|
|
|
Rude Bwoy Reggae (Priority, 1995) Boasting a who's who of dancehall, this compilation provides a fairly comprehensive overview of the sub-genre of "rude boy reggae" within the sub-genre of dancehall reggae (of course, rude boy reggae isn't limited to just dancehall...). Classics such as Ninjaman's "Murder Dem," Cutty Ranks' "A Who Seh Me Dun," and Barrington Levy's "Murderer" -- bolstered by the great "Lodge" by Bounty Killer and "The Outlaw" by Terry Ganzie -- make this a nice introduction to so-called "gun lyrics." However, the seasoned dancehall listener will likely have many of the previously mentioned songs already, for they are readily available elsewhere. Still, a couple of rarities like Super C's "Bad Boy" and a Dave Kelly remix of "Murderer" with Beenie Man will provide collectors some joy. There has been much said concerning the social impact of gun lyrics, and I don't judge from a social standpoint, but from a musical aspect, I began to notice the limitations of this sub-genre upon hearing these songs back to back. The repeated rhythms and lyrics -- classic or not -- tend to wear thin by the end of these 15 tracks. The "Sleng Teng" rhythm is used at least 3 times, for instance, while Capleton's "Cold Blooded Murderer" sounds a bit too much like Buju Banton's "Murderer" for my taste, and Mad Cobra's "Yu Think a Little Gun" and Louie Culture's "Rudie Don't Care" are just plain generic. All in all, it comes down to personal taste, as do music reviews and sexual encounters. |
|
Track Listing |
 |