When
his track “Can’t Satisfy Her” received massive airplay in 2005, I-WAYNE
was thrust into a surprising spotlight. Soulful, bluesy roots reggae carved a
niche on hip-hop radio, and the 26-year-old singer watched his debut ascend the
charts. Two years later and his latest, Book of Life (VP), travels farther in reverse. While a quick snippet of hip-hop
appears on the album’s closing cut, “Natural Ites”. this is one of the smoothest albums of 2007 in any genre.
The production is incredible, clean; he’s taken the best of technology to bring
out that warm, penetrative bass, weaving drums, horns and guitars into the
blueprint tastefully. Above it all his springtime and sultry voice take flight.
Like
his forebears, I-WAYNE’s intention remain clear:
freedom, integrity and, of course, love, that good deep and passionate lover’s
rock kind of sensation men like GREGORY ISAACS imprinted on our aural
souls. He gives a verbal headnod to cultural and
spiritual warriorship in “Smart Attack”, while “Free
the People” is thematically brilliant, on par with “Satta
Massagana” in defining a generation and mindset. And
for the sucker of heart songs, “Need Her In I Arms”
and “No Vanity Love” fill that craving. “No Unnecessary War” speaks for itself,
while the incredible “Could A Never” is his own
“Fisherman Style” from the first
While
I-WAYNE leads this roots resurgence at 28, it is even more startling that
another is doing so at half that age. Of course it never hurts to have DAMIAN
and STEPHEN MARLEY in your corner. Releasing Superstar on
their Tuff Gong label (and produced by DAMIAN), it’s difficult to discern where
these fortunate sons begin and JAVAUGHN ends. And it doesn’t matter; the album
is fierce.
The
opening cut, “Present of Love”, admits traces of HORACE ANDY with
intelligent production skills that have underlain all MARLEY releases. It’s not
a complete album, quite yet, yet we’ll forgive JAVAUGHN. There are
plenty of credible songs and his heart is in the right place. His lyrics focus
on the same as I-WAYNE and the MARLEY brothers, obvious in song titles like
“Rich Quick Mentality”. And one listen to the yuletide cheer of “Santa Claus
(Do You Ever Come to the Ghetto)” will have you hooked.
Blessed
from his father’s roots, emerged recently in the musical arena TAURRUS RILEY
is expressing the true and clean message of Rasta language. Performing live
with a strong confidence delivering a proper show with captivating attitude is
always leaving his huge crowd with a smile while bouncing slowling
to the left and to the right following the roots vibes.
From
the female side the best artistes on the lights at the moment can be revealed
with the names of ETANA with a strong deep and sometimes raspy voice, determinated to impress with her determination and passion
for the music is remarked for beautiful songs such “Wrong address”, “Roots”;
rootsy and militant in the Rastafari
delivery mission is QUEEN IFRICA, with an impressive line-up of songs is
able to capture the attention of the people like ipnotized
from her calling when is performing. She is been described as one of the best
performance at the last REBEL SALUTE 2008.
We
look forward as this 2008 will sure brings intresting
prospectives for this loved musical business!
To navigate the future, a proper understanding of history is
essential. And this history is not relegated to any specific geography or
genre. It could be a glance into the past of your subconscious, fishing for
treasures primordial and revealing. Some claim hip-hop to be dead,
and others can say the same of reggae. Of course that’s more a marketing ploy
than reality.
Like the roots of old and those of new, music flows stream-like
from the hearts of these artists into an ocean of humanity. That spring is ever
flowing, and while it may take a bit of navigation to arrive, the trip is
always worth the journey.
BLESSED
LOVE