For Those Of Us: A review of Medhane Alem by Mikey General

Shine. Maybe even in a 'perfect' world, this wonderful music that we cover wouldn't receive the absolute highest level of attention that the artform has to offer. Perhaps it would still, in some respects, be regarded as regional or niche to some degree and in spite of its immense progression and that's just fine. You love it. I do too and it isn't going anywhere. With that being said, however, there do exist certain individuals in and around the music that I do so badly wish would get more in the way of consideration and observation even amongst more traditional Reggae fans. Here is typically where I would start listing a long line of overdeserving names before drawing a comparison to my prime star in this instance but, this time, I just have one on my mind (well two but... one is a comparison from the other side); Queen Omega. I don't think, strictly based on skill alone, that Reggae music should offer a level of spotlight that Queen Omega should not have CONSTANT access to. She should LIVE amongst the likes of Sizzla, Capleton, Buju Banton (thinking of an older generation, of course, closer to her own) and also Luciano because that is where her talent places her, in my opinion. It should also be said that she makes a brand of music that is very transferable so while I may have similar thoughts of someone like.... Dezarie; if a more casual listener to the genre tells me that they struggle to get into Dezarie's music, I'll understand. Of course I stress Luciano's name (he's my "comparison from the other side") because of the very close relationship he has with the venerable Mikey General. It takes more than talent alone, CLEARLY, and maybe there's a bit of luck involved but it almost bothers me that I have a very difficult time writing a review for a Mikey General album without mentioning Luciano's name but would have absolutely no problem at all writing a Luciano review without bringing up the General (even beyond my typical LOVE of comparisons) even once. One of the biggest points of discourse (arguably THE biggest, actually), for most fans, will likely always be his connection with The Messenjah. That's really too bad because if you do take the time to really get into Mikey General's work and all that he has done throughout the years, you quickly come to know that he has created a very strong legacy of his own. 

I've found Mikey General's music to be pretty straightforward for the most part and though I don't consider that to be a bad thing (obviously), perhaps it hasn't endeared him to the widest of audiences. In fact, across the many years that I've been writing these things and 'covering' the music, in general, I don't... I don't think I've EVER come across a truly passionate fan of Mikey General's. That is insane because I can tell you about having conversations with extremely intense people about the likes of Tiwony and Sael despite the fact that they have very little clue as to what either says in their music due to there being a language barrier. I've also ran into similarly loyal fans of the likes of Lyricson, Jah Hem, Mada Nile, Prince Malachi and others who don't necessarily leap out at you from that list of tags on the other side of this page but I don't think that's been the case for Mikey General... which definitely makes it all the more important that I tell you about what he's been up to lately. 

2022

Back in 2022, Mikey General released his until now most recent body of work, "Hold A Heights". I definitely enjoyed that album at the time and right now, having not heard it in quite some time, IT IS EXCELLENT. It has aged incredibly well and should probably be regarded as one of the best albums the General has done altogether at this point. Most DELIGHTFULLY, recent years have seen the singer be very consistent in his activity and, along with "Hold A Heights", he's also done the albums "Tewahedo" and "We The People" within the last eight years. Three albums in eight years is just fine by my count but FOUR albums in eight is even better and Mikey General now hits that mark with his brand new album for 2026, "Medhane Alem". I'll tell you, I do consider myself to be at least somewhat diligent when it comes to searching for new and up and coming releases and I had no idea whatsoever that this set was in the offering and only ran into it after it had already released. That's fine (it's greater later) but I do wonder how much early publicity was out ahead of it because I can recall there being just a bit more (many ANY. ANY would be more than none) in the case of "Hold A Heights". With a musical history dating back to nearly half a century now, as you might imagine, the British born General has recorded with an endless number of producers and released albums via several as well. In recent times, he's also continued to spread the wealth, with the aforementioned "Hold A Heights" being done in association with Reality Shock, while "Tewahedo" came via our good friend James "Dr. Seuss" Lord & co. at Irie Sounds International. That trend persists on "Medhane Alem" with the work of a variety of different producers and studios being represented with Mikey General, himself, also taking lead in production, along with young Yared Taylor (the General was born Michael Taylor and I do not believe that he is a relative of Yared's, although I could be wrong). Like much of his work, however, "Medhane Alem" is umbrella-ed beneath General's own Qabalah First Music and comes to us, digitally, via our ooooold friends at Zojak Worldwide. The last review I wrote (like three days ago now) was for Akae Beka's new album, "World Tap In", and I stressed in that case how exciting such a release was for me not only to sit and listen to but to be able to review as well and this case may be different in the routing, the end result is the same: I was REALLY looking forward to hearing what "Medhane Alem" had to offer and what does end up happening here, to the surprise of absolutely no one at all, is yet another solid release from a singer whose history says that he is nearly incapable of doing anything else.

"Medhane Alem" translates into "Saviour Of The World", signaling that you will find no great deviation or change of pace from Mikey General here. If you've become a fan of his via what he's done up to this point, it is very likely that you will like this one as well. As I've mentioned in the past (and much like Akae Beka, coincidentally), I've become more and more of a fan of General's as I've gotten older and it's gotten to the point where, as you can see, I'll happily drop whatever I'm working on at the time to get to work on a review of whatever he's up to (Signatures: Destra coming soon). As I started to get into the actual songs on the album, I would come to see that I had some type of familiarity with a couple of them but, for the most part, "Medhane Alem" is an album of twelve new and fresh songs from Mikey General for me, BOOM! Matters get started with what is easily one of the biggest moments here, 'Solace'. A couple of very interesting things happened on my way through this one: First of all is that I kind of recognized it... well, maybe not exactly. Research shows that it was released as a single in January but I'd never heard it; instead, I had heard a tune by the name of 'Time Is The Master' by Deshanty Plus, which shares a riddim with 'Solace' and both come via Marlon Muzic.The other interesting thing that caught me here was that, while listening to it just casually, in a curious way and not at all frustratingly so, I found myself wondering if it were ever going to end. The song checks in at a very healthy five minutes in length (making it the album's second longest) and they make the best of every single second. 'Solace' is delightful! It is such a lovely vibe to hear within a rather clever praise and I may come back and change my mind but, at least for now, I'm calling it my favourite song on "Medhane Alem" altogether and I would imagine that it would be a fine tune to see him perform some day as well. It has THAT type of energy, down to the very last note. 'Road Of Life' doesn't miss a beat, literally. If 'Solace' had you bobbing your head; it will continue right along here. You SIMPLY cannot get more SIMPLE than 'Road Of Life'. It is very straightforward and direct in dealing with negativity. What I took from it was the General telling us all to STOP WHINING AND COMPLAINING SO DAMN MUCH (he wouldn't say it like that, of course) and to stop looking for things that bother you and stress you out ["cause this world ain't so bad as how they make it how to be"]. Our title track stands up next and if you were expecting something super spiritually charged, you would be correct (I don't want to talk about what you are if you were thinking this would be something else).

"I come to tell you about the saviour

One who can change your behaviour

Our strength and redeemer

Maker of our souls

And if you should hear His voice, harden not your heart

Repent, repent, repent and serve the lord

Medhane Alem

That's your only friend

Medhane Alem

I tell you once again"

If you find yourself struggling and you're down on your luck, the General is offering you a way out and a way UP. 'Medhane Alem' is a sublime track with an equally top notch riddim. Speaking of riddims - 'Prayer' almost sounds like it taps a streamlined cut of the Queen of The Minstrel Riddim (which I knew immediately because as soon as it comes in, I start singing Sizzla's 'Guide Over Us' in my head). It also is a song that can lay claim to being one of the best vocal performances on "Medhane Alem" and the General uses those vocals to delivery something very strong, in my opinion. It's okay to make mistakes and do wrong and do bad things (if you don't, you aren't trying hard enough. Failure is as much a part of life as oxygen) but, again, when you find too many things going wrong and not in your favour, perhaps there exist a way for you to positively turn things around. I LOVE songs like this where every thing isn't perfect and rosy and ideal. To paint that picture for people is unreal and unnatural and just awful. Even when you do what exactly what you're supposed to do, sometimes you will make a mistake and it is not the end of the world despite how it may feel at the time. 

