GENTLEMAN - SERENITY

GENTLEMAN - SERENITY
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - Gentleman is a very remarkable Reggae Vocalist whose many travels to Jamaica have not only blessed him with creative goodness, but made him become a popular artist in Yard as well.

He's the son of a German Lutheran preacher, and he has a deep belief in the Creator as well. However, Gentleman doesn't adhere to any specific religion and after discovering the spiritual nature of Reggae he was led to trod on this musical path himself, too.

He started his musical career as a member of the conscious Hip Hop group FK All Stars. But when the group split up in 2001, he formed the Far East Band and moved forward with a very interesting style of Reggae music, wherein he used Hip Hop elements without leaving the essentials that make Reggae Music.

You could say, that he took Hip Hop back to it's roots...

Ever since his first tour in 2002, musically backed by his Far East Band, Tilman Otto has been inspiring, blessing and surprising a worldwide Reggae audience. He recorded material with Sizzla at Judgement Yard in Jamaica, worked with well known producers like Bobbie Digital and singers such as Tanya Stephens.

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TURBULENCE - 4000 YEARS (2007)

TURBULENCE - 4000 YEARS (2007)
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - Babylon is not a new thing, that started a few centuries ago. Turbulence contemplates on the historical roots of the shitstem that took his foreparents out of Africa.

In this powerful track, Turbulence chants down Babylon one more time as he speaks about history and presence of the shitstem. We see what he talks about, and who.

Don't expect a hard hitting Dancehall rhythm, though. This is very much a contemplative work of art, if only to show the power of the words.

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MUTABARUKA - THE SYSTEM (LIVE, NEW YORK, 1984)

MUTABARUKA - THE SYSTEM (LIVE, NEW YORK, 1984)
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - "It's the second time we play here in New York, maybe there's a third time", Mutabaruka says just before he starts to recite his poem The System together with a backing band.

Although it wasn't Mutabaruka who started the discipline of DUB Poetry, he is definitely one of the strongest in the genre. With his poetry based on Rastafari consciousness, and a solid band to lay a musical foundation, there's much more than just a positive musical experience that you can receive when listening to the words.

In the year of George Orwell, Mutabaruka visits New York city and chants down Babylon with the truth once again, just like he keeps doing until this very day in 2008.

Check it!


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REGGAE FOUR WAY: FREDDY MC GREGOR, DENNIS BROWN, SUGAR MINOTT AND COCO TEA LIVE, JAMAICA, 1996

REGGAE FOUR WAY: FREDDY MC GREGOR, DENNIS BROWN, SUGAR MINOTT AND COCO TEA LIVE, JAMAICA, 1996

DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - Coco Tea's rendering of Rastaman Chant is right in the middle of this great mini concert featuring no less than four of Jamaica's sweetest singers.

The year is 1996, the place is Jamaica. Sugar Minott, Dennis Brown, Coco Tea and Freddie Mc Gregor enter stage for a crucial performance. The four vocalists need no introduction, and when you see them on stage together you can't do nothing but being amazed over the enormous amount of talent coming from Yard.

Coco Tea performs Bob Marley's Rastaman Chant right in the middle of the video. By then we've already heard all three other singers and are about to hear some more as well.

Crucial!

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CULTURE - CHANT DOWN BABYLON

CULTURE - CHANT DOWN BABYLON
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - Before Joseph Hill unfortunately passed away, he was the lead singer of the vocal harmony group Culture. Their live performances blessed people on a world-wide level and thanks to video's like this, the blessing will continue for a long time to come.

Joseph Hill's voice is very similar to that of Winston "Burning Spear" Rodney, yet it would be a great injustice to not consider either one original and powerful in their own works.

"Chant Down Babylon" is perfectly showing Culture's militancy and heartical vibe, as the group -with band- once again shows what they're capable of.

"The Riddim Is Full Of Culture, Yah"!

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BUJU BANTON - LIVE IN JAMAICA (1992)

BUJU BANTON - LIVE IN JAMAICA (1992)
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - Before Buju Banton became part of what many call the "Rasta Renaissance" during the early 1990's, he was already part of the top of Dancehall Music. This video captures him before he started growing his dreadlocks.

The music is minimalistic, the band is four members strong, Buju is energetic: Dancehall in 1992 made many people wonder "where Reggae has gone too". They blamed the computer and programming, but they will get the same idea while watching Buju and band perform.

The often chaotically looking concert is in fact an explosion of energy where Reggae, DUB and basic rhythm comes together to serve as foundation for Buju Banton's impressive appearance. An impression that offended more people than just those that did not know how to musically apprecilove Dancehall.

In the second part of the video, he performs one of his major "controversial" tunes that made the homosexual lobby show their cultural ignorance and intolerant behavior once more when they started to call for a ban on Reggae music in the 1990's.

This, and a great duet with a crucial singer, as well as more niceness for the eye and ear can be found in this crucial video from -allready- 16 years ago!

