Respect. FULLY: A review of Power Shift by Dezarie

Rotation. Respect can be a very interesting thing to consider for and endless number of reasons. Something I find most captivating about the concept is the fact that, though it is entirely immeasurable and subjective, it can also be very easy to spot as well. You may see a tiger on a very hot day walk up to a little lake and, very carefully, take a drink and go about her day. Why not just go into the water? Because alligators live in that lake and she doesn't want those kind of problems. Maybe she has her cubs with her as well - she has just taught them that RESPECT can be as powerful and as clear as the stifling heat they're seeking relief from. Specifying things, let's take a look at respect within Reggae music. You know a guy named Moses and you know another one named Rodney. Moses is, universally, more well know. He's more popular. It's a matter of fact and not opinion: More people know BEENIE MAN, than BOUNTY KILLER. Who is more respected can be another case entirely but, if we're talking about more hardened fans and people who actually produce this stuff, the answer is probably Bounty as evidenced by the countless names of artists who came after him (those who made strides in music and those who did not) crediting him as being a major influence in their careers. Bounty Killer was a bad ass. When you were a kid, that's the guy you wanted to be. Getting even more specific, I can recall a time... maybe a quarter of a century ago at this point, when I knew the name Midnite but I wasn't much of a fan. I've talked about it quite a bit in the past (and will certainly do it again in the future) so I won't delve into it too much but "MIDNITE" was something I didn't particularly understand. What was crystal-clear, however, was their appeal. By comparison, they were nowhere near as POPULAR as some of their Jamaican peers like Sizzla and Capleton but the Virgin Islands outfit enjoyed such a powerfully dedicated, loyal and FAITHFUL fanbase. To me -- at the time and still today, looking back at it -- that was a sign of RESPECT. That the Benjamin bros. and company, in their ascension had, perhaps in a way that we had never seen before or since, gone from the 'underground' to being something very difficult to ignore... even for a young, naive 19-20 year old like myself. And I can actually recall later hearing from some of their Jamaican peers (like Lutan Fyah, for example, if I recall correctly) how their work had traveled and just how appreciated Midnite had become. That is a DEEP level of respect and admiration. 

2025

And Midnite came bearing gifts. Along with indirectly opening doors for forthcoming talents from out of the Virgin Islands (and directly via putting some of them on their songs and live shows), including Pressure Busspipe, Midnite DIRECTLY had a hand in introducing a downright monstrous talent by the name of Dezarie to the foreground as well and her rise to prominence IMMEDIATELY resembled their own. You could very well make the case that the level of esteem that Midnite had earned by the early 2000s had put Dezarie in a fine position to succeed as they began to lift her up and that would be more than fair but that wouldn't explain why we're STILL talking about her today. Having a hand in producing and/or releasing much of her early work such as the "Fya" and "Gracious Mama Africa" sets were strong introductions but the work that she did on her end and, CLEARLY, the work she's still doing has allowed the Queen of VI Reggae to maintain her most unusual and distinguished.

like 15 minutes ago

So it's kinda awesome how we're talking about her in 2026. I haven't finished it yet but the mini-review is coming where I'll tell you about her most recent release (well... not anymore), "7th Heaven", a BEAUTIFUL EP release courtesy of Tikur Anbessa Records. Something that was quite remarkable about that release, even prior to listening to the music that was actually on it, was the fact that it even existed in the timeframe that did. If you have been following along, you probably know that Dezarie isn't the most active of artists (I think I've probably called her "reclusive" at some point). It takes her a little while to get her thoughts together and bring a release forward but that was not the case with "7th Heaven" as, JUST LAST YEAR, she had a full album in the absolutely SUBLIME "Guardian". That album was fantastic and took #2 on our Best of 2025 list back in January. So the very fact that Dezarie had something to contribute to 2026 was icing on the cake... but apparently she was not done. The official release date for "7th Heaven" was the 30th of July; on the 4th of September -- which my magic calculator tells me is thirty-six days later -- she now... returns, SHOCKINGLY, with a brand new album, "Power Shift". I was completely surprised to see this one as, though I had heard what turned out to be an initial single for "Power Shift", I didn't know of/make the connection to it being anything related to a fuller project as it was somewhat odd (more on that in just a minute) and definitely seemed more like a one-off. "Power Shift" comes through a Goddess Frequency imprint (I could make some assumptions given its name but I'm not going to but you probably know what I'm thinking about a label called "GODDESS FREQUENCY" in regards to a Dezarie album) with production being handled by ZionLab. I've always known Dezarie to have a fairly large following in South America particularly and ZionLab has its roots in Brazil. Dezarie is releasing a Brazilian produced album in 2026 (...or in any other year at all)?? GIMME! I'll take two! The album not only continues a suddenly prolific run for Dezarie but also a TORRID release schedule for Reggae music in 2026 as a whole; coming the exact same day as a new album from the great Anthony B as well. Respect is like a muscle. It must be exercised and it must be fed. Is Dezarie still fit during this "Power Shift"?

Of course she is. Part of the attraction to Dezarie, I think, has to do with her very interesting style. She alternates between using a more straightforward (and beautiful) singing voice and an often strange kind of... hypnotic chanting. She literally sounds like she's in entranced at times. She also possesses a more straight forward type of chant which often hits more on the aggressive side. If you require an artist to be able to do something - Dezarie does it and does it well. FOR EXAMPLE, check the first tune and title track from her brand new album, "Power Shift" from ZionLab. The song finds Dezarie, literally, putting her best foot forward as 'Power Shift', by the slimmest of margins, is the single best tune on the album named for it, in my opinion. It is just BRILLIANT! 

"DELUSION COME TO A CONCLUSION"

'No one gets to stay on top forever' is the sentiment behind 'Power Shift' and Dezarie is noticing some slow (and some not so slow) changes in the world. She spends much of the track somewhere between the hypnotic and aggressive chants that I just told you about and utilizes them both to a DESTRUCTIVE effect: The best on this album and one of the best in recent memory from her catalogue, altogether ["Genes of Gods & Goddess - lasting. OUTLASTING CONTRADICTIONS, CONTRACEPTIVES"]. And it should go without saying (and yet, here I am saying it anyway) that you'll lose a great wealth of information should you choose not to really tune 'Power Shift' in, lyrically and you can keep that thought for the next eleven songs that I'm going to tell you about as well; though it is especially true on the unrelenting opener. I suppose that, directionally, 'Rise Higher' sticks fairly close to the title track as it's also talking about a change in power as one rises and one falls ["Di uprising stepping up, so they're capsizing"]. There's a giant issue with 'Rise Higher' and it comes during its second verse. Dezarie ABSOLUTELY LOSES IT! She goes somewhere else. She leaves the studio both (or wherever she recorded and goes somewhere else) ["Basement of the basement - relocate"]. Thankfully we're there to hear it and she SCORCHES 'Rise Higher'. Afterwards, the song catches up to here and ascends as well with a slightly more open sound that she continues to disturb. Entirely, 'Rise Higher' is this beautiful, almost Persian sounding offering and, strictly from a sonic point of view, is not to be missed. When you add the drama that unfolds atop it, you get something pretty damn special! The duty of maintaining the high opening of "Power Drift" falls to 'Run Dem' and... if you want to call it even stronger than the first pair of songs, you go right ahead. You won't get much of a fight out of me as Dezarie IMMEDIATELY comes out torching everything within her reach specifically those who keep one foot in the church, while the other is.... somewhere else. 

"You a dirt, a inequity worker

AT NIGHT, HOW YOU SLEEP ON YUH SERTA?

