Okay so, we look up at the calendar and what it tells us is that it is now that wonderful time of year where we all sit around and... make fools out of ourselves by attempting to predict just who will take home the Grammy in a few months, as the nominations for the 2024 (and 66th) Grammy Awards have been announced. As usual, there were some (most) expected nominees and one or two (one) unexpected, but here we go, let's take a look at them and make a certain to be incorrect prediction as to who takes home the prize.
"No Destroyer" by Burning Spear [Burning Spear Music]
If the Grammy voters have any sense of sentimentality, here is your favourite. The legendary Winston Rodney, Burning Spear, returned this year with his first album in nearly a decade and a half, "No Destroyer". Coincidentally, his most recent prior album, "Jah Is Real", would net the Spear his second Grammy win (following "Calling Rastafari" in 2000) and, by my surely incorrect count, he has now been nominated a grand total of THIRTEEN times for this award. The second "No Destroyer" was announced, you knew it would be nominated so it comes as no surprise and if you actually listen to it (tune called 'Jamaica' leads the way in my opinion), it is a delightful album. It was extremely well received and if I had to pick a favourite, this would be it.
"Simma" by Beenie Man [MD Music Group]
Another rather obvious selection comes in "Simma", the latest set from now four time nominee and previous champion, Beenie Man. What to say about "Simma".... I did not love this album and have less appreciation for it at this moment than I did when I first heard it (off the top of my head, without looking it up, I cannot name you a single song off of it) (not including the title track, of course) but, again, you're not at all shocked to see it appearing here on the strength of the name of its star (although it is worth mentioning that Beenie's previous release, "Unstoppable" (which wasn't great either but probably slightly stronger than "Simma" for me, in retrospect) did NOT receive a Grammy nod at all) and you're also not astonished if it manages to win.
"Born For Greatness" by Buju Banton [Gargamel Music/Roc Nation]
" ....I did not love this album and have less appreciation for it at this moment than I did when I first heard it". I'm going to quote that bum who wrote ^ that up there in reference to "Simma" and use it for "Born For Greatness", from another previous winner and seven time nominee, Buju Banton. Again, though not approaching the level of being a great album, given who made it you cannot be surprised at all to see "Born For Greatness" appearing in this list. Even when he's active and they're plentiful, Buju's albums have always had this kind of 'large' vibe about them and this one was no different. His work is always looked at as being a big deal (even when he isn't at his greatest) and you EXPECT his projects to be here and you do not move a muscle if he actually wins.
"Colors Of Royal" by Julian Marley & Antaeus [Monom Records]
Here's an interesting one. While I've never been the biggest fan of Juju Royal, Julian Marley.... well, he is a Marley, so he's been nominated for one of these now for the third time (and not just because of THAT. Full credit to his talents, I'm just not super into it). Unsurprisngly, however, the project for which he was observed, "Colors Of Royal" alongside Antaeus, is... it's tough. It's an EP with eight tracks in full and two of those are remixes (and two of the originals are remakes) so I don't know why, outside of the obvious, why this one was nominated but, of course, that means it will likely win.
The Cali Roots Riddim 2023 [Ineffable Records]
And lastly, though he's never been up for one before, it shouldn't come as a complete upset that Collie Buddz is getting a look from the Grammy committee. However, in a year where the Bermy grown star released a brand new album, one would have thought that it would been it -- "Take It Easy" -- which would have gotten the shine (and that album is very good, actually). That wasn't the case as, instead, it's the track that he produced, The Cali Roots Riddim which is taking the honours and doing so as the likely darkhorse of the lot. To its credit, the Cali Roots has a large claim as being the single best of its kind this year and one of 2023's greatest releases, in general.
And the winner izzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
The Cali Roots Riddim 2023
Fuck it. Why not? Last year Kabaka Pyramid won with what was not only the best project to be nominated but also my choice as the year's finest album altogether. The Cali Roots Riddim is not the best Reggae album this year (that distinction goes to Queen Omega), but it's the best of this lot with respect to Burning Spear. Also, how cool would it be if not only a riddim album won the Grammy but also I'm of the belief that everyone who was involved would receive either their own Grammy or some type of physical representation for the accomplishment which would mean that personal favourites of ours including SARA LUGO and Khalia would immediately begin being referred to as "GRAMMY WINNING VOCALIST...". Again, it's probably the most unlikely choice, but I said that last year and look what happened.
Am I right? NOPE. Find out exactly how wrong I am when the winners of the 2024 Grammy Awards are announced on Sunday, the 4th of February.
