A couple of years ago, we told you about a promising up and comer from out of Trinidad who'd just delivered his impressive debut album, "I-Frequency", by the name of Mosiah. That album was very nice and featured standouts such as 'Economic Slavery', 'Black Livity', the all-conquering 'More Than Gold', 'See It Clearly' and others and though it didn't seem to get too much attention, it definitely made an impression on me. Furthermore, I'd also heard some other things from Mosiah, including an extended interview, and he seemed a very nice person and I made a point out of keeping an eye on what he was up to. "I-Frequency" came via label from out of Germany (where Mosiah calls home these days), Ragatac {whos company motto is the SWEET "We play hot Reggae for cool people"), Mosiah also had a history, dating back a few years or so in working with the venerable House Of Riddim, in Austria and while we wait on his next full length release, Mosiah & HOR collaborated earlier this year on an EP that definitely caught my attention, "Unconquerable".
2024
I made a note to do something with it because my initial listens were pretty solid, as expected, but the gift that 2026 has been has continuously given more and more and "Unconquerable" slipped between the proverbial cracks (just like Dezarie's EP, "7th Heaven" is doing right now) but we're back to it now and it's a perfect subject for a mini-review, in my opinion. I do want to mention something: In the review for "I-Frequency", I drew a comparison from Mosiah, in terms of style, to Kabaka Pyramid and I stand by that but he also reminds me a bit of Cruzan chanter, 'Original Nine Fingers', Xkaliba. The two share a tone and biggup Xkaliba (who is, hopefully, somewhere working on new music... cause it's been a minute). And I also feel inclined to mention that, back in 2017, Mosiah released another EP (also via Ragatac), "Chant Tafari", which was very nice and shows that EPs are a part of his plan and... they're working (and hopefully history doesn't directly repeat itself here and we don't have to wait until... 2033, like we did in the seven years between first EP and first album)!
"Unconquerable" gets going via big winner - the song it is named after. 'Unconquerable'. The title track has a beautiful energy to it initially and what Mosiah is able to do with that vigour is damn impressive.
"Mi no si no obstacles one caan go ovah-
From you trod di path of right and praise Jahovia
Ever vigilant wid God inna heart, cah man a soljah
And wi no come fi sleep, no come fi bow, wi come fi conquah
Trod on wid hope & grace-
And Jah Jah take you through di challenges you face
Trod wid HIM, I seh go over wid no trace
Yes, wi haffi overcome!"
It also helps matters that HOR, of course, supplies him with a top notch track as, EASILY, 'Unconquerable' is amongst the very best offerings you'll find here.
One of the pair of songs that can actually lay a solid claim to being even stronger than the opener, 'Show More Love' is up next. 'Show More Love' is gorgeous and it has just a little bite to it. There's something spicy to it but the message here is both very simple (you know exactly what this song is about) and ever-present in the genre, so the steam behind this one does go a ways in setting it apart from the [absolutely massive] pack of similarly steered tunes. I'd also add that you should really take in the words here because Mosiah serves up a stretch or two (such as the entirety of the second verse.... literally ALL OF IT) that dazzle during 'Show More Love'. To me (and probably only to me), 'Rule Your Destiny' has somewhat of a similar vibes to it as 'Show More Love' and it's also nearly as strong. 'Rule Your Destiny' is a little... disorderly. It isn't very neat; it's a little unkempt and I mean that as a compliment, which does separate it from that immaculate piece just ahead of it but also works well for it.
Sometimes you just have to take a minute to give thanks and give praise for your life and what you have in it and that is precisely what Mosiah does during the well-recognizable 'Nothing Above You'. This tune originates back a couple of years or so and I'd heard it but I don't think that I'd ever really tune it in because, listening to it on "Unconquerable", sends this thing... somewhere else. It's just MUCH better than I remember it being. Particularly for the type of selection it is, 'Nothing Above You' is really clever in its lyrics and it just GLOWS. Looking for a song on this EP that's really going to pick you up and make you feel nice? Your search stops at 'Nothing Above You'. "Unconquerable" pinnacles, at least in my opinion, during its most recognizable offering, 'Revolution Time', a big combination featuring another powerful chanter from out of Trinidad, Jah Defender. The Defender has been burning lately and the most robust piece of evidence of this came back in June, when he released his own album through House Of Riddim, "Endurance". 'Revolution Time' is a HEALTHY, all-encompassing call for change and a BEAUTIFUL contrast of styles. Mosiah, is more animated. There're a lot of things going on in his music; while Jah Defender is grounded and more traditional in his approach (you REALLY notice it about a minute and half in, when Defender's verse comes up. The song seems to come to a halt in the transition before resuming at the same extremely high level. 'Revolution Time' is excellent and I hope (and assume) that it won't be the final time these two link up for a song (maybe someone will call the Queen to join them next time too!) (biggup Queen Omega). Finally is the sweet vibed 'Never Lose Your Way'. There's a whole lot of common sense all over this tune and I love how it simplifies things to a degree that it provides such a poignant punchline to "Unconquerable" as a whole:
"NEVER BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF!"
Sure, you have to deal with certain things and you will have your struggles but EVERY THING doesn't have to be a battle with some unknown enemy.... named You. Again, the song has a very nice sound to it as well and it sends us on our way forward with a nice message and feeling good about our prospects.
Overall, if you caught onto Mosiah at "I-Frequency" (or even if you didn't), you'll be delighted with what you hear throughout "Unconquerable" as it builds on more of the same sound established by the album. He has a very fresh and FUN style to him and I used the phrase "beautiful energy", which I think really describes how I feel about his work. Take that energy and combine it with standard, typical mastery from House Of Riddim and "Unconquerable" proves to be one of the better EPs that I've come across in a loaded and lauded 2026.