Cah you hurt young boys, never nurture

Preacher impose indecent exposure

You inviting di devil make a churcha-

To increase yuh membas and yuh stacha [stature]

You got di sheep caught up inna yuh rapcha-

Of lost, predatory nacha

DISGUST, monster behaviour

How you coveting di wife of yuh neighbour

You don't practice what you preaching neither"

"Man a condemn a faker

All-star perpetuator

Disaster leech, dem a preacher

Inferior preach be like Issa

Ministers being sinister

Reverend reverence di dollar

Di shops be shopping for power

MELCHEZIDEK ORDER, WI RATHER

Superior age and ulterior

THE MOST HIGH IN OUR INTERIOR"

The song instantly reminded of both Jah9's vicious 'Preacher Man' and 'Inna Dem Purse' by Reemah (Reemah is a damn genius. I just listened to that song for the first time in awhile... PROBLEMS!) and it is on the level of both as Dezarie continues her EXHAUSTING start to "Power Shift". I've got bad news for you if you were hoping for a rest with the next tune, 'With The Enemy', as it offers no such respite. Apparently we are undeserving of a breather. Were "Power Shift" a movie (there is no way there isn't a movie with that title), 'With The Enemy' would be one of its action scenes. From the second it drops in, it provides an urgent feeling as well as one that sounds very important. You might get a little nervous as the beginning of this one! In this fight for power, unfortunately, we have certain ones who will cross from side-to-side and they've grabbed Dezarie's attention and she is not letting them off easy ["HUGGING, SNUGGLING WID NEGATIVITY. HOLD HANDS AND CARESS WID CALAMITY"]. I don't want to start transcribing lyrics on every single song on "Power Shift" but, TRUST ME, when I say that you REALLY NEED to pay attention to what Dezarie does with this song, lyrically. Doing so offers the listener one of the greatest rewards available on this album. BOOM! I've previously alluded to 'Petty' as it was the song that I heard before even knowing that Dezarie had, yet another, new album forthcoming. I also called it "odd" as it just so happens to be a combination and.... Dezarie just doesn't do too many of those. In fact, I'm sure I'm missing SOMETHING but 'Petty' may just be the very first combination that she's done on an album, altogether! The song features her working alongside big Trini star, Kushite (and there's another "Trini star" that, someday, I would LOVE Dezarie to make a song with) (biggup Queen Omega, of course) and I was very curious as to how it would all turn out. SURPRISINGLY (not at all), it works very well. If you took Kushite off of 'Petty' and just kept Dezarie's portions (which is almost all of it anyway), you'd have a STUNNING tune. 'Petty' is really nice. However, with her kind of delightful ruggedness, Kushite adds another texture to it and takes it from this kind of airy vibes and gives it an edge that the subject matter would deem most appropriate. I'm not surprised it was chosen as a single, it is attractive on paper but the actual song also stands amongst the album's finest. If 'Petty' is the very first combination to appear on one of Dezarie's albums, #2 is also on "Power Shift" as the Cruzan empress also links with another VI standout, Tizzlah, on 'Hater'. Like Kushite, Tizzlah is also slightly more on the aggressive side which makes for a nice contrast with Dezarie who, again, varies her work on 'Hater'. The two enjoy more interaction than on 'Petty', directly marking their sound differences as, just as Midnite helped Dezarie along her way, she returns the favour, to Tizzlah, introducing him, SURELY, to his biggest listening audience via appearing on this album. 

I usually save this for just ahead of closing but I'll take care of it right now. "Power Shift" is twelve tracks long, spanning across fifty-two minutes. By my [surely incorrect] math, that means the average song length is A LOVELY four minutes and twenty seconds. There is a six minute + long piece which makes up for the difference made by the TIMELY 'Leave In A Rush'. If your actions are not positive and if you intents are not righteous, Dezarie has no time for you at all (SHE CANNOT SPARE THREE MINUTES FOR YOU!), so the fact that 'Leave In A Rush' is so brief, is perfect for it ["Shoo! Shoo, fly, don't bodda wi"]. Check 'Won't Kill Joy' with its fun and inviting sound (almost here like... a mix of old school soul music and maybe a Spanish guitar??).

"Cool, calm, collected, keeping an upful perspective

Foes ah come round like detective

Mind people prerogative, meditate

WOLF AN SNAKE UNIT WILL BE SOLO

WHEREVER THEY GO, WE'RE A NO-SHOW

Dem frequency low" 

I woke up in a good mood today. Therefore, I don't give a damn how negative you are or how much you try to bring me down, you're not doing it! And you know what? You're not doing it tomorrow either! 'Won't Kill My Joy' has a very practical point to it. I think everyone knows a really negative person or two who never has anything nice to say and just carry bad vibes, in general, most times. There is a MUTE button for people like this and Dezarie wants us all to attempt to use it just a bit more. On the other side of that, maybe YOU ARE THAT PERSON. I can't imagine such an individual would be interested in reading so much of a review like this one but, in case you are that one, you are not dead and gone. You have time to change your ways. Listen to "Power Shift" - maybe it'll cheer your ass up. 

I do want to skip ahead to the album's closer, 'ToGether' because it's very interesting and I've spent quite a bit of time listening to it. What you'll notice about it first is that it's a song on which Dezarie employs her BEAUTIFUL singing voice almost exclusively. She uses that sweet (and maybe somewhat underused) voice to push a unity anthem which is anchored in love. Yes. I made it sound it not so good but 'ToGether' is much better than my descriptors here are ["They don't want me to love you. They don't want you to love me"]. The vibes are nice and serene and it is a lovely way to end matters on "Power Shift". The penultimate effort, 'No Love' is even better than the song behind it. It's also what I was previously alluding to when I mentioned that this album carried a song over six minutes long and the anti-war set makes proper usage of every single second. You  get a standard song in the first four minutes or so and then the final third of 'No More' becomes a lovely display of pretty much everything including, most notably, a speech from Dezarie before things wrap up in an instrumental style. Prior to that, she does everything you might expect on such a song but what really stands out here is just how SPECIFIC 'No More' is at times. She names names! She hits places and situations ["Police vicious when dun gun down protesters. Brutal against melanite dem pull over"]. Anywhere you may be promoting war in the world -- currently or historically - Dezarie has something to get off her chest regarding your nastiness.

Finally, Dezarie serves up a cleansing fire with a couple or literal burners, 'Playing With Fyah' and 'Fiery'. While the latter is probably the slight stronger of the two, 'Playing With Fyah' is really strong as well. The tune is a call to caution and safety when dealing matters of SUPREME importance. In typical Dezarie fashion, the way we arrive at that point is nowhere near a typical road. This drive has many twists and turns in it and we must know our limits within it ["Some Judas calling demself Judah. Chamelon calling demself Lion, dem lyah"]. For its part, 'Fiery' is pretty much flawless  from beginning to end. 

"Some ah tek bribe to bring bad vibe

Fulltime being found to fault

Yuh money to man-ipulate man mind

And success will regress lives"

A GOLDEN musical display (there should be a teeny-tiny paragraph beneath this one getting into that a little more), 'Fiery', again, is quite detailed as it deals with negative things people do to put food on their table. Some of it just ain't worth it and but listening through "Power Shift" is WELL WORTH your time.

Full, beautiful credits to ZionLab. with the work they do here, musically. I'm going to make a larger statement about the entire album in closing but, just in terms of the riddim tracks on this album, "Power Shift" is EASILY one of the best of its kind that I've heard this year. The players of instruments, whomever they may be, really provided Dezarie with a big platform for her work and she, in turn, provided them with a GEM! Also credit goes to the artiste who did the cover. I can guess who it may be but to him/her, WELL DONE! 

Overall, yes. "Power Shift" is excellent and I probably didn't need to listen to much of it to be able to say that with any confidence at all. I cannot imagine that this sudden explosion of prolificacy by Dezarie will continue but we're REALLY enjoying it while it lasts (that's NINETEEN new Dezarie songs in one year!) (WHAT!) (oh and by "in one year", I mean like five weeks). I will say that I think it's a bit more OPEN than some of her other releases. Not that the music leaps much outside of the genre -- it does not -- but I think that music is SO good that if you are someone who hasn't typically found something in Dezarie's output that has been for you, this album is would be a great starting point in my opinion. For the rest of You: While you may have opened the door to the music of Dezarie initially at Midnite, FULL DECADES later and in broad daylight, she's now living in a mansion and still earning it. "Power Drift" is THE best album I've heard in 2026 so far. Period. 