Generations. This is the portion of the review where I would normally latch onto some random, ridiculous and mi-nute aspect of the artist, label or album that I am about to review and spend the entire overly long and rambling paragraph grinding that point and spreading it out to other (fairly useless) examples and tangents. It's my style. It's just what I do and I'm not sorry. HOWEVER, today doing such a thing just felt kind of pointless (if you do love the rambling, it will certainly return on the next review (biggup Anthony B).... or you can just click on any of the six hundred others and get your fix) because I have been waiting for this one for such a long time and the artist and the project in question today came fully-equipped with an arsenal of delicious points of discussion. If I were to compile a list of my absolute favourite artists of all time, somewhere near the top of it, you would definitely find one Queen Omega and it's been that way for quite some time now. While these days I cannot actually recall how or when I had the grand fortune of stumbling across her wonderful work, what I can do is to point you to an album which reached way back in 2001 (...I am so old) by the Green House Family, called Queen Omega. That set, with its very simple, unassuming and blue-tinted cover, was the full introduction to one Jeniele Osbourne, from out of Trinidad. We've covered the delightful Reggae exports from the home of Soca thoroughly throughout the years (doing it right now, technically) but for me, the backbone of that stream of talent (talking about some truly gifted people like Marlon Asher, I-Sasha and many more) became Queen Omega and it still is today, more than two decades on. She's also, in my opinion, THE single most gifted female Reggae music has EVER produced and, again, if I were to make that list of favourites and her name was as high as #2, I would not be surprised at all. Why?? What I heard on her debut album, first and foremost, was a SERIOUS talent and one which, though it may've lacked refinement at the time, more than made up for any shortcomings with such a NATURAL sound. Osbourne may be talented at a variety of different things. I would not be surprised at all, but if ever a human being were put on this planet to make music, IT WOULD BE SHE! in terms of modern Roots Reggae where we have artists of all types - be it singers, chanters and those at various stages in between (biggup Norris Man), Queen Omega is all of those. She can do them all and do so on a level where, as a fan, I find myself equally as excited if she takes on a tune in a lighter vibe where she's going to showcase her vocals or if she chooses to absolutely WRECK some poor producer's riddim and put it to the sword as a chanter ["The voice of Queen Omega makes the world tune in. With versatility, sometimes mi deejay and sing. ONCE MY MIND IS MADE UP, I CAN DO ANYTHING. Nothing is impossible with The King Of Kings. Mi just hold a vibes and sit down pon riddim"]. In glimpses and in large enough flashes, such a devastating talent was on full display to me on her debut album (I actually own that album on disc, which is definitely one of the coolest pieces in my collection).
2001
Fortunately I wasn't the only one who thought so. From there, the 'Ganja Baby' (and I have it on good authority that sometimes her friends - they call her 'Ganja Lady') would check back in 2003 with "Pure Love" for Jet Star and again with the same label the following year for "Away From Babylon". The latter being one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. It's been proclaimed a modern classic on these pages and it is a nearly perfect display of one of the most skilled artists I have EVER laid ears on. 'Burdened' with following "Away From Babylon" was 2005's "Destiny", which was also excellent, for Special Delivery (remember Special Delivery???) and then, in 2008, the venerable Mad Professor gave us "Servant Of Jah Army" ["Inna Jah army, nobody can harm mi. Sweet like honey, watch di man dem ah swarm mi"]. NOW [!] had you told me in 2008 that, though we'd get a steady stream of RIDICULOUSLY impressive singles and two or three EP's from her (most recently 2001's "Stars Align"), it would be FIFTEEN FUCKING YEARS before we'd get another full album from her.... well.... I mean..... yeah.... probably would have cried.
Well I can guess I can dry my eyes now. It was a few weeks ago, at the end of January, that we got the news OFFICIALLY that, after a very specific stream of singles, Queen Omega was set to deliver her brand new and first album in a decade and a half, "Freedom Legacy". The album would come via the same France based (Paris to be exact, I believe) Lions Flow Productions imprint (in association with Baco Records) (and, specifically, one Florentin Coquelin and Christoph Grossniklaus produce every song on this album and they get help from Julien Reichen on a couple of them as well) that has been responsible for much of the Queen's recent output (though she has continued to work with a healthy mixture of producers in the last couple of years as well) and FINALLY common sense has prevailed and the world is a much better place because there is a new Queen Omega album in it! Thinking back now, I cannot actually even think of a relatively substantial rumour saying that the Queen had a forthcoming set at any time (despite the fact, as I said, that she did have EP's), which is pretty odd, but we're going to forget about all of that right now: IT IS MARCH, 2023 AND QUEEN OMEGA HAS A NEW ALBUM and we get to talk about it [WHAT!]! While I do not have a great deal of knowledge of LFP, looking through their catalogue - they have been fairly active within the past half decade or so. Most notably there 'was' a pair of riddims in the Switzerland and Zion I Matic, respectively. The former was a GORGEOUS composition which featured some very gifted vocal talents such as Ras Attitude, Fyahstone and two others who we'll tell you about in just a second (Austin James also had a really beautiful tune on that riddim called 'Colour of A Man's Skin'). As for the Zion I Matic Riddim it 'was'.... it actually doesn't 'WAS', it IS -- because it shares the same 24th of March release date as "Freedom Legacy" (WHAT!) (they've been busy!) -- it also carries some tremendous vocalists including two of personal favourites of mine, the majestic Mark Wonder and [Prince] Theo Nyeemiya (BOOM!), as well as that same duo that I just alluded to being on the Switzerland (and, speaking of favourites, they also worked with Jah Marnyah on an older tune called 'Life Mission'). Both riddims are lovely and when you combine that with the actual work that they've done with Queen Omega and while Lions Flow wouldn't have been the first label to come to mind as doing the work on whatever the next Queen Omega album was, they have WELL demonstrated themselves more than capable of potentially delivering a magical release with the artistic piece of dynamite they have responsible for the vocal and lyrical duties, on paper and functionally. For her rather giant part, the Queen has remained in a fantastic form (..... throughout her entire career) and though I would have literally hoped for like FIVE or so albums in the past decade and a half, she also figures to be primed to deliver one of the finest albums of her career. So with such a setting, certainly "Freedom Legacy" lives up to expectations and proves to be an EXCELLENT set. Right??
