On da Reggae Tip (TVT, 1998)

New York-based Bobby Konders is one of the foremost producers of hip-hop reggae, but this compilation shows that he can come up with some wicked dancehall rhythms as well.   The 14 tracks here share about four rhythms between them, and luckily, the lion's share of the songs use the two best beats, leaving the generic music for Yankee B's "Girl With Money" and the just OK music for Shabba Ranks' "1 Man" and Beenie Man's "Brand."  The first rhythm on the album, an up-tempo energy-fest, carries two of the best cuts, Roundhead's "Weed For Life" (which usurps the melody from Soul II Soul's "Back to Life") and Mad Lion's "Dub Bust" (which usurps the melody from Blondie's "Rapture").  All in all, four songs ride this beat, but none nearly as strong as these two.  The dominant rhythm is the slow, funky, bass-heavy one used to greatest effect on Shinehead's cover of Dru Hill's "Never Make a Promise," here titled "Promises."  In total, 5 other tracks utilize this rhythm -- King Kong's "Rumble Jumble Life," Burro Banton's gruff "Tek Set," Anthony B's "Warrior," Little John's "No 1 Better," and Frisco Kid's "A No Your Fault" -- all of which are solid.  There is one hip-hop reggae tune on On da Reggae Tip, a remix of "Weed For Life" featuring rappers Blahzay Blahzay and Cocoa Brovaz (formerly known as Smif 'n Wessun), but is nothing special in comparison to the superior straight dancehall tracks.

Track Listing
1. Intro -- Burru Banton and Scare Dem Crew
2. Weed for Life -- Roundhead
3. Dub Bust -- Mad Lion featuring Keeva
4. Jus da Flex -- Spragga Benz
5. Promises -- Shinehead
6. Rumble Jumble Life -- King Kong
7. Girl With Money -- Yankee B
8. 1 Man -- Shabba Ranks
9. Brand -- Beenie Man
10. Tek a Set -- Burru Banton
11. Warrior -- Anthony B
12. No 1 Better -- Little John
13. A No Your Fault -- Frisco Kid
14. Rude Boy Ease -- Chronicle
15. Weed For Life [Remix] -- Massive B All-Stars