Rated: 4.7/5

Goddess Frequency

2026

All For A Time by Pressure Busspipe & The Zion I Kings

"All For A Time" by Pressure Busspipe [Zion High Productions]

"Pressure Busspipe & Zion I Kings": That is far more than enough to get my attention and, if you have any sense (literally ANY AT ALL), it's the same case for you. Absolutely MASSIVE news today as "All For A Time", a brand new project linking the two longtime favourites of ours, for the 900th time, has finally reached and you know we had to take a listen. I won't go over too much, but in their catalogue together, Pressure & ZIK have given us two albums which we've rated at 5/5: "Rebel With A Cause" and "The Sound", which we also named as 2014's Album of The Year. Individually, they're both also huge deals around here and I've been writing about them for... more than twenty years at this point. Whatever they do is enough to get my attention; together, they're potentially special. The new release actually lines up with the exact completion of Pressure's 45th rotation of the sun (I could be wrong but I want to say that he's actually done that before and, of course, you'll recall just last year when Chronixx did the same thing with his most recent album, "Exile") to add to the circumstances behind it. 

"All For A Time" is basically an EP. It features ten tracks, half of which are vocals, the other half (DELICIOUSLY) are dubs, so it lines up perfectly for the mini-review format that I've been doing lately (actually stopped writing another one to dig into this one). Apart from that... I mean... IT'S NEW PRESSURE BUSSPIPE MUSIC! LET'S GO! "All For A Time" gets moving with the downright MAJESTIC praise 'JAH Is Worthy'. On its surface, the song is almost ultra-straightforward in terms of both delivery and how it is written and it is transparent to an excellent degree. When you do dig a bit deeper, it does have a more complex element but we'll deal with that in the second half when I tell you all about the wonderful dubs on this project. Next up is our title track. Let's talk about this song for a minute.

TEARS!

When they finished this one, I think it's clear everyone involved were well aware what they had on their hands. 'All For A Time' is SPECIAL! It is of a caliber that would see it rank amongst the absolute finest of the St. Thomas burner's entire career and it is THE main attraction on the release named for it. It is absolutely STUNNING! From that syrupy sweet opening throughout the beautiful track as Pressure tells us all that nothing, including the roughest of times, is permanent.

"Though it hard I nah sell out

Suffer so long and can't wait to get the hell out

I smoke some marijuana and get mellow"

'Shine' is the sole combination on "All For A Time" - featuring the well gifted Imeru Tafari (coincidentally, whose mother, Queen Ifrica, has a new album of her own releasing next week called "Breath Of Life" on what happens to be my own 45th birthday) and it's another one that excels via a powerful simplicity for the most part, although Imeru does turn up the fire just a bit later on for a riveting stretch which is not to be missed ["Binghi youth deh pon a mission, clinical wid precision. Your vision spiritual so you no need no permission"]. The old school rinsed 'Be Somebody' has a riddim which SCREAMS that I know it from somewhere and maybe I do but getting to know this song has been damn delightful! 

"See your brother as you see your self

If I wish you good, you wish me well also

Everyone has importance-

From the homeless to the orphan"

Nothing no really impossible

ONCE YOU FLY YOUR VISIONS OVER OBSTACLES

Give it everything you got in you

You're the only one stopping you

Check ya attitude!

Cause nobody wants to be a nobody

Everybody wants to be somebody

Don't you take 'no' for an answer

Listen quick and slow your anger"

There is an infectious... almost JAZZY/BLUESY quality to this song that isn't entirely prevalent throughout but pops up during the chorus which absolutely CAUGHT me! The rest of the song is lovely also and I'll tell you that Pressure has more than one (GOOD) album that 'Be Somebody' would be in the conversation as being THE best song on. Did you see what I just said about 'Be Somebody'?? [If you didn't it's literally right there] The final vocal offering on "All For A Time", 'Rasta Children' is even better and CLEARLY so in my opinion. Ranking only second to the title track, the THICK 'Rasta Children', as you might expect, is a wonderful praising tune from Pressure  and though you'll find a number of such outstanding similar efforts within his catalogue, even most of the best of them rarely reach such heights.

Let's talk about those dubs for a second put a conclusion on this one and call it a day.  I'll bounce around a bit but let's head straight to the head since I did allude to it previously. 'JAH Is Worthy Dub' SHINES even brighter, arguably, than the original version. If you're unfamiliar at all with the work of the ZIK, the players of instruments include the typical esteemed cast (Tippy I, Jah David, Moon Bain, the late Andrew Stoch and the likes) (Stoch has been physically gone for nearly six years and we're still celebrating his work. What a life  that man led!) with a different name or two in the mix as well. This time around, Roberto Sanchez lends his monstrous talents to the project and, as is the norm, it is fantastic. I've always said that I'm not the biggest Dubhead in the world but I've always appreciated the Dub work of the ZIK. 'JAH Is Worthy Dub' has to be amongst some of their finest. Also, you really get a feel for just how complex and detailed this particular sound is here which is constantly one of the main points of interest for me on these type of releases. Just as dense as 'Rasta Children', 'Rasta Children Dub' is another big winner here but in a different way than 'JAH Is Worthy Dub'. 'Rasta Children Dub' is a bit more on the spacious side and it is lovely. I could listen to this all day long. The Jazzy element that I spoke about on 'Be Somebody' isn't present at all really on 'Be Somebody Dub' and that's fine because what remains is more than solid and a big credit here goes to one Okiel McIntyre for his horn work which highlights the sound. 'Shine Dub' is all sorts of interesting and I was very curious as to how they would handle this one with two voices to attempt to mix into things. 'Shine Dub' actually is more skeletal but the thing that sticks out here is... I don't know if it's a flute or what it is (probably is a flute and if it is it is attributed to Zoe Brown) but whatever it is, it lights this track up brilliantly. It makes 'Shine' GLOW! Lastly, the all-conquering 'All For A Time' makes way for 'All For A Time Dub' which is nearly as enchanting (yes E N C H A N T I N G) as it vocal version. I won't even begin to try to work my way through everything that is going on with this one but I will say that, beneath it all, SOMEWHERE in there is an oh so slight and but PERFECT guitar. It becomes much more pronounced later on but up until then (and including then) it hits all the right notes... or chords, or whatever you call those things on a guitar. 

Overall, like I said, I've been writing reviews for Pressure Busspipe's work for a very long time now and I rarely come away disappointed and "All For A Time" is not an exception and I knew it wouldn't be (and so did you). It's going to be next to impossible for me to believe that ANY fan of Modern Roots music won't enjoy this one. "All For A Time" features two of a our favourites, Pressure Busspipe & The Zion I Kings in outstanding forms.... they pretty much always are and that is more than enough for me. 

Modern Classics Vol. XLIV: Jah Grid by Akae Beka

We've spoken quite a bit in the past about the shift that I experienced in regards to the music of Vaughn Benjamin and Midnite. When I was much younger, the sound wasn't something that I was capable of appreciating. It wasn't very catchy. It often seemed like he did not care much at all for melodies or even if he was in-tune with the riddim behind him. It was not (and often still is not) the type of music that immediately draws you in and that's fine. While I don't think that there is an age requirement for enjoying the music of Akae Beka, I do think there may be a life experience requirement. Benjamin's music, at least in my opinion, is best served as a tool for PROVOKING THOUGHT and the depth of your thoughts surely increases with the amount of life that you've lived... with the amount of things that you have gone through, personally. 