Yep. Of course it does. Wonderfully, "Freedom Legacy" is built on the strength of combining previously released material with some which will be brand new to listeners. Now I'm a nerd (and probably a rare case) but, when I got a look at the official tracklist for this one, I got SO damn excited and curious in both going in my head and singing the pieces that I had already known and then looking at the new selections (and guests they brought in, in some cases) and trying to imagine what type of song that might be! Like I said, I know I'm not in the majority, but even more than musically, I was already well enjoying the 'process' of "Freedom Legacy" before I actually dug my claws into it. Well, it's here now, so I do not have to wonder anymore and neither do you because I'm going to flat out tell you that Queen Omega's very first full album release in a decade and a half (I turned twenty-seven the year "Servant Of Jah Army" reached, I will be FORTY-TWO this year) (DAMN!), "Freedom Legacy", gets going with four of its five previously heard selections, the very first of which, 'See You Down' is absolutely staggering and the single finest offering on the entire album in my opinion. Despite its direction (or maybe BECAUSE of its direction, at least in part), the one word that comes to mind when I hear 'See You Down' is POWER. It is a POWERFUL tune from its message of being sure to not only present yourself as an upful and positive person, but to actual BE such an individual; all the way to the way it is displayed. The Queen pushes her disruptively beautiful vocals near their peak at times and the results are thunderous! With this piece she REALLY goes into the idea of finding things and PEOPLE who bring you joy and doing your very best to involve them in your life. It not only soars on this album but, to my opinion, it's one of the best tunes Queen Omega has ever done and I wasn't at all surprised that it was chosen as the first chapter of "Freedom Legacy". Not too far behind at all, however, is 'Fittest', which almost seems to indirectly build upon the core sentiments of the opener. Where 'See You Down' is about not showing your weaknesses and doing what you can to limit them, 'Fittest' is all about completely ridding yourself of them as best as you can because it is NECESSARY. There is such a presence to 'Fittest' and it is EDGY and... grimy! There is something appreciably dramatic and profound behind it and it gets into an area where you consider the importance of something in the music beyond sound and lyrics. Whatever THAT quality is - 'Fittest' BATHES in it.
'Micro Chip' may be the most familiar track on "Freedom Legacy", as it originally appeared a few years back (never when I first heard it would I have imagined that it was leading up to something I'd been looking forward to for.... over a dozen years or so at that point). When you really dig into it, though you will hear songs like it, 'Microchip' is one of the finest dealing with the topic of not getting lost or ran over in the digital age.
"Babylon dem trick mi!
Dem waan microchip wi!
YOU NO SI DEM CRAZY, DI WHOLE A DEM GONE INSANE!
Though di road is slippery-
Yah children have the victory!
I know The Almighty Father's works never go in vain
Nobody pon di streetside ah walk
Quarantine: Caan leave ya house after dark
Social-distancing tearing us apart
No greeting with a hug, everybody wearing masks
Conspiracies and lies - it break di people heart
Countless dead, but look at di aftermath
The universe is saddened
The Father, Him ah wrath
Economy - it's broken, wi haffi restart
Replan, rethink, take time to reflect
Each one, teach one - there's no time to neglect
Put di differences aside, spiritually connect
To di source of life, to di one who blow breath
Under His wings wi abide and rest
No one no bigger than Yah, Vatican no ready yet!
The world is changing, we're looking for the best!"
Queen Omega also sounds absolutely amazing during 'Micro Chip'. It is one of the strongest vocal demonstrations you will hear on this album and, again, it too ranks alongside the very best that "Freedom Legacy" has to offer. 'Wise Queens' is the very first (of four) combinations that you will encounter here and, for what it is, you almost have to call it LANDMARK. 'Wise Queens' features a pair of extremely gifted female artists in Jalifa and Kushite (who I alluded to previously as being present on LFP's previous riddims), who are also from out of Trinidad. The background setting here is tremendous and all colours of fascinating and materializes from those circumstances is PRECISELY of the quality one might expect. The mixture of the styles is so interesting with the battering ram that is Jalifa on one end and the softer and more malleable Kushite on the other ["And is yah fyah no normal. A CONFUSING FYAH, LEFT DEM LOOKING FOR GRAVEL"], with the Queen bringing them both together from somewhere in between ["Jalifa, Kushite, Queen Omega - fyah caan extinguish. Three empresses, so divine and distinguished. If you no royal in yuh heart, you caan sing this! Lava pon di wicked government, dem cannot win this.Satta massagana that is I & I English! Truths and rights, I ah live and ah speak this"]. They also made a video for it bringing together dozens of upful and wonderfully displayed Trinidadian women, befitting of what a powerfully DIVERSE land it is. 'Wise Queens' is MOMENT music. You do not forget things like this coming together in such a nice way (and I'm thinking that somewhere in Trinidad there're a whole heap of younger women who are coming up and hearing this song who, in a few years' time, I will be sitting right here writing about as well, having been inspired by a track like 'Wise Queens'). 'Lioness' is the most recent featured drop from "Freedom Legacy" and it is another offering built on the idea of importance of uplifting and RESPECTING women in society. What I really enjoy from 'Lioness' is how it isn't the kind of stereotypical 'mama song'. It does have those elements to it, particularly early on, but what it subsequently develops into is.... something so fully encapsulating of qualities shared by great women and not just focusing exclusively on their biology (meaning their ability to give birth). 'Lioness' goes much deeper [coincidentally, Queen Omega has another recent tune by the name of 'Real Lioness' with Massive Dub Corporation which, at least as far as I can tell, is unrelated to this one, but is also DEFINITELY worth checking out because it is also beautiful].