In-form. I do, sometimes, a list at the end of a year, looking ahead, for what is to come in the new year called "Most Wanted". This list is a simple collection of ten names who I hope to hear from in album form in the following year and the names assembled there appear for a couple of different reasons. One of the biggest is absence: Haven't heard from them in a bit (usually in terms of not having had an album in quite awhile but, occasionally, just have not heard from them AT ALL) and it would be nice if they came around and showed what they've been working on (biggup Reemah). Rumours can also put you on this list; maybe you've had something cooking for a long time (biggup Bounty Killer) (THAT THING IS BURNT TO A CRISP!) but don't have anything officially scheduled at the moment for it. You'll be included hoping that the planets align and you can FINALLY get that project on the road. Another person who'll be amongst the Most Wanted in a given year is someone who's just... on a roll. Someone who may or may not have had an album recently (doesn't really matter) but are showing signs that they've either primed or re-primed and are just making some fantastic music - that person is also going to get a place on my little list. There're also combinations of these (you may have someone who, literally, fits into all three categories) but that's about it; that's what I base it on. The final of those types is what we're going to take a look at today and attempt to highlight someone who, apparently, has reached new heights and has been on a tear lately. I'm trying to think of a similar situation (because that's just what I do) and I'm not going to use the obvious ones, because I always use him (biggup Norris Man), and instead I'll pick our old friend, Mr. Lloyd Brown. Surely at least some of it had to do with me growing up and maturing but I legitimately think that Brown hit a point where he leveled up. He starting making better music and that's saying a lot because by the time I caught on, he was already DECADES into his storied career and he's still out there doing big things with a new album (or two) for this year. I also look at other cases like those of Ziggi Recado, King Lorenzo and Natural Black as examples of people who just clicked one day and, at least for me, hit a point where they just started making music of an even higher caliber.
2013
On the 2025 edition of Most Wanted, a name that was mandatory when I started putting it together was that of Trinidad chanter, Jah Defender. Around here, we go BACK with Jah Defender. Thirteen years ago we reviewed his impressive debut album, "Rastaman Rise". That album was HEALTHY! Even today, if you want a really strong introduction to Jah Defender's music, I'd suggest you start with "Rastaman Rise". Featuring big tunes like 'Jah Es Mi Amor', 'Give Thanks' (which featured long favourite of ours, Tiwony), 'Rebel', 'Listen', 'Only King Selassie I', the towering 'Every Time I Rise', 'Jah Is The Maker'... I could really go on and on with sizable offerings from that album which, as you can tell, has aged very well in my opinion. That album put on full display the very BRIGHT and appealing style of Jah Defender and went a far way in making a fan of his out of me. I want to say that, following the release of "Rastaman Rise", the Defender had a number of thin years in terms of amount of output (although I could definitely be wrong about that and maybe that was just my experience, having not encountered much of his music... or I could just be remembering incorrectly. I'm old) but these days things are DEFINITELY not thin and they haven't been for quite awhile.
Jah Defender has been dropping BOMBS for about... two or three years now. He just has. He has, perhaps quietly, been making some of the finest music in the entire genre, pinnacling with, arguably, the single finest song that I heard in all of 2025 'Hail Selassie I'. The towering praising tune was and remains one of the very best of its type that I've heard in the past decade or so (and you know, given the subject, it has, literally, THOUSANDS of competitors there) and it, along with other tunes that the chanter has had lately, has definitely put his listeners on notice that Jah Defender has entered a new stage of his career. That point was solidified earlier this year, when Defender dropped a nice EP by the name of "Still Can See" which, although it wasn't his very best work, was something nice to hold us over until something bigger came around: Meet "something bigger"! While the chanter has been careful and mindful to spread the love around through working with various labels, he's apparently found a great comfort working alongside the venerable House Of Riddim from out of Austria. Artist and label have done extremely impressive work together (including the aforementioned 'Haile Selassie I' single) and they now take it even further courtesy of a brand new big EP/tiny album "Endurance". I was REALLY looking forward to this one and I'm almost curious as to why they didn't pile on more tunes and make a THICKER project but I'm going to take what I can get, especially from someone like Jah Defender in 2026 (and just last year, an album that had nine tracks, just like "Endurance", was our third best album) (biggup Spectacular). What they do put out in "Endurance" seems completely void of previously released singles as far as I can tell. They don't lean on any of the material that they've been doing over the past two or three years or so and, instead, set out what feels like a new project for the most part and I'm hoping so much that the masses gravitate towards this one and notice what I've been noticing as of late. If you enjoy modern Roots Reggae music, Jah Defender has something for you. Let's discuss!
Let's talk about, briefly, Jah Defender's style. Looking back through the review of the "Rastaman Rise" album - I'm pretty happy with the comparisons that I made. I likened him to VI singers, Ras Army & Danny I with a bit more flames to his style and, again, I think that's a pretty solid link to make albeit, perhaps, a more unconventional and less expected one. He has a FINE singing voice for the style of music that he makes and I don't mean that in a charmingly weary type of way in which I might say it about someone else (biggup Norris Man) - the man can just sing! I've called him a chanter in reference to his total style but he has a fine singing voice, which you can hear copious examples of on his new set, "Endurance", which gets up and going with the ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR 'Life Is Beautiful'. There is a certain GORGEOUS synergy between the deliver here and the riddim that is just so tight and impressive. 'Life Is Beautiful' sounds like it was rehearsed dozens and dozens of times for hours upon hours before this exquisite final version was turned in. Be that the case or not -- whatever they did -- it was worth it.
