Video Drop #24

It's definitely been a long time from last we do this feature, so we're well behind. Let's see what's going on this week with three BIG videos from out of the VI.

'Mongst I & I' by Midnite [Directed by Aqua Media]

First up this week is REALLY big deal and one which we'll not only talk about again in a few days when we do the singles/EP feature, but one which we'll also discuss a couple of weeks when "Kings Bell" drops. Here we have the first single from that forthcoming album (November 1), 'Mongst I & I' from the incomparable Vaughn Benjamin & Midnite. Before you even into the business of what you SEE, it's also a matter of what you know because this video is actually the FIRST from Midnite's illustrious career to date which is damn remarkable following enough tunes to fill up several million albums (or however many they have now!). Next is the matter of the actual tune. I've been listening to this song for quite some time (even before our last big break) (biggup Zojak) and when I initially heard it, while I was well impressed, I wasn't as impressed as I am now - This is a BIG tune! [TEARS!] The actual visuals are what you expect - It is a BEAUTIFUL video for the equally stunning tune. What is most striking about the video, at least for me, is how it accentuates the community aspect of the song ("just keep good relations"). Following the cuts of so many troublesome historical events and figures - the 'source' of video shifts to FAMILY. Shot between Kingston and St. Croix, it really gives a healthy look at family and friends and really, by its end what I can most say about the video for 'Mongst I & I' is that it MAKES ME SMILE! Don't wait for me to tell you, go and get the single which is available now (did I biggup Zojak yet???) and keep an eye out for the forthcoming album. Also notice the few cameo appearances, including I-Octane and -

Video Rated: 4.5/5

Video - Song Link: 5/5

'No Guts, No Glory' by NiyoRah [Directed by Digitak Films]

Keeping a very steady and CURRENT link is the SUPREMELY talented NiyoRah who gives us a taste of his most recent release, the still MIGHTY "Feel Your Presence" (rest assured, if I write ANYTHING on this blog next year, it will be a Modern Classic feature for that album) in the form of its new single, 'No Guts, No Glory' which was also shot in Kingston. I'm going to call it a coincidence that he chose to draw on this one as the next track, because I have been listening to it quite a bit as of late and the video . . . Yeah. It's a HUGE video (and looking at my list for what's coming next, decent although they all are, it's probably the best video on this post). The video has a running scenario with Niyo 'rescuing' a group of different people in dire circumstances and leading them to a better place (literally). I don't know that you can make the audio-visual relationship a greater one and with the exception of some strange Soca tune that we may've included or Stevy Mahy's self-fulfilling 'Beautiful', I don't know that we've ever had a song do that. This is one of the best videos that I've seen this year and in a LONG time, without question.

Video Rated: 5/5

Video - Song Link: 9/5

'All I Want' by Pressure Busspipe [Directed by R. Cash & P. Stewart]

And completely the VI Reggae trio this week is the always welcomed Pressure Busspipe who is going in a bit of a different direction that Midnite and his Star Lion Family brother, NiyoRah on the romantic and easy, 'All I Want'. The tune was Pressure's cut of the Bird's Eye Riddim from Cyclone Entertainment from out of The Bahamas (available right now) (Nature, Jah Bami, Monty G and the lovely human being next on this list, all on the riddim). This video isn't really anything spectacular in terms of what happens, but what it does have going for it is the presence of several EXTREMELY attractive women, certainly not the least of whom is Pressure's gorgeous co-star. It's all very clean, even in the club, and while the scenery or the colours aren't SO distinguished, what is highlighted here is the closeness of and the developing of a seemingly rather strong relationship.

Video Rated: 3.25/5

Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

'When You're Gone'/'Missing You' by Ce'Cile [Directed by Ras Tingle]

If beauty was the highlight of the previous entrant this week (and it was), it REIGNS SUPREME on this double dose of Dancehall's, Bad Gyal Ce'Cile, 'When You're Gone' & 'Missing You'. The first tune dominates the first half of the video which finds our the artist lamenting that her man has to leave. Meanwhile, we're lamenting that he won't hurry up as she looks fantastic singing and laying on the bed and would look even better doing so away from his presence. GONE - She then, in the video's most stirring moment, takes off her own shirt to . . . remember him better (?) - I don't care, she looks damn good doing it and a little better sitting on the couch. Go and get her new album, "Jamaicanization" and blah blah blah - Ce'Cile is one SEXY human being.

Video Rated: Who cares?

Video - Song(s) Link: 4.75/5

'The Road' by Gappy Ranks

I think it's a pretty odd choice: Gappy Ranks and co.'s selection of 'The Road' to be the next tune pushed from his big 2011, "Thanks & Praise". But when you see how the clip turns out, it definitely makes more sense. Gappy is currently one of the most in-demand and busy (biggup Busy Signal) artists in the genre and the video is really just kind of a documentary-style following of him through some of his stops along the way. We see him performing and backstage and on the tour bus and having a good time and it's exactly what the title of the song indicates: Gappy Ranks on the road. HOWEVER (!), surely the most interesting aspects of the video for this tune are the cameos. We see Tippa Irie, we see Stephen Marley, there's Romain Virgo and a few other people who I should probably recognize but don't - OH! And also mixed into clips is Achis Reggae/Earth Favourite SARA LUGO! WHAT! Big clip.

Video Rated: 4/5

Video - Song Link: 5/5

'Soca Riot' by Sir Lancealot

Finally this week is a bit of a bonus as SHOCKINGLY shooting a video for one of the best breakout tunes of Carnival (anywhere) 2k11 is the POWDERY Sir Lancealot from of St. Lucia with the DEVASTATING, 'Soca Riot'. I saw that such a thing existed and I was just happy. I don't care if it's any good or not - The song is FUCKED UP! It's madness and it's a beautiful thing!

