A Different Age (I Grade, 2005)

NiyoRah is an up-and-coming Dominican-born, St. Thomas-raised artist who you may have heard as part of the Star Lion Family (heard on the compilation Talkin' Roots Volume 1, amongst other albums).  He stands out from the mass of sing-jays out there with not only his expressive vocals, but also his ability to sing, chat, and even rap a bit (Purists should know that the rapping is kept to a minimum, though.).  His lyrics are likewise unique and insightful, as on his scathing attack on school menus in "Clowns Around Us":

First, look at what dem a feed the little youths dem inna school: 
Pizza, cow milk, and the old can food,
Can tuna, can beef, can chicken soup,
That is why dem operate with can attitude.
What mek dem wonder why the younger youths rude?
Candy made available fi put dem inna mood.

Or his racially charged dedication to the prison population on "Concrete Jail Cell": "Down, somebody's down in the concrete jail cell / And nobody gives a damn 'cause most of them are black."  The music largely comes courtesy of I Grade veterans Tippy Alfred, Kenyatta Itola, and Tuff Lion, so you know the sound is tight, funky, and adventurous. Those of you who've heard other I Grade albums like Midnite's Let Live and Ancient King's Conquering Sound should even recognize a few of these hard-hitting rhythms.  The overall sound is one of the most seamless blends of reggae and hip-hop/R&B I've heard, as tracks like "Clowns Around Us," "R.O.C.K.," "Sandy Weekend," and "Black Smokey Mountains" attest. Still, the more straightforward roots jams -- like "Angry Mother Nature," "Fullest Confidence," "Thinking About My Life," and "Concrete Jail Cell" -- still form the backbone of this stellar debut.