"Foolish man builds his house on the sinking sand
But the wise man build up him house on Jah solid foundation"
BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE! IT COULD BE MUCH, MUCH WORSE! They give you an ever so slight taste of it (there's a certain spot at the 3:35 mark where a full dub sounds like it's about to break out) but I do wish Defender and HOR had featured that riddim on its own just a little more but make no mistake about it: 'Life Is Beautiful' is FANTASTIC and the best song you'll find here in my opinion! Nothing dips at all on "Endurance" as up next is the mighty 'Overcome'. As its title suggests, this one is a social commentary and a solid one that covers the expected bases but I have to say that it is the vibes of the song that threaten to 'overwhelm' 'Overcome'. This thing SOUNDS SO GOOD! It is such a nice listen and damn pleasing to hear. Obviously, take in everything and hear what is being said but ENJOY [!] as well. 'Vampires' turns up the flames just a hair and definitely gives 'Endurance', in its early block, a nice BITE to it to those who aren't living right and cannot walk in the sunlight.
"Vampires dem lurking
Innocent flesh and blood dem searching
In di street, in di night, they're roaming
Another innocent soul dem taking
Vampires dem lurking
Police and rude boys dem roaming
hunting for another victim
COME TO RASTAFARI FOR SPIRITUAL PURGING
Too damn trigger-happy fi nothing at all
Bust it unnecessary
And now di place too hot
Nothing can selly selly cause every damn ten minutes is a squaddie squaddie
Stop for a moment and take it easy
Yuh mashing up di whole damn community-ty-ty
Like you know waan fi live and si yuh grandpickney
Life is worth more than dem gangsta trophy
Live upright and have some mercy
You mister businessman and politician
You get alla yuh riches from exploitation
Creating classicism and promote segregation
Rob all di wealth and resources from di nation
Rich man alone ah benefit
Poor youths caan get no education
Black woman ah agitate fi redemption
Rastaman ah chant, beat up di kette drum
Pharaoh, release di whole a bongo nation
BABYLON TAKING YUH ENERGY FOR A MINIMUM SALARY
EVERYTHING DEM GET, DEM TAKE IT BACK FROM WI"
'Vampires' is all the petrol you need and it comes in at the perfect moment.
The gorgeous praiser 'Trodding On' kicks off the second third of "Endurance" and, as expected, does so in a very strong way. 'Trodding On' is kind of mid in terms the 'force' of the song but it definitely has a decided edge to it as well - just not to the levels of the song ahead of it. There's nothing out of the ordinary here; it is exactly what you think it is but it is a total JOY to listen to. The musicianship, in particular (biggup whoever plays those horns I hear. The credits say it's probably Hannes Kerschner, but could aslo be Helmut Schneider and Markus Hoffman) is absolutely top notch and if they wanted to place that riddim in the hands of someone else - they'd get no fight out of me. Next up is a pair of songs that I'm going to place together.... just because (it's my review and I can do whatever I want), 'Paradise' & 'Heavens', as both of them speak to some form of existing utopia. The idea of the former has a slight repatriation theme to it but the bliss this one finds is more of a mental place in my opinion. The Defender finds his joy in praising His Majesty and even in "the simple things in life" - anywhere he can get it is worth lifting up and celebrating is the idea behind 'Paradise' (GREAT first verse on that tune). For its part, 'Heavens', which comes through on this BEAUTIFUL old school sounding track is the project's obligatory ganja tune... which means you already know what its idea of glory is. Although, between the two, 'Paradise' takes top honours, 'Heavens' is still very strong and it has something special about it. Should it be given the opportunity to shine in a single capacity, I would actually expect 'Heavens' to do quite well there.
Jah Defender gives a big credit to his homeland on 'Trinidad & Tobago', a song I was really looking forward to hearing. I'm sure I've come across a few, here and there, but Reggae tributes to T&T aren't exactly prevalent (they grow on the vine in Soca, on the other hand) and the Defender does take a broader approach to this one, the results are still pretty stellar. I do wish he would have stuck to the specifics a little more but 'Trinidad & Tobago' becomes a social commentary which does fit into the run of the album. Next in, Jah Defender goes Bob Marley (not really) with 'Get Up Stand Up'. This one is kind of unusual in terms of how its written because it is EXTREMELY broad. He goes in a few different directions, starting with:
"Hey mister preacherman, stop telling all those lies
You teach the people, to see The Lord, they've got to die
Having your whole congregation searching up in the sky
When the God of the universe dwells in You and I"
Before going into:
"Hey soldier man and mister police
Unuh si seh unuh working for the beast"
It's all over the place and that isn't necessarily a detraction in this case because, in full, 'Get Up Stand Up' is very strong. Finally, Jah Defender sends us out of "Endurance" with another big selection, 'Righteousness'. I have to say that I didn't really like the chorus on this one very much when I first heard it (it's a little gimmicky) but it did grow on me, steadily and that certainly has something to do with the riddim here. Again, the players of instruments on this track are in golden form and set a foundation which Jah Defender does not allow to go to waste.
If we ignore the length of this project then really my only critique is that I wish there was a little more variation. I think "Endurance" could really use a changeup to the vibes, just a.... just a SWEETENER (maybe even like a combination) and something that gives another look but, judging it for what it is, I cannot honestly offer up many complaints at all.
Overall, what "Endurance" does is what I hope every single album that I review does: It takes advantage of what its star does well and really shows them in the best possible light. Normally -- in any situation with someone with actual talent -- that's a great thing but it becomes magnified when said "star" is already in such a great form and putting together a run that is difficult to ignore. Again, the music throughout "Endurance" borders on SPECTACULAR (and crosses over into that territory a few times) and, as they virtually always do, House Of Riddim STANDS UP with their work. So while I'm still waiting on the full, definitive next release from Jah Defender, "Endurance" is a showcase of an immense talent which MAY actually just now be hitting its peak. Exactly what I wanted!
Okay so, that was 2025. I hope you liked it but if you didn't, there's nothing we can do about it now. It's over... on to the next! We had some very impressive releases from some expected and some unexpected stars to help make the year fun and, presumably (and hopefully), this time next year, we'll be saying the same for 2026. So we're already looking ahead to what the future might have to offer and to do that we're going to use a feature from back in da day. Today we assemble a group of ten individuals who we're hoping to hear from in the new year. Most Wanted 2026!