I alluded to the length of 'Solace' and there being one song that is even longer and that piece is the nearly six and a half minute long 'Never Alone'. It does have some things going for it (lyrics and Mikey General probably maxing out his BEAUTIFUL voice once or twice) but I don't like this song. I've never been one for Gospel and 'Never Alone' is either pure Gospel or close enough to it to send me away and that's just fine. I also wasn't fond of 'Rose Anne' (nothing personal to anyone reading this who may be named Roseanne) initially but it has grown on me just a little. Going on another classic track, Mikey General tells the story of a woman with eyes for really bad people and things ["I'm so sorry for you, Rose Anne. Cah you no chat to no man who nah fire dem gun"]. At first, I think it may've hit me as this kind of stale and formulaic type of vibe but I was wrong about this one in the short and long terms. It's much better than I gave it at first and it is STILL growing on me while I'm writing this right now (to the point where I now have to go and change the transition to the next song). 'Pay The Man', on the other hand, is experiencing no such growth because I was convinced that I was goin to enjoy it even before I laid my ears on it. 

"Look how hard the bredrin ah work

Sweat til him wet in him pants and him shirt

And still you want to dish him dirt

Don't want to give what him worth

Well he's the professional

You want to treat him like a criminal

TAKE THE  CAPITAL AND THE PRINCIPAL  AND LEAVE HIM WITH THE MINIMAL!"

Give a man his due! Whether it's money or credit or love or whatever it may be - GIVE IT TO HIM! This is extremely basic yet HIGH LEVEL common sense at work and you so rarely hear it in a song. You'll hear about oppression and negativity mainly but I was really impressed how the General specified it but, in doing so, the idea remains very broad and slightly open to interpretation and relatable because I think we've all either been in that situation where we've felt undervalued (and we're also all probably guilty of making someone else feel like that). The painfully short 'Pain' may not do a great deal in KEEPING your attention for too long -- being the only song on "Medhane Alem" south of three minutes in length -- but it does a decent job in its brief time. This song is just about the terrible way we sometimes treat one another and fail to show sympathy and empathy for other people, and maybe even going as far as to take advantage of them. The song is just fine but, in unfortunate reference to its size, 'Pain' just.... sort of stops. It ends rather abruptly and does so at a time when whoever is playing the guitar on the riddim is making their case. A big credit goes to that individual and everyone playing on that lovely riddim.

The other song featured on "Medhane Alem" that I was familiar with (without realizing it) is 'Breath Of Life'. Earlier this year, Mikey General released a tune with Dutch Alison Hinds doppelganger, Miriam Simone, which I had heard but I had forgotten the title and, of course, whoever put together the tracklist for this album neglected to give Simone a direct credit (you will find her name in the liners but not on the song title) so I had never even considered that this was that tune. Thankfully it is and the critique I may've had about there not being something of a changeup present on "Medhane Alem" is thrown right away. This is a song about giving thanks for the sake of giving thanks. Whatever you have or whatever you don't - you have LIFE and, for that, you should give some level of thanks. With that being said, HOWEVER, overwhelming and outpacing the message of 'Breath Of Life' is how DAMN SWEET it is. This very nice oldschool riddim comes via Dreddarecords (biggup Joggo) and it SHINES! With or without vocals, that things glistens and brings such a golden sound to one of the album's finest offerings. I remember seeing it and thinking/hoping it would mean that an album from Simone was forthcoming. Who knows, maybe we can get albums from Mikey General AND Miriam Simone in 2026.... wouldn't that be SO nice! More life is forthcoming on "Medhane Alem" in the form of the very healthy 'Life'. As another selection bubbling around the five-minute mark, 'Life' goes in quite a few different directions with the centralizing theme being the experiences that we all go through and accumulate in life and how we need to at least try to make the most of it. The General gets to this point by referencing several things such as the importance of leaning on wisdom and listening to your elders and a variety of things. The sonic appeal on 'life' isn't quite as high as some of the other tunes here but it's still a very nice vibes and a well poignant track. The all sorts of fun 'Humble Calf' begins to wind us down and does so in an unforgettable way. As soon as this one comes in, the intensity turns up, you probably get a smile on your face and you definitely feel like a good time is on its way and you would be correct in that. The song is about overlooking and underestimating people that you meet along your way, outwardly, and I imagine that Mikey General, personally, would have encountered many people who treated him in such a way to becoming who he is. FORTUNATELY, it hasn't depressed him at all and what you get is this upful and vibrant piece and CONFIDENT offering, seemingly written by someone with the security of knowing that, should they feel the need to, they're more than capable of shutting up a naysayer or two. And the album reaches its end with another standout, the anti-procrastination and anti-nosey anthem, 'Handle Your Business'. 

"Jah bless the man with the diligent hand

Jah gonna help him execute his plan

Jah gonna take him to his destination, even though the journey might be long

I know it is crazy to feed someone who's lazy

You got two hands, two eyes, two feet and still nah look food fi eat

You better handle your business

And leave people business

Cause the best kinda business is to mind your own business"

The riddim sounds VERY familiar to me (almost sounds like an old Xterminator track and the General is a product of the great label) but I'm almost certain it's actually new to my ears. Whatever it's origins, it is outstanding and, just like the full song, one of the finest to be found on this release.

I do want to mention, quickly, a nice little quality about "Medhane Alem" and it is one that I find myself giving relatively frequently - and I do love when I come across it. I'll spare you the numbers but, my (probably inaccurate) calculations say that the album averages a chunk over four minutes per song. VERY NICE. Particularly in Roots music where you tend to have more instrumentation like this, it gives your sound more time to grow on the listener and you get displays such as what you hear on 'Solace', especially.

Overall, if you are the slightest bit of familiar with the work of Mikey General then I can assure you that "Medhane Alem" is more of what precisely what you are familiar with and that's a good thing from where I'm sitting (in the kitchen). I directed this review in a certain direction, talking about the General not being as appreciated as I'd like to see him be or as much as others around him but that isn't going anywhere. I can't do anything about it with this review and, one would think, if were going to happen, it already would have for the 62 year old singer. HOWEVER, what I can do is to assure the people who're listening and have been for years that the new album is more of what made a fan out of you, originally. While I won't call it his absolute best work, "Medhane Alem" is another clear winner from an artist in Mikey General who, although he'll likely never be THE most popular, has spent his career REWARDING everyone who has taken a moment to listen to his wonderful work. 

Rated 4.10/5

Qabalah First Music

2026

Smile Awhile With Irie Sounds International!

Okay so, it's definitely been a minute since the last time we caught up with our old friend James "Dr. Seuss" Lord and company at Irie Sounds International (a quick search on these pages says it been.... almost seven years since last we mentioned one of their projects) (the excellent Palestine Riddim which you should check out) and catching up with old friends is usually a good thing, especially when it sounds like this. The label fortunately did not take the same hiatus that we did over the past few years and has been hard at work. I was pleasantly surprised to see to their co-credit was a tune from last year  that I really enjoyed but had no idea that ISI had a part of creating, 'Stand Up', which was Bushman's take on the pandemic. I have subsequently discovered that the tune was part of the Picking Up The Pieces Riddim which features other fine tunes by Ras Attitude, Chezidek and others (like Binghi Ghost, whose 'Win the Race' is very nice and that riddim was BEAUTIFUL) and they also did the Glory Riddim, carrying lovely tracks from Lutan Fyah, Alaine and someone I'm about to tell you about today as well ["Glory to Jah in the highest! His Imperial Highness!"]. I was surprised to hear that James had packed up and actually moved to Ethiopia as of last year (how cool is that?!), but not at all shocked to hear that he was still hard at work and he told me to check out his latest release, the fittingly named, Smile Awhile Riddim. The track features a pair of selections from a couple of our favourites and if you aren't doing anything else at the moment, I'd like to tell you about them. 

'Life Is So Amazing' by Perfect Giddimani

When I first heard 'Life Is So Amazing' one of the first things that went through my mind was just how well ISI had done in choosing a name for this riddim. The "SMILE AWHILE" fits it perfectly. It is just so.... damn EASY. It is serene and everything seems to go so nicely into its proper order and space. For his part, Perfect makes the most of Smile Awhile with 'Life Is So Amazing', taking advantage of this SWEET simplicity in praise of His Imperial Majesty. 

"Life is so amazing

Give praises to the King of all Kings"

If you are at all familiar with Perfect's work, you know just how unpredictable he can be at times (and I mean that in a good way), but though he does apply just a little pressure at times on 'Life Is So Amazing', he keeps it largely level headed and, in doing so, delivers a gem.