Today I want to take a look at an album which is a personal landmark for me because, if I recall correctly, it was one of the ones which directly opened the door for me to Benjamin's work. I can remember buying "Jah Grid". I was still in university, it was probably a week or two old and I bought it just to buy it (and it wasn't my first Midnite album either. I THINK that distinction belongs to "Ainshant Maps" and I'm still working on that one as well)! A trait that I inherited from my wonderful Mother (and her wonderful Mother, both of whom are healthily and happily still with us) forces me to occasionally buy things just because I like buying stuff (a problem for a habitually broke college student at the time). I'd listened to Midnite's music before and, as I said, I didn't particularly care for it and I bought "Jah Grid" presuming that I wouldn't care for it either and, at least initially, I was correct. "Jah Grid" was... skeletal. The music was just fine but for someone who Dancehall would have been what I was listening to most at the time (and I was definitely listening to Roots music as well but it would have been... Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B... kind of Dancehallish Roots music) Midnite's music was a bridge I had yet to even attempt to cross. But I paid my money for it, it was mine and, every so often, I'd come back and listen to "Jah Grid" and somewhere along the line, the shift began. Prior to that, however, I had begun to listen to the works of the likes of NiyoRah, Yahadanai, Army & Aincent King whose work came via a label that also would stick with me, I Grade Records, which also helped. I want to say that it didn't take THAT long for an album released in 2006 but I can remember a point when "Jah Grid" ceased to have any semblance of a presupposed (on my part and my part, alone) 'barrier' to it and what stood in its place was the start of a WONDERFUL journey of comprehension that continues to this day and will only end for me at my grave. 

In the latest addition to our Modern Classics series, we take a look at an album which helped to open a very large door for me, personally: "Jah Grid" by Akae Beka.

1. 'Enter'

I've spoken about this one previously. 'Enter' is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard... from like anyone and it so PERFECTLY exemplifies the process that I've gone through with this music. 

"If you plan fi live good, open Jah door and enter"

I don't know if this is the case but I'd like to think that someone specifically decided that it was so powerfully positioned at the beginning of the album because it sets the stage for what is to come not only musically but, specifically, by what Vaughn Benjamin says. ESSENTIALLY, he is saying that if you are willing to continue down this road, something immensely powerful awaits you. I should also mention just how damn THICK this song is, musically. The riddim sounds like something that grew out of the ground (oooooold, fertile ground) - a credit to the extremely gifted players of instruments behind it.

2. 'In Tent'

'In Tent' is a song where Benjamin actually does make an honest attempt at being melodic and I can actually remember a point, before this album fully opened up for me, where it may've actually been my favourite song here. These days while it may not rank as high, comparatively, I'm even more fond of it because I hear things in 2026 that simply did not exist for me in 2006. 'In Tent' is a very FULL experience and it exists for me as a social/life commentary (with a spiritual helm, of course) as Benjamin covers a variety of different topics and that's what stands out so brightly for me in this time. It's almost as if he jumps in and tackles one thing; jumps out, jumps back in and goes on something else. Take them all in a fractured state and you have something very solid (which I would have actually been capable of appreciating twenty years ago. Kind of viewing this tune as an impressive string of one liners), however, if you are capable of finding a common ground for them all and thus, receiving them all at once - well, then you have something special. 'In Tent' was special.

3. 'My Joy'

Grrrr. Despite its title, 'My Joy' came in with a bit of fury and is a more than welcomed deviation in its delivery. 'My Joy' does actually stay true to its name but in an expectedly very spiraling manner (a signature of Vaughn Benjamin's). The song was, essentially, him gardening. He was cleansing away the impurities and strengthening the soil so something would grow and he was mowing the lawn clear of overgrowth.

"Situation of the dream: Well nightmare haunt

ANYWHERE DEM KILL SEED, DIMENSION PLANT"

If you do these things well, what stands will deliver goodness for YEARS and, all of this time later, I am still enjoying the ripe fruits from 'My Joy'. 

4. 'Kin Dread'

One of the undeniable signatures from "Jah Grid", 'Kin Dread', finds the chanter (in a very SMOOTH way, particularly when compared to 'My Joy' just ahead of it)... just.... obliterating and annihilating everything, EVERYWHERE! Seriously, what the hell is this:

"New methodology, dem have it inna dem ghetto, mi seet

Dem new ghetto: Di chatroom

You don't have di password

You can't afford di software

You don't fit in yahso

Dem have it set up so dem deh alone can be pon di cutting-edge of di scientific community

Anything dem waan fi sociology do-

Anything dem waan fi economically do, dem can just do it"

"Whole heap a critic-

Dem just labba, run off dem mouth ah talk seh-

'Wi shoulda dun gone Addis Ababa'

'Wi shoulda dung deh a Shashamane'

Here a small story, mi ah tell you short story about a farmer

Plant up di most itiful garden, but di youths dem only want softdrinks and Babylon flavour

But hear yah now

Dem ya a mi kin dread

Dem a mi kin dread

Dem a mi kin dread

Di harvest is ripe and di labourers are few

Selfishly, dem waan fi depart when dem know seh that dem deh pocketbook can take care of dem deh just dem few"

At its core, 'Kin Dread' is a unity piece. It's about bringing us all together, warts and flaws and all but the journey to get there may take us AGES (and I ain't complaining about it). I would suppose that the majority of this song was a vibe. I've actually seen video of Vaughn Benjamin actually writing lyrics and while I would guess (and do so acknowledging that I could be completely wrong) that it was his preferred method of writing songs, I wouldn't think that he wrote much of 'Kin Dread' at all before he started it. It has a very LOOSE feel to it which isn't a frequent occurrence in his work (his delivery often comes off as unrehearsed but the man seems to know PRECISELY what he wants to say most times) and was one of several reasons that 'Kin Dread' left its mark.

5. 'Under Management'

Along with maybe one or two others, 'Under Management' is a song that has experienced as much of a SHIFT that I can think of. I can recall a point where I listened through "Jah Grid" and came upon 'Under Management' and... literally, had NO CLUE what I was listening to. It might as well have been recorded in Japanese or Latin - not because I couldn't understand what was being said but because I would have had just as much of an opportunity of digging sustenance out of it in those days had I been totally walled-off to what was being said. On top of that, can you find a melody here? Benjamin didn't give a damn about it and what little of it there was was very difficult to get to. 'Under Management' was just a tough song to listen to and remained so, even after much of the album had begun to develop for me.

Today? There is a group of my absolute favourite songs on "Jah Grid"; there're three of them. I just told you about one of them and the other, 'Enter', started us off. Outside of those... I cannot definitively say that there is a better song than 'Under Management' on this album (one might be pretty close). There are a few others that I will, depending on the day (and maybe even the time of day), rank higher, but if you were to come back and ask me what I think a few minutes later, I'd probably change my mind. 'Under Management' is GOLDEN as Vaughn Benjamin puts on a display of the spoken word for the ages. He says SO much on this one and covers SO much ground that you can stop it TRULY anywhere and hear something powerful. For example:

"Multiple psychology experiment on tv look like entertainment"

And it allows you an entry point into such a powerful track of thought. And there is a melody! The riddim also ranks as one of the finest compositions on the whole of "Jah Grid" for, as minimal as it may be (and it is), if you REALLY listen to it closely, there is a certain intensity behind this song that does not leap out at you but is definitely there. 

"I've seen it recently"

6. 'Spin Doctor'

The word that comes to mind today in reference to 'Spin Doctor' is "dilution". The term 'spin doctor' is used to describe a mouthpiece of a person who will often change and DILUTE a thought or a message to make it receivable amongst whoever it is being presented to. It is often used in the political sense.

"Teams of people who've been hired just to do this thing, believe it or not

They get on the news and in the room 

Sit around and decide how the outcome must come down, smooth-

And shape it in the news"

Certain messages require no "mouthpiece", however, and certain 'Candidates' are beyond the "spin". In order to illuminate this point, Benjamin takes a route which  goes through physics, looking at the nature of spin doctors on a molecular level. For its unusual sound (and it is strange, with a kind of a Jazzy vibes to it), 'Spin Doctor' is a HEALTHY point of discussion and one of the finest written songs on "Jah Grid".

7. 'Royal Habits'

I've alluded to 'Royal Habits' here already: When I was talking about 'Under Management', I mentioned that I have a group of three all-conquering favourites on this album but outside of those maybe only one more tune could lay claim to being better than 'Under Management'. That song was 'Royal Habits' and it is a flawless example of what a song that would not have done a damn thing for me when I first came across it but now does the world for me. This song is messy, it's scattered and it's pretty consistently off-key.