{Note: Names appear in no particular order}
{Note 2: I intentionally excluded people who I know have albums scheduled or are heavily rumoured to be releasing albums}
Anthony B
It was just 2023 when the great Anthony B released his most recent set, "Bread & Butter", so while the world isn't exactly starving for a new one from him just yet... it would be pretty nice considering the roll he's been on in recent times. I'm sure I'll say this in regards to someone else (if not everyone else) but, with the right producer, based on what he's been up t o lately, I think Anthony B's next album -- whenever we get it -- could be a contender for best of that year. Even at such an advanced and well grizzled stage in his career, the Original Fire Man appears to be well within reach of his prime. ANTHONY B! SHOW EVERYONE WHAT I MEAN AND DO AN ALBUM IN 2026! PLEASE.
Queen Omega
We're just coming up on the third anniversary of "Freedom Legacy", Queen Omega's most recent studio release but prior to that, a truly ridiculous FIFTEEN YEARS had elapsed in between records from her, which was entirely unacceptable. Three years is just fine in my opinion and the star of our Album of The Year for 2023 would look just fine making her return in 2026. In the summer or so I actually heard an interview (on a radio station in Toronto, I THINK) where the Queen said she was at work on her next album and I, of course, glued into that fact. She didn't say with whom she was working or give any type of timeframe for its potential release whatsoever but, if she does make an appearance next year, she could definitely do a lot for 2026.
Damian Marley
"Stony Hill" will turn eight years old next summer and one of the legit, bona fide superstars of the genre, Damian Marley, figures to be DUE for a new set any one of these years now (and I can recall hearing a rumour that he was coming with something late 2024, I believe) and one would think that he is actively at work on the next project. I always enjoy stressing the fact that, despite the most obvious thing about him -- he's Bob's son ["Tell mi which CD do you think dem get? Di one closest to di Bob Marley boxset"] -- Jr. Gong is a wizard. Lyrically, the man is virtually peerless and what he is capable of is downright special. Hearing a brand new performance of his talents is always a gift. Hopefully he brings gifts next year and I think he will.
Ras Batch
Without looking anything up, I would probably say that Ras Batch releasing an album in the next twelve months would be THE biggest surprise if everyone on this list were to do the same. The last time we heard from him would have been on "Rootz & Kulcha" from early 2017 and if you know anything about Batch, he pretty much likes to do his albums by himself. Of course there're exceptions (one in particular) but he generally keeps production in-house via his own Sound V.I.ZIon imprint. That's fine but I think if he could, somehow, get into that never endingly active mix of Trinity Farm Music (like other VI artists, Ancient King, Abja, Danny I and even Akae Beka) it would see the rather reclusive Ras Batch to a greater level of frequency... and he can bring Ras Attitude with him! I don't think it happens but stranger things have.
Sara Lugo
Finally (technically. I'm writing this one last but she won't be listed last), you knew she was coming. How about a new Sara Lugo album for the new year?! Recently returning to the familiar ground of Oneness Records, the now VETERAN singer (Sara Lugo's probably getting towards (if not already) forty years old (that is RIDICULOUS!)) (further research reveals that she just turned 38!) could definitely freshen up 2026 via dropping album #4. It's been a minute (and four and a half years) since "Flowaz" ["Bring me flowers!"], so she's also due (...for an album) any year now and 2026 seems as good as any. I'm actually going to predict that this one does happen in the new year. Maybe it comes from Oneness, maybe not, but I suspect Funky Comfort will reign in 2026!
Luciano
I could definitely be wrong and I probably am but, off the top of my head, I THINK that the most recent studio album that we got from the great Messenjah, Luciano, was 2020's Oneness produced GIANT, "The Answer". He's had re-releases, remasters, greatest hits and compilations since then but, as far as I can tell, not an actual new album since it (he had one called "Return Of The Chronicles" which was an odd R&Bish re-working of some of his biggest hits that was really hard to listen to). That's fucked up... it just is. Even if I'm forgetting one, hopefully one of the greatest voices this music has ever produced and one of its longest serving soldiers comes back to us in a characteristically BEAUTIFUL way in 2026.
Mark Wonder
There was an EP back in '23 called "Reflections Of The Dragon Slayer" but I think that the last full album from the GOLDEN Mark Wonder remains 2020's "Remz Of The Dragon Slayer" (the man has been slaying dragons for a really long time). That album came from a very familiar source, Oneness Records and, not too long ago, Wonder appeared on their High Peak Riddim. I'm thinking that 2026 could be a very good time to get the old band back together again and see what could happen. What could happen has history as, way back in 2012 Wonder & Oneness teamed up on the aptly named "Working Wonders" which is, EASILY, one of THE best albums I have heard in my entire life. I think that it's time for a sequel ["WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?!"]. Will it actually happen??? I wouldn't bet on it.
Busy Signal
This one is very specific and I don't really think that it has a legit shot of happening but let me ask you something: How damn cool would it be if Busy Signal's next album came via the Zion I Kings?? Doesn't that sound pretty good?! Obviously, the thought arose as the well versatile Busy actually did cross paths with massive Reggae collective for a single, 'The Days', back in October. Now, if they could get together again.... this time for a full album, the results, just as the quality of the single would suggest, could be MASSIVE.
Jah Defender
Such a list from me these days HAS to include the currently flaming chanter from out of Trinidad, Jah Defender. Along with being quite active these days, he lays a giant claim to dropping THE single best tune that I heard in all of 2025 altogether 'Haile Selassie I', so of course I'm interesting in getting my hands on a full release in 2026. Magnifying matters is the fact that he's been doing a lot of work with one single outfit, House Of Riddim. I can DEFINITELY see HOR reaching with a full Jah Defender project in the new year and you know what? I think it WILL happen and if it does, at least on paper, this one will have Album of The Year potential in my opinion.
