an initial 'meeting' is generally removed for the most part when it comes to music, what does remain, to some degree at least, is the very high potential for awkwardness and uncertainty. As I've said in the past, the road to becoming a fan of someone is one which, literally, never stops winding. It can offer up endless highs and lows (and sometimes both at the same time) and, while we may never admit, we, as music fans, absolutely LOVE the experience. But it's that very first time when you encounter the work of a particular artist that can be both very interesting, in general, and all kinds of important. If you hear something you enjoy, obviously, you're more likely to look for something else from that individual and you're also going to pay a closer attention to what they offer in the future (....). Something is more likely to stick. However, with that being said, you could also make the case for the exact opposite being true. If some tune you hear absolutely repulses you. It makes you sick to your stomach to hear, what will you do? In all likelihood that will not be the only song from that artist that you will ever hear. Curiosity will get the better of you and you will simply HAVE to hear something else. So, I find myself thinking of good first impressions, with an album in particular, and I want to do it on maybe a more obscure scale than telling you about.... an album I once listened to called "Be Strong" or something like that (but biggup Sizzla anyway). So I'm thinking of people who really caught my attention with strong first albums and didn't come out with some grand promotional vehicle behind them. I'm running into names such as Zareb (debut album, "Authentic Love", had four combinations with his friend, Fantan Mojah, and then others with Jah Mason and Perfect Giddimani and had Pow Pow behind it, coincidentally), King Cephas (what!), Ambush, Jah Hem (literally using my own blog for research), Jah Marnyah and really a very solid line of others who made an impact. That lot, in particular, is very interesting because you won't find many second releases amongst them. Right off the top of my head Zareb and Marnyah are the only ones who have had album #2's of that group and I'm still waiting for them (probably a waste of time, but I don't have anything else to do). For whatever reason they never seemed to fully capture the attention of the masses, but I'll never forget them.
2006
Another fitting member of that group, and someone who has definitely done something which has made him unforgettable in my eyes (and ears) would be the downright mythical singer, Elijah Prophet. Waaaaayyyy back in 2006 (when I was turning twenty-five years old) the Westmoreland native would deliver what would become one of the greatest modern Roots Reggae albums that I have ever heard, even still (Modern Classic #9) "King Of Kings". Just as was the case for Zareb's, the project would come courtesy of the mighty Pow Pow Movement (they also did Cali P's first album, "Lyrical Faya", and several sublime riddim releases, perhaps most notably were the Superior (which backed Gentleman's huge hit of the same name ["I know Jah loving superior!"] (BOOM!) and Blaze Riddims, respectively) from out of Germany which was a very 'powerful' outfit in its day (and I think they may still be around in some capacity but aren't nearly as active making music, if at all). And I head back and listen to that album these days, now a decade and a half on, and I still feel that very HEAVY vibes that it produced. Songs such as the title track, 'Piece of Ganja', 'Nah Tek No Talk', 'Revolution' and others showed a wholly developed artist and one with this big and beautiful, glowing voice (Prophet sounds somewhat like a lower pitched Mark Wonder to my ears at times) and I was fully expecting to hear from him on a consistent basis, eagerly anticipating his sophomore full release. Well things don't always go so smoothly (they rarely do).