Video Rated: Water!

Video - Song Link: Powder!

Video Drop #23

Takana Zion


'Glory' featuring Capleton by Takana Zion [Directed by Ras Tingle]

First up this week is a video we’ve been waiting for quite some time as, after an extremely well done ‘making of’ set, we FINALLY get the video for ‘Glory’, the first single from the new album from BIG Afrikan artist, Takana Zion, ”Rasta Government”. It’s no surprise that this tune was chosen as it is the highest profile track on the album given that it features Reggae superstar, Capleton. To make the link (and to also record some tunes for the album) the Guinea born Zion traveled to Jamaica and, in the process, came up with a very fitting which features both big performers. As far as that video, I would have had two ideas here and they hit on one of them. If you weren’t going to make this HUGE video traveling across the globe, then the other good idea would have been to keep things involved, but simple and that’s the route they’ve chosen. The clip isn’t spent ‘hid away’ in some performance setting with the obligatory shots, instead it’s up, active and involved on the streets, interacting with the people, which is what you would hope for a tune which speaks on the virtues and the might of His Imperial Majesty. Well done boys.

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 4.25/5

'Mon Continent' by Tiwony [Directed by Grand Poucet Productions]

If I were going to give an award for . . . I don’t know ‘Videoist of The Year’ or something like such, certainly each and every year over the course of the last few, Tiwony would be a candidate for the title. The man just makes EXCELLENT clips, time and time again and he isn’t AT ALL slowing down with this gorgeous new piece for ‘Mon Continent’ from his (also) big new album, ”Cité Soleil”. BEAUTIFUL! For this clip, the chanter travels to Senegal to make the magic happen and it worked excellently on definitely one of the biggest videos of 2011. The song, itself, which one which speaks on unification and Afrikan unification amongst its daughters and sons across the world and the second and third and fourth shots we see here are of Afrikan flags of so many different nations flying high and it’s a similar shot (and we even see the later usage of graphics, to make the point even stronger) (and later we also see Caribbean flags as well) appearing throughout the video. I talk so much about tunes and lyrics making points but in this case (and in so many cases involving Tiwony’s videos), we get message making imagery and when you combine that with a powerful tune, the results are unforgettable.

Video Rated: 4.99999/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

'Wife A Wife' By Lady Saw [Directed by Nordia Rose]

We go from a two royal-looking videos to bona fide Reggae/Dancehall royalty as Lady Saw brings us a video for her big cut on TJ’s heavy Star A Star Riddim. First of all, the song is big. Say what you will, but I’ll likely always feel that one of the biggest losses of the modern era of Dancehall is that when all of the newer sounding riddims . . . Committed suicide in terms of being actual Dancehall - We lost the prime years of Lady Saw, who was at her best over the less fucked up and more truly Dancehall-ish digital pieces. Fortunately the Star A Star is much closer to the latter than the former and she shines as only she can. As for the video, it’s pretty much what you might expect with Lady Saw taking on the night on her bike with her friends. I will say, however, that the highlight of the video is Saw herself. She looks fantastic

“If you ah pree -
Betta hide an dweet
If you no waan lose 32 teeth”

BOOM!

Video Rated: 3.5/5
Video - Song Link: 3/5

'There's A Reward For Me' by Lloyd Brown [Directed by Lloyd Brown]

WONDERFULLY also placing a video this week is Achis Reggae/Earth favourite, Mr. Lloyd Brown from his latest release, the fine ”Cornerstone” album (I know you didn’t think that he was done, did you ????) - for the tune ‘There’s A Reward For Me’. Of course, the song is a remake of the original which was sung by the immortal Joe Higgs and for the video, Lloyd Brown chose to live spicy by shooting it on Grenada. I’m going to make an assumption here (because that’s just what I do) and try to say that, with as much scenery and serenity as you see here, what Brown is saying is that he’s showing you the “reward”. It would seem somewhat random to go to Grenada to shoot this video, but perhaps, as usual, Brown had a pretty good idea in mind and, perhaps, that idea comes well through. That’s the case, or, as usual, I’m just thinking entirely too much and should, instead, big him up for the nice video and the cameo by Tallpree.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

‘Rèspèkté-w’ by Daly [Directed by Slas]

VERY interesting and nearly genius route Daly and company takes for the video for the first single from his forthcoming album, “Dalycious”, ‘Rèspèkté-w’. Unless I’m missing something (and I may be), Daly doesn’t actually make an appearance in his own video until well over three minutes have passed, instead to (literally), leave his tune in the hands of the people (hopefully, he paid them). The visual strength of what ultimately proves to be such a very good idea comes from the fact that he gets people from SO MANY different walks of life. From labourers, to vendors, to school girls, to thugs, drivers, footballers, homeless people, rich people, parents, babies, other artists . . . Everybody (Grandparents)! When you do something like that, it’s an alone-standing piece of imagery and big rèspèkté-w to him for it.

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

'Secret Enemies' by Chezidek [Directed by Asha Lion]

Finally, we end things this week on this most fucked up and nearly disturbing new clip from still hard charging Chezidek, ‘Secret Enemy’. As the title would suggest, there’s a story playing behind the lyrics on this one and that story quickly gets going with Chezidek as an observer (I believe he‘s actually relaying the story to his group of friends). Two childhood friends link with one doing far far better than the other and he takes in his old friend, gives him a place to live and even new clothes. To show his undying respect (not really) the loser friend attempts to flirt with his friend’s wife and takes notice that his old mate deals with extremely big money. So, of course, he calls in some of the less than classy individuals with whom he now spends his time (when his friend and his wife are SLEEPING IN THE SAME DAMN HOUSE) to rob the home and is, most thankfully, caught in the process. The thought here to be careful with whom you associate and it’s crystal clear after watching the clip.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

Video Drop #22

This week we have a healthy collection of videos from some very very big names in the music including three personal favourites of mine (including one with a bit of controversy) and a bonus clip from the greatest to ever do it.