Sticking with that line of thinking, there're two new offerings on "Freedom Legacy" which well come to mind. The first is the album's closer, 'Win', which I was SO much looking forward to. This piece is interesting because its central theme isn't about empowering women (although it does do that a bit), but what it does do actually, is to link up Queen Omega with another of the most curiously gifted female artists that Reggae has ever seen. If you've never heard Soom T before, I'd struggle to describe her and would, instead, likely just tell you to go and have a listen (my personal favourite is probably a song she did years ago called 'Na Na Na', for Necessary Mayhem) and figure it out for yourself. Specializing often in a more old school form of Dancehall, the Scotland based Soom T has a very youthful delivery so what will happen is you will inevitably find yourself wondering exactly whose daughter is..... absolutely SHREDDING some riddim. She delivers words in streams and torrents generally only seen amongst the true masters of the spoken word (I'm sitting here working on this review with a Bunji Garlin video playing in the background. Bunji Garlin would be a fan of Soom T, if he isn't already). 'Win' is a blast! It is so much fun to listen to with these two going on what appears to be a LOVELY take on the Bam Bam Riddim to my ears. The song, itself, is just about overcoming obstacles and gaining successes, big and small, in life. It also demonstrates the true versatility of the Queen as though she does not completely match Soom T, she delivers in a style which both shows her ability to do that (or something like it. Unless your name is Soom T, you're probably not doing EXACTLY what that woman is doing. DAMN!) but also makes use of the natural resonance of her voice. BOOM! The other song that 'Lioness' brought to my mind here is 'Love Your Way', because though it also strikes on an ultra-familiar topic, it does so in a very 'fresh' way. 'Love Your Way' is track that you've heard from many a male artist singing about women and a few women singing about themselves, but I haven't heard many women singing such material about men (the one that does come to mind is 'Avocado', from the walking institution of higher learning that is Jah9) (and I'm sure that I'm forgetting some, but my point is that it isn't a type that you hear very often. I wouldn't even call it a love song, it's more of a 'song of admiration' in my opinion). The word that Queen Omega says here that really sticks out to my ears is "hygiene". Again, you'll hear so many songs about women taking care of themselves and the importance of being clean, but she throws it back to the men. EVERYONE needs to be clean and healthy and then, of course, she goes onto other things such as setting a proper example for (and being present for) the youths. These are things that she clearly is not only attracted to but also admires in people, in general.
"Male child, bout you mi haffi sing
From yuh to yuh feet, I just love everything
Yuh physically fit, yuh working out in di gym
Yuh take care of yuhself, man yuh win, win, win
Can't forget to give di ratings to yuh Empress
Cuz mi know she have an input on how yuh look best
Yes, Queen, you must biggup yuh chest
You a di perfect match
Yuh blessed!
Confidence level right up to di sky
Great success inna anyting yuh try
Highly intellect, book smart and streetwise
No competition, cause you win di prize
Big man ting, yuh stay cast for dat, you a true born king!
Self respect, self elating and disciplined
Full up a wisdom and understanding!"