never
While waiting for the second album I can remember a few strange things occurring. The first was that.... it actually seemed to exist. The set had a name, "Happy Days", it had a tracklist, a label (Soundquake), it had a big tune at the time called 'Smile Jamaica' and it was on its way and that was probably in 2010-ish; but it never got here (and it sounded so good, you can still find a very healthy album preview for "Happy Days" out there)! I can also distinctly remember getting a message from someone who I presume had to have some type of involvement with Elijah Prophet, lamenting the fact that the album never arrived. It never materialized to my knowledge (can find nothing solid right now suggesting that it did) and I was pissed off! Had it never come up it would have been find. You've lived through the age of the even more perplexing Yahadanai -- who delivered a classic in "One Atonement" -- and then VANISHED, I would have survived Elijah Prophet doing the same thing. "Happy Days" had whet my appetite, however, and I was well looking forward it to... for nothing and Prophet had become someone who I looked forward to hearing from on singles here and there, but I had long lost hope for "Happy Days" or any other type of second album. So with that being said, had you told me that Elijah Prophet would deliver TWO projects while we were on hiatus, I would have been totally shocked and I probably just wouldn't have believed your ass! Well that's exactly what happened as, in 2017 a wonderful individual who I have never heard by the name of Carles Pastor from out of Spain brought forth "New Chapter Of My Life" from Elijah Prophet and two years later he repeated it by delivering "Man On A Mission" on his The Shepherd Records imprint. WHAT! Both, as expected, were very strong (the latter, especially, with 'Rastafari Deya', 'Solider With A Cause' and the title track being truly MAMMOTH) and I was damn pleased! Now! After having waited eleven years for a second album, suddenly I'm faced with the prospect of giving the fourth and third in four years as Elijah Prophet links up with Costa Rebel and Costa Rebel Studio for "Elijah Prophet Meets Costa Rebel Going Home". Like Pastor, Costa Rebel's name (cool name) is one which was new to me and, with his help, the Prophet continues his globetrotting ways for his releases, going from Germany, to Spain and now landing in Costa Rica ('Costa Rebel' from Costa Rica. Like I said, cool name). I've actually known about "Going Home" for maybe a couple of weeks now which is pretty good in terms of generating an early buzz and I was very interested in getting my paws on it. Thankfully, from all I can gather, Costa Rebel is somewhat of a veteran having spent the last three or four years making Reggae music and he's even recorded with the likes of Million Stylez (with whom he released a solid Dancehall EP in April, "Million Stylez Meets Costa Rebel"), Gappy Ranks and Singer Jah. And it isn't just that he's been around from awhile, he's also demonstrated a level of talent as well. Unsurprisingly, a gifted maestro manning the ship for an Elijah Prophet ship results in some very smooth sailing.
As I alluded to, the early word on "Going Home" has been quite nice. Before its release now it has already generated three or four singles which have seemingly set the course for what you would have expected in this instance - a very nice modern Roots Reggae release. And further research reveals that the duo, alongside Spaniard Pipo Ti, have a future single coming forward as well later this year, 'Alta Suciedad'. Quickly, I also HAVE to mention that album cover. I LOVE when people make drawings of artists, it has always caught my eye (going all the way back to "Culture Dem" from the Lustre Kings) and I do not know who drew this one but a big credit goes to the artiste on a job well done. His or Her artwork adorns one equally exquisite musical creation in "Elijah Prophet Meets Costa Rebel Going Home" which begins with one its genuine highlights, 'To Be Praise'. Coming through on CR's sterling Reggae Fruits Riddim, this one is absolutely nothing that you've never heard before; chances are that if you're investing in reading a review like this, you've probably heard dozens (if not hundreds) of similarly created tracks, but I would argue that 'To Be Praise' would be one of the stronger of its kind. It has this lovely ROLL vibes to it with that one-drop which the Prophet fully employs to send up one giant chunk of praising tune in the outstanding opener. Next we have the first appearance of the a single from "Going Home" in the form of the heavy ganja tune 'Backyard Garden'. The song kind of has funny moments to it, it has a sense of humour, but at its core it is about the legal fight people go through.... for the sake of a plant: A simple, powerful plant. Elijah Prophet is no stranger to such tunes with the both FINE 'Piece of Ganja' and 'Sensimilla Fi Bun' (which featured DYCR) emerging on "King Of Kings" and 'Ganja Plantation' from "A New Chapter Of My Life" and 'Backyard Garden' follows that trio not only in its focus but with its quality as well. It fits SNUGGLY in line with them and, apparently, if you want a big herb song, you can depend on Elijah Prophet to deliver. Later on, he fully gives me more to back that statement with 'Legalize'. Though not quite as strong as 'Backyard Garden', 'Legalize' is well sturdy and it traces its sibling in terms of its look at the legal side of ganja and, again, is more of a sign that Prophet definitely excels in that area and I WOULD well expect him to give us another ample draw on his next album.