'And Ethiopia' by Mikey General

Though I have no actual confirmation of such a background to this tune, I'd like to think that, upon learning what Irie Sounds had been up to (and WHERE they'd been doing), that it inspired Mikey General to bless us with 'And Ethiopia' which comes through as both a general praise of The Almighty as well a GORGEOUS tribute to Ethiopia, itself.

"Let me tell you bout the land where I love to be

Where I feel so happy and I feel so free

The land of His Imperial Majesty"

The General goes both historical and current in the tune which also touches themes such as unity and even the geography of the country as he paints a portrait so nice that the Ministry of Tourism of Ethiopia may want to think about doing something with this tune. 

I'm presuming that this is just the beginning for the Smile Awhile Riddim and if it is (or even if this is all we're getting) our first taste of it has been delicious. Perfect Giddimani's 'Life Is So Amazing' and 'And Ethiopia' from Mikey General are both available now via Irie Sounds International. 

IT LIVES: A review of XTM Nation Presents Fatis Tapes In The Oven Vol. 3

Heritage. I'd like to think that it is the case for almost everyone who takes pride in doing almost anything that you'd like to be able to say that whatever it was that you've done, you have managed to make some type of lasting impression. Even if your "whatever" is working some random, dead-end job; you'd probably take at least a little gratification in knowing that, when you left and moved up in the world, your poor replacement/s had to go through a month or two hearing about how large the shoes were that they had to fill. Even for me, I do have to admit that at the beginning of our hiatus, it was nice to see people on the page and sending us messages saying that they missed us and needed us to come back because it makes me feel that when the day does come that we end things around here, as I have said in the past, all of this work that we have done can be useful to someone somewhere. It's a nice thing to think about. When we talk about musicians and artists, it is exactly what I just said but magnified maybe millions of times over. Can you imagine making a song that has touched people to a degree that, as long as there're people on the planet to sing it, someone somewhere will be singing that song and telling others just how great it is?? Can you imagine how good that must make someone, particularly in the winter of their lives, seeing clear evidence of the successes of their life's work. On the largest scale as far as what we do, I wonder if Bob Marley had any idea of just how big the legacy he had created was before the end of his life. I wonder if he knew that he had provided the necessary framework to send the greatest musical artform the world has ever known into international prominence and, quite literally, make himself one of the most popular and beloved individuals to have EVER lived. He probably had no idea and that's too bad. I often wonder about (and talk about on these pages) our current artists today. Some of them have an entire career worth of music that will never be forgotten, while others have singles here and there for which they will likely forever be known and others still may have come to [and remained in] be beloved for various reasons (such as an unsual skill for example) (biggup Vaughn Benjamin). As we progress, it will be most interesting to see how history begins to treat many of them.

Of course something that helps to build a legacy and notoriety which lasts beyond you is when you have someone directly continuing to display your work to the masses. When the generation after you and the generation after that knows who you are and has some type of grasp on what you did in your own era -- and then has a reverence for the work -- you may have something very special and may be in the process of 'building' a reputation which will last as long as humankind does. Let us take, for example, the case of my absolute favourite producer and favourite label of all time, Philip 'Fatis' Burrell and the notorious Xterminator Productions. There is first the direct method of remembering the work of Burrell and Xterminator: The label would be very instrumental in the careers of bona fide Reggae legends Sizzla Kalonji, Luciano, Beres Hammond and Cocoa Tea, and it would also see to stardom a variety of especially gifted vocalists such as [but not limited to] Turbulence, Mikey General, Prince Malachi and Chezidek. The work done in the case of all of these wonderful artists, and others, will find its way onto the tongues and lips of someone, somewhere in the world FOREVER. In those instances, however (as is the case right now - and for pretty much everyone) (trust me. I know), you may be unlikely to know the source of the material that you're singing, outside of the artists (and, then again, maybe not). The actual work of making sure that people remember the XTERMINATOR name directly is most vividly being done in another way.

2018 & 2019

I don't know if Xterminator is still at work today in any form. I doubt it as Philip Burrell transitioned just about eleven years ago. What I do know is that what I have to come to expect from the label in terms of actual releases over the last few years or so has been in the hands of one XTM.Nation. Ran by Fatis' son, Kareem Burrell, XTM.Nation (a BEAUTIFUL name) has done a wonderful job of not only existing as its own brand and imprint, but also of being something of an evolving musical museum of sorts for the works of Xterminator (and further research reveals that XTM Nation is Xterminator. They are one and the same). One of the ways they have accomplished the latter is through releasing albums full of some of the, perhaps, lesser known bits of Xterminator via a most interesting series by the name of "XTM Nation Presents: Fatis Tapes In The Oven". The first installment of the series would arrive almost five years ago now in early 2018, featuring top notch sets from the aforementioned likes of Turbulence and Chezidek in particular, as well as others such as Nadine Sutherland. The very next year the second release in the series would arrive and, though a third smaller than its predecessor, the album will still carry compelling tracks from Lutan Fyah, Ras Shiloh ["There's no reason for this life of war. What the hell is it that you're fighting for?"] and even Jr. Demus. Though it's now taken nearly four years, we're getting the third piece as "XTM Nation Presents: Fatis Tapes In The Oven Vol. 3" has now arrived. There're definitely children of former greats in Reggae music who are, in one way or another, doing their part in keeping alive of the respective memories of their parents. Someone who definitely comes to mind is the great Addis Pablo (new album, "Melodies From The House Of Levi", out now), who is continuing, DIRECTLY the life's work of his legendary father, Augustus Pablo, by utilizing the same obscure instrument [the melodica] to demonstrate a master class of Reggae music. This method here, however, seems even more direct and, again, as someone who was greatly impacted by the music of Xterminator at their peak and still to this day, I am SO happy that much of this work is put together in this type of package for the masses and, particularly, for some of the younger listeners. Old heads, like You and I, will also enjoy and not only for nostalgia. One would presume that the younger Burrell and XTM Nation would have an unrivaled level of access to Xterminator's vault (like ALL ot it, basically) and because of that you'll encounter tunes which are incredibly obscure and others which are totally unreleased altogether. Regardless of who you are, you are almost assured to find some level of interest in this project and all of that is just on paper.... wait until you actually listen to it!

Along with being my favourite label ever, Xterminator has always been an interesting point of discussion for me, in general. Not long ago at all -- without even knowing that this release was in the offering -- we cracked open the vault and, most randomly, took a look at "The World Shall See", a more than respectable compilation of the imprint's music now more than a couple of decades old! Add to that all of the years of Sizzla, Luciano, Turbulence and Luciano albums that we've done and, CLEARLY, it's something that I look forward to writing about and biggup XTM Nation for the FRESH opportunity once again (was SO excited to dig into this one). Coming through at an hour spread across fifteen tracks (meaning a very healthy four minute average), "XTM Nation Presents: Fatis Tapes In The Oven Vol. 3" (which I will now begin referring to as "Vol. 3") begins with a song that I've never heard before courtesy of the esteemed Ini Kamoze, 'They Don't Know'. Just a few weeks ago, Kamoze released a remastered version of an older single, 'Hardware', on XTM Nation and his most recent album, 2016's "Trampling Down Babylon" was another project with Xterminator/XTM Nation. Most notably, the union also produced the massive hit, 'Hot Stepper', as well; so, whether you realize it or not, the Ini Kamoze - Xterminator connection is one which definitely reaches back quite a ways. This tune is a LOVELY one which I took to be about the mistakes you make in underestimating people and overestimating yourself - thinking that you're smarter or just full on BETTER than anyone else. Kamoze has always had a very interesting style for me. It's at times both monotonous and highly melodic and though I rarely speak about his work, I well respect his talents and it's because of pieces just like 'They Don't Know'. Next up is one of the main attractions for me (and probably for everyone), as my favourite artist OF ALL TIME, of course, makes an appearance as Sizzla Kalonji spellbinds on 'What I See'.