'You And Me' by Saïk [Digital Single, available now]

‘You & Me’ by Saïk [Directed by Moody Mike]

First up we have a video which may be the single most anticipated in the history of this feature on this blog as I’ve been looking forward to seeing the completed version for . . . Maybe two or three weeks now and here it is! Achis Reggae favourite, the abundantly gifted Saïk (!) brings forth his brand new video for the first single off of his forthcoming sophomore album release from Don’s Music, ‘You & Me’. Where do I begin? Okay so, first thing is that seeing this video makes me appreciate this tune INFINITELY more than I did before seeing it (and I did actually like it before seeing the video) and while I still don’t think it’s his absolute greatest song ever, it’s DAMN close. The video itself? GORGEOUS! The tune is a song which basically speaks about unification in the FWI and, to mark the occasion, Saïk traveled from his home in Guadeloupe and went to Martinique and to Guyane to vibes for the video (“wah gwan Gwada, wah gwan Mada, wah gwan G’yane”) and he made a WINNER! The scenery is beautiful, everyone is having a good time and Saïk finds himself in several nice situations as well (especially on a boat). We also get cameos of other artistes, particularly Kalash and Admiral T (I think I also saw the Lieutenant as well) and I was thinking about three minutes through that everything that I’d hoped this video would be, it had been and there was still another minute to go. So what does he do there? Of course, I’m hoping that they’d mix in another tune, but Saïk, arguably, does even better by apparently taking on Gwada Carnival at night to wrap up one of the best videos I’ve seen this year in a very fine fashion!

Video Rated: 5/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

{Note: Saïk’s album, whatever it’s called, is reportedly scheduled for October release which is ridiculous, but I still cannot fucking wait!}
{Note 2: In 2011 - Paille, Colonel Reyel, Tiwony, Saïk, Daly and Mighty Ki La are all releasing albums! If you still aren’t paying attention to Reggae/Dancehall from out the FWI - WRONG!}

‘Girlz Dem Luv We’ featuring Mavado by Shaggy [Directed by Jay Will]

How do we follow that one? I’ll put it to a couple of names who definitely don’t need the help - It’s Shaggy alongside Mavado with ‘Girlz Dem Luv We’. I don’t actually dislike this tune which is probably a bit surprising (I’ve actually been enjoying the majority of Shaggy tunes that I’ve ran into for the last year or so and we’ll be checking in again with him shortly), but the video is pretty much EXACTLY what you might expect it to be. There’s a club. There’re many girls. There’s Shaggy. There’s Mavado. The really on varying thing, of course, is the different girls (one of whom looks like Ce’Cile actually) . . . But yeah. There you go.

Video Rated: 3/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Two Places’ by Hezron & Shaggy [Directed by Sean Pierre]

Next we have . . . Shaggy again. This time on an even better song with the flaming Hezron, with 'Two Places'. Most interesting about this tune (besides the fact that it’s a really really nice song) (my Mother actually likes this tune a lot) is the fact that it’s actually 2-3 years old at this point and it now reaches video, having energized recently and become a sizable hit apparently. As for said video, it’s also pretty much what you might’ve expected with a conflicted Hezron taking center stage and playing a starring role between two (LOVELY) women, with Shaggy lending and occasional bit of support. I’m just really happy for this song and Hezron, in particular, as appearing in a video with Shaggy definitely can do nothing but good for his potentially WONDERFUL career. So we hope it does very well.

Video Rated: 4/5
Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

‘Love Soldier’ by Tony Rebel [Directed by Gad Savage]

Well respected Jamaican Reggae veteran, Tony Rebel, returns with a brand new video (his first in . . . a forever that I can remember, but I pay no attention, so he probably has had several already this year) for his big tune, ‘Love Soldier’, the chanter’s cut of 2Hard’s City Life Riddim (incidentally, Rebel‘s greatest protégé, Queen Ifrica, also recently shot a video for her tune on the same riddim, ‘Times Like These‘). The video finds the Rebel and his initially rather menacing ‘gang’ descending upon a village in the bush to assist with help and medical supplies and such things. Upon reaching, however, his attention almost immediately locks upon the STRIKINGLY beautiful (she is absolutely stunning) apparent head of the camp. I really like just about everything here, with the only real negative in my opinion being the somewhat odd flirtation between the two, but I do believe that it works by its end. I also like the kind of running story which matches the vibes of the song so well and Tony Rebel (as always) appears to be having such a great time (if you were in her company, you would be having fun too). He doesn’t do things like this for nothing, so maybe he’s nearing an album release of his own in 2011, which would be very nice.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 4.75/5

‘Talk How Mi Feel’ & ‘Nothing At All’ by Assassin

The reigning greatest Dancehall lyricist, Assassin, steps out with his latest clip for a double dosage of recent tunes, ‘Talk How Mi Feel’ and the MAMMOTH ‘Nothing At All’. The video, fittingly, is separated into two different halves with the first being for ‘Talk How Mi Feel’ which is a song on which Sasco doesn’t waste anytime in telling everyone what he thinks on certain subjects revolving around society and the Dancehall these days. He even calls a press conference for the situation which can be heard booming through a party which he also later attends for the half of ‘Nothing At All’. This one is just a nice little party with a few friends (some recognizable) and, at least for me, a celebration of this powerful, powerful talent with the exhibition of two big tunes.