'Going Home' finds the artist taking a look at the African diaspora and before settling on the topic of repatriation. You know, it almost seems as if songs like these are becoming less and less frequent. Where, just a few years ago, they came through as often as any other theme in Roots Reggae, it seems that we're getting not as many now. I don't know if that actually is the case or my incorrect perception but, under any set of conditions, 'Going Home' is flaming! I take it back to the cover and look at the wide smile on Prophet's cartooned face and I HEAR it on his face during portions of singing this one (and while he was singing he put one on mind as well). The album takes a very large turn with its next offering 'Your Bed', which is a warning that maybe "someone else is sleeping in your bed (the girl is lying to you from the top of her head)". Faintly reminiscent of Junior Kelly's classic 'Love So Nice' to my ears, the Prophet says to be mindful that you may've just hooked up with a good-for-nothing type and it will not get better my friend. He addresses dishonesty and cheating of a different variety on 'Tell Me That You Lied'.
"Tell me, tell me, tell me that you lied
That you've been failed by The Most High
Tell me, tell me, tell me that you lied
From January, September or July
He's my rock, my shield, my hiding place
Everywhere I go, I have no need to hide my face
You can't stop me now, there's no weight or disgrace
Babylon move outta mi way before mi put you inna yuh place
Tell me, tell me, tell me - what it's gonna be
I know di system must be crazy
You fighting a war, make no sense
BUT RASTAFARI IS I MAN DEFENSE!"
Perhaps 'distrust' is a better term than 'dishonesty' in this case as the Prophet goes on about someone walking away from The Almighty, themselves, while professing things to be the other way around. The literal manifestation of this one makes for a VERY interesting and specific case that may be at the heart of this tune, but I think I should probably keep that to myself. Big tune regardless of its inspirations, however.
The vivid 'Rolling Stone' was another of the pre-release singles from "Going Home" and I think it was a curious one. In listening to this song, it isn't the easiest of spins. It's kind of messy ["Dem seh dem a big shotta and ah rob poor people, dat messy. Kill old woman and baby, your lifestyle messy. Seh yuh mek millions and yuh still dress messy. How you fi rob poor people food? Messy Yuh messy"] (big tune, 'Messy' by Elijah Prophet from a few years ago) and not the most cohesive (much of it is Elijah Prophet telling a story, really) of tracks, so I wonder why they chose it ultimately. It certainly isn't a BAD song, however, and it comes through on the structure of getting older and wiser and maturing and the things we go through, focusing primarily on relationships. The other single here was the album's closer, 'Thankful Jah', which is another sizable effort in praise. Gratitude and humility are the major focal points this time around. Songs like this which give thanks for even the smallest of things have always been attractive to me (you may not have everything that you want (no one does) (NO ONE DOES) but you do have something and there're many who have less) and this one not only is that but it also has such a gorgeous sound accompanying it. While the selection of 'Rolling Stone' as a featured song may be perplexing, they did completely fine by me in lifting up 'Thankful Jah'. Well done Costa Rebel and Elijah Prophet. Had they picked 'Who Did It?' I think they may've done even better as it is the finest track I hear on the whole of this album.
"Tell me who did it
Who did it?
Tell me who did it
Tell me who did it
Who did it?