Reemah
I know that I said that these were listed in no order in particular but I specifically saved Reemah for last because she's probably my #1 in terms of how much I want it to happen. It has been a downright heinous soon-to-be eight years since her last set, "Breaking News", and... frankly I'm getting tired of waiting. This is some bullshit! Had I done this list last year or the year before, my prospects would have probably been higher. Today? Nope. I have none. I don't think this is happening. I do hope that I'm wrong but I'm not seeing one of the true, bona fide GENIUSES that we have today doing a new album in the new year. I'm just not.... but DAMN, I HOPE I'M WRONG!
Okay so, I've been meaning to do this for.. the better part of a month or so because a tune that is amongst the (and has a legitimate claim for being THE) best songs that I've heard in 2025 popped up in late July, courtesy of an EXTREMELY productive union between the scalding Jah Defender and the fine people at House Of Riddim Productions, the MAMMOTH 'Haile Selassie I'.
"Four corners of di earth Rastafari reach
Love and righteousness - Rastaman teach
HEATHEN AH RAGE WHEN SELASSIE I SPEAK
Keep di fire burning, flames and heat
All dem ah fight, dem soon retreat
Rastaman rise up, babylon gone beneath
Red, Gold & Green, pure & clean"
As I said, this tune is certainly not the first of this pairing of artist and label as they've been pushing some very strong material lately and HOPEFULLY some collection is in the offering. Until/unless/even then, enjoy Jah Defender's sublime praise, 'Haile Selassie I' and then you go and tell someone else about it. I just did my part.
Okay so, just wanted to bring to your attention a pair of recently released BEAUTIFUL tunes from an old favourite of ours, the well talented Jah Defender from out of Trinidad. Just last week he delivered a big set and, again, on TODAY, he's once again bringing the fire.
First up is a song that comes courtesy of D Rebell Productions, also from Trinidad, the GOLDEN 'So Long'.
"It's been so long Rastafari calling
So long King Selassie I been calling
SO long Mama Africa been calling
No one seems to be listening
Well everyone so b usy doing dem owna thing
No one's listening to the children
You see, they don't like the world that dem living in
And dem waiting on us to do something
You see we can't sit around and play
Man haffi work for a brighter day
Strength on to strength I saw
NO MORE DELAY"
You know what? 'So Long' is probably one of the best songs that I've heard from anyone in this young year so far. It has such an easy and comfortable vibes to it that it immediately caught my attention and, when I actually started to dig into it, the ideas behind it were high and provided a nice foundation to what my ears were enjoying on a very basic level. Take a listen for yourself.
"You keep on doing wrong
And think he gonna get away forever
You think you big and strong
Feel dem so wise and clever
A day will come-
When Jah Jah gonna change up dem weather
This is a judgment sound!
Fire!
FROM YOU WICKED
You ahgo feel it!
GRUDGEFUL?
Ahgo feel it!
ENVIOUS?
Ahgo feel it!
CARNAL MIND AHGO FEEL IT
Too much hypocrisy, too much corrupt
Everyone si di bullshit and not speaking up
Dem love susu pon yuh name
Mi nah play dem funny game
Outta fire and flames
Man a lion, caan tame
Caan hold mi wid dem chains
King Selassie lives and reign
High grade up inna mi brain
Righteousness must maintain
Fire burning red
Babylon dem coulda neva get away"
And just today (unless it takes me four hours to get this posted), Jah Defender links with the esteemed Austrian imprint, House of Riddim on the also top notch and SCATHING 'Feel It'. This one almost comes off as an anthem (stop reading this and go listen to that chorus) and it is a fiery one as the Defender takes aim at all sorts of negativity and the results border on brilliant. Jah Defender is someone who I probably should write about more frequently. I have dealt with his work a couple of times or so sense we came back from hiatus, but it's been relatively thin from when we took a look at his debut album, "Rastaman Rise", a dozen years ago. He's an extremely gifted individual and, so far, his 2025 musical campaign is looking extremely bright. Take a moment and get acquainted with Jah Defender if you have not already or become reacquainted... just thought I'd let you know.
Up again. I think we've done at least a respectable job in our return on these pages, but while we were away there were definitely some changes that occurred and are, seemingly, here to stay. Some things have changed for the better in terms of the general experience of listening to music -- music, in general, has never ever been more accessible than it is now -- and others have changed for the worse in my opinion, but that change has been widespread and much of it is still in transition. Along with the expected and appreciated new faces (both artists and those behind the scenes), there's also been a direct musical shift in Reggae music to my ears. As I've said, while it has been in 'development' over the past decade or so, what we now regard as Dancehall music is something that I don't recognize at all under the genre. For me, much of it is Hip-Hop music done with Caribbean artists. The addictive Dancehall BOUNCE is largely a thing of the past, save for rare occasions in the hand of an increasingly selected (but wholly CELEBRATED by me) group of producers. Taking that a step further, there were a couple of individuals, veteran Dancehall artist Red Rat and producer NotNice who openly spoke on the nature of the change of the Dancehall in particular as far as, not only the sound being different, but the fact that a great deal of the genre is done in single songs. You virtually never see that one, potent, big riddim jump up anymore because very few people do them anymore and many of the younger artists won't touch them anyway. That makes me... SAD. I can't even put it better than that. I'm saddened by that change, coming from an era not too long ago where it was a chore to keep up with even the biggest riddims (going to call that the 'Riddim Driven Era'). Fortunately, Dancehall seems to be the only genre with that situation, in full. While I will say that Roots music (and even Soca, actually. More on Soca shortly) probably has not produced the same amount of big riddims in recent times than maybe a decade or so ago, the sound itself, THANKFULLY, has largely remained the same. Aside from, again, being placed in the hands of a larger variety of newer names in some cases, much of the foundation that was laid in the generation of people such as Marley and Tosh is still intact in 2022 but.... DAMN I have to say that I kind of miss the excitement of the moment of hearing a genuinely big riddim and then what follows in wondering exactly who else the producer has turned it over to. I can recall having full arguments with more casual heads and non fans of the genre who referred to the practice of having multiple vocalists taking on the same one track and they as lazy or a demonstration of a lack of creativity, but we grew up on it and, to this day, even the PROSPECTS of a truly impressive and well supported big riddim will definitely get my attentions.