Should you be on the look out for a more ("more", not entirely) stereotypical but GORGEOUS love song, Queen Omega also has you covered in a couple of different ways. 'Agape Love' which features an impressive vocalist from out of New Caledonia, Marcus Gad. It isn't completely a 'oh baby I love you' type of an effort and it is HEAVY! The riddim tracking 'Agape Love' has to be one of the, if not THE, finest on the whole of "Freedom Love" and the duo make the most of it by delivering one SWEET vibe centering around love. This "love" is, at least at times, one that can be given to a partner or a FRIEND who just does nice things for you. The Queen talks about things like him teaching her how to fix her car if it breaks down and her teaching him how to cook. You don't have to be married or madly in love with someone for that to happen, so I definitely appreciate the more broad approach here. THAT type of love song does come later on but even it roams a bit from the center. Someone dropped a BOMB on Queen Omega, she LOVED it and she's going to tell you all about it on 'Dynamite'. Given what she says, it almost comes off as more of a young love ["... and like a little girl, you make this big woman blush"] (where that person that you're interested in can literally do no wrong. They can literally pick their nose, you even think that is kinda cute); she's infatuated, she knows it and she enjoys it. The sound on 'Dynamite' also kind of matches that tone. It's a free vibe and relatively simple, but the FORCE she puts on it takes it somewhere else. This one probably took three or four listens, but I came to REALLY enjoy it and it is one of my favourites on this set and I'm thinking I rarely say that about love songs anymore. Where 'Agape Love' and 'Dynamite' deal with an outward love of others, the SOARING 'Extraordinary' is more about the inward affection you have for yourself. This song is about self-confidence and esteem and APPRECIATING YOURSELF. There's probably a very thin line somewhere between confidence and conceit, but there is not a damn thing wrong for giving yourself credit and treating yourself well for doing good things and being a good person (if you think about it, you do it for others virtually all the time. When your dog does what you want it to, what do you say to it???) (there's nothing wrong with doing that for yourself). 'Extraordinary' also comes with a bit of a hidden feature in being the album's longest composition by seventeen seconds, so its final moments give the listener a delightful moment to appreciate the beautiful riddim behind it. I love songs like this because they can hit you both in a broad way -- don't be so damn hard on yourself -- or specifically -- you did good today, go have some fun -- and it will likely hit so many people in so many different enlighteningly impactful ways. Continuing with that theme, in a way, is 'Natural Melody' which is a love song of a certain kind (biggup Gentleman) - this time Queen Omega espouses on the smaller things in life which can bring joy and don't necessarily put you back much, if at all ["Appreciating the rainfall, the shelter under the trees. Ain't nothing better than the natural melodies"]. She also branches out on things like having a good attitude and, again, being confident in yourself. 'Natural Melody' almost has an R&B-ish sound to it which, for the 'nature' of what it is, works quite well. I wouldn't be surprised if Queen Omega wrote the song and sang it and a riddim was made to back her, as it works so well; and you simply cannot miss rapping (not deejaying, RAPPING) near the end of one SWEET selection.
'Oneness' may just be the biggest standout on "Freedom Legacy" on paper; as it features Queen Omega alongside French veteran Yaniss Odua (originally from out of Madinina) and Bob's son, Julian Marley (who releases an EP, 'Colors Of Royal", on the same day as "Freedom Legacy"). If you've followed Queen Omega's career, you know that, including those appearing here, she's worked alongside some of the genre's biggest names such as Sizzla, Capleton (both of them on the same tune, 'Warning', on her debut album), Anthony B, Mark Wonder (both of those were also on that same album although, oddly, Wonder was credited as 'Archie Wonder') (biggup one of my readers who told me that years ago), Buju Banton, the aforementioned Gentleman and even Ninja Man [WHAT!], but I saw the lineup on this one and I just thought it to be such an interesting trio and wondered where 'Oneness' might go. Where it does head, ultimately, isn't very unexpected - 'Oneness' is about unity. It's about bringing together people and ideas in the name of positivity and good causes. The sound here is VERY straight-forward and I mean that in a good way and the musical common ground that all three find, when at its best, can be downright intoxicating (particularly in its latter stages). Check the monstrous 'Goodness'.
Do you hear that? I mean REALLY, DO YOU HEAR THAT? What a great song! I came across this one and I had to seriously reconsider my choice for the finest moment on "Freedom Legacy" - it is THAT good. 'Goodness' is another heaping serving of positivity and affirmation and... damn does it sound so nice! What happens musically here with a vibe which seems to consistently develop throughout its duration is downright intoxicating to the point where, Queen Omega says she wants some , "sweetness, sugar and spice", and you will find it in this song - like A LOT of it! Finally is 'Ask', another title that had me very curious about its course when I originally saw the tracklist.
"When you ask, you shall receive
Knock and the door will be open
If you seek, you shall find
When you ask, you shall receive
Knock and the door will be open
If you seek, you shall find
Sweeten yourself with some positive vibes
You've gotta hold the faith if you want to survive
In this baggawire, inna di giddeon time
Only di strongest and di fittest will survive
THE LION HAFFI WALK WITH THE PRIDE
Love for humanity, love for mankind
Respect one another, peaceful inclined
Look at tomorrow, di future is bright
Lay your burdens by di river side!
You have nothing to lose, you decide!"
\
Sometimes in life (many times, actually) you will find yourself needing a helping hand and that is the notion behind 'Ask', which is also a motivational type of song just in case you've gone a bit stagnant. Again, something here that is inescapable is the dynamic vibes around it. 'Ask' is going to definitely feed your brain and your spirit, but it's also going to make you move a little bit! You know what, looking back on it, I could very well say the same thing for a significant percentage of the songs on "Freedom Legacy": They will nourish you in many different ways.
Overall, I'm partial as hell, I'll admit. I absolutely love Queen Omega (once upon a time, she even sang a jingle for my blog!) and had I not enjoyed "Freedom Legacy" as much as I did, it would have been a MASSIVE disappointment, but there were absolutely no concerns with the quality of this release based on the previously released works. They were outstanding and what I hadn't heard quickly showed itself to be on the same very high level. In retrospect, the build-up to the album was perfect. We can now look back and see the fruits of what turned out to be about two or three YEARS worth of work with Lions Flow Productions and while I have no idea at what point the idea went from just making some songs to making a full collection (or if that was the intent in the first place), seeing the progression into something that I HAVE BEEN WAITING ON FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, is a joy. Hopefully I will not have to wait until my mid fifties for a follow-up but for what it is, "Freedom Legacy" is another check of greatness for one of the greatest to ever do it. RIGHT NOW! QUEEN OMEGA IS ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL TIME! Flawless.