Video Rated: 4.25
Video - Song Link: 4/5

‘Better Tomorrow’ by Duane Stephenson [Directed by Ras Kassa]

I don’t think that I have had quite the emotional experience for this video that several people that I’ve spoken with have, but it’s not very difficult to see, at all, exactly why they’ve felt what they’ve felt. The moving and melancholy ‘Better Tomorrow’ becomes the latest clip from Reggae star, Duane Stephenson as he, curiously, has already chosen to go in a different direction instead of furthering his most recent album release, ”Black Gold”. I’m not going to have much of a problem with that, in this case, because this video is very good. The clip paints a few really bleak situations in the lives of various people from various walks of life and it does this in a very straight forward manner and, wonderfully in black and white. That effect makes it all the more fulfilling when, presumably as the “better tomorrow” is reached, we switch to colour (signaled by the rising of the sun). It does get VERY drastic at the ultimate end just before the rising of the sun and certainly this one goes a very far way in making the point that Stephenson made initially with the tune itself.

Video Rated: 4.75/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Le Coeur A Ses Raisons’ by Thayna [Directed by Bruno ‘Deejay’ Slam]

And lastly (technically) we have the latest video from another of my favourites. It’s Thayna from out of Guadeloupe with ‘Le Couer A Ses Raisons’. Certainly this must mean that we’re to be looking forward to a next album from the Zouk star in 2011 and . . . Yeah, definitely looking forward to that (apparently it’s coming via Warren this time and not Kaysha, however) (looking forward to it in any case). I haven’t heard much from Thayna, at all, as of late, but she is a big deal in the colourful world of Zouk and THANKFULLY she’s obviously reenergized and is set to do the magic once again. Here she links with my favourite Zouk video director, Deejay Slam (who did all of those wonderful videos for Kénédy), and just when you think everything is running ‘status quo’, the video throws you a bit of a curveball. I won’t spoil that for you, but I will tell you that its very . . . Interesting! Perhaps not as surprising as I may make it seem, however, and the video, as a whole, is quite nice. In the future, I would like to see Thayna a bit more active physically [your joke here], because she doesn’t really move around too much in this video and others either. But she does look damn good and I do, of course, like the song.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 4.25/5

**Bonus** ‘See Me’ by Sizzla **Bonus**

Lastly (really) is someone who probably doesn’t approve of that previous video too much! Sizzla’s latest clip is for his relicked older tune ‘See Me’ for a returning Xterminator on the Royalty Riddim. The actual video here is just following Kalonji around on tour and through various performances with nothing, at least ostensibly, directly related to this song. I don’t care! It’s a great video, I do like the song and really we can write about others until our collective fingers fall off our collective hands! You know who’s the musical King around here, so big him up, every time.

Video Drop #21

This week we have a pretty nice selection of videos from the likes of Queen Ifrica, I-Octane, Mr. Vegas and a Medley featuring a big bag of heavy hitters. ALSO, we there was a very healthy set of videos from French Caribbean acts so we did a double dosage this week. Enjoy.

Queen Ifrica

‘Times Like These’ by Queen Ifrica [Directed by 13th Tribe Productions]

First up this week is the latest video from Reggae star, Queen Ifrica, for ‘Times Like These’, her cut of the big City Life Riddim of 2010 from Jeremy Harding and 2 Hard Music. I’d actually told myself to go back and have a next listen to this riddim in general because I didn’t pay it as great of an attention as I ‘should’ have and here comes the video to provide the final bit of impetus. First of all, the song is EXCELLENT. Ifrica always shows her best at the time and this tune may be some of her best in quite some time. And the rather adventurous video is also pretty stunning. Despite some of the depressing imagery, the video has a very CLEAN look to it to my eyes and while it follows a ‘traveling’ Ifrica (not really), by showing her in several different settings, what it really does, at least to my opinion, is to show her, and thus people in general, in various different walks of life - Affected by the state of the times. I Also love them actually bringing in the images of the greats that she mentions, as well as some of the other visual specials they bring in. And finally, certainly something should be said about the fact that Queen Ifrica . . . Looks pretty good! Probably the best I’ve seen her look in one of her videos and that’s definitely a part of the appreciation here as well.

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

'Black & Proud [Nah Bleach]’ by Mr. Vegas [Directed by Jay Will]

I’m going to try as hard as I possibly can to go around the obvious here (preferring, instead, to let Admiral T do that for me) which is behind Vegas unfortunately feeling compelled to weigh in on the even more unfortunately recent issue of BLEACHING in the ‘Dancehall’ (or whatever you want to call that place these days) (the ’HELLHALL’) (biggup Mario), with 'Black & Proud'. The tune? I like the song - The smallest reason why surely isn’t the fact that utilizes a retooled version of the Zombie-like (resistance) Bam Bam Riddim (you could probably set that riddim behind someone coughing for four minutes and it would still be nice). But lyrically the song is impressive as well (“Mi get a Black baby, from a Black lady. So mi proud of mi colour and mi nah change it”). The video, as expected, is pretty funny (the most hilarious part being when the guy sales the woman a tube of cream which CLEARLY has been previously used), but it’s also somewhat poignant as the woman, in the process of losing her damn mind, is snapped back into reality by seeing her daughter applying that . . . Shit after seeing her mentally ill mother do the same. Biggup Vegas for not only this set but having a STRONG last couple of years or so - Hopefully a big album is not too far off (and I’m pretty sure this video features full blown nudity).

Video Rated: 4.5/5 Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Nuh Ramp Wid Wi’ by I-Octane [Directed by Asha Michail]

Surely it was only a matter of time before someone took the exploding I-Octane and put him in a more ‘club-like’ video and (I’m pretty sure that this must’ve happen before at some point, but I don’t pay very good attention) here it is. In his latest clip, for ‘Nuh Ramp Wid Mi’, Octane reaches the club amongst other places. Looking through this one initially I thought it pretty harmless (and it still is), but I didn’t like it too much and while I’m not as blown away by the video itself (the tune, however, is very strong) I do like it more now (somewhat it resembles the video for ‘Click Mi Fingers’ by Erup, which the song also resembles slightly in my opinion) as just about anytime you have a club song which takes the show on the road - That’s a good idea (and so is adding a few really attractive women).