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CHEZIDEK - CALL PON DEM

CHEZIDEK - CALL PON DEM
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, May 2008 - Also known as the Herbalist, Chezidek calls pon the World Leaders to finally install some justice and equality and he does it in a Roots Rock Reggae style.

Throughout the ages, the Most High Jah has always risen up prophets who called upon the leaders of nations to do what He say, which is to give peace justice and equality to the people of this planet, all of them created by the Most High.

In this time, there are many Reggae artists who have been given this very same function if you will. The prophets of today can not be found on the Christian Television or Terrorist Broadcast Networks, they can be found on Jamaica where the sufferation is literally crying unto High Heaven as the saying goes.

While the political correct "religious" superstar "prophets" keep supporting and maintaining Babylon System and telling people to obey the beast, the voice of Jah keeps speaking in many ways. One of these ways comes on a crucial Roots Rock Reggae riddim.

Let them that have ears, hear!

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TYRICAL - NO GUERILLA WAR (2007)

TYRICAL - NO GUERILLA WAR (2007)
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, June 2008 - Artists dissing and bashing each other: there's something wrong with certain vibes in the dance. Tyrical come to chant it down!

With guest appearances of such greats as Beenieman and Bounty Killer, Tyrical makes his point: it's better for the artists to come together than to fight guerilla wars with each other, "inspiring" their audience to do the same.

Upfull vibes, seen?

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VERSION BIG-FI - THIS IS THE LAW

VERSION BIG-FI - THIS IS THE LAW
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW



WWW, June 2008 - 1980's Two Tone Ska travels straight into 21th century DUB: Another free MP3 release by the UK based collective who managed to get themselves nominated for the 2008 Reggae Grammy Awards.

This three-track EP contains two different versions of the riddim that gave the title to the release, one is played in Two Tone Ska Style, the other one in Reggae.

The third track is a short excursion into a form of music that can best be described as a blend of Soca, Ska, Reggae, House and everything else the Version Big-fi crew could get in there during the 2 minutes and fourty-seven seconds of the track.

Enjoy just over ten minutes of really original and creative material!

TRACKLIST

1. This Is The Law (3.44)
2. This Is The Law (Big-Fi Dub) (4.12)
3. Time To Be Happy (Part 3) (2.47)

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MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

REGGAE: THE STORY OF JAMAICAN MUSIC (PART ONE: FORWARD MARCH)

REGGAE: THE STORY OF JAMAICAN MUSIC (PART ONE: FORWARD MARCH)
DUBROOM VIDEO REVIEW



WWW, June 2008 - The first part of this excellent series of documentaries by the BBC takes us back to the 1960's and before, providing tremendous insights into the birth of the music that we like so much.

The UK based documentary deals with the early 1960's, when Jamaica "gained independence" and SKA originated in the celebrations surrounding the events. It doesn't take long before we are introduced to a number of then contemporary artists and go even further back in time to get more knowledge and overstanding.

It's part of on an in-depth series of documentaries that "inform, inspire and enlight" as Mikey Dread used to say. A series that tells the remarkable story of a remarkable music created by a remarkable people.

In about an hour worth of sights and sounds, we see countless artists, producers, and even Jamaican politicians as they tells us how the music originated back in the 1960's and before.

A must-see!

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TAPPA ZUKIE - IN DUB

TAPPA ZUKIE - IN DUB

DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE REVIEW

Originally, there were only 300 pressings of this LP. "Rockers today, you will love it tomorrow," were Zukie's words back then in the 1970's. How right he was. Another Blood and Fire release, so it comes with nuff Liner Notes by Steve Barrow, and Artwork. This album is a collection of Tappa Zukies (David Sinclair, July 2, 1955) dubs, mixed by Philip Smart. It's one of the best DUB albums I've heard, and certainly some tracks, like MPLA, I consider to be in my all time top ten.

On several tracks the mixing takes over the original sound so much, that a true mystic vibe enters. No smooth, polished versions, but hardcore dub coming from the ghetto's of Kingston Jamaica.

It is a mix of the best quality reggae musicians that play on this album. In his notes, Steve Barrow writes "First issued when dub was still relatively fresh, and long unavailable, 'Tappa Zukie In Dub' proves a fitting cornerstone to the producer's career, so just string up and stand back, and let King Tappa rock the musical atmosphere!".

VARIOUS - DUB OVER DUB

VARIOUS - DUB OVER DUB

DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE REVIEW

Like the CD "Jesus Dread", another compilation of dubs from some crucial and old reggae.

Strictly Rockers on this double CD filled with music from the High Note Label. Now you get the chance to hear the dubbing works of Errol Brown. He is a guy who lets the music remains to play a big part in the mix: you will not hear that many effects as when you would be listening to a King Tubby dub, or a Jammy Version.

And the music is sweet, so very sweet!

Listen to a dubmix of "Dreamland" by Marcia Griffiths, for example. Several tracks from Treasure Isle. Listening to it takes you back to that wonderful era of ROCKERS.

Most of the tracks have the steppers style of drum, with a kick on every count in the measure. All the big names of rockers are there: Sly, Robbie, Ansel Collins, Deadly Headly, Dean Fraser, Micky Boo, you just name them and they're on this CD.