"What I see is harmony-

Taking hold of everyone's hand

As for me, let it be

Stop the war, it's been much too long 

Look what they live fi si -

LOVE, within the neighbourhoods

Gratefulness happening as it should

In time passed by, even I myself would-

Wonder who would step forth and show me any good

BUT IT IS THERE

I see it all now

Love in the air, no war is allowed

Everyone been caring

Only love outpouring

We should all know to grow all di seed weh wi sew"

This track, BRIMMING with positivity actually reminds me a bit of another older tune from Kalonji, also produced by Xterminator by the name of 'Love Amongst Me Brethren ["To Sizzla, that heaven. None of us can run from the truth"], for some reason. They resemble one another FAINTLY at best but both were sensational on a very direct and basic type of vibes. You won't be shocked to find out that, albeit by the slimmest of margins, 'What I See' is my favourite song on the whole of "Vol. 3", but I think I may be a bit biased. Up next is the legendary 'Messenjah', Luciano who makes his contribution in a big way (also quite simple, but that is the norm in his case) on 'Youthman'. You know precisely what this one is about simply based on its title but don't make the mistake of letting its predictability cloud your judgment in respects to its quality: 'Youthman' is EXCELLENT as the dominant singing voice in modern Roots Reggae gives a MASSIVE pep talk to the youths of the day. This song has some very difficult to describe FEEL about it.... or something  that is quite special to my ears. I'm struggling mightily (and am about to give up trying) to find the right word but there is some... CRISPNESS to 'Youthman' which definitely heightens it for me and if I'm the only one who feels that way, it won't be the first time. The big voiced Jack Radics asks 'Where Do The Children Play' which, at least for me, is VERY clever. What I got from the direction on this one is the idea that the world has gotten SO ridiculously complicated and people have become involved in so many different things that we have never throughout history that we have managed to lose focus on some VERY basic aspects of traditional everyday life and Jack Radics is STUCK on it  ["We've come a long way. We changing day-to-day. Tell me, where do the children play?"]. He's wondering what the hell is going on and, unfortunately, he may be in very select company. 'Where Do The Children Play' is fantastic if you give it the opportunity. Wrapping up our first third of selections on "Vol. 3" is Reggae royalty, Marcia Griffiths, with the delightful 'Cry To Me'. If this one does NOT get your head bobbing and something moving in you then you may want to consider seeking immediate medical attention. 'Cry To Me' isn't going to change lives (obviously, it's almost thirty years old), but it is a JOY to listen to and, of course, any time you can attach Griffiths' name to virtually anything, it's only going to improve it.

Perhaps by design or perhaps by coincidence, but the next lot of artists on "Vol. 3" features five extremely esteemed vocalists, two of which were fairly consistent in terms of the work they did with Xterminator and three others who were a bit more surprising, at least for me. The biggest of them all provides a tune which I'm almost certain that I've never heard before as the truly timeless Beres Hammond brings 'Never Again' and says it to, arguably, the second finest tune on the album. There's just something about this man singing a song where he pushes his vocals -- even just a little that just you. It's almost unsettling and I mean that in a good way. As to the actual tune, 'Never Again' doesn't fall out of the scope of what you've come to expect from Hammond throughout the years in terms of either direction or quality and, again, it is exemplary from someone who has made an entire career (and then some) out of being exemplary and does so, here, in the nature of learning from one's experiences. Cocoa Tea is an artist whose career has been very closely associated with Xterminator and while no one will be surprised to see him appearing on "Vol. 3", we should be pleased with the results in 'Each Man Take Over'. Cocoa Tea's style has always been fairly simple and straight forward for the most part (even when at his best) (particularly when at his best, actually), but this one is a slight deviation in my opinion. 'Each Man Take Over', won't confound anyone lyrically (hope it doesn't) but it is a set about how, anywhere you go in the world things change. Everyone from everywhere sets the rules and laws (whether actual or.... territorial) for everywhere you go. Wayne Wonder did not voice a lot of songs for Burrell that I know of but he clearly made the most of what he did as evidenced by the very COOL 'The Way I Am'. I barely even know how to describe this almost R&B-ish piece outside of "very cool". The vibes are so nice and relaxed that I wouldn't at all be surprised if Wonder heard the riddim and just came up with the song on the spot. It isn't amongst the class of this album, but you let this song play and play and it'll probably show itself to be better than you originally thought. The generally underrated Spanner Banner does go just a bit higher with his solid lover's tune, 'I'm Crying'. I've never really been much of a fan of Spanner's, but he is someone whose talents I do appreciate (and I can say the same of his brother, Richie Spice, whom he often resembles vocally)and have appreciated throughout the years. I've never heard this particular song and while it isn't great to any degree, if you needed more a direct love song for this compilation, you have it here. Outside of 'Never Again' the second best tune you'll find in the middle portion of "Vol. 3" is definitely 'Know What Is Life' by the always welcome Pinchers. While I have rarely ever written about the work of Pinchers, I have been a fan of the curious voiced singer and, here, somewhat like Hammond, he delivers a golden offering largely about experience. In this particular case, Pinchers make a direct correlation between POSITIVITY and life experience and how crucial it is to not only look after one another, but to accept help when you need it (and ADVICE). 'Know What Is Life' is very impressive, although somewhat oddly vibed (I told you what you'll do with your head on 'Cry To Me', I'm thinking this one may just have you neck confused) - we'll overlook that.

Impressive singers continue to appear throughout the balance of "Vol. 3" as its final trio of selections come via big time crooners. As far as Xtermintor goes, in particular, none of them are bigger than the tones behind 'We Tired A It': Mikey General (big new album, "Hold A Heights", you should check it out). Again, I'm going to have to confess my potential bias in this instance because I LOVE Mikey General and 'We Tired A It' is a big, big winner her to my ears. The track finds the General outlining frustration of having endured centuries and generations of oppression.

"They gave us emancipation, but they took away our rights

Through some education, they demoralize our lives

Give worldly possesions only to a few

And use it as a barrier against the multitude"

This one comes in with quite a bit of lyrical HEFT as the singer does pay attention to get as detailed as he possibly can in several instances, which is a nice thing. It succeeds in its specificity which isn't something you're always going to say about Mikey General's music, but let this be an exception and an impressive one. The great Sugar Minott says that "you can kill 'The Goose' who laid the golden egg" on a tune that I'm well familiar with prior to "Vol. 3" (I cannot confidently say that I knew it was from Xterminator though. I'm actually inclined to say that I did not know that). I've always taken this song as an expression of both the level that Minott was pleased to have reached during his career and as a statement of the responsibility which he felt came with it. He was one of the biggest 'big men' of his era (of any era) and, thus, it came with the obligation of setting a good example and being a good role model for all of the youths and elders aspiring to be where he was. Sugar Minott embraced that and I think that 'The Goose' was his 'invitation' for others at his level and near it to do the same. The final tune on the album, 'We Give Thanks' from sugary sweet singing Al Campbell, is definitely not a favourite of mine, but I do not hate it. 'We Give Thanks' is just kind of here. It's harmless and pretty much anytime you get to hear a song sung by Al Campbell, it can't be too horrible, but the song doesn't do much at all for me. Following the middle of "Vol. 3" and given what was to come later on, it could have definitely used a bit more in the way of fire and if you need fire in Reggae music, you cannot possibly do better than in retaining the services of pyrotechnics MASTER, Capleton who well adds some bite with 'Clean Hands'. I've said it before and I will say it again here: You will often find yourself distracted when it comes to Capleton, given all of the FLAMES and dramatics that the man comes in with, but when you REALLY get into it, Capleton is a top ten lyricist in the HISTORY of Reggae music. He toys with the words at his best and you listen to what he does with this one - a scintillating display about bathing oneself (spiritually) and living up to your standards (or upping those standards if need be).

Another veteran of Xterminator, Jesse Jendau (aka Congo Jesse, Jesse Jender & Jesse Jendah), also provides this release with a little bit of chanter's heat with 'Where Can I Find' (which, for some reason to my ears, sounds like something you'd hear from Determine. You wanna talk about underrated lyricists.... don't even get me started on Determine. That man is a master) (probably my favourite Jesse Jendau tune was 'Ghetto Youths' with Sizzla and he had another named 'Fear No One' which was GIANT). 

"Where can I find

LORD

That peace of mind

WHOI

Lord, in this time of war and crime

You set up mi bredda fi be warmonga

All over this world, inna di ghetto era

Substance abuse, it gone pon top

Everywhere big .45 clock

WI NO DESIGN NO GUN, WI NO DESIGN NO CRACK

But war ah hit inna di Black man lap

You look inna di future and yuh bound fi si di trap

Oh lord, what a joy when Black man touch di top"

Jendau SHINES on the excellent social commentary, which finds him searching for a more basic and peaceful plane of existence; something which certainly isn't too much to ask for. "Vol. 3" would be less than it is sans 'Where Can I Find', well registering as one if its definitive highlights.