Video Rated: 3.75/5
Video - Song Link: 3/5

The Captain Riddim Medley featuring Wayne Marshall, Tarrus Riley, Sizzla Kalonji, Jah Cure & Pressure Busspipe [Directed by Winston ‘Tyson’ Mayhew]

I’m actually not much of a fan of medley styled videos (or videos in general for that matter), but I think the video for Yard Vybz’ Dubby Captain Riddim is pretty good without trying to be anything too spectacular. It links up Wayne Marshall with an update is his ooooooold tune ‘Captain’, Tarrus Riley, Sizzla, Jah Cure and a surprising Pressure who I don’t know for sure that I recall hearing on this set, but who does his usual excellence. Again, perhaps this video will get me to go back and take a next listen to this riddim again and as it points out, it is currently digitally available (although you won’t get the Pressure tune when you pick it).

Video Rated: 4/5
Video - Song Link: N/A [because it is five different damn songs]

'Allez' by Nesly [digital single]


‘Réd Son’ by Paille

First from the Frenchies we have, to the surprise of no one I’m sure, the frenetic and just always entertaining Paille with a video for the biggest tune from his big new album, ”Inflammable”, ‘Réd Son’. Although pretty ridiculous, you don’t expect anything different from Paille do you? The man is just always energized and always HILARIOUS on the video. Here we have Paille mashing up school and doing so at the benefit of an outcast and bullied youth. Paille plays teacher, nerdy student, mentor, court jester and even dons his signature straw hat in this visual piece of frenzy and I LOVE it. Not to be lost in the midst of this mess is Paille’s skill level. Don’t let the clowning fool you - The man is a master at this when he wants to be (“I play music, but I don’t play!).

Video Rated: 4.75/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Allez’ by Nesly [Directed by Alexandre Roux]

Okay so, I probably could have mentioned this one almost six months ago because that’s how long it’s been around (and in relatively decent rotation around here from at least the beginning of the year I’d say), but as usual, I’ve been a bit behind in regard to the video. Nesly is an up and coming Zouk singer (I think she’s from France, but her family is from Martinique and Guyane) who snagged a big hit for herself when she dropped ‘Allez’ last year and here is the video in support of it. The tune itself is GOLD, it’s a very strong and sexy tune and the video well takes advantage of that. As someone with a healthy fear of the dentist, I don’t think I’d have as much of a problem going in for a cleaning if my Dentist or her assistant looked like Nesly (and not like Gargamel) (biggup Buju) and you know you have something special when you can make such a thing SEXY (oh and Nesly, when you knock me out if you wanna . . . Yeah. You have my permission).

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

‘Régine’ by Mighty Ki La [Directed by Seven Art Studio]

The normally extremely agitated Mighty Ki La from out of Mada is back to tell the truly ridiculous but infectious story of ‘Régine’. I-Octane also had a dance/party song in this post, but that song had absolutely NOTHING on this one, ‘Régine’ is MADNESS and . . . Now that I think about it, not too far from the insanity that we’re used to MKL bringing just about every time out. This is a big tune and hopefully we’ll find more on his next album, which is apparently called ”K-rakter” and which we’ll hopefully get before the end of the year. Biggup Régine, every time.

Video Rated: 3.75/5
Video - Song Link: 4.5/5

‘Call Me’ featuring Ce’Cile by Yann Sélo [Directed Arthur Valverde]

Zouk sang by men is pretty much confirmed evil, but I’ll mention this one and you know why I am. With the exception of the NOTE which I hopefully included here I don’t know a great deal about Yann Sélo, but I believe he’s from Guyane (or his family is) and he obviously looks like a mixture of American R&B/Pop singer, Tyrese and Tricky and, strangely enough, I don’t feel inclined to look up anymore after this, but big him up still because he apparently wrote this tune, ‘Call Me’, and he has an album forthcoming which you should look out for.

Unsurprisingly my focus is FIRMLY planted on his co-star for the video, Achis Reggae and Earth favourite, Bad Gyal Ce’Cile. She looks quietly SPECTACULAR. She looks really really good and I even appreciate how the tune basically ‘colours’ itself for her spot - Obviously the highlight of the tune for me and Ce’Cile has a nice history of vibing with French and French Caribbean acts and she continues it to the fortune of Yann Sélo and everyone else who gets to listen to this tune which is growing on me.

As for the video, it’s pretty much what you might expect and very simple. Women, apparently, like to look at men who are wet up and sweaty looking so it magically begins to rain indoors on Sélo. Unfortunately, our heroine doesn’t stick around when the water show begins, but have I mentioned that she looks REALLY good when she does cross the screen?

Video Rated: 3.5/5
Video - Song Link: 3.5/5

{Note: I used to have a mixtape featuring Dancehall from Guyane and there was a DJ on it who I believe called himself ‘Beo’ or something like such who had a STUPID song where he literally would say everything he was doing . . . “like Yann Sélo”. I think it was a freestle, it was completely funny and I haven’t heard it from then. So biggup Yann Sélo}

**Bonus** Making of ‘You & Me’ by Saïk **Bonus**

And finally I thought that I’d mention this even though the full video is set to drop later this week I believe. The MASSIVELY talented Saïk is set to drop his second album sometime in 2011 and to get the ball rolling here’s the very first single off the project, the unifying ‘You & Me’. Here, we go behind the scenes with Saïk in Gwada and later in Martinique to film the video (part of it also, reportedly, is filmed in Guyane to match the tune). I have actually heard the tune and it’s very nice - Slower, but you can still crystally hear a lyricist who is . . . Just better than almost everyone else and I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT to get my hands on that album.