Tell me who did it
JAMAICA IS A LITTLE ISLAND WHERE WI NO HAVE NO GUN FACTORY
BUT WHEN YOU CHECK ON DI STREET NOWADAYS GUN MORE THAN TAXI
Gun come in from east and west
Gun from north and south
And if you try find it out, you get shot inna yuh or yuh mouth
The land of Jamaica you love and not the people
That is why the youths dem wake up so evil
Everybody forget about God and dem ah deal wid di devil
If you think seh a joke mi ah mek, gwan go ask yuh badmind friend Neville"
I'll probably go back to this more in closing but there is something SO wonderfully SIMPLE about 'Who Did It?'. It is streamlined and basic and I mean that in a good way. It doesn't try too hard to push itself through and it comes across as a very organic response to something: If you hear something violent happened, one of the first things to go through your mind is to wonder who did it? It reigns supreme on this album to my opinion and it would have even rated highly on "King Of Kings" as well. I wouldn't be at all suprised to see the Reggae trumpeting 'Good Times' as a future single for "Going Home" also. This one finds Elijah Prophet giving a hefty (deserved) credit to the music, itself, and some of its greatest practitioners. He covers all the bases from the likes of Bob, Bunny and Peter, to Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond and Garnet Silk (who was a mentor of the Prophet's) up to Capleton and Luciano. I kind of wish this piece had greater aspirations. It's nice and it does its thing, but it is the second shortest track on the entire album (after 'Your Bed') and I think they could have did more with it (producers! When you have a nice riddim, just let it play! After the vocals, just let that thing go!). We also get a pair of love songs in 'Beautiful Girl' and 'Wanna Be Your Man' (biggup Chaka Demus & Pliers). The first doesn't do much for me, it may be my least favourite song on the album, but 'Wanna Be Your Man' is a very good love song, on the other hand. As you go on through "Going Home" you come to discover that finding good music, in general, isn't very difficult, but the composition on this one is even a standout amongst its typical high standard. And Prophet lives it up entirely by sending on one SWEET piece of vibes. And the singer also turns in a big tune on the ULTRA interesting 'Hey Mama'. You, like I did, will quickly look at this title and immediately take it for the obligatory 'mama song' for "Going Home" and, technically, that is what it is (it is a song about mothers, after all) but 'mama songs' usually don't sound like this.
"Hey mother
You needs to tell us the truth about our father
Hey mothers
You needs to tell us the truth
Hey mother, you need to tell us the truth
You didn't tell me daddy used to treat you like a queen
And every Sunday he used to take us out for ice cream
Daddy used to bring us to school
And now you're taking us for fool
After you and daddy break up, you change the entire rule
But everyone of us really need to know the truth"
'Hey Mama' is actually a most rare 'daddy song' (I can probably name you albums-full of Reggae songs about mama, but off the top of my head the only one I can think of about fathers is 'Big Up Papa' by Queen Omega) in disguise, as it stands up for the fathers out there who actually met their responsibilities as a parent but have had their former partners trample their efforts and tell their children otherwise. Given just how specific it is, I'm thinking that this had some type of personal meaning to the singer (or to whomever wrote it) and, again, it is the presentation of an extremely unique and downright scarce point of view.
I believe I made a similar note in regards to Cali P's latest album, "Vizion" - "Going Home" is too short. I don't mean that there aren't enough songs on it (thirteen is not only a good number, but it also seems to be THE preferred number of songs on an albums these days, at least the ones I come across), but I think they should have done more with the music here, which leads me into my next point.
Overall, what I do hear on this release is music which has a very pleasing SIMPLE sound (there're no combinations, no genuine changeup) and as I go through more of Costa Rebel's catalogue, it seems to be a staple of the label's. The Dancehall is the same way, their style is predominately straightforward and it absolutely works for them. When paired with vocals like Elijah Prophet's what you eventually have is a set which remains damn solid throughout and shows quite a few flashes of greatness in its duration (.....which should have been longer, or did I say that already? I feel like I may've) and that is exactly what I would have expected going in to it. If Elijah Prophet has now settled into this far more frequent album release rate (and after three of them, I think it's safe to say that he has) and if "Elijah Prophet Meets Costa Rebel Going Home" is any indication (and there is no reason to believe that it isn't), it would seem that the next classic release may just be right around the corner.
ElijahProphet-King Of Kings [Pow Pow Movement, 2006]
Let’s talk about that gestation period which comes between an artist first coming on the scene and the time when he/she releases their first album. In other forms of music you don’t necessarily have such a thing as, almost always, the first time you hear of someone who will go on to have any type of prominence, the work for an album is already being done or maybe even already completed in some cases. In reggae, however, where an album is not always such a given occurrence, things can be, and quite often are, quite different. Such was the case back in 1996 when Westmoreland native Elijah Prophet released his debut album after who knows how long, over a decade already at that point. Which is why if you had never heard his music AT ALL or only a bit here and there (which means me) what he had become ALREADY was enough of a developed artist (well into his 30’s, if not even older) who could do almost ANYTHING as a singer. Thus, we have to give MASSIVE thanks and respect to big time German imprint Pow Pow for linking the singer for his very first album, King Of Kings, in 2006, which proved and continues to prove that the best things in life are definitely worth waiting for.
