Bermuda's First Governor (New Shoot, 1998)

Not to be confused with Ras Michael of Sons of Negus fame, Ras Mykkal ("mick-AL") is a dub poet from Bermuda whose searing lyrics belie the popular image of the island as a tropical paradise with nary a problem beyond trying to figure out how to deal with all the tourist money coming into the country (and maybe that little Bermuda Triangle thing).  Like any other country, Bermuda has its problems, and Ras Mykkal tackles them head on on this his debut album.  Reggae in general is an historically political genre, and dub poetry is probably the most political form of reggae, but Ras Mykkal may be the most political dub poets around.  I say this not only because of his topical lyrics, but because he not only preaches, but he practices.  In fact, he has played a significant role in Bermuda's national elections; he wields so much power that some of his songs have even been banned for their controversial criticisms.  Much of Ras Mykkal's ire is aimed at politicians who don't adequately serve the peoples' needs and also at citizens who don't adequately meet their family obligations.  A particularly fascinating tune that delves into the vicious legacy of colonialism and its effect on both politics and family structure is "The Affiliation Act."  It, along with the rootsy "Bermuda's Political Football Match," "Three Blind Mice," and "Rude Boy inna de House," which implicates politicians as "rude boys," form the core of the best material on Bermuda's First Governor. In comparison to the vocals, the music on this album is bound to pale, and to an extent it does, but only on a couple of tracks does the music truly stand out as the weak link here.  The slow jam R&B music of "Where Do de Children Go?" and the New Jack hip-hop beat of "Rude Boy Gwaan na Church" -- basically, the non-reggae beats -- may put off reggae fans like myself, effectively negating the message put forth.