Video Drop Vol. XX

Gappy Ranks

‘I Was There’ by Gappy Ranks

The superstar for this edition of ‘Video Drop’ is definitely UK sensation Gappy Ranks who chimes in twice and significantly so. His first video is one for the very recent and very unfortunate aftermath of the tragic earthquake in Japan. Apparently the tremors began shortly after Gappy landed in the country for a few performances - so literally as he says ‘I Was There’. The video isn’t such a great and outstanding achievement visually, but it has a very POWERFUL significance to it, largely because of its immediacy. Gappy didn’t even go home - He wrote a tune and recorded it in a very short time with Special Delivery and the result is a moving first hand account of one of the largest tragedies in recent times. Also, just from a sonic point of view - This song is GOOD! It’s a VERY good song, whether a week later or a year later. The video also includes photos from the destruction and you can’t really say much more than - “EXCELLENT JOB” for this one and not in the usual way.

Video Rated: 5/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘People Talk’ by Etana [Directed by Aisha Mchail]

Next this week we have ’People Talk’, the latest serving of the BIG new album from ‘The Strong One’, Etana, ”Free Expressions” (and it would have been the top video here in any other week definitely) . VP Records, unsurprisingly, has decided to give the tune a push as it was fairly popular even before the album actually dropped and it just happens to translate quite well into the visual sense. Here, we see Etana along her journey to become the big artiste that she now is and, at times, she encountered, just as the tune suggests, people speaking bad about her behind her back (with seemingly NO SHAME about it either). Things get pretty funny here as we see people trying to ‘help’ her with her image and the highlight has to be when she finds herself in her dressing room and a stylist presents her with possible ridiculous wig choices, while another suggests a thong . . . (Stop thinking Achis). And later a director offers his own helping hand in the form of some ass on a backup dancer for Etana’s performance, to which the August Town Princess responds with a smack to the hat. The video, cleverly gets the point across for the tune and it entertains as well - You can’t ask for much more than that. Oh and Etana sitting on the bench with the guitar . . . Yeah . . . Yep . . . I have a bench at my house too Etana . . . I’m just saying.

Video Rated: 4.75/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Could A Run Away’ by Delly Ranx & Gappy Ranks

Back under a normal set of circumstances we have a new video for a new combination tune between the bros. Ranking, Delly & Gappy, for ‘Could A Run Away’, which is apparently the latest single from Gappy’s still forthcoming album ”Thanks & Praises” (which literally is supposed to drop in just two or three weeks from now). Biggup reader Steven for suggesting this one and doing so with a qualification that the video wasn’t anything too special, but the song definitely was - Well he was right (and if you look at it correctly, the video won’t cost you anything, but the song will). There’s nothing too impacting going on here, but the star of things is this big big tune. ‘Achis! How big is it???” This big:

Gappy -

“I was born as a Ranks
Grow up as a Ranks
Like di great Delly Ranx
So mi haffi give thanks
Mi ah shine like a star
Dem si mi from a distance
When badmind ah chat mi
Mi no response"

Delly -

“I was born as a Ranks
Raised as a Ranks
Like di great Shabba Ranks
Gappy Ranks, Cutty Ranks
Badmind keep yuh distance
Fi hypocrite people -
Delly no response”

Video Rated: 3/5
Video - Song Link: 3/5

‘Fetting For Days/Get Wild’ featuring Michelle Xavier & Ricardo Drue by Imij & Co [Directed by 2 Tones Production]

Here, we have the visual track for one of the biggest and my own personal favourite tunes from Trinidad Carnival 2011, ‘Fetting For Days’ (actually there’s only one T in that word, but who’s counting) by Michelle Xavier in front of the always welcomed Imij & Co. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this song. I don’t really care what the video is, but it does do a generally nice job of capturing the some of the inherent PANIC of the tune, but I will say that this tune is definitely one which would have produced a better video outside. Later, Ricardo Drue heads things and ‘charges up’ (biggup Skinny Fabulous) with an even more energetic set in ‘Get Wild’, another tune which seems best suited outdoors, but the energy is nice. The real star here is Xavier and her breathtaking tune and I’m WELL hoping she can produce similar intoxicatingly ridiculous results in 2012.

Video Rated: 3.5/5
Video - Song Link: 2.5/5

‘Mon Amour’ by Jessye Belleval

And finally (not really) we have a video that I just . . . Fucked up in not putting in here because I did know that it existed from one of the most VISUALLY PLEASING artists in the entire fucking world! It’s MAMMOTH Zouk WINNER CUTIE Jessye Belleval with a tune marking her return from last year, ‘Mon Amour’. I could watch this woman eat breakfast and probably be thoroughly entertained doing it, so definitely watching her play around in the water is pretty much perfect for me. As for the actual video, however, it’s definitely pretty good. I love how Jessye is presented as the angel with the spectre of death looming greatly throughout (although her man does ultimately survive). It’s a nice video, BUT it’s Jessye Belleval! You are gorgeous! She also has a new single around now, ‘Seulement Toi’ (which hopefully means that there’ll be a new video soon) (and a new album as well, although that seems to go without saying now) and you can pick up them both exclusively at Jessye’s amazing new website.