It's also beautiful. It's brilliant and it's poignantly POWERFUL. 'Royal Habits' also stands as one of the few tunes on which Benjamin had a little 'over-fun' with on the vocals. You'll know exactly what I mean if you're familiar with it but for the balance of the tune, it's what you're thinking that it is. We all need to do a bit better because we know a bit better. That's the source behind this song which, though it may take awhile, will reveal its true power only if given the opportunity.

"If you have it, exhibit royal habits"

8. 'The Bringers'

Though its music threatens to steal the show, 'The Bringers' does turn out to be a wonderful tune. First of all we do have to talk about that riddim: Silky, syrupy SMOOOOTH it is. Sounding like something directly halfway between Reggae and Jazz, the composition for 'The Bringers' features the handiwork of the venerable likes of Tippy I, the incomparable Tuff Lion (who DESTROYS on this song) and others. Just as a piece of music, it's winning but now we get to add in the works of Vaughn Benjamin. For his part, the chanter seems intent to match the fluidity of the players of instruments and while we can debate on how well he does on that end, what he does do (as he always does) is excel with his words. Here, he puts on a LOVELY display that I took in tribute and honour to our "bringers" [DUH!], meaning our parents, our forebears and ancestors who have done so much in bringing us to where we now are.

"Enough praise, I cannot give

Enough thanks, I cannot give"

Benjamin levels 'The Bringers' up when he goes EVEN HIGHER at one point when he asks one question:

"Should I not give all these things and more unto Jah?"

And I won't get into it... YES I WILL! 

"His Majesty unified all these minds into one place

Wrote the law on their hearts in one place

Solidified by distance

3,000 miles away"

HE who set bloodlines and lineage into motion is THE BRINGER. THE is The Bringer who brought 'the bringers'. I listen to these songs and I wonder if its my overactive brain that piles on ideas here or if I'm really on to something but songs like this one mean so much me now.

9. 'YHWH'

I'll come back and explain it, in closing, fully, later but 'YHWH' sits as sort of the GLUE of "Jah Grid". It is the source code behind it all as far as my experience with the album has gone. However, until then, there's this. 

"Choose before a place where no choices be

HIM, Haile Selassie spoke to these issues in specificity

Before the escalate happened early, happened early

Humbling to livity

Now it's not for triviality

Rastaman elevate the wisdom tree-

For souls to live in joy

Resonating, marinating in beauty

Let the positive rhetoric and economics interlock and purify I & I wholly

Haile. Holy"

"This" is one of the single finest written tracks on this album and I say that, again (kind of), without giving its true strength here but 'YHWH', along with 'Enter' has positioned my line of thinking in regards to this sound so perfectly and here we are There isn't a chorus to this song; such a thing would have only held it back and yet it is still quite pleasing to listen  to. More on this one in a second. 

10. 'Before I Lose My Strength'

I say "TEARS" when I want to let the reader know that whatever song I'm talking about makes me kind of emotional; it gets me "in my feels", as the kids like to say. I'm not going to say that about 'Before I Lose My Strength'; instead, I'll say this: THIS SONG MAKES ME CRY. It does and has been doing that for the last.... seventeen or eighteen years probably, but especially nowadays. The third of the trio of mountainous songs on "Jah Grid", 'Before I Lose My Strength' hits me heavily and I'll tell you why. For me, this song is about making the absolute most out of life that you possibly can - WHATEVER that may mean for you. It's about contributing and doing your part to improve life on this planet during the time you have on it. 

"Before I lose my strength

ALL OF THE DAYS OF SINGING

All my days of strength

ALL OF I DAYS HAVE VIBES"

Now, let's specify a little bit about whom we are discussing. Vaughn Benjamin left us, physically, in late 2019. 

"Before I lose my strength

ALL.

OF.

THE.

DAYS.

OF.

MY SINGING."

"ALL OF I DAYS HAVE VIBES"

Now I don't want to exaggerate or embellish or over-dramatize the moment but this man stated a mission... I don't even know if I want to use that word, "mission"... he stated a natural urge, an "instinct" (something implanted him by The Most High) - something he had to do [!] before the end of his days. Why???

"To maintain internal heights"

It made him feel good. It was something his biology required of him and he did it BEAUTIFULLY. Also, I wouldn't be doing a good job if I didn't talk about the music here. 'Before I Lose My Strength' is another kind of crawling sounding tune and it is gorgeous (THAT THING IS CRISP!). It'll take you a bit to arrive at that point (I'm an example of that) but this song, in particular, is the type of music that changes people's lives in my opinion. It is of THAT ilk. This man never lost his strength. He wrote HUNDREDS of wills and left it to the world.

11. 'Third Eye' by Jah Rubal

Let's talk a little about Jah Rubal. I'd like to think that -- both indirectly and directly -- Akae Beka did a great deal of work in terms of bringing along others and introducing them to the masses. I would think that we're already enjoying a generation of Rootsmen and women who have, in one way or another, been inspired by Vaughn Benjamin's work (I've always thought that about someone like Reemah) (and you see what she's gone on to do. That woman is a genius) but he's also brought some of them along for the ride. He's produced full albums for some of his peers (like Ancient King) and then there's Jah Rubal. I think most people first became acquainted with Rubal's work via his appearing on several Midnite projects and now he's a fully decorated and esteemed veteran with at least three full albums of his own off the top of my head (I should probably review one of them one of these days... think I might start researching that after this). EASILY, one of his most memorable features was on 'Third Eye' from "Jah Grid" - it also ranks, at least in my opinion, as one of his single strongest tunes to date. 

Rubal's style is a little messy but simple (and I mean both of those in good ways) and he's aided here by Benjamin, himself, who provides 'Third Eye' with a bit of background singing and harmonies. At times, such as this one, he also doesn't give a damn about melodies or song arrangement and things like such. He has something on his mind to get off and that's what Jah Rubal does, for the most part (he has a very unusual way of... doing unexpected choruses. They just kind of pop up when you are not expecting them). Although 'Third Eye' definitely does summit in its first verse, the entire thing -- after a nice long period of working on it -- does not head back down to the nadir and, again, at least for me 'Third Eye' sits as one of the finest pieces of output that Rubal has done to date as he suggests that we all take a closer, and perhaps more unconventional, look at the world around us. 

12. 'High Place'

"I have seen the high place"

TEARS! 'High Place', at least for me, has become this kind of lumbering... hard working giant of a song. It has something to do and somewhere to go but it isn't in the slightest hurry to get it done or to get there. It's going to take its slow ass time and you're going to sit there and let it. As it does progress, however, what you end up with is a tune which is wholly STUNNING at times.

"I have seen the high place

Inna likkle youth with the strangest question:

'How come they don't have lions?

How come they don't have mane?'

I say, 'hey, well ask ya daddy'

But it's the high place CURIOSITY"

The song is about non underestimating people and being able to appreciate BEAUTY and POWER everywhere you find it - even in the simplest, most innocuous of things. There is a joy here that I was incapable of appreciating AT ALL, initially and, even today, I can hear why I was lost. Now? Vaughn Benjamin says that he has seen the "high place".

I've seen it as well: On an album that I once left for dead.

13. 'On'

Courtesy of 'On', "Jah Grid" literally CRAWLS over the finish line. There was a point where I would have actually said that I disliked 'On' and if you're there as of now, I probably shouldn't fault you for it... but I am. 'On' is one the best songs on this album to my ears nowadays. Take its rather odd pacing and 'delicacy' out of play for a minute (we'll come back to it in a second) and just HEAR it for what it is.

"Let the vibes of reciprocation flow on and on

Those who have been the recepient of good and have done wrong

Remember, in your day, in your time when you can make a difference with your mind

With your deeds

Remembering the day, the people who have made your way"

The song is one about progression and progressing! Benjamin takes a good look at the good and the bad (and he almost had to in a song like this but it circles around so PERFECTLY and SUCCINCTLY. 

