Chief Ragga (Hobo House on the Hill, 2002)

Jamin Wong, AKA the Chief Ragga, is a popular figure on the "Jahwaiian" music scene.  A DJ who seems to rap as much as he chats, his vocals are sort of a hybrid that might not be to everyone's tastes.  On top of that, his music -- like a lot of Pacific Island reggae -- is also a hybrid.  In fact, this album is so saturated by hip-hop, R&B, and dance that any portions resembling reggae seem accidental.  Only the lovers rock of "Your Recipe" and the dancehall-edged "Down in the Jungo" really come close to reggae.  Granted, this sound is part of the intriguing amalgam that is Jahwaiian music, but reggae purists should be forewarned.  For me, the poppy hip-hop and dance beats that seem to aim for the slick sound of *Nsync or Destiny's Child does little.  Sure, there are some catchy hooks -- as on "Ooh Ah," "Hawaiian Lover," and "Kilia" -- but overall, the material lacks the pop sophistication (as oxymoronic as that may seem) of a Top 10 act and lacks the edge of an underground act.  "Down in the Jungo," which aims for a harder-edged dancehall sound (and succeeds for the most part), seems to me like the best style for Chief Ragga to go for if he wants to expand in the reggae genre beyond the Pacific Island scene.