Roughneck Reality (Columbia, 1993)

Jamalski is a wild 'n crazy American DJ whose style is the virtual definition of hip-hop reggae.  Not only does he chat over predominantly hip-hop beats, but his method of chatting is itself American-ish.  That is, he seems to occasionally lose the rhythm, inflection, and patois that make chatting chatting, causing him to sound like an underwhelming rapper.  When he's on top of his game, though, his style can draw you in, sounding at times like a slightly calmer version of that Fu-Schnickens guy.  Helping Jamalski's appeal is both the nice selection of hip-hop music and his fun-loving energy level (Can't you tell from the cover?).  At his best, all of these elements combine to form some of the best examples of hip-hop reggae available. "African Border" and "Jump, Spread Out," for instance, meld reggae and hip-hop into a fluid, energetic bundle.  Other tight tracks include the slack "Poom Poom," "Akbar's Groove," (which is actually a rap song, but a darn good one from a time when lyrical talent and originality mattered) and "Piece of Reality," whose chorus goes something like: "President Bush is a piece of shit! David Duke is a piece of shit! Ronald Reagan is a piece of shit!..."  Now, who can resist pure poetry like that?