Overall, I don't want to make more of it than it is, "XTM Nation Presents: Fatis Tapes In The Oven Vol. 3" is just a damn solid compilation. That is true even if you take out the circumstances. Such a setting when observed, however, will make it more for people like myself (and probably yourself, if you're still reading this). This one comes in with all the nostalgia and musical ECHOES that you would hope from such a project and I really LOVE, again, how this music can be given and re-given to older fans as well introduced to newer heads at the same time. When XTM Nation does that, not only are you keeping the music of Xterminator alive DIRECTLY, but you're also very likely putting it in a position where someone who was never familiar with their work ends up doing what I did so many years ago and falls in love with what is EASILY one of the greatst musical legacies in all of Reggae music history. 

Rated: 4/5

XTM.Nation

2022

Digital

No Smoke & Mirrors: A review of Hold A Heights by Mikey General

Known. There is a saying that goes: The best ability is availability. I've always taken it to mean that if someone is needed to do something and you're the closest candidate in the area, then the job is yours. You can press it out further and specifically amd relate it to something like sports: If you have one supremely gifted player who is perpetually injured and another who is not as talented but always healthy, the latter is more valuable. If we were to apply the statement to music, perhaps it would be better to alter it just a bit (although availability is also good in music, someone who is always available to make bad music isn't the best thing in the world) to saying that the best ability is RELIABILITY. There is something tremendous to be said for someone who almost always is capable of doing what you expect from them, musically, in their new work that you've heard from them throughout their career. I think that, also, it is the personification of many of the pillaring aspects of Reggae and Roots Reggae, specifically, that we have these individuals for whom CONSISTENCY and DEPENDABILITY and DURABILITY are amongst their greatest features. Coincidentally, a strong case could definitely be made that, at least in the modern era, the model of consistency has been the great Luciano. With Luciano, you know what you're getting for the vast majority of times (and I say this on the heels of his most recent album "Return Of The Chronicles", which featured very strange updated (and downgraded for the most part) versions of some of his classics) (...no one is perfect) and he has established himself as THE dominant Roots Reggae singer of a couple of eras now, really. I'd also point to a few others like Beres Hammond, Lutan Fyah (guess what??? One of the Fyah's most recent releases, and EP from June called "These Are My Better Days", is pretty bad. Thankfully, however, he was quick to right that wrong with an EP released almost exactly a month later (and less than a week ago as of this writing), "Brilliant", which is very nice, as his norm), Protoje, Fantan Mojah and a pair of our personal favourites, Chezidek and Mark Wonder. What you get from them may or may not be spectacular, but they typically tend to exercise more in the way of 'quality-control' than most of their peers. It stands in a sharp contrast to someone like the star of the most recent review I wrote, Sizzla Kalonji ("Rise Up!", in stores now), from whom I am more likely  to expect the spectacular -- because he has demonstrated himself to be capable of it more often -- but, at the same time, I am not expecting to be ultra focused and 'on-point' every time out because, again, he has also shown himself to be more capable of drifting more often than the other names I've mentioned. Today we take a look at someone else who SURELY belongs on any list of Reggae music's most dependable stars (biggup Everton Blender as well) (and, although I've never been of a fan, Richie Spice) and one whose name would go right next to Luciano's for more than one reason is, of course, Mikey General. 

While I do have to admit that (and even if I didn't, you could probably figure it out on your own) I love the suspense that always comes with going into a new Sizzla album in wondering just how far from center he'll go this time, wondering if the producer of the latest Akae Beka album will decide to 'try something different' behind Vaughn Benjamin (as well as the inherent predictably unpredictable nature of his music) or if THIS is the album where Turbulence falls out of love with making love songs and returns to a dominant Roots Reggae form (Turbulence's most recent record, "The Remedy", is actually pretty good, you should check that out) (time FLIES, I'm sitting here thinking "The Remedy" came out back in February or March.... it's already a year old now) (WHAT THE HELL!); there most certainly does exist a certain level of COMFORT that comes with a new Mikey General album. The only real question, going in, is how good of a demonstration of what it is it will be, because I already know exactly what it is and so do You. I could even go a step further and suggest that, by looking at several of the titles on the album, I can probably guess what most of the songs are about and, if I really tried, I might even be able to come up with a lyric or two that he will say at some point. That's what Mikey General is and has been throughout his career and there is not a thing wrong with that. He makes a brand of extremely devoted and spiritual Roots Reggae music and, for what it may lack in the SPECTACULAR (although he has had his moments), he more than makes up in dependability. I do not have to hover over the controls with the General, I can push play and go and do whatever I like and be virtually assured that what I hear will be AT LEAST of a respectable quality and there aren't too many people who you can say that about (Ras Batch would be another really good and reliable artist). 

During our hiatus I actually really did miss writing about Mikey General's music so I was sure to take on one of his more recent releases when I got back to work in the form of his solid 2020 release, "We The People". Just a couple of years ahead of that was "Tewahedo" ["And you caan go to Zion with no corrupt heart. Clean up your words, clean up your thoughts"] which I will also have to review at some point (because it was excellent), so he's been fairly consistent in terms of releasing projects in recent times as well. Throughout his career, the UK born General has benefitted in working alongside some very talented producers and labels. He's done full albums for the likes of Xterminator (with whom he spent a great deal of his formative years), Dean Fraser, Black Scorpio, Dr. Seuss and Irie Sounds International and a few others as well. The constant fixture in many of his albums has been one Qabalah First Music, which is the label Mikey General has established and ran alongside his spiritual brother, the aforementioned Luciano. So when I noticed that he was planning on keeping up his recent release schedule of an album every couple of years and that album, "Hold A Heights" would be coming via Qabalah First, it came as no surprise at all (I'd expect his next album to do the same thing, actually. What was very fascinating, however, was when I saw who else was on board (and I'm not talking about our old friends at Zojak World Wide, who handle the digital end), the UK based Reality Shock Records. If you're at all familiar with their work, chances are that you probably the artist that first comes to mind when you think of RSR is Solo Banton. They've done a few albums with the UK based veteran - the most recent of which, 2019's "Old Ragamuffin", featured a tune by the name of 'Wickedness Trending', a combination with Mikey General (I've never been the biggest fan of Solo Banton's, but I give credit where it's due: "Old Ragamuffin" was a really good album, in retrospect) and that was not the first time Mikey General had crossed paths with Reality Shock and its head, one Kris Kemist, having previously done 'Mr. Sun' with the label, a single released back in 2015. Still, though I may be the only one on the planet who says such a thing, when I hear of Reality Shock Records, what first comes to my mind is a decade+ old and somewhat obscure album by the name of "Know Jah" from another veteran UK vocalist, Errol Bellot. Along with the fact that "Know Jah" actually contained a tune by the name of 'Reality Shock' ["Positivity attracts positivity! Negativity attracts negativity!"], IT WAS EXCELLENT! It was a grotesquely overlooked project at the turn of the decade and one which would probably make for a nice vault review if someone were inclined one day (and they just may be). Their work on that project has likely at least made it so whenever I see Reality Shock Records attached to something, I'm going to pay it a little attention. However, in teaming up with Mikey General fully like this, the label has more than done enough to get me completely engrossed in their work. If they can do well with this one, then you can call me a fan.

Welcome to A Fan's Reggae Blog. Thank you for reading! I can definitely say that, even apart from the vocals here (which, as we've already established, are exactly what you expect them to be), "Hold A Heights" is a STERLING display of music and a heavy credit goes to Kemist who did so much of the instrumentation for this record. Combine that with the fact that we quickly come to see that Mikey General is in a form even better than his normally high standards and what we have here just may be one of his finest releases to date. The title track gets us going and by the time the album reaches its end, about forty-two minutes later, it is still EASILY amongst the very best offerings you will find here. As you might be able to gather from both the title and the cover, 'Hold A Heights' is simply a piece about taking things easy and enjoying a necessary slower pace, away from the hyper-activity of every day life ["Hell ah pop down there, but I don't care"]. There're several people who I can think of being well equipped for doing a song like this (like Luciano), but Mikey General is literally PERFECT for conveying such a message and it comes BLARING through (in a subtle way, of course), placed in his hands. I wouldn't even begin to know how to measure such things as a 'hit' regarding a release like this one, but I would think the General and Reality Shock may have something special on their hands if they ever put a push behind this 'Hold A Heights'. I spoke of simplicity in regards to the first song and I'm going right back there for the second as the most charming chunks of 'Integrity', for me, are the moments where it is most streamlined and as basic as it can possibly be. 