"Freedom Legacy" by Queen Omega [Baco Music - 2023]
Okay so, because I looked up at the calendar and noticed that we were just about three weeks away from what just has to be my most anticipated album release of 2023 thus far (and I'm struggling to even think of anyone who could, even theoretically, top it at any point during the year) (... seriously, I can't think of anyone right now... not even a "maybe"), I determined that, somewhere out there, must exist a tracklist, which we hadn't seen before and, for once, I was correct (if you say enough stuff, eventually something will come true). Queen Omega's forthcoming album #6 and her first in a DECADE AND A HALF, "Freedom Legacy" comes to us via Baco Music, with production by Lions Flow from out of France, and I cannot fucking wait to hear it! As I have said in the past, the Queen is, easily, one of my favourite artists not only currently, but ever (she may just be top five for me) and I have been waiting so long on her new album and, finally, we actually can see what is on it and maybe take a quick look at what we know and what we don't.
I'm loving the mixture of known tracks with songs that I have never heard of before. I've always thought that a very good way to build an album as it not only draws in more seasoned fans by giving them songs that they're familiar with (and potentially love), along with promising brand new music - which is always in a good thing. In Reggae we've seen a lot of that and we've also seen situations where albums can be just straight compilations of any given time and they're stacked with well worn material (which can also be decent, at times, but new music is always a good thing as it at least shows that some level of respect was given to the project). So when I scan the ranks, on one hand I come across familiar tracks such as 'See You Down', 'Fittest' and the recent 'Lioness'; and on the other there's 'Oneness' with Julian Marley & Yaniss Odua (curious as hell what's going on there!), 'Win' alongside the delightfully gifted Soom T and also both 'Goodness' and 'Extraordinary'.... I mean... what could they possibly be about?! What is 'Ask'??? What is that (I'm predicting 'Goodness' is a love song, 'Extraordinary' might be a praising track)? 'Win' what???? 'Dynamite' you say?
I have so many questions about Queen Omega's "Freedom Legacy" and all of mine and any you might have will all be answered on the 24th of March, 2023, when it arrives. Time to get excited.
How many times in listening to various forms of music do you come into contact with this situation: There is a particular artist/group who is OBVIOUSLY talented, makes the type of music that you typically enjoy and yet you just can’t get into their vibes for some reason or another? For myself I would have to say that in regards to Reggae music, while I don’t stumble upon such a situation quite often, each and every time I do, it literally confuses me to no end. You can take certain artists and have a tune just WRECKING everywhere and I won’t dislike it but I just don’t seem to enjoy it as much as everyone else and definitely not as much as I would think that I might. My prime example of this rather annoying phenomenon would be the very popular Morgan Heritage clan. My enjoyment of the Morgans is rather stranger because if they just release an album (like they did last year with Mission In Progress) I’m most likely not going to like roughly 85% of it AT ALL. However, I freely recognize that they are well talented and top notch as evident by the production work they’ve done (they produced Capleton’s MASSIVE Jah Jah City, Liberation riddim), the tunes that they make that I do actually like, their EXCELLENT live shows (and live albums) and the fact that the group, now currently on hiatus and pursuing solo careers, have impressed me so much as solo artists in their brief time apart. Yet, again, I just can’t REALLY appreciate the lion’s share of their music even in spite of having one of the greatest track records of anyone in current Reggae music. Unfortunately I’m also noticing a similar situation developing with my tastes (or lack thereof) for future superstar Gyptian. There’s a difference in my opinion from someone like Turbulence or Norris Man or Determine, all of whom I feel are on current bad streaks in their careers but I have to LISTEN to them in order to notice that their material is worse than it had been previously or than it could be, however, with Gyptian it’s different. I’m not REALLY noticing any consistent shift or retrogression in his music. It sounds, more or less, like it always has and save for the few tunes he’s had that I have enjoyed here and there (more so in the beginning of his career), I’ve never fully appreciated his work for the most part. The same would definitely go for and explain my struggling to overstand the attraction to (in my opinion) WHOLLY average Dancehall acts such as Bling Dawg, Alozade and Chino for whom I struggle to comprehend the attraction to from fans. Simply put, for some reason, sometimes I just don’t get it.
