Half Pint (VP, 1997)

One of the earliest dancehall singers, Half Pint's best works -- "Greetings," "Level the Vibes," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Substitute Lover" -- rival that of greats Barrington Levy and Johnny Osbourne.  In typical mid-'80s to early '90s dancehall style, his songs feature simple digital rhythms and melodies, which are sung in a DJ-like style.  Knowing the four previously mentioned songs well, I had long thought that they should be included on a greatest hits compilation, and finally in 1997, they were.  This collection displays Half Pint's greatness in these tracks, but his limited sound is also apparent.  His songs can be a bit too simple at times, making them sound rather generic.  As such, several of these tracks blend together in a homogeneous ball of understated-ness.   Still, the tracks "Too Late," "One Big Family," "Crazy Girl," and "One in a Million" stand out just enough to be enjoyable and to carry you through the spaces between the four best cuts.