"Doing the right thing when no one is watching -

That's integrity, yes that's integrity 

Doing the right thing, know that Jah is watching -

That's integrity

The charge of His Majesty

When you speech and your actions correspond

They will see you are guided by The Holy One

Just face the consequence

In present or past tense

Cause it no make no sense, to sit down on the fence"

YOU KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG, TRY TO DO RIGHT MORE THAN YOU DO WRONG.... That's it! That is exactly what I took from 'Integrity'. There isn't some big reward, you don't get a trophy or a round of applause for doing what you're supposed to be doing, but you do your part in making the world a better place and maintaining it thereafter. The beautiful simplicity of the early stages of "Hold A Heights" continues with 'Loyalty', where the General speaks about the power and value of finding individuals who TRULY have your best interests in mind. I have to say that despite being the third longest track on the album, checking in at a healthy four minutes and eighteen seconds, 'Loyalty' still seems quite short to my ears. I wanted to hear more of it! In its [not actual] brevity, however, the tune makes a heavy impact while, again, registering on a very basic level and I almost feel bad that we have to have songs like this, but they're necessary and we all need to do a better job of being better people and friends to our loved ones.

Two of the genuine highlights of "Hold A Heights", 'Revolution' & 'Look Within', also just happen to be the album's two combinations, featuring the No-Maddz and Yared, respectively. The latter is EASILY one of the  best songs on this entire release and should arrive at the conclusion that it is THE best - I'm fine with that. Yared's is a name that was completely new to me, I believe, and he (in a mumbling kind of way) makes a name for himself for me. I don't know how such a delivery (which is also 'intentionally-disconnected' to a degree and I mean that in a good way) would translate to being someone who I listen to CONSTANTLY (although Vaughn Benjamin is also a mumbler), but I'd be very interested in hearing more from Yared in the future (he actually almost sounds like KOFFEE at times). Mikey General serves his typically high standard piece, this one in particular looks at the PERSONAL relationship we have with The Almighty (and I say "The Almighty" and it doesn't have to be a spiritual/religious relationship, in my opinion, because everyone believes different things. Your version of "The Almighty" could be confidence, motivation, love or a variety of different things ["THE ANSWERS YOU SEEK FOR EVERY LITTLE THING STARTS WITHIN, SO LOOK WITHIN"] it can apply to anyone ). Also, I'm going to deal with this more near closing, but 'Look Within' SOUNDS EXQUISITE. The riddim here is probably the finest "Hold A Heights" has to offer and that is a GIANT deal in this instance; and as the longest tune on the album by some fourteen seconds, 'Look Within' feels like it. It is an all-encompassing GORGEOUS display of music. The delightfully old school vibed 'Revolution' brings in No-Maddz (or at least half of it), who I am familiar with, making for a very compelling sound alongside the General's. The No-Maddz background is general arts and poetry, specifically, and it shows in a dynamic offering here on this sizable call for change. 

"This is political

Di politician dem ah move too hypocritical

Mi did think Jamaica fi run democratical

Is like it autocratical

You feel di country woulda better if it theocratical

Dem waan fi execute di practical and dem no theoretical

Dem waan improve di government

And dem comment no logical 

AND IF YOU BORN INNA DI GHETTO POVERTY AUTOMATICAL"

....I mean... DAMN! Just "DAMN", that's all I have to say about that (I mean.... with all of that other stuff that I said before that). Both of the combinations here are outstanding and they're exactly what they should be. When you bring in guesting artists, they should bring a new element to the vibes and the full experience, without destroying the tone and that is precisely what No-Maddz and Yared contribute to "Hold A Heights" and I still haven't told you about the best tune!

My single favourite tune on "Hold A Heights" is...... probably.... okay, I'm going to pick the track that was my original favourite (even though I may've changed my mind), the MASSIVE 'Praise HIM'. I'm going to give this one an ever so slight head over the next selection I'm going to tell you about in a minute because of the unique sentiment behind; the other one is far more straight forward. On 'Praise Him', Mikey General says that despite a very long career dedicated to lifting the name of His Majesty, he STILL feels that he needs to do more! If anyone has fulfilled on that front, he would be one of them and if he is lacking there (and he brilliantly confesses that he believes that he is), then maybe the biggest sentiment behind 'Praise Him' is that we all need to praise HIM more. The later drop which gave me a cause to pause in declaring 'Praise HIM' the project's finest, 'Call Jah Name' is pretty flawless in its own right. If I sat down and started listing tunes that are similarly vibed to 'Call Jah Name' and I came up with two thousand of them, I wouldn't be shocked at all. It's not going to TELL you anything you've never heard and it isn't even going to tell you something that you have heard from a unique perspective. HOWEVER, with all of that being the case, 'Call Jah Name' STUNNING! It is such a beautiful body of work and just because you've heard it before it does not at all blunt the message the General brings to any degree. There is a point here, during the second chorus or so when things really pick up, where 'Call Jah Name' hits another sonic level in my opinion and it maintains that peak for the balance of things. They're interchangeable in terms of quality and between 'Praise HIM' and 'Call Jah Name', Mikey General delivers a bona fide master class of honouring HIM. Things continue on brightly with 'Can't Leave It Alone', the very clever obligatory ganja tune on "Hold A Heights", where the singer outlines a nearly lifelong relationship and fascination with the herb ["I've been smoking herbs from I was thirteen...."] ["dem gimme a draw and mi start to cough. Take another draw and mi start to laugh"]. He sings this one almost like he's talking about a loved one or an event that was precious to him and you fullness of how much he respects it and the role it has served in his life. A similarly vibed tune actually comes later in the form of 'Nah Stop Sing'. Where on 'Can't Leave It Alone' the General dealt with his love of ganja, 'Nah Stop Sing' finds him speaking on the link he has had with music during his life.

"Nah stop sing, mi ah praise The King

Nah stop sing, mi ah do mi thing

Nah stop sing, mi ah praise The King

It's my living

It's a blessing

Nah stop sing, mi ah praise The King

Nah stop sing, mi ah do mi thing

Nah stop sing, mi ah praise my King

Yes, I love what I'm doing 

Over forty years I've been doing Reggae music

I DIDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE IT

I WAS BORN TO DO IT

From school and church choir to Dancehall

AND THEN FARI CALLED, SO I LEFT IT ALL!"

I REALLY get the feeling that Mikey General woke up in a great mood the day when he voiced 'Nah Stop Sing'. It isn't overly emotional, but he just comes off as being in a really good mood and it's a grateful one when you listen to what he says. He's reflecting on all that he has accomplished in his career and the people that he's met along the way ["From Vikings to Coxsone; and Coxsone to Saxon; the people they would hear mi sing and say 'General gwan do ya thing!' "] and just how happy he is to have found music. Some people live their entire lives without REALLY finding something that interests them, Mikey General found his thing very early on in life and we're all better off because of it (it isn't too dissimilar to another recent record from the General called 'It Choose Me' ["I get my blessings through the music. It choose me is not me choose it!"].

I've come to relate 'Love' and 'Get It Off Your Chest' to one another because they both seem to get off to somewhat awkward beginnings before ascending into LOVELY compositions. The former almost sounds like it begins in the middle of the song. The riddim is already up and going and General is good and warmed up, sounding as if he's already put in a verse or two. When it does actually settle down a bit, 'Love' has an almost Jazz-like feel to it and, based on the sound, alone, I'm not surprised that it was chosen as a single for "Hold A Heights". It's also very basic and falls in line with the running line of simplicity and CLEAN themes echoed throughout. For its part, 'Get It Off Your Chest' also has a start sounding like it comes from later on in the tune. This one, however, quickly finds a more more laidback groove and ends up being an even stronger offering that the quite robust 'Love'. This is an excellent song really looking at COMMUNICATION and how healthy it is and how unhealthy it can be to have things on your mind which, for one reason or another, you keep to yourself. Doing that can be bad for your mood and make you act out in ways even you may not even know the cause of. It's just a bad practice to have and one which Mikey Generally, wonderfully, is doing his best to eradicate.