And it’s so interesting that I have such a feeling of Reggae’s ‘second family’ and also certain members of it’s first as well. I know people who will SWEAR that Ziggy Marley is the most talented Reggae artist since his Father’s time and they will just as steadfastly hold on to this notion as I, to a similar notion regarding one infamous August Town native. For some reason his music, although so similar to much that I do listen to and enjoy doesn’t resonate with me in much the same way that many of his peers (and even family members). And then there’s Julian Marley - a different case altogether. I put Julian (probably because I can’t figure out what else to ‘do’ with him) in this category because I have historically not fully been able to appreciate what he has done thus far in his career although I recognize his CLEARLY high skill level and impressive writing abilities as will. Yet, my MAIN characteristic in terms of defining how I feel about Julian Marley’s music is CONFUSED. I know I don’t really like what I’ve heard from him and yet I definitely don’t feel comfortable (and definitely not after this one) AT ALL saying that I actually dislike what he’s made also. The English born artist has also maintained close relations with his family, in particularly the genius jack of all trades Stephen and the EXPLOSIVE Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley and is an active member of their Ghetto Youths camp which means that you’re fairly likely to see him anywhere you see his VERY ACTIVE siblings and he has attracted quite a nice sized fan base at the same time, as you might expect. On a formal level, Julian ‘Juju’ Marley has also had quietly had two album releases to his credit thus far, Lion In The Morning way back in 1996 and his last release from 2003, the pretty well regarded A Time & Place album. There’s kind of a hard to explain folksy/bluesy type of vibes to Julian’s music which may be what’s throwing me off and that was VERY present in the A Time & Place album to my opinion and now six years later I STILL don’t think I could actually write an intelligent review on the album just because I’m not so sure what I make of it and yet I know several people who opinions I greatly respect in Reggae who really enjoy it and champion it as one of the best of that particular year. His first album, Lion In The Morning, in my opinion was the better of the two as it was more on a straight Reggae style (I’m partial, duh), although it featured Julian not as far along in his development as A Time & Place. But maybe he could put the more developed and mature sound with a more straight Reggae sound? That would be the goal I was hoping for and that would be one of the larger sources of my anticipations in picking up his brand new album, Awake. The album becomes his third studio release to date and comes just weeks after his brother Ziggy’s own third solo album, Family Time, and with brother Stephen bubbling with an acoustic version of his Grammy winning Mind Control album and Damian supposedly working alongside Hip-Hop superstar Nas for a genre-bending combination album for later this year, you’re DEFINITELY about to get your fill of the Marley family for 2009 (they’re also reportedly working with Snoop Dogg (of all people) for his Reggae album as well!). Julian Marley does well enough in staking his claim as the best of the lot with Awake produced by himself and his brothers and company, which I had no problem declaring his greatest work to date probably about eight tracks or so deep into it. And while he still continues to utterly confuse the hell out of me at times, by it’s end, Awake ALMOST earns my seal of recommendation as strictly a fan of Reggae music.
So does he go 100% full on Reggae music? Of course not, I just don’t think something like that is Julian Marley’s style for the most part and it doesn’t actualize itself on Awake (although if he’d like to try that next time out, I’d be more than willing to listen), yet gradually he does manage to win my tastes. That’s not what you’re going to hear at the beginning, however, as starting Awake the album out is Awake the song. I must say that although I am about to criticize this song that it is very NICELY written and probably features some of the best if not THE best lyrics on the album named after it. HOWEVER, that being said I have NO IDEA what is going on with the sounds on the tune. It sounds like a solemn R&B or even alternative tune to a degree and it also sounds like something which would have fit rather nicely in on the A Time & Place album. Although for all of its strangeness, its probably close to what I would expect to begin the album. Things take a turn for the better on the album’s first single, the KNOCKING herbalist anthem Boom Draw. I know a few songs with the same title (biggup Junior Kelly, every time) and none of them have a BASSLINE like Marley’s version. Later in the tune it also impresses lyrically and really the fact that it’s here in my opinion is just a nice step in the right direction. It definitely has a nice appeal to its vibes and it’s not a complete shock that it was chosen as the first single for the album. One of the best tunes here. Julian then turns his attentions to the dance floor with the fittingly titled On The Floor tune. I shouldn’t have been surprised by On The Floor but I was and it isn’t a BAD song. It’s ultimately harmless and actually does lift up the vibes strictly in terms of pacing and that’s never a bad thing. A rather unusual, yet expected, opening in full.
Despite the fact that, as expected, Julian does enlist the help of his more popular siblings and a very good family friend to join in on Awake, in my opinion it’s a solo tune here which shines brighter than all others at the end of the day on the HUGE Jah Works. The tune just has a lovely vibes to it and the lyrics are so powerfully uplifting and ON POINT that the first time I heard it I really couldn’t ignore it and the more I heard it I LOVED the tune. The message here is so nice, that no matter what you do, no matter what you accomplish, things will STILL happen in the time His Majesty has planned for it to happen. Indeed Julian! Large tune. Another fine solo effort on Awake from Julian Marley would be the unexpected tune Rose Hall which features Marley going traditional on Rosehall which is certain to confuse the hell out of a lot of people concerning the telling of the legend of the Witch Of Rosehall (but I’m sure your good friend Google at the top of your screen would love to tell you more about it) and relating it to a woman in specific, before the combinations kick up. The first, the jilted lover tune A Little Too Late alongside Stephen Marley is pretty nice and I love that COOL riddim backing the track and I’m sure you will too. What I don’t like is the second of the three combinations Oh Girl which features longtime