Video Rated: 1042/5
Video - Song Link: 4/5

**Bonus** ‘Energy In The City’ by Patrice Roberts [Directed by AmA Studios] **Bonus**

Lastly (for real now) we have a commercial/jingle for 2011 Soca Monarch featuring one of only three (I THINK, with Nadia and Destra) who reached the stage twice on the night and Achis Reggae favourite, Patrice Roberts, ‘Energy In The City’. Patrice didn’t have the greatest of seasons this year in the opinion of most, but personally her vibes were some of the real highlights of the year for me (she was in on maybe three or four of my absolute favourite songs this year) and hers always are. Here is just a little thing which is really nice and just captures the big event with nice clips (particularly Fay-Ann & Superblue at the winning moment in 2009) and it’s just an excellent time to be had. Biggup Patrice Roberts every time.

Video Drop #19

‘Wotless’ by KES The Band [Directed by Walt Lovelace & Kees Dieffenthaller]

Definitely and clearly first up this week is the video clip of the reigning Groovy Soca Monarch winning tune, ‘Wotless’, by Kees Dieffenthaller and company of KES The Band. The group, although registering slightly outside of the ‘mainstream’ of Soca acts has always been great at promoting themselves and I was VERY happy to see that there was a video for this wonderful song. So how about that video? It’s pretty good. Such a cool and vibrant tune produces an equally breezy and bright video. The premise here is that this tune is born from this really cool jam session (biggup Jalena) that the group has and they also have quite a few friends join them as well during Kees’ various detours throughout the house. Cameos are all around with the two tops being (for me, at least) Kerwin Du Bois who joins in on a short piece of another big tune, ‘Ah Ting’ and the lovely Nadia Batson.

Video Rated: 4.25/5
Video - Song Link: 3.5/5

‘African Whine’ featuring Da Brains by Tiwony

Next we have a BIG video for a tune which I’m sure KES The Band would enjoy, the Soca infused ‘African Whine’, by the always welcomed Tiwony who is joined by Da Brains - A Hip-Hop group from out of Senegal where this video was also shot. First of all, Tiwony has a bit of reputation for making outstanding videos and this one is certainly no different. Second of all, this tune - I LOVE - And I love it more and more each time I hear it. The song is set to appear on the ultra talented Gwada chanter’s forthcoming album, ”Cité Soleil” and it’s definitely going to sale a few units on its own. The video is just a good time had in Senegal by all. Obviously we love seeing the culture and the people getting into the music (not too hard in this case) and all of that just really keeps Tiwony’s streak of visual dominance intact and have I mentioned that I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT until April 11th (which is actually a month from today)?

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Get Out’ by Ziggi Recado

Parallels are all about as we stick in Senegal (I THINK) with another of my own personal favourites, Statian Reggae star Ziggi Recado, who has his own new album arriving just a week after Tiwony’s (which, just like Tiwony, will be his third) (kinda creepy now isn’t it???) (oh! And I’m pretty damn sure that Tiwony is actually in this video) (if they’ve done a combination, it will be ridiculous) and he’s dropping the brand new single for it, ‘Get Out’. This very funky and increasingly intoxicating tune spawns a video which is DAMN strong. I do like the added effects of seeing the words, but the main attraction is just the nice scenery. We do see the subject of the tune fed occasionally (particularly when Ziggi finds himself in a taxi with a STUNNING young lady who completely ignores him) (good for him for trying, however) (I’d probably stil be trying to get her attention), but I just really like looking at this one and I also REALLY like this tune as well . . . Oh and have I mentioned that I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT until April 18th (which is actually a month and a week from today)?

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 3.5/5

‘Time of My Life’ featuring Beenie Man by D’Angel [Directed by Janelle Dyer]

I don’t spend very much time writing about him at all, especially not these days, but I should definitely say that Beenie Man, STILL, is my favourite Dancehall artist ever - The man is just cool and always seems to appreciate his position as one of the luckiest human beings in the world - Getting paid to do what he does. Certainly he was even more appreciative in the near four minutes of his latest video for ‘Time Of My Life’ because he spent it attached, in some way or another to . . . Wife, D’Angel. At last check, NOW, the two are back together and seem to be having the time of their lives. This video, which was obviously shot just in front of some random green screen isn’t very good, but they do seem to be having a good time which is really all that matters. Also check the cameo by their seemingly very bewildered (or very indifferent) son, Marco Dean.

Video Rated: 3/5
Video - Song Link: 4/5

“Playback” by Collie Buddz [Directed by Raremink]

And finally we have an example of a video which makes a tune sound better as the famed Collie Buddz from out of Bermuda delivers his latest video (not very long after his last video, for ‘Holiday’), ‘Playback’. The tune is the title track for Buddz’ latest venture, an EP and presumably (at least), we’re likely to get the next LP sometime in 2011. Although this tune has been doing a bit of damage, I’m not too fond of it - It’s not a bad song, but I just don’t like it too much - But I do have a newfound appreciation for it after watching this OUTSTANDING video clip. We find ourselves a fly on the wall during a very busy day for Buddz (although I think the goal was to try to give a sample of how his life is, in general) and we see what he goes through. Definitely the highlight comes during the chorus where Buddz’ words become the commands for what happens visually in the video - “playback - rewind - pause”. BEAUTIFUL!