#1. Piece Of Ganja
I hear a new ganja tune almost weekly (if not even more often than that) but rarely do I hear a one like the MASSIVE Piece Of Ganja. Besides being absolutely LOADED with knowledge, the song is just so well vibed and, really Elijah Prophet could have very well made the tune on any subject matter, had he done so with the same vocals and melody as Piece Of Ganja, it would have been a real winner still. A real ‘can’t miss’ moment on an album which is just that on its own.
Line of the song: “Sensimilla send the Ras go to school. Mi neva take up no gun fi no tool. Can’t take I fi fool. Well if you lock me up for the sess, lock up the man for the sugar cane. The sess is good for the brain”
#2. One & All
TEARS! I can still remember the very first time I heard One & All which came through Ababa Janhoy’s BIG Raw Truth riddim project and it was literally a situation where the song almost immediately became more than just vibes. You couldn’t drive around in your car (at least I couldn’t) and spin One & All, it simply requires entirely too much attention, you’d need pull over and enjoy. The Prophet reminds us that no matter how we may look and who we may be, all are welcome in the arms of His Majesty!
Line of the song: “Who are you, pretending that my God is dead? Have you ever seen a body function without the head? So it’s been written, that’s how it should be said. No matter what you do, you can’t stop the life of Natty Dread!”
#3. Back For Good
Elijah Prophet was one of a few different artists to go after Pow Pow’s EPIC Blaze riddim with a kind of an up-tempo lovers tune and while you can argue that he didn’t have THE best (Gentleman did, Unconditional Love), Back For Good was definitely up there. The attraction here is that, at times, the Prophet almost appears a note or two away from crying himself. And haven’t we all been there.
Line of the song: “Memories of you keep haunting my mind. I keep reminiscing about all the good times”
#4. In The Jungle
Utilizing a cut of the old Freedom Blues riddim, Prophet delivers In The Jungle which is EASILY one of the most interesting selections on the album altogether. The most interesting facet of the tune is the rather odd delivery and presentation which finds Prophet almost floating over the riddim (that thing is like an old school Dancehall one-drop, it’s barely even there). To my ears, the song is about growing up and reaching out in life (of course) but more importantly (reminiscent of Anthony B’s EPIC When Mamma Forsake U tune), it’s about when you accept HIM and you’re never really alone.
Line of the song: “Now Jah show I mercy. HE never forsake me yeah. It’s the words of Jah Jah, open my eyes to see”
#5. Nah Tek No Talk
The title here would almost immediately indicate some almost completely meaningless Dancehall tune on King Of Kings. You’d imagine it’d be a combination with someone like Bounty Killer or Merciless or someone like such but if you were to imagine such a tune, still within the confines of a Roots Reggae song, then you might get a pretty close picture of the BEAUTIFUL havoc which Elijah Prophet wreaks on Irievibration’s Peace riddim. Big and LUSH throughout, the high stepping tune finds Elijah Prophet checking deeper into the CHARACTER of certain individuals.
Line of the song: “Sick inna dem head or dem mussi tek coke. And you fi Fyah bun soap? Mi si dem sick or dem mussi obsess, how dem waan diss di woman when dem inna short dress and when night time come, dem same one a style dem as princess!”
#6. Music Is Life
This one, you might get right. If you see that song title and think of a big and jovial vibes with just a nice and cool bounce to it, ska-style, then you’ll have a fairly accurate overstanding of the SWEET Music Is Life. The tune, like so many vibed similarly before it just draws the (fitting) connection between music in the ideological sense with LIFE in the ideological sense and probably very few more accurate comparisons have EVER been drawn musically speaking.
Line of the song: “Hip hip hooray, no matter what they say, they can’t stop the Reggae from play”
#7. Small World
Quietly one of the biggest and most addictive tunes that you’ll find on King Of Kings altogether, Small World is a song that just really hit’s the spot from a social commentary perspective. And I shouldn’t even be so quick as to just throw the label ‘social commentary’ on it at all because it definitely comes with a very spiritual edge as well (as does every tune on this album). The entire combination of vibes on the tune definitely push it to be (again, quietly) one of the album’s MANY highlights.