"Let the vibes of Jah flow on and on"

That is a signature of the man's work. I'm not going to say no one else CAN do it, but no one else DOES do it (at least not in the consistent sense). It is one of a kind. It belongs to him. Now, about the way that 'On' sounds - it GROWS! First of all is that riddim which is a five minute chunk of divinity within its simpleness. And the delivery on it, this kind of singing/chanting which sits around a more straightforward talk, works so well for it. He has something to get off his mind and he's acknowledging the moment:

"A caring thought

A considerate remembrance"

And, as it turns out, 'On' goes on to be one of the more sonically pleasing selections on the whole of this grid. 

Synopsis

"IT'S GONNA TAKE OVERSTANDING AND MATURITY"

I mentioned that I consider 'YHWH' to be the "glue" of Jah Grid. It's what holds my experience with the album all together and it's because Benjamin says things like this. I hear blips of so much of what I've gone through on this journey (and am still going through, DELIGHTFULLY) in this record.

"THINGS ARE COMING CLEAR, TRUE

IT TAKE A PAINFUL, A LOT OF ERA

A LOT OF MISCUE"

That final word there, "miscue", means so much to me here. I'm sure he didn't have it in mind when he wrote it but it was going to help open up my ears (and maybe, HOPEFULLY, many other pairs as well. It's okay to make mistakes in here and it's also okay if you don't comprehend what you're hearing. I remember seeing an interview of Tippy I and he, himself, who's produced so much of Vaughn Benjamin's work said that he'd constantly ask questions when he couldn't follow along. If he heard something and couldn't figure out the intention, he'd ask Benjamin what he meant and he'd tell him. I'm almost jealous of such an opportunity on one hand, but on the other I am SO DAMN grateful for the opportunity to work my own way through this work and to draw my own conclusions. 

"Destiny is subject to the decisions I & I make"

But I had to grow up mature and live life in order to earn the opportunity to draw my own conclusions and make my own decisions. However, with that being said, all of the time that I spent thinking that this music just wasn't for me also wasn't exactly bereft of value. I've had so many conversations with readers about how it just doesn't work for them and because of all the work I've done, I'm able to point them in a certain direction and make suggestions and... who knows, maybe it still doesn't resonate but PERHAPS they hear their own 'YHWH'. Maybe it comes via more 'accessible' material like "Beauty For Ashes" or "Kings Bell" or "Better World Rasta" or maybe they find it in small pieces through HEAVIER work like "Be Strong" but the fact that I've done it, myself, makes it such a satisfying experience any time I can maybe pass along a vibe or steer someone in this direction because what comes after is... unspeakable. It's a lifelong journey. For me that trek began to make an actual progress through work such as that which is found on "Jah Grid", a bona fide Modern Reggae Classic!

{Note: Also credit goes to the presentation of this album. Artiste Marcus Wilson did the cover which has thirteen stones (including the center), mirroring the number of songs on the album and then the actual CD has the songs title also circling around on the perimeter of the disc}

Completely Random Thoughts: Tapping In Even Further

Okay so, May's turning out to be a pretty big month. Along with our first review, we also have releases from Mikey General (review already done, coming soon) and Marlon Asher; and even Shaggy is back later this month with a brand new album and we're working on a few other things as well. Before we move on, however, I wanted to get back and take another look at the album we most recently covered, the beautiful "World Tap In" by Akae Beka, a week later. I'm still working with it (I always will be) and I wanted to kind of focus on one thing that I said during it and give you an actual example of what I meant by one thing in particular and how the wonderful music that this man has left us with sends me down these BEAUTIFUL rabbit holes.

I tend not to try to take in too many opinions of others before I review an album because if I feel one way about something but the prevailing thought is the complete opposite, I don't want to be swayed. i want to be on that island. Akae Beka's music is a bit different though because you don't see much in the way of negative responses so my interest in a situation like this would be to see which songs people are gravitating towards. While there hasn't been much yet in the way of a critical response that I've noticed (I haven't seen another review besides mine but I would expect more to be on the way), I have seen fans discussing the album, here and there, and what has come my way from our old readers (who still have my email address) has been that one of the biggest winners from "World Tap In" is 'Sycamore Tree'. That very same tune took top honours from me and I've been working on it and have all sorts of fun doing so. [Now you watch where this is going] When I first heard it, one of the things that went through my mind was how unique that it was and I immediately started to think of other songs Vaughn Benjamin had done that it reminded me of. The one I mentioned was 'Sha-tee', which probably isn't a very good comparison (and I likely just mentioned it  because I absolutely love that song) but I had another one in my mind that I was thinking of but couldn't quite get out. You know I searched high & low for that song and I THINK that I found it in a very curious place. 

A dozen years ago, a label by the name of Iaahden Sounds released a Midnite album by the name of "Stand The Test". The song was 'King Ring' and I was completely wrong, it sounds nothing like 'Sycamore Tree' at all, however, LISTEN TO THIS DAMN SONG!

"Dem seh dem ahgo abandon dem ship then ah feel fi go down wid it

Mediterranean children to all the world metropolis-

Is rhetorical vitriol that naïveté omit

World know the region is the world hand pocket

It all seem insurmountable to politician tactic

News state featuring hold-up language

Just to find a stable medium between the poor and the rich

TOWNHALL MEETING INNA DI SCREECHIEST PITCH

INDEPENDENCE BECOMES DI BIGGEST SLICE PERCENTAGE

Political position dem no waan fi be associated with

World cities of a changing demographic

Lack of technology cah dem see it as limited

Merchant marinas find a store weh wi deal 

The manners of our guest - observation fi is

THE MANNERS OF THE HOUSE MAY BE INCLINE-ED

These are the roadsigns from the time weh wi live

Di warrior bust from ancient was explicit

Bible seh nothing new, under the sun, exist"

I remember "Stand The Test" (it was kind of a Hip-Hoppy sounding album) but I do not remember it sounding like THAT! There is a further connection in here as the press release (that no one bothered to send to me) mentions that one of the players of instrument on "World Tap In" is a Jordan 'Iaahden' Jones who, of course, is also the Iaahden behind Iaahden Sounds and produced "Stand The Test" in its entirety. THIS would also take me on another journey through Benjamin's catalogue because, of course, I was also certain that I remembered another tune which reminded me a lot of 'King Ring' and this was easier to find because I had actual words in my head and that was 'Ithiopia Millenium Deliverance', from the album "Ina Now". 

"And the Genesis of the age is Selassie I, Jah

And the Genius of the age is Selassie I, Jah"

I hadn't listened to "Ina Now" in quite awhile so what I do with things like that is that I'll go back and read through my own review, curious as to what I said about the album generally and, particularly, which song I said was my favourite at the time and in this case I was really happy because I actually did choose 'Ithiopia Millenium Deliverance'; and I even referenced that lyric as well.

Okay, that "one thing" that I mentioned from my review that kind of started me to actually writing this was this:

"Benjamin's work is truly the gift that keeps on giving."

Do you see what I mean? This isn't a random occurrence either. It's surely more often happening these days given the new album release but, even without it and not to exaggerate anything, but I'll have episodes like this... maybe once or twice a month even without new material pointing me in a certain direction (the "Kings Bell" album usually does it for me. If you REALLY get into that one, there're so many lines you can draw to other work) and whether I find what I'm looking for (if I'm even looking for anything) does not matter. It is the journey to comprehension that matters most and Vaughn Benjamin left us with a, literally, endless musical itinerary. That is not death. I don't know what that is but that is not death.

Signatures Vol. XI: Pressure Busspipe

Next up in our Signatures series is an entry that has been a long time coming. Pressure (and then Pressure Busspipe) has been a favourite of mine from virtually I the first time I heard his music. Back in the days of the Star Lion Family, leading into what, arguably, is the single greatest debut album in all of modern Reggae in my opinion, "The Pressure Is On", through the magical time he spent working with one of the greatest Jamaican producers of all time, the St. Thomian chanter has continued to impress every step along the way. In doing so, he has amassed quite the catalogue and today we attempt to narrow it down and take a look at some of the best of the best from someone well in the process of putting together a legend. Signatures: Pressure Busspipe.

