Even the most self-professed "objective" reviewers have their biases and their preferences. Me, I prefer not to hear  rapping over reggae music. Rappers like KRS-1 and Poor Righteous Teachers have incorporated reggae elements, but rarely do they rap over straightforward reggae riddims, and for good reason: it rarely works. You could be the best rapper in the world, but when you try to spew an inherently angsty rap over an inherently laid-back one drop groove, it's hard to get it to gel. That said, Connecticut's Ancient Mind is not the best rapper in the world, so he's fighting an uphill battle on Standing Strong, a mix tape featuring the duo (not sure if they're permanently a duo or just teaming up for this project) Ancient Mind & Kana. He's the MC in the partnership, while Hawaiian Kana is the singer. Kana is the more polished of the two, crooning with the soulful style that is characteristic of the lovers-inclined Hawaiian reggae scene. Like Reasoner and Jah Roots, this release is a sort of DIY affair, with the twosome performing over (some, if not all) borrowed riddims. It runs in mix tape format, with no breaks between tunes, dubby effects and voiceovers, and brief snippets of songs rather than the full product. This format makes it a bit harder to judge it in relation to conventional albums -- certainly it's not for everyone -- but there are some nice moments: "Truth and Rights" is a funky roots jam, while "Over the Hills," "Brain Washing," and "All These Days" also stand out.  Ancient Mind is a bit rough around the edges but has some talent if he finds his niche. I think a sing-songy delivery would help him blend with the reggae beats if he wants to go in that direction. Of course, the inclusion of hip-hop tunes like "Freestyle," "Slackness," and "Blessed Time" show that he can go in that direction as well if he wants to.  If so, more of an old-school vibe seems to be the way to go to match his flow. As might be expected from an album with budgetary constraints, the production and mixing on Standing Strong is a bit uneven, with some vocals being drowned out by the music and some music being overpowered by the vocals. That said, I have to think that a set like this can be an inspiration to aspiring musicians looking to present a viable product. You can find out more at www.myspace.com/upriserecordsmusic and www.myspace.com/morekana.