Ghetto Redemption (Jah Yout, 2005)

Even reggae fans may be surprised at the extent to which Christian reggae (or gospel reggae) has exploded in popularity since the '90s. There are now as many sub-genres of Christian reggae as there are in traditionally Rastafarian (or non-specified denominational) reggae, from roots to lovers rock to dub. Perhaps the most unlikely Christian genre, though, is dancehall, the traditional haven for slackness and gun lyrics. But Jah Pickney fully embraces both the edgy, urban dancehall sound and traditional Christian themes of faith, love, and morality. Ghetto Redemption is the third album from this Canadian (For some reason, a lot of the Christian reggae I've come across -- not that I've come across a lot -- emanates from Canada.), so there is a level of professionalism in his performance, which ranges from straightforward DJ chatting to rootsy singing to a hybrid singjay style. JP's vocals are expressive with a bit of a deep-voiced, stuffy-nosed old school vibe -- something like Buccaneer or even a less affected Snagga Puss. The (self-produced) music is likewise varied, primarily focusing on digital dancehall, but with touches of roots ("Truth," "Heaven," and of course, "Roots"), dub ("Praise Him"), hip-hop ("Gimme Some Peace"), and even soca ("Trinity Divinity"). Although it's a new album, the music at times sounds a bit like it's straight outta 1995 -- particularly on "Gimme Some Peace" -- which may feel either dated or nostalgic, depending on your point of view. Highlights include "Roots," the irrefutably catchy "Heaven," and "The Serpent," which showcases Jah Pickney's sharp ability to pull off the tricky task of conveying Christian messages in a hard-nosed dancehall format.  See jahpickney.com.