Marley Family friend Mr. Cheeks from the Lost Boyz camp. I like Mr. Cheeks and this tune, an old school sounding hip-hop vibed tune sounds right up his alley and he outshines Julian who adopts a very strange vocal style during the song. Things become MUCH easier on the ears however, as expected, when Damian Marley joins his slightly older brother on the WICKED sufferer’s anthem Violence In The Streets. On a tune like this you’re almost WAITING for the lyrical volcano that is Jr. Gong to erupt and when it does (about halfway through the song) it is as IMPRESSIVE as ever! Seriously the man gets overlooked by hardcore heads but Damian Marley has a flow which is ENDLESS and it helps to make Violence In The Streets the second best tune you’ll find on Awake in my opinion. The final stretch of the album features Julian all on his own and some of the better tunes you’ll find here. Check All I Know which has an unusual but nice vibes to it and is a shot at those who crave the more material and vanity items in life and ignore the art of sharing and enjoying the more simple things. Nice tune. An even nicer one follows it in the SWEET Stay With Me which is a technical combination as it features none other than the LEGENDARY Marcia Griffiths singing backup for Julian just as she did for his father more than thirty years ago. The tune is definitely one of the best on Awake altogether and I think it was at this point that I began to notice that I hadn’t heard anything OBTRUSIVELY outside of the scope of Reggae in a minute which is nice as he leads the album out on a very traditional note and none get more traditional than a sweet lover’s tune, which is exactly what Stay With Me is (much like his Father did ‘back in da day‘ with a tune of the same title). The string of good tunes continues with Sharp As A Razor next up. This tune has another SWEET vibes as it sounds like something circa 1970 and REALLY has a nice bounce to it also. The tune is another sufferer’s anthem of the people struggling under the system of corruption and it really is a well written tune also. That tune sets the stage for the two closers, one of which is a winner. That winner is Things Ain’t Cool Anymore with its COOL one-drop. The tune doesn’t break any type of new ground or anything but to me I just like to hear Julian doing something more ‘normal’. I can name you about fifteen or so artists who could have sang Things Ain’t Cool Anymore and it would have sounded right in place for them and that’s a GOOD thing in this case. Closing Awake out is an OKAY thing in the acoustically vibed Trying. The tune is the very definition of AVERAGE. Absolutely nothing special going on here for the most part (except Marcia of course) but the music is pretty nice and will definitely make you feel good on the way out. At least he sends us off smiling, can’t ask for more.
Overall, I always make a concession when I review albums from artists that I REALLY like that my opinion may very well be skewered as I am so overwhelmingly partial to that artist and in this case I feel like doing just the opposite. Awake may very well be a GREAT album but, as I said I kind have a difficult time digesting Julian Marley’s vibes and although this one definitely comes through better than A Time & Place, it still doesn’t come through like a ton of other albums from other artists that I’ll be listening to whether I like them or not, at least I OVERSTAND them. What I will say to his credit, however, is that Julian Marley today is a lot better skill wise than he was even six years ago for A Time & Place. But in the end while this album is guaranteed to impress his loyal fans, will it awake the senses of others? I don’t think so but don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself.
Of all the sons of the King of Reggae Music, Bob Marley, who is your favourite?
-Historically speaking it seems as if the most likely answer to that question would be Grammy winning singer Ziggy, who is probably still the most popular and through recent years has seen his popularity in urban areas grow more and more. The former leader of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers continues to be one of the most well known Reggae acts on the planet.
-Ky-Mani? Probably best known for his thespian pursuits rather than his work in the studio, the musically GIFTED Ky-Mani Marley has remained a present figure most recently due to his 2007 release Radio which so many people enjoyed as well. Not bad for an actor!
-Maybe you favour the man behind the scenes, Stephen Marley. It’s very interesting that as soon as Stephen steps from behind the scenes (a role which earned him production Grammys for work with his family including Ziggy and the next individual on this list) his reward is yet another Grammy as the madness which was Mind Control earned him the honours in 2007 and apparently we liked it so much that he gave it to us again in 2008, this time in an acoustic stylee.
- If you follow modern Reggae or Dancehall apart from the Marleys then your favourite might be Jr. Gong, Damian Marley who has easily been the one pack whose style has most closely resembled that of his Jamaican based non-Marley peers. The two time Grammy winner recently announced plans to do a full album with legendary hip-hopper Nas setting his sights, perhaps, on even bigger audiences worldwide.
No?
None of them?
Well whose left?
Oh maybe it’s the other one! What’s his name? JULIAN!
With credits like MULTIPLE TIME GRAMMY WINNER adorning almost all of your brothers (and even Ky-Mani was nominated for one and never mention the awards he’s received for his acting work) it’s easy to see how Julian, aka JuJu, might get somewhat lost in the shuffle. He also has the distinction, amongst his musical brothers, of being the only one born across the pond and just has remained, seemingly, on a much lower profile.
BUT! You might not know that Julian, with his coming release, will have just as many solo albums as both Damian and Ziggy (with Ziggy’s own forthcoming release). His previous two albums, Lion In The Morning (1996) and Time & Place (2003) have been largely well received and earned ‘JuJu’ some of the most oddly dedicated of fans. My experience with Julian Marley fans (reminiscent of fans of singer Daweh Congo) is that they will fully and unconditionally proclaim him one of the BEST and thus, most ‘slept on’ and underrated in the game.
Well if you’ve been sleeping on Julian Marley, meet your opportunity to stop. Awake.
His brand new album from Universal Republic. The album, produced by Julian and his brothers Damian and Stephen is set to be released on May 26th and may just prove to be one of the sleepers of the year. The album features combinations with brothers Stephen and Damian as well as a combination with longtime Marleys spar Mr. Cheeks.
Check the KNOCKING first single, herbalist tune Boom Draw.