I've alluded to it a few times (and flat-out said it once) already, but I do have to stress just how finely produced "Hold A Heights" is. The instrumentation THROUGHOUT borders on spectacular and crosses over a few times as well. I could not help myself in the case of the album's closer, 'Look Within' (featuring a GOLDEN saxophone played by Ray Carless), but you have others such as 'Revolution', the pulsing 'Integrity', 'Call Jah Name', 'Nah Stop Sing' (also featuring the work of Carless on sax), 'Praise Him'..... the album only has eleven songs and I pretty much mentioned half of them there and the other half is very good also. Any of fan of modern Roots Reggae and most fans of the music in its old school form will be DELIGHTED by the sonic appeal of "Hold A Heights". I said how the song 'Loyalty' almost seems short; but there're others shorter which seem longer actually and are these very fulfilling moments. I also should mention veteran Bajan vocalist, Indra Rudder [bka Indra], who sings an outstanding complimentary backing vocal on almost every song on "Hold A Heights". She's also made songs for Reality Shock Record with a very recent effort, 'Shine On You', arguably being her very best. A major credit goes to Kris Kemist and all players of instruments for making "Hold A Heights" one of the best albums, MUSICALLY, in Reggae in 2022.... and it is not even a question!

Overall, I'm going to resist the temptation (for now) to try and place it in a direct ranking, but what I will say is that "Hold A Heights" IMMEDIATELY becomes on of the finest album releases of Mikey General's entire career. That's a very powerful and interesting thing to have happen at such a stage in his career, especially considering that there was no change. Any fan Mikey General has made with his work up until this point will hear this release and think it 'business as usual' for the singer, but, perhaps, better well done. I don't want to go too far, but maybe with Kris Kemist and Reality Shock Records, he has found something similar to what Mark Wonder found in Oneness Records: Just a producer with whom he has a SUPREME level of chemistry. Someday I'm sure Mikey General will make another album -- he may be working on one right now -- but I'm hopeful that someday his musical travels will lead him back to RSR because a sequel to "Hold A Heights" could be SPECIAL. Until the next time, whoever it may be with, Mikey General will continue to ply his trade and do so as simply one of the most dependable names in Reggae music. If you need GOOD, SOLID Roots Reggae music, he makes music for you. Need something even more than that? Check "Hold A Heights". Very well done. 

Rated: 4.45/5

Reality Shock Records & Qabalah First Music

2022

CD + Digital

On The Inside: A review of "We The People" by Mikey General

Committed. Sometimes I listen to people and, even if I enjoy what I hear, I may get the feeling that the particular artist is making music for the primary purpose of making money. There isn't a thing that is wrong with that. We all have bills that need to be paid and if you are good enough at something which is either positive or completely harmless, ultimately, by all means you sing that song and beat that drum as much as you want. The same would go with any other walk of life. If you wake up one day and you should happen to notice that... maybe you're like eight feet tall or something like that, there's nothing at all wrong with you finding some basketball team to (not really) play for. Sure it would be nice if you gave a genuine effort at times, but if you get by and make a great wage for a little while by sole virtue of the fact that you are a giant, don't worry too much, you aren't the first and you will not be the last. However, with that being said (and this should be a pretty good example), could you imagine what might become of you if you had the slightest bit of talent and MOTIVATION along with being eight feet tall? Well you might actually be something special. "Something special" would be a very good way to describe that artist who, along with making music that, for some reason or another, resonated with people (even if it is just gimmicky as hell), truly BELIEVED and LIVED by the ideas they sang about. Of course I'm specifically referring to the Roots side of things (as the idea crossed my mind that, if it occurred in the Dancehall, with names such as Bounty Killer, Mad Cobra, Vybz Kartel, Aidonia and a seemingly never-ending line of others, we'd have quite a few cases of bona fide mass murderers making music) (I'm talking Jason Vorhees deejaying) and on that end, we are lucky to have a few individuals who do seem to fit that description. Appropriately, a PRIME example would be someone like Luciano who is well fresh in my mind because I just dug my paws into his wonderful most recent release, "The Answer". You get the feeling that if Luciano were not as gifted musically as he is, that would he would be a great author of books, a teacher, a sculptor or a painter of some kind. He would spend his days happily and eagerly spreading the word of Rastafari. As he has demonstrated throughout his legendary career, it is IN HIS BONES. It is who he is and thankfully for us, we don't have to imagine what we'd do without his musical presence. And the same could be said for someone with whom Luciano has found musical, business and personal links and, definitely, has the same foundation of LIVING what he sings.

I also wouldn't think finding Mikey General would be very hard if he had not the slightest bit of musical talent. He'd find us. Be it through some other form of art or as an educator, the General would find some type of significant way to bring positivity to the world. He'd be an esteemed speaker or poet (biggup Mutabaruka) - he'd be making his contribution. And it is a feeling which -- again, most fortunately -- we are able to receive from enjoying his music. There was a very nice stretch, prior to our hiatus, when I could probably say that, as far as writing, I well looked forward to reviewing his music about as much as anyone. I'd dug up an old, hard to find set of General's by the name of "Spiritual Revolution" and did the same thing for "Red, Green & Gold", his STRONG Dean Fraser steered release from 2003. I looked for moments to write about what I heard from him, eagerly, as Mikey General's music is another 'gift' that has been given to me by aging. As I've said about others such as Vaughn Benjamin, what I may not have been capable of appreciating in his sound when I was younger (it was INVISIBLE!) has began to ignite as I've matured. In retrospect, what I think I was missing was hearing that COMMITMENT. It's a difficult trait to HEAR when you haven't been able to go through it, yourself. When you're really young, you simply have not had the TIME to have made that type of pledge to anything and go on to make good on it. So, when you gain some life-experience and you do began to do those things, you well appreciate it when you're able to sense it in someone else. He also has this beautiful sense of humility, which you would think is inherent given the type of music he makes, but it isn't necessarily. I rarely say this about people, even when I think it to be accurate: MIKEY GENERAL JUST SEEMS LIKE A REALLY NICE PERSON. 

2018

And although I have not written a review of a Mikey General album in almost eight years, making the point to somewhat routinely check in on what he's been doing lately is a habit I'm interested in reviving. During our break the British-born singer remained active on the album side of things. In 2018 he linked up with our old friend Dr. Seuss and his Irie Sounds International imprint and released "Tewahedo", which was one of the best albums of his career, in retrospect and is well deserving of a vault review at some point in the future (had a big tune called 'Praise Jah [Not Man]' and a combination with Spectacular as well). Then, in 2020 (not even a month after Luciano's "The Answer" arrived) (Luciano also recently celebrated a birthday and General's was not too long before his (not three weeks ago as of this writing) so happy belated to them both), came the mightily interesting "We The People". The behind the scenes portion of the album were amongst its most fascinating characteristics as "We The People" came to fruition via Qabalah First Music and an "FMG Inc". The former is the label founded and ran by Mikey General & Luciano (coincidentally, the very first album release on QFM may've really been the aforementioned "Spiritual Revolution" which dates back to 2000 (and may be even older) and has at least had a hand in setting a few albums for the General over the years (including both 2010's "Born To Rule" and "African Story, African Glory" from two years on). "FMG Inc" is better known as Footprintz Music Group, the US based label (Atlanta, Georgia if I recall correctly) which is best known for having pushed Luciano's own "Write My Name" from 2010 (which, as I mentioned in the review of "The Answer" has re-become a favourite of mine these recently). I can find press material dating all the way back to 2015 which speaks of "We The People" being in the offering. That would have placed it in a good pairing with "Write My Name" (do a Luciano album, five years later do one with Mikey General). Still, even with it being delayed another five years from that time, bookending the 2010's decade with Luci on one end and the General on the other is outstanding work from any up and coming label in my opinion. In a far more stretched out type of manner, you may recall a similar (and pretty immediate) instance with a label by the name of OneDrop Productions years ago. They would pp up and give us three albums, from Lutan Fyah, Chezidek and Ras Attitude, respectively, and then vanish (which wasn't all that surprising, thinking about it now). I'm hoping that a similar fate doesn't await FMG, but the potentiality of them stepping up once every decade with a big album is one which I find curiously appetizing! So, with that being said, as to the latest appearance of the label - let's eat!