Video Rated: 4.75
Video - Song Link: 5/5

Video Drop #18

‘Shaka Zulu Pickney’ by Tarrus Riley [Directed by Storm Saulter]

Boom. You know I wasn’t going to write at all today, but I knew Tarrus Riley had FINALLY released his latest video for the Bombrush produced tune ‘Shaka Zulu Pickney’ [Nyahbinghi Riddim, available now] and I thought that I’d check it out before I returned to writing Ele’s review. Well, you can clearly see how much of it I thought that I’d go to the extent to build an entire post around it. This video is MAMMOTH! Immediately it becomes one of the greatest videos that I’ve seen EVER, which isn’t saying a great deal from me because I don’t watch too many, but what I can say is that had it released a few weeks ahead of when it did, it would have unseated Bunji Garlin’s clip for ‘Brave’ as my favourite of 2010 and would have done so with room to spare (and those two videos are somewhat similar in my opinion). The initial thing here is just how COOLY POWERFUL this video is. What I mean is that we get very early imagery of Afrikan Warriors rather easily just blending into everyday life - No one paying them any ‘extra’ attention. The way I took this was that they weren’t actually appearing like that to the other people, but it’s meant to show that this is within them (listen the lyrics people!) and a large part of who they are. The next thing which stands out is the various different historical figures, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey and His Imperial Majesty as a child who assimilate within everyday society, although while still performing their most important roles. And finally there’s just the general imagery of the video - The big fire Tarrus and friends standing around, the warriors running, ‘Garvey’ staring across the water to the ship and finally Sam Sharpe and Nanny (whose figure just brings the video to an almost PERFECT halt). This thing is stunning, it’s a wonderful video and even though 2011 is only about six weeks old or so, if this isn’t the UNANIMOUS Reggae Video of The Year this year, then we are in for some MAGIC in the remaining 46 weeks of 2011.

Video Rated: 5/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Advantage’ by Machel Montano [Directed by Leroy “Gotti” Thomas & Marc Lorengard]

Okay so, I cannot possibly hope to draw anything next up which could match the significance of Tarrus Riley’s ‘Shaka Zulu Pickney’ - So I thought maybe we could match it in intensity. In all likelihood, in little less than a month’s time ‘Advantage’ will become the . . . Fourth (I THINK) Road March winning tune of Machel Montano’s storied career and to push it along, Montano and company have thrown a video behind it (“company” includes Marc Lorengard, who I believe had something to do with the aforementioned video for ‘Brave’). This song is fucking ridiculous - It’s full-on MADNESS from beginning to end and while the video takes a predictable moment to get going, it almost helps. While I don’t necessarily like the colour change (I was actually nervous that it might stay like that for a second), I do like the opening segment because you see this most random group of people with Machel and you absolutely know that when they get to where they’re headed - MADNESS! And that’s exactly what happens. I’ve seen much better Soca videos (saw one last year), but for what this tune is and for the reaction it’s supposed to pull, this thing is PERFECT and that song! DAMN!

Video Rated: 4.5/5
Video - Song Link: 4.999999/5

‘Patience’ by Damian Marley & Nas [Directed by Nabil Ederkin]

Time to get a little strange. I suppose if I were really thinking ‘correctly’ at the time I may’ve placed the latest video from ”Distant Relatives”, the combination album of Damian Marley and Nas, ‘Patience’, second because it definitely has similarities to ‘Shaka Zulu Pickney’, but of course it’s strange as hell. There is A TON of special effects in this video and . . . Yeah, I review Reggae, Soca and Zouk videos mainly, so I don’t deal with that a lot. Still, I do think that there’s power in this clip. This song was one of my favourites from the album, but what I think is that it serves excellently for this kind of ’ancient cosmic’ world created by director Nabil Ederkin (who apparently directs Kanye West videos). With all the EVERYTHING that is going on, two things stand out for me: First of all there’s the fact that Amadou & Mariam, who sang the original tune, is included (not too hard to figure out who they are if you don’t know) and the other thing is that if you REALLY look you notice someone marching almost all the time. Certainly there’s some more direct piece of significance for that than I’m going to be able to come up with, but I just thought that, amongst the visual franticness, that the simple visual of people constantly heading somewhere is probably the greatest statement of this chaos being tied to the skeletal track for which it was built.

Video Rated: 4.75/5
Video - Song Link: 4.75/5

‘If I Ever’ by Wayne Wonder [Directed by Antwan ‘Shake’ Smith & Max Amillion]

We continue the line of big big names with another big big name as veteran Dancehall/Reggae singer, Wayne Wonder offers up his latest video, ‘If I Ever’, which also happens to be the title track for his latest EP (which you can pick up digitally courtesy of the fine people at Zojak Worldwide). Unlike two of the first three videos on this list, this one isn’t really trying to change or better the world in anyway, but that surely doesn’t mean that it isn’t very good because it is. The song here is a very strong one and probably my favourite from Wonder in quite some time (and probably his biggest hit in a similar amount of time also) and the video which it spawns is pretty much exactly what you might expect: A really cool and romantic type of a clip. The main video girl, of course, is very easy on the eyes, you have some very nice scenery as well and like I said the tune is a real winner so should this video get the opportunity to ‘spread’ (and it just might) Wayne Wonder might have another unexpected but very very deserved international run on his hands.

Video Rated: 4.35/5
Video - Song Link: 5/5

‘Manic‘ by Shurwayne Winchester [Directed by Wizzkydd]

And finally we have the big tune from Shurwayne Winchester this season, a bit of a groovy spot, ‘Manic’ (certainly not the type of song you would expect with that title). Like the tune itself, the video is pretty ridiculous but it is most certainly a very good time to be had. There’s a lot of nice things for the eyes in this one (a lot of ass) and even the video seems somewhat ‘faster’ than the tune, but I get the feeling that there isn’t a single shot in this one which isn’t shot with just a little bit of jest behind it and definitely there’s no problem with that. By its end, it’s just a very cool thing for a tune which is definitely amongst the favourites to take Groovy Monarch this year.

Video Rated: 4/5
Video - Song Link: 3.75/5

**Pressure Busspipe [Directed by Sean David]**

And I thought that I'd throw this in as well. Here's a very cool and short documentary/interview with VI Reggae super star Pressure Busspipe in and around his home in St. Thomas, USVI. He talks about his origins with the likes of the Star Lion Family and going to Jamaica and linking with Don Corleon and even some of the future up and coming talents from out of the VI (the man even mentions Pumpa). Very cool, very informative. Check it out.