I cannot possibly be the only one who feels that way. Even if I am, amongst fans, clearly the labels have something else in mind and if we were to rewind the clock back a few years ago to when we were very active (I used to WRITE MY ASS OFF on these things!) and even before that actually, and definitely one of the most impressive and CONSISTENT of outfits making big Roots riddims and remakes was one Irie Ites Records from out of France. Even before we get into their tracks, I can sit here and think of full blown albums for artists that II has done throughout the years that have stuck with me from the likes of King Lorenzo, the great Mark Wonder and, going wayyy back, Ras Mac Bean ("Pack Up & Leave", big underrated, under-known gem of an album), but despite working with names like those and even the likes of King Kong and Perfect Giddimani (more on him later), the label is probably best known still for dropping a very impressive string of big riddims. With a history dating back to the early 2000's, nearly two decades in, despite all that has surely changed around them, it appears as if things're as they normally are at Irie Ites.... and that is a great thing.
2006
A quick look back at the vault of riddims produced by Irie Ites shows reveals some STELLAR releases. Largely working with the legendary UK duo, Mafia & Fluxy, II has delivered farrrrrrrr more than their fair share of big tracks over the years. Standouts have included the Borderline ["It's time fi reach di borderline! No need fi hesitate, cause I don't really wanna be late!"], Zion ["Mi haffi hail di King, King! A pure love man ah bring, bring!"], Only Solution ["Only my Jah can save the world"], the Strange Things and several others... I could really go on and on (the Rocking Time!) (HUGE underrated song on the Rocking Time that never got its push, 'Who I Am' by Chezidek. You stop reading this and go listen to it right now!) (back? Okay, let's continue). They put together an outstanding catalogue of music and, if you've been a consistent fan of the genre from the turn of the century of so, chances are quite high that you've ran into the works of Irie Ites in one way or another whether you've realize it or not. If you haven't perhaps 2022 is a good time to become more officially acquainted with the work of the label. Just late last year, Irie Ites would curiously re-release the aforementioned Zion Riddim and now they are back with a set we have very much been looking forward to over the past month or, the ASAP Riddim (....seriously, that Chezidek tune on the Rocking Time Riddim is RIDICULOUS! CANNOT stop listening to it). Over the past few weeks or so, Irie Ites has sloooooowly crawled out the riddim, bit by bit, leading now into the full release. On one hand, it was frustrating as hell becuase not only were they peeling off big tunes, but they'd also established a roster of who had voiced the ASAP so, I don't know about you, but I had a running list of what I was looking forward to hearing most and we just had to wait! Dammit! Well the wait is now over as the ASAP Riddim was released, in full on the seventeenth of June and it has me thinking of old times. Not only is II known for churning out quality material, but they also, CLEARLY, put a lot of effort in marketing and publicizing their work. Riddim albums and compilations, in general, for the most part just aren't going to receive as much attention as projects from single artists (if they did, can you imagine how much money VP Records and Greensleeves may've spent (and MADE) back in 'da day when their respective overactive series were at their peaks???), but apparently no one ever told Irie Ites as they go all in on putting their projects together and then bringing great notoriety to them. The ASAP may be one of the finest in that regards as, like I said, quite a few people have spent quite a while waiting on it and, though the competition isn't great these days, one could well make the case that it is IMMEDIATELY one of the biggest riddim albums/Reggae compilations of the year thus far. That's even before you dig into the music and once you do, you'll soon come to see that notoriety isn't the only thing that the ASAP has in common with many of its older siblings. It's been awhile (and I don't feel like looking it up to see exactly how long it's been) but, once again, Irie Ites shows themselves to be amongst the very best when it comes to dropping a TRULY big riddim.
As I said, one of the most fascinating aspects of any riddim is just who the label has assembled in terms of vocal talents for it. Any outfit with any length of tenure has already shown that they have favourites, and Irie Ites is no different. The mix of artists on the ASAP is interesting because, although they do bring in a few ultra familiar names with whom they have previously worked, there's only REALLY a pair of names that I (PERSONALLY) most associate with Irie Ites present here. So it definitely has its surprises. On top of that, previously, as I mentioned, while much of II's work was done with Mafia & Fluxy, for their latest offering they have teamed up with French band, The Ligerians - best known by me for having been behind an album from a couple of years ago, "Timeless", which... I really need to review, because it was excellent, by someone who I've already told you about and will do so again, briefly. As it gets started, Irie Ites Records' latest creation, the ASAP Riddim puts one of its best feet forward (WHAT?!) in the form of 'Raggamuffin' by Anthony B (I was about to call it "previous single" out of habit, but... damn near every song here is technically a previous single). This tune, I've been on for the better part of a month and a half or so and I'm convinced that it was a vibe, at least to some degree. It does have kind of a loose direction, but 'Raggamuffin' also goes in so many other areas and does so quickly, that I just get the feeling that Anthony B heard the ASAP and constructed this wonderful and FUN tune around what he heard. The results are, easily, amongst the biggest winners here and should you think it was THE biggest song, well that's an easy opinion for you to backup because it's outstanding. UK veteran Brother Culture is always working hard and this time it is his intent to 'Build up a House', courtesy of the ASAP Riddim. This one kind of surprised me a bit because I listened through it a couple of times and just enjoyed its old school Dancehall appeal (which is just Brother Culture's style) before I really began to tune it in and when I did, what I found was a rather clever repatriation tune.