Line of the song: “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from. I don’t care about your race, I don’t care about your complexion”
#8. King Of Kings
In my opinion Elijah Prophet’s King Of Kings was every bit the tune as the signature track from the riddim it uses, Gentleman’s riddim titling Superior as it gives a necessarily PEERLESS praise to His Imperial Majesty. And you can hear it coming from the chorus! The very first time you hear that thing ringing through it absolutely taps into the emotions (at least it did for me) and just HUMBLES you. The song, although I don’t call it the best on the album, is definitely the one which I have listened to most from the album named after it and probably for as long as I have it, that’ll be the case. WOW!
Line of the song: “KING OF KINGS! LORD OF LORDS! Hear me while I pray. KING OF KINGS! LORD OF LORDS! Hear me while I utter your name!”
#9. Revolution
If you really love Reggae, I mean really LOVE it, then the riddim on Revolution (the Living Man from DasVibes) will have you downright hypnotized even before the Prophet begins to sing at all. The tune is another social commentary, this time in the more tangible and less spiritual sense as Prophet speaks about not only the rising violence level from the people but (and even to a more fine degree) the violence from the powers that be along with their raised ‘public involvement’ and does so on a tune which is absolutely POWERFUL.
Line of the song: “Mi next door neighbour, mi hear she ah weep, but as I look outside mi si soldiers pon dem belly dem a creep”
#10. Johnny
Built across Pow Pow’s absolutely DAZZLING Roots composition, the Ruff & Tuff riddim, Johnny is the moving story of a youth seemingly try to live a righteous life but gets caught up (in the most UNFORTUNATE set of circumstances) with some negative people and in negative situations. The story can be (superficially) taken at face value and it’s still a good tune but when you take it and draw it across a bigger ‘valley’ in terms of it being the story of so many youths and society in general, what you’re dealing with here is potentially MASSIVE.
Line of the song: “Johnny was a good soldier inna Jah army. No one deserved to shoot poor likkle Johnny”
#11. Put People First
I won’t speak for the man but I would think that the late and great Desmond Dekker would approve of the Prophet’s usage of the immortal Shanty Town riddim on Put People First. The message is simple enough on the tune (as you might’ve imagined) but it’s the fusion of Elijah Prophet’s very laid back (for the most part) approach along with a riddim which is definitely one of the most ‘considerate’ in Reggae history (you could do literally ANYTHING across the Shanty Town) that is the real highlight, making Put People First amongst the album’s very best efforts.
Line of the song: “Hey Mr. Man, I‘m talking to you, although what I’m saying to you is nothing new. So don’t kill the future, let them go through. So you have to be careful in everything you do”
#12. Got To Be Conscious
Elijah Prophet gets back closer to drawing comparisons and tangents between the spiritual and physical worlds and does so HUGE on Got To Be Conscious (misspelled ‘concious’ on the album). The song is fortunate (not only because it’s LOVELY but also -) for it comes through on Root down’s ‘crystal clear’ Crystal Woman riddim which Prophet uses to remind us that we need to be aware and conscious as the only One who is TRULY trustworthy is His Majesty.
Line of the song: “In this time you’ve got to be conscious, know what you’re living for. Simple minded people stop you when your back is against the wall”
#13. Sensimillia Fi Bun
Well we know what Elijah Prophet’s second favourite subject is don’t we? As if he thought we weren’t paying attention the first time around, the Prophet not only adds another ganja tune but this time around he enlists help in the form of the world’s angriest dub poet DYCR as well. The tune is magic and has grown on me over the past couple of years. Although I am generally kind of skeptical that DYCR does on his own, his combination efforts are almost always on point and Sensimillia Fi Bun was DEFINITELY no exception (and to his credit, DYCR does this crazy kind of yodel in his chanting at one point on the tune which is just COOL).
Line of the song: “Sensimillia fi bun! That’s what they say. So coke heads go down and the weed man stay”
#14. Children Of The World
That riddim! To my ears there simply aren’t too many ‘better’ modern Roots pieces than DasVibes’ sublime Gloria riddim and the Prophet uses it to full effect. Children Of The World is interesting because should you take it in as ‘children’ as literally meaning young people you may find that he introduces concepts that actual children may not fully be able to comprehend, but should you take “children of the world” meaning people that the world gave birth to (I.e. everybody), which is what I think he means, then the song literally unravels right before your ears and it’s true power shines through. Which is, of course, unity.