{Note: I typically limit this list to fifteen tracks and plan to do so in the future but.... who cares?! It's mine and I can do whatever I want!... so I just made two #15's anyway} 

{Note 2: DAMMIT!}

 #1. 'Love & Affection'

You've got my attention. Pressure's biggest hit to date remains his MASSIVE hit from nearly a decade ago, the Don Corleon produced 'Love & Affection'. The tune (unless I'm REALLY overlooking something) also remains the single most popular tune in the history of Virgin Islands Reggae music and, on that front, really did a considerable amount of damage in taking notoriety from that well talented scene to the proverbial next level. It's also aged considerably well and, for someone like Pressure, who, as you will see as this list unfolds, has a history of making outstanding love songs, 'Love & Affection' remains the greatest of them all. Probably one of the best love songs in the history of the genre as well.

#2. 'The Pressure Is On'

THE PRESSURE IS ON! THE PRESSURE IS ON! There are signature songs and then there are SIGNATURES. 'The Pressure Is On' firmly belongs in the latter category as the title track, signature and even the first tune from his epic debut album from 2005. For older fans, there is a decent chance that 'The Pressure Is On' might just be the very first tune you heard from the St. Thomas superstar and it was SPECTACULAR. All of these years later, I think back to when I got that album and, back then, Pressure was definitely working on establishing his name as a solo artist, as a member of the Star Lion Family and to see what he's become.... isn't terribly exciting, especially considering the very first thing I heard when I began listening. One of the best songs of his entire career.

#3. 'Stop This Train' featuring Lutan Fyah

Let me off now! I'm still putting together this list (currently sitting at ten songs) but I had a moment where I was thinking about combinations, specifically, and while I may end up with one more before we're done, 'Stop This Train' was one of two that IMMEDIATELY came to my mind. This tune, which appeared on Pressure's HUGE 2014 Zion I Kings produced "The Sound" album, linked him with Jamaican lyrical wizard, Lutan Fyah and they did not disappoint. 'Stop This Train' was brilliant and ALL SORTS OF FUN! Its melody sticks so firmly in my head that when I think about it, I probably get 2/3 or 3/4 through singing the song in my head. It was a song that was pretty damn difficult to forget and, as long as I'm around, I probably never will. 

#4. 'All Said and Done'

Must overcome! TEARS! RUNNING DOWN MY FACE AND I CAN'T DO A DAMN THING ABOUT IT! I have to say that, though I was fond of it from the very first time that I heard it, Pressure's cut of Kabaka Pyramid's Bebble Victory Rock Riddim, 'All Said and Done', has grown on me IMMENSELY in the past few years since its release. The song was almost a couple of different ones inside of one. On one hand was this damn STUNNING melodically and bouncingly beautiful track; while on the other, you had this lyrically DIRECT, hard-hitting and SCATHING social commentary. 

"Selassie gi wi solidarity

And di poor man - dat a fi mi charity

Mi do Jah work and neva look fi popularity

When fyah bun again, none a dem mi no sorry fi"

In the midst of it all, when you found a common piece of ground, it was epic: A giant diamond disguised as a song. 

#5. 'King Selassie First'

Conquering Lion. The lasting champion from the "Rebel With A Cause" album, 'King Selassie First is in a RIDICULOUS class with... only a very, very few other songs. If you listen to enough Roots Reggae music, new and old (and you do), you know that there exists an ENDLESS line of tunes giving praise to His Majesty. There're several anchoring topics in the genre and HE is one of them. HE is the greatest of them and HE is the most prolific of them. Songs that have no words and songs that are totally incoherent are done in praise of HIM. So, with that being said, if I were to attempt (and I might someday) to distinguish the absolute best of what would likely be... hundreds of thousands of songs... 'Rebel With A Cause' would definitely be in the upper echelon of these and may even have a claim (however slight it may or may not be) to be THE absolute best. It was THAT good and it remains that good to this day. 

#6. 'Last Night'

Badda don. Big credit goes to Yard Vybz who lent Pressure their OUTSTANDING Badda Don Riddim. The track was SO DAMN SIMPLE and Pressure absolutely put it to the sword (Mavado did excellent on it as well) and turned in an underrated GEM of a love song. There're certain individuals who we know for doing one thing with their delivery but are capable of doing other things and doing them at a VERY high level (and I'm not just talking about that wail that Sizzla or Norris Man does that may fit for the specific type of music that they make). On 'Last Night', Pressure demonstrated a rarely maxed out but EXCELLENT singing voice, making for a downright golden listening experience and one of my favourite songs from him ever. 

#7. 'Same I Ah One' featuring Akae Beka

Seeking balance. One of the many jewels in the unity crown that was the "Beauty For Ashes" album, 'Same I Ah One' SPARKELED and it still does, nearly eleven years (exactly) on. Friends (as far as I know) and oft-collaborators, what Akae Beka and Pressure did on this song, for me, rates as their greatest piece of work together and, arguably (well, CLEARLY, in Pressure's case), from either altogether. Crafted by the loving hands of the Zion I Kings, 'Same I Ah One' had this rather odd pacing where it seems almost ponderous at times... then as lithe and airy as you could possibly imagine. Also, it doesn't switch! It isn't like Pressure is marathoning while Vaughn Benjamin is sprinting, they both do both and do them effortlessly. I also have to mention, as is the case with much [most] of Akae Beka's work, that I am still working on this song. These days, there is a single line that has so much of my attention, when Benjamin says: 

"As wi gather the mass of people in the ghetto, plenty

WHEN DEM FIND MEANS OF A MEASURE WITH THE ARISTOCRACY"

How powerful of an idea is that?! He paints as clear a picture as a possible, so you get the image of two groups of people from two vastly different walks of life who have surely just as varied life-experiences finding and standing on a piece of common ground. 

#8. 'Zion Is Home'

More than words. Off the top of my head, Pressure has three albums which I consider to be damn near perfect (biggup Perfect) and you'll find my favourite absolute favourite songs from all three. Leading "Rebel With A Cause" is 'King Selassie First', 'Stop This Train' topped "The Sound" and though the title track and my closer are fantastic enough to EASILY make it here, THE best song off of "The Pressure Is On" is 'Zion Is Home'. 

"Live yuh life and give praises, whatever the case is

Never you ever judge and compare

Africa is where my birthplace is

Where my lineage traces

MEMBER- ONLY LOVECAN TAKE YOU THERE

REACHING OUT TO SUNBURNT FACES

SINGING 'AMAZING GRACES'

More than words, Pressure love you dear

Hey, red gold and green laces

WE'RE A NATION, NOT RACES

IN OUR HEART IS WHERE THE WORD OF JAH APPEARS

ZION IS HOME!"

TEARS! Some twenty years (+) later, nothing has changed. 'Zion Is Home' hits you in the heart. It touches your mind and it challenges you to focus on what is being said and not just sit there and be pleased by the GORGEOUS track that you're hearing. It's also some of the most REFINED music of Pressure's career. It literally sounds like a remake. It sounds like the kind of song that he grew up singing for his entire life and, by the time he got in the studio, he was more than prepared, having spent the previous twenty plus years singing it. It wasn't. It was all his and if you want to make the case that 'Zion Is Home' is not only the best song off of "The Pressure Is On' but his best, PERIOD; you'll get no complaint out of me. 