"Build up a house, Jah mek mi build a house
Build up a house, build up a African house
Build up a house, Jah mek mi build a house
Build up a house, build up a rootsman house
Cah first thing mi do, mi set di foundation
Then mi fill it up with concrete, mek mi house stand strong
And next thing mi do, mi go an fell timber
Then mi use good timber to plan di structure
Then mi go and hire cement mixer-
And a contractor and two labourer
Mi build up mi room dem one-by-one
Then mi roof it make out of corrugated iron
Round back yah fi mi house mi woulda build a goat pen
Keep one dozen goats and a hundred chickens
Di house yah weh mi build is gonna in Africa
In di front room mi want a air-conditioner
Wi waan some lawyer, construction worker
Wi want some doctor and hard worker
CAUSE EVERYONE TOGETHER'S GONNA BUILD AFRICA"
BOOM! Culture has it all worked out and he brings it through in such a delightfully SIMPLE way that you find yourself wondering... yeah, why can't we do this???! Brother Culture's is certainly a name we've run into over the years and he's almost always impressed, but it hasn't been consistent on our end (because he's definitely been active) and, hearing him here, I'm very exciting on the prospects of seeing exactly what I've been missing out on; and I suspect I won't be the only one thinking that after hearing 'Build up a House' (a situation which isn't rare on these type of sets, actually). And rounding out the opening of the ASAP Riddim is a tune which I was well looking forward to hearing and is one, I think, that they saved for the album's release date as the mighty Chezidek blesses us with 'The Game'. Chezidek is not only one of the two artists appearing on the ASAP who I most associate with Irie Ites (of the ones I just listed, he voiced all of them; the Zion, Borderline, Rocking Time, Strange Things and Only Solution riddims, respectively), but his album was "Timeless" with The Ligerians, so there's an IMMENSE amount of chemistry at play here and you can hear it. Chezidek, for me, has been one of the genre's finest and most reliable stars over the past decade or so and his effort on the ASAP sees him rolling right along at a typically very high level.
"Said it's all in the game
There's no loss, there's no gain
Sometimes laugh, sometimes cry, joy and pain
Said it's all in the game
Take it all, don't complain
Whether dry, low or high, is the same
Hello, hello this is the show
You must be up and ready to go
No time to practice, you should know
Action-time, just let it flow
Oh yeah, we do it because we love
And we do it because we trust
And we looking up above
Cause we rising from the dust
And the children coming after, there's a duty here for us
Let us shine the light more brighter
LET US DO IT BECAUSE WE MUST
No more searching for no answers
It is in the wind that blow
Cause the mission already started
Pushing forward, space to grow
Said it's all in the game
There's no loss, there's no gain
Sometimes laugh, sometimes cry, joy and pain
Said it's all in the game
Take it all, don't complain
Whether dry, low or high, is the same
Every drip and every drop
Gi dem everything we got
Every thing we got, every-everything we got
When wi ah win dem haffi clap
Wi haffi beat dem like a bat
Every inning some a dem ah nyam dem like a snack
WHEN YOU SPRINTING ON DI TRACK, DON'T FORGET AND DON'T FORGOT-
SAVE SOME OF DI FYAH FI WHEN DI TEMPERATURE DROP
BODY STRUGGLIN, CONTINUE AND DI PRESSURE NEVER STOP
WHEN YOU THINK IT DONE, YOU HAFFI GO RUN ANOTHER LAP"
DAMN Chezidek! DAMN! As I said, when you get into it, the Irie Ites have assembled some truly impressive vocalists to go on the ASAP Riddim and one of them will even leap out at the most casual of Reggae fans as a tune called 'Dangerous' brings together French veteran Nuttea and the great King Kong with Dancehall legend Beenie Man! I'm not going to look it up, I'm just going to assume that, at some point, Nuttea has crossed paths with II and in 2018, King Kong would send a full album, "Repatriation", through Irie Ites, but I can't at all recall Beenie Man working with II and to see his name here came as a very pleasant jolt. All three turn in fine performances and i found myself thinking while listening to it just how nice the vibes on 'Dangerous' are. It is somewhat disjointed, there isn't much back-and-forth between the three (I would presume they all voiced their pieces separately of one another), but when you stick them altogether it makes for a very big song and, again, IT'S BEENIE MAN ON AN IRIE ITES RIDDIM!! While I may have been shocked to see the link on 'Dangerous', the tune following it was the most expected of the entire lot. In 2016, Perfect Giddimani and Irie Ites did an album by the name of "Reggae Farm Work" and appearing on that release was 'A.S.A.P.', a combination featuring loooooongtime Irie Ites staple, Spectacular. That would have been the first time anyone laid ears on the ASAP Riddim to my knowledge and this appears to be a re-recorded (or at least remastered) and just BETTER version of the tune. Both Perfect and Spectacular have fiery and unpredictable styles so you can't don't really know what to expect on a combination between the two, but this one worked well for me PROBABLY because of the nature of the subject here. If you wanted to infuse a sense of urgency in your listener, you could do FAR worse than bringing together these two and, by song's end, it is crystal clear that there are some serious changes that need to take place in the world. And speaking of urgency: There's the matter of a MAMMOTH 'Thunder Storm' brewing in southern Trinidad and headed towards the entire world (no one is safe! Do not run! There is nowhere to run to!), being released by the great Queen Omega. If you didn't receive the full word on 'A.S.A.P.' (you may want to get your hearing checked out), the Queen will definitely let you in on precisely how critical things have gotten. This one finds her in a stunning lyrical form and, although I am damn partial and I admit it, 'Thunder Storm' is my single favourite track on the whole of the ASAP Riddim and that's saying something big because, along with what we've already discussed, there're some exceptional tunes still to be heard here.