Line of the song: “Yes my people, it’s time to unite. Doesn’t matter if you’re Chinese or you’re Black or you’re White”
#15. Mother Nature
TEARS! Another Irievibrations production marks the final of a few signature tunes on King Of Kings (the others would be the title track (duh), Piece Of Ganja and Sensimillia Fi Bun, as much as I may protest for One & All I don’t too much think that it received it’s just due in terms of publicity and response) and one sweet sweet ass tune. The tune is about the appreciation of nature (it actually reminds me of an old Jah Mason tune) but it’s not of the strictly environmental vibes as you might imagine as the Prophet so nicely bridges the gap to the ills of society ultimately going somewhere and harming something it hath NO RIGHT AT ALL to harm.
Line of the song: “The birds are singing in the trees. Can you hear the humming of the bees? Mother nature is asking for mercy please”
#16. Shatta Cease
The very first time I listened to Shatta Cease I kind of took a negative look on it, if I recall correctly as I tend to dislike the proverbial older person saying negative things about young people in specific, while seeming absolving themselves and their generation almost completely from the matter. That isn’t what Shatta Cease does, however, as Prophet goes on to relate a more common and relatable (across the board) picture to the story (even involving his own child).
Line of the song: “Di gun ting fi cease. My son just reach in his teens. I don’t ever want to hear your gun sounds again”
“Draw that and blow ganja smoke and let Babylon choke.
I say Sensimillia fi bun everyday and every night.
I say Rasta don’t widdle-waddle, fiddle-faddle, fuddle-duddle.
Rasta nah skinny-skinny, grinny-grinny, fooly-fooly, poodle-puppie, we no fluffy.
When we smoke the collie we hold a meditation.
Chant a song and pop down the walls of Babylon flat. . .”
Virtually spinning in and out of subject matter and doing so why? Because he feels they are the SAME topic. He feels by talking about Rasta you can talk about the herb and not miss a beat. Of course they are two different entities, you can look at them see that, however, the literal effect of both and of chanting of both is the SAME topic. Similarly, if you were to examine what should be (and is) the most spiritual effort on the album, the title tune, you see very small but perceptible ‘evidence’ of Elijah Prophet’s ultimate goal and you see it quite early in the song on the very first full verse:
“. . . with you in my life, I can never be ashamed.
When I call on you, so much strength I gain”
He even goes on to, besides mentioning physical world emotions and effects such as ‘shame’ and ‘strength’, to deal with talking of the sun and the rain, again, both physical world elements and doing so under the connotation of His effect on them. Also I would point your attentions to the Mother Nature song quickly, which could have either a spiritual or physical world connotation (both in this case). Probably the MOST interesting point on the album is the one I’ll make here as, in the chorus plus one earlier line, it almost appears that Elijah Prophet is ‘humouring’ the so called leaders.
“All over the world, there’s so much destruction Yes, I’m talking to the leaders of the nation.
They say you want to take life when you can’t create life”
Who can create life? And he goes on to make the point in the chorus that Mother Nature is “asking for mercy please”. Again, who can create life? And why would an entity as powerful as MOTHER NATURE have to ask Mercy from a creature whose life she’ll be around to see the end of??? It would be my point that ‘Mother Nature’ is used here is a pseudonym of sorts for His Majesty (He who can create life), whose ONLY reason for asking for “mercy” would be on the benefit of man. The Prophet secures this message, in my opinion, on the very next line after reminding the so called leaders that they can’t create life:
“It seems WE are heading in total annihilation”
If we are gone will HE remain? Of course. It’s a point like that which, in my opinion so wonderfully details the point of the album: Rastafari’s effect and the Prophet’s perception (it is his album after all) of that effect (and power) of the physical world. I’m actually tracing the steps in reverse from Jah Mason’s Never Give Up album but ultimately reaching the same conclusion. Elijah Prophet’s King Of Kings is a BONAFIDE MODERN REGGAE CLASSIC!