#9. 'Lead I Home'

"CONQUERING LION BREAK THE CHAINS AND LEAD US ALL FROM BONDAGE

YOU, ALONE, CAN HEAR THE CRY, NO MATTER WHAT THE LANGUAGE"

Without end. Somewhere, buried in the back of my mind, was the faintest of melody for a song which doesn't have the greatest of melodies and it took me until I was finished with this list and going back to see if I had forgotten anything big to put a title on what I was hearing. "What I was hearing" was an absolutely BRILLIANT song from an album that maybe people don't even remember, 'Lead I Home', which appeared on 2014's "Africa Redemption". Released just a few months after the not-at all-forgotten "The Sound", the Baby G produced album featured Pressure alongside HUGE name such as Chronixx, Jah Mason, Damian Marley & Tarrus Riley (on the same tune) and even Garnet Silk but was 'Lead I Home', which found him going at it completely solo that reigned supreme. EVERYTHING (every. single. thing.) about this song was STUNNING... all of it. From its larger than life sound to Pressure's unrelenting delivery - were this list in need of a kick in the neck (AND IT WERE), 'Lead I Home' would be it. 

#10. 'Virgin Islands Nice'

So nice. Arguably Pressure's second most popular song to date, 'Virgin Islands Nice' earns its place on this list for a couple of reasons (it's popularity being amongst them). Yes, its quality sets it here. It wasn't just a matter of style without substance. It's very good. The thing that most stands out for me though is that I find myself talking a lot about VI Reggae music and, if you really think about it...... there isn't that ONE tune out there that stands up for Virgin Islands Reggae music, specifically... well there is, it's called 'Virgin Islands Nice'. Pressure made it. 

#11. 'Best Thing' featuring Yahadanai

Put upon this earth. If you did come across Pressure's music ahead of his debut album, perhaps you did so on another album deemed a 'modern classic' on these pages, "One Atonement" by the ever reclusive (and I do mean EVER) Yahadanai. Unless I am REALLY overlooking something, the album gets my choice as the single finest the genre has ever seen from a Guyanese artist and it's because of songs such as 'Best Thing' which is either my first and second favourite from that set, entirely (today it's #1 but I've been listening to a great deal of it for this, obviously). You have songs that are made in the idea of supporting women (Black women, specifically) and 'Best Thing' was one of them. What sets this apart from the pack, for me, is the fact that it almost takes an aggressive stance in some aspects. It's a forceful... almost COMMONSENSICAL shot at the poor soul who has yet to learn how to treat women. 

"SKIN SMOOTH CAUSE NO MAN EVER BEAT YA

AND IF HIM EVER TRY THAT, SELASSIE I WILL BRUK HIM FINGA"

Yaha did just lovely on his own but Pressure on 'Best Thing' took this "thing" to another place. We'll almost certainly never get the pairing again but these two got together and left the world with a song for the ages. 

#12. 'Coming Back For You'

No matter what you do. 'Love & Affection' is the best love song Pressure has ever done. It's his biggest hit, it's the King & Queen of that particular castle and that's unquestionable (not actually, of course. You're entitled to your opinion and maybe you can't stand 'Love & Affection'). #2 would be up in the air. My choice might actually be the title track for... Pressure's third (I THINK) album. Following the explosion of 'Love & Affection', "Coming Back For You" would find him returning to the same masterful hands that organized his debut, Dean Pond, and once again, the results were stellar. 'Coming Back For You' was GORGEOUS. The melody was infectious, it stuck with you and, as far as love songs go, lyrically it was outstanding as well. Clearly such songs are important to Pressure (he even has an album full of them) so when you can stand out of THAT pack - you're doing something special. 'Coming Back For You' was SPECIAL. 

#13. 'Jah Alone'

All I need. Of course, there is an obvious aspect of 'Jah Alone' that you observe in discussing it and that is Pressure's clear and prevailing affection for The Almighty. You'll find a number of similarly vibed songs throughout this list and throughout his entire catalogue as well. Something else, however, that may go overlooked in doing that is just how SWEET 'Jah Alone' is as well. It is a BEAUTIFUL song and while tunes such as this one tend to have somewhat of a more... royal or... GRAND presence when they register on the complex side (and this one does) (if you think about it - you don't hear too many kind of middle vibes praising song. They're generally either SPECTACULAR sounding or they're as basic as can be). 'Jah Alone', on the other hand, almost SOUNDS like a love song at times. If he weren't saying anything and just sort of humming out a melody (and you listen to that riddim, you might get to thinking about it being a love song. However, as soon as the tune actually jumps in, 'Jah Alone' transforms and by the time you get to a chorus, 'Jah Alone' is downright HUMBLING. This song is spectacular in its quality and with its infectiously deliberate pacing, what ends up happening, whether you realize it or not, is one of the most captivating songs of Pressure's entire career.

#14. 'Modern Pharaoh'

I don't fear you. HOPEFULLY you remember a compilation album from the Zion I Kings by the name of "Joyful Noise". Arguably my absolute favourite compilation.... like ever, the project released way back in 2009 and just brought together a tremendous collection of talent which impresses still to this day, over a decade and a half on. One of the genuine highlights on an album full of highlights was Pressure's ABSOLUTELY MAMMOTH 'Modern Pharaoh' on the jovial Grasslands Riddim, which found him taking on and tackling the major oppressors of society.

"Only Jah protect the needy and poor and poor

One thing that I know: I'll never be a victim no more

Of that, I am sure

False leaders keep straying the mass, from the past

But at last, I'm not lost

JUST SPEAK THE TRUTH, CAUSE IT NO COST!

Modern pharaoh

Release all the shackles and chains

I DON'T FEAR YOU!

Cause the same blood flow through my vein

Modern pharaoh

Here comes the fire and flame

Where all yuh works of deceit cause my nation nuff pain"

'Modern Pharaoh' is one of the best of the best in this group. 

#15. 'Be Free'

The world is yours. Of course, when you think of the years Pressure spent working alongside the great Don Corleon (and they had a great pack going for awhile with Pressure, Alaine and Munga Honourable) what likely comes most immediately to mind would be #1 on this list but if you're thinking that "Love & Affection" was the ONLY big moment the pair produced, you are sadly mistaken. My second favourite tune that they did together (unless I'm really forgetting something), would have been the GORGEOUS 'Be Free'. Sitting on a SWEET Corleon composition, Pressure pushed a broad idea which, for me, centered around one unifying them: HAVE A GOOD TIME. Do positive things, look out for yourself but go after your goals and do the best you can to have a great time in what you spend on this planet. 

"My people be fre cause the world is yours

And take control of your life, of course

Can't be held down by no evil force

Who The Most High Bless, no man can curse"

#15. 'No Limitation'

Build up our nation. I'm still working on fleshing out this list (I think I currently stand at ten songs, trying to get it up to maybe... fourteen) but I've already decided that my closer is going to be the brilliant 'No Limitation'. Why??? Well, I feel it did a fine job in closing Pressure's debut album, the aforementioned "The Pressure Is On" (probably end up with three songs from that one), that I thought it would well serve the same function here. This song found Pressure aiming for the stars. Be it a general upliftment of the masses or even something in the way of overcoming bad situations, the man said we had no limits on what we were capable of ["Take yuh shackles and chains off yuh brain"]. 

'No Limitation' has experienced something of a 'second wind' in regards to how I feel about it as, within the last couple of years or so maybe (maybe a little longer), I've noticed something very interesting about how it is written. You'll find the standard, tried and tired sayings that you will find in hundreds of similarly themed songs, such as "stay focused", for example. HOWEVER, what will follow that, what will come before it is SO far away from "tired" that it's almost like he's using the saying just to put it down; as if he's saying that 'although it may be true, I'm thinking about you on a deeper level'. So, instead of just saying, 'you can overcome', Pressure says:

"Never say you can't cause dat nah work"

Which doesn't even sound like the well refined and BEAUTIFUL piece of music that it clearly is (and speaking of the music, this riddim sounds like it was constructed in some damn lab somewhere over a dozen or so years) (biggup Dean Pond again) (and biggup Eno Stafford), it comes off as someone who, legitimately has your best interests at heart and is just having a discussion with you about your life. It probably wasn't THAT complex on his end (forgive me, I am an overthinker) but what I've heard from 'No Limitation' TRULY has provided me with endless enjoyment and it more than deserves its place on this list.