A fine example of that would be a piece that I've enjoyed from the very first time I listened to it about three or four weeks ago now, but has grown on me even more since then, Jah Mason's splendidly GREEN 'Mother Earth'. You can take the tunes about social and political consciousness and even self awareness and spirituality -- running immortal themes in Roots Reggae music -- and they are all poignant, important and crucial if we're to make a change in the world, but if we do not treat the world, ITSELF, good - well then we won't even arrive at the point where we're capable of having the discussion of how well we treat one another, because there will be no "one another". We need a rock to live on first. The Mason is sick, literally, in seeing how things are going ecologically and he's going to tell you about it and THRILL at the same time.
"Look what dem doing to Mother Earth
You know, mi just caan stand it
Pollution inna di earth and dem ah destroy di planet
Doing to Mother Earth
You know, mi just caan stand it
THESE THINGS MEK MI WAAN VOMIT
The earth is sensitive, so earth is life
THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM, SO TREAT HER RIGHT
No litter di street, it better ah sweep
That's a good sight
Di drastic plastic ah black out di pipe
Lotta garbage mek di day turn night
When you dump inna di sea a dat di fish dem ah bite
Let's keep di earth clean
Mother Earth can smile for di loving children and child
Look what dem doing to Mother Earth
You know, mi just caan stand it
Pollution inna di earth and dem ah destroy di planet
Doing to Mother Earth
You know, mi just caan stand it
THESE THINGS MEK MI WAAN VOMIT
Let's work together
Mi seh 'YES' from now on
Recycling - dat a di latest vision
Every individual know your mission
Pollution every time when mi ah watch di television
So pledge to di earth and then you make your decision
Calling on di government, no matta di religion
No yellow tape and mi seh no red ribbon
How dem ah act lik dem stubborn?
Look what dem doing to Mother Earth
You know, mi just caan stand it
Pollution inna di earth and dem ah destroy di planet
Doing to Mother Earth
You know, mi just caan stand it
THESE THINGS MEK MI WAAN VOMIT
Mi tell dem seh TIME OUT
All these things mi ah FIND OUT
A east, inna west and mi seh ALL SOUTH
These are di things mi haffi talk bout
Wi nah like fi si garbage inna MY ROUTE
So mi haffi speak up outta MY MOUTH
Jah Jah Mason going back to MY ROOTS
So mi haffi hang on and is MY TRUTH!"
BOOM! 'Wicked Heart' is another one which has progressed on me just a bit from first hearing it, as the always compelling Lyricson takes on the ASAP Riddim. This isn't the Guinea native's first link with Irie Ites as he also appeared on the aforementioned Borderline Riddim with the sizable 'No Worry' ["Rasta wi nah worry fi wi know, nah worry fi wi know! Babylon system will be burning!"] and his return shows that maybe artist and label should have made more time for each other over the years. 'Wicked Heart' is just what you're thinking it is as Lyricson chants down and flings flames upon nastiness and corruption anywhere he can find it and although it may walk an expected course in terms of direction, sonically 'Wicked Heart' is amongst the most interesting tunes here... again, as you may've expected coming from Lyricson who is probably one of the most DYNAMIC artists in all of modern Roots music in my opinion ["Nuff a dem a wolf inna sheep clothes. That's why wi and dem could never be close. Mislead di ghetto youths: Their only purpose. Stinkin babylon system designed fi hurt us. Mi si seh nuff a dem ah live inna confusion. Rasta come fi bun di lies and dis-sillusion. Put an end to all di war and sufferation. Tell wicked babylon a time fi redemption"]. Irie Ites return to the fruitful shores of Trinidad and this time they come back with the sweeping social commentary 'Redder Than Red' and the damn dependable but damn underrated Jah Defender. While not too dissimilar to a few of the songs on the album in its lyrical approach (and there's nothing wrong with that), 'Redder Than Red' features the Defender producing a sterling vocal performance... he always sounds good, but 'Redder Than Red' is very easy on the ears and strong lyrically as well. Jah Defender has enjoyed a good 2022 campaign with a few tunes and, significantly, a brand new EP, "Jah Movements", but 'Redder Than Red' is probably the single best tune that I've heard from him in some time. Finally (not really) is another tripled combination, this one bringing together Tomawok, Keefaz & Puppa Nadem for 'Calme avant la Tempête' ['Calm Before the Storm']. Of the three, I am only really familiar with the work of Keefaz (who has appeared on II productions previously), but apparently this is just what all three are doing these days as I've found two other selections, 'Big & Ready' and 'Family' (the latter of which is from earlier this year) done in a combination and for Irie Ites. It's a nice touch, doing a French tune for a French label and it probably would be the type of thing that I would have complained about being absent had it not been here. So, I always appreciate when people do things like this showing their own influence in what they have locally. Well done.
I would have also complained, and even more so, had II not included a clean instrumental version of the ASAP Riddim but, thankfully I don't have to do that because they did. The ASAP is a lovely modern Roots track with a dash of electricity and... this infectious other sound that I can't quite describe accurately. As a riddim, alone, it ranks highly in the annals of anything they've done. It's one of their best and it plays a nearly perfect backdrop to several big tunes, which is all you can 'ask' of a riddim.
Overall, it just feels good!!! Certain things in the world should just be a certain way: Irie Ites should be making big riddims and they are! Again, if you haven't had the opportunity to dig into what they've done thus far, the ASAP Riddim is not only a FINE riddim of its own, but it's a good place to start listening to one of the most decorated imprints in all of modern Roots Reggae. The ASAP takes me back to the early/mid 2000's when it seemed like a few times a year II would reach with some giant composition with a LOADED roster of artists and that is just what it is, nearly two decades later. In that time so many things have changed in our music but, apparently, some have also, BEAUTIFULLY, remained the same. The ASAP Riddim has time on its side, I've missed its type, but it definitely ranks as one of Irie Ites Records' finest creations to date.