Just as was the case on "Write My Name" before it, virtually all of "We The People" was helmed by Rawle Collins who, again, does a fine job in production (which makes you wish he was more prolific) and, for his part, the singer does exactly what we've come to expect from him and delivers another SOLID piece of Roots Reggae music. I usually say that, for the most part, Mikey General's work is best appreciated by more seasoned fans of the genre, and while that is the case with this one in the absolute sense, I would say that 'We The People' has a slightly more open vibe to it than some of his previous work and it would likely be one of the releases I would suggest to someone who was thinking about getting into the work of Mikey General. If you're thinking about getting into the work of his most recent project, "We The People", logic would dictate that you would start at our opener, 'Deliver Me'. This song does a very succinct job of expressing Mikey General on a couple of levels and, from the way it begins, it was an obvious choice of a head for this record in my opinion.

"Oh yes it's me, the General, Mikey-

Touring the world from sea to sea

Greetings to all with The Holy Trinity

Exalting the name of Haile Selassie

Giving all praises to The Almighty

Spreading the message with my brother, Luci

Living in love, peace and harmony

Cause we're one blood, royal family

Babylon took us into captivity

When we share one aim and one destiny

Jah deliver me, deliver me

Save me for Your mercy's sake

Jah deliver me, deliver me

Yes, I know you're good and great"

If you are not familiar, that ^, the very first verse from the very first tune, will fill you in on almost everything you're going to need to know in regards to General and "We The People" (....or any of his other albums, for the most part). The rest of it is pretty good as well as it gets us going on ultra familiar ground, giving praises. General suggests that we, as people, may not be doing the best job of paying attention and obeying on 'The Word' ["His Majesty predicted, from way back in the sixties - that if we don't change our ways, it's gonna be catastrophe"]. I took this one, somewhat, in a direction which I don't necessarily think it was intended to go in, but I kind of came away from it thinking that, at least in part, what he was saying is that he's devoted himself to spreading the word because it is SO important that as many people receive it as possible. Though he never says it, the General does paint the bleak picture of exactly what may happen if the "word" is not "heard". And check the music on 'The Word', which often seems to my ears to be on the verge of breaking out into a full Dub and it stands up as one of the album's best sounds. The title track for "We The People" made me smile when I first heard it and I'm still face-glowing right now. WHY? Even before you dig into it, hopefully what you'll notice is that it is carried by the same riddim which backs the title song from "Write My Name". I thought that was a nice touch! As for what's going on here, 'We The People' is about the collective effort that CHANGE is when at its best. Any sort of grand-scale shift requires more than one person or even a small amount, we need as many as we can to get on board if we are to be successful. I alluded to a piece on "Tewahedo" by the name of 'Praise Jah [Not Man]' and the foundation of it is reexamined on 'Trust', this time around. Here, Mikey General reminds all that placing all hope into that which is, tremendously flawed by its nature (meaning US) (all of US), is.... tremendously flawed and such a significance should only be placed on that which is just as naturally Powerful. This track has something really serene about it, despite its intensity picking up throughout and it ended up being a favourite of mine from "We The People".

As far as the biggest moments on this release, there's a handful of outstanding and nearly outstanding songs which comprise the real class efforts here. To my opinion none are as big as the wholly satisfying praise that is 'Rules & Reigns'. 

"In the heights of the heavens

In the depths of the abyss

There's no place to hide from Jah, always remember this

No matter where you go within this time and space

There is nothing hidden from The Master's face

Cause Jah rules

Jah rules and reigns

So praise HIS mighty name

Jah lives in the heart of all flesh

And HE will show no mercy on the merciless

So don't you have an attitude

Make sure you have some gratitude

And don't you be a fool and deny HIS handiworks

Humble yourself to our God and our King

The Maker, The Creator and Sustainer of everything

Give HIM the respect HE is due

And HE will be right there for you

If you acknowledge The Supreme Being-

Then HE will fulfill your dream"

The riddim behind this one is a gem! It is a diamond of a construction and it deserves nothing less than what the General provides it vocally. Call it stereotypical, call it cliche', call it whatever you want, 'Rules & Reigns' is a PERFECT (there is, literally, nothing wrong with it) example of Mikey General's vibes at his best to my opinion. Earlier on you get a drop which I loved from the very first spin through and am even more fond of right now, 'Fortunate'. For every song you've ever heard by an artist lamenting what they do not have and how life should be different and needs to change, here's the General speaking on what he DOES have (and what he had when he didn't have much) because he knows well that there're SO many people who never had even half of what he had ["When mi go to school, mi carry likkle lunch money. Some man go to school and never carry any. And some never even get the opportunity. Now dem haffi out there - looking money"]. I've always liked songs built like this one because they turn something so often viewed as a negative into a positive. Things are NEVER the worst, someone somewhere has even less than you ["I may not have millions, but still I can help someone!"]. I also took a liking to the HUGE sounding 'Your Servant'. Another major credit goes to Collins for the creation of the riddim on this one and, again, the General puts it to good use with a most humble tune. The diasporic and GORGEOUS 'Black Experience' was a single (I think) for "We The People". Along with a captivating sound to it, what I was really interested in on this one is its very unique lyrical approach. While fully acknowledging the atrocities suffered by people of African descent, Mikey General goes on to say that going through all of those hardships have made us who we are - a tougher and more durable type of people. It's a very particular point of view to take and the way he goes on to present it makes for a very WISE selection. And I'll also definitely mention the album-closing 'Microchip'. Taken broadly, and not just in respect to one specific thing, this song is a mighty social commentary which tells all to utilize just a bit more in the way of self-awareness. Again, in a very broad way (biggup Barrington Levy), in sounds like a topic you're used to hearing from someone like Capleton, but Mikey General goes after it in a way which is as exciting as it is pertinent.

Of the remaining songs on "We The People", surely the one which draws the most of your attention is 'Jah Is Great' which is an unexpected combination, linking the General with big voiced, flaming chanter, Fantan Mojah. Okay, I really do like 'Jah Is Great', it may be one of the best written tunes you'll find here  ["Jah great! HIM no make no mistake. All HE dis was think and the whole world create"] and the pairing was such an interesting one from whoever brought it together. HOWEVER, with that being said, I have to say that, at least for me, there seems to be some kind of sonic.... disconnect (???) between the vocals and the lyrics. Maybe it's just me, but it seems kind of off for some reason and neither artist FULLY settle into the track. Again, maybe it was just me, but it made for a rather glaring distraction which has grown to piss me off a little (because I really wanted to like that one). The downright silky smooth Sensi [Love] (daughter of Bunny Wailer) (biggup Bunny Wailer) and Jah D join in on the anti-violence social commentary 'Cowboy Times'. This one was pretty nice, really, and it probably could have done some damage if it were afforded the opportunity because it is one of the best listens on the album (both Sensi and Jah D are in fine forms vocally throughout). 'Overboard' had this kind of important vibes about it and I do like the route it takes -- it's about someone who is maybe going in the right direction (maybe not), but is pressing things too far and needs to tone them back just a bit -- and it's just a decent set. There's nothing that POPS about it (apart from its absolute latter stage where i dazzles briefly), but I could well see quite a few people full LOVING it. And the only piece on "We The People" which I genuinely do not like very much was the love song 'Until'. It isn't the worst love song I've heard, it isn't even close to it, but I would be completely surprised if, maybe six months from now, if you played it for me that I remembered it. It just doesn't do much for me, for better or for worse.

Overall, while I can say now that after having scrutinized this one for the sake of this review that I prefer "Tewahedo", "We The People", had something about it which has gone largely overlooked in retrospect. Along with just being another solid display of the wonderful music of Mikey General, once again the album, from beginning to end, demonstrates an artist who just happens to be able to put his LIFE into song. He's been doing it for FORTY years now. It is a trait which, when at his best, you can literally HEAR in his words. His music is saturated in a responsibility to see live what he says and to see it to fruition. On "We The People", Mikey General basically penned another chapter of an autobiography which, when it is completed, we may look back on and 'read' as one of the most SOULFUL we've ever come across. 

Rated: 3.85/5

Footprintz Music Group

2020

Digital