| Jah Guide (Greensleeves, 2007)
Although he's been in the biz for over a decade, Guyanese sing-jay Natural Black is one of the hottest up-and-comers in reggae today. Jah Guide is his second album in less than a year on the Greensleeves label, a feat normally reserved for the likes of established artists like Sizzla or Anthony B., which should give an indication of the level of talent he brings to the table. Adept at singing and chatting, he distributes both talents equally throughout the album -- his DJ skills in the gruff vein of Buju Banton, while his singing voice is a strong mix of the soul of Gregory Isaacs or Mikey Spice and the rootical vibes of Peter Tosh or Luciano (or Bushman, for that matter). The album starts slowly -- the first four tracks had me wondering what the big deal was -- but it really hits its stride midway through with killer tunes like "Give Thanks & Praise," "Love of Rasta," "Selassie & Marcus," "Africa," "Every Time," and "That's Life." Producer King Jammy lends the sort of old school roots and early dancehall stylee that made Sizzla's Waterhouse Redemption memorable, with "Joy" borrowing Johnny Osbourne's "Water Pumping" riddim, "Make Sacrifice" resurrecting Alton Ellis' "Breaking Up" riddim, and "Genuine Love" showcasing Derrick Harriott's "Solomon" riddim. Furthermore, cuts like "Jah Knows," "Every Time," "Bless the Herb," and "That's Life" transport you in time with the crisp drums, bouncing bass lines, and digital flourishes that first distinguished dancehall back in the day. Sounds like a "natural" to me. |
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