I would say, this compilation is a nice lesson in rockers. Because the mixes are not too wild you can still discern the instruments. It's not only a nice introduction to dub, it is also a good way to get acquainted with rockers!

SUGAR MINOTT - GHETTO CHILD

SUGAR MINOTT - GHETTO CHILD

DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE REVIEW

Sugar Lincoln Minott can be considered the father of the rub a dub, the 80's dancehall that brought us superstars like Barrington Levy, Tristan Palma and Linvall Thompson.

His sound system Youth Promotion brought us many singers and deejay's. Sugar is known for his loyalty to the sufferers. He refused big album contracts because he did not want to leave his bredrin and sistren in the ghetto.

He got into trouble with the churches because he did not want to leave the ghetto.

Sugar's sweet voice masters almost any riddim and any style within reggae.

This CD, "Ghetto Child" contains a series of vocals with their versions. The music is pretty modern, but it is no Ragga, still roots rub a dub.

His love for the Messiah is beautifully expressed in the song called Sweet Jesus and if you want some good advice on smoking herb you should also listen to Dreadlock's Chalice in which Sugar explains that it is best if you don't smoke at all, but if you want to smoke something, it is best to take a sip from the dreadlocks chalice, because all the other drugs will certainly harm you!

Sugar has no locks upon his head, otherwise he would also be a Jesus Dread, like Yabby You and Willy Williams.

For a joyful conscious noise, check out this CD!

LINTON KWESIE JOHNSON - DREAD, BEAT AND BLOOD

LINTON KWESIE JOHNSON - DREAD, BEAT AND BLOOD

DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE REVIEW

Listen to the man called Linton Kwesie Johnson, because he's got a lot to say and he is saying it in a hard dubwize style!

LKJ doesn't sing, and he doesn't rap, he is a poet from the city of London and he recites his poems over some of the hardest dub riddims ever laid down.

The Legendary Dennis "Blackbeard" Bovell and his band is responsible for this monument of black music that will thrill you to the bones, I guarantee!

This is the sound of the crying sufferer: Hard reality of today comes through your speakers as Linton introduces you to the blackman's suffering in modern day Babylon.

As heavy as the basslines are LKJ's accusations against the police, government, and the sufferers themselves. Although he is not a Rasta this is a Black Consciousness Reggae Album from the first degree.

It is the 2nd track called five night of bleeding that made me hooked on reggae and especially dub. This happened back then in 1981 and this album is still among my favorites! Dread beat and blood is Linton's debut album, I consider it his best.

You can find his music in several collections that consist of only essential albums. It is one of the first in the genre that is now know as "dub poetry".

Like U Roy is to be considered the godfather of toast, Linton Kwesie Johnson must be credited as the godfather of dub poetry. Dread Beat And Blood: consider this to be your next purchase!

CULTURE IN DUB

CULTURE IN DUB

DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE REVIEW

Don't ask me why it took such a long time before there was a release of the dubs from these tracks used by the vocal harmony group Culture, I just don't know.

Maybe more people like dubwize in this time, but it is a shame that only in the 90's this CD was released. 15 Dub shots from these classic reggae songs we all know: Behold, Holy Mt. Zion and many more.

Although released in the nineties, these dubs are old-skool. Roots reggae dubs in the style of the Goldmine Dub from the Revolutionaries (guess who laid down the riddims on this album) and Dub over dub. Yes, you wanted this album 20 years ago! It sounds like all the work is done in the seventies, when you listen to this record, you almost think you are back in that time when Rockers hit Jamaica.

Most of the tracks on this album are hard steppers, but not all. You' also get a good listen to what the percussionist plays, as this gets overheard a lot of times in the vocals (original mix with the singers).

When you love the vocals, you will love these versions as well. Culture's reggae is essential like Burning Spear and Israel Vibration. Only they have had their dubwize releases, now listen to the essential Culture in Dub!

YABBY YOU - JESUS DREAD

YABBY YOU - JESUS DREAD

DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE REVIEW

Yabby You, aka Vivian Jackson, is a multi-talented dread who has done a lot for Reggae Music. He is a producer, a singer, and well known for his spiritually based Roots Reggae music.

Yabby You has "discovered" Michael Prophet, Wayne Wade and Mykal "Black Uhuru" Rose. He himself has sung in The Prophets and also sings under his own name. King Tubby mixed some ultra heavy dubs from Yabby You's material and Reggae DJ Trinity paid respect to him on the track "Jesus Dread".

And now, thanks to Blood and Fire, the whole world of Reggae and Roots fans can discover Yabby You: the Iriginal Jesus Dread!

Blood and Fire released a well presented documentation of Yabby You's work under the title Jesus Dread. This is a great work, as it comes with a booklet full of information about Yabby You which will definitely increase the experience of listening to the music.

Music that is simply great. Deep Roots, in itself a perfect exposure of Jamaican Roots Reggae during the 1970's.

This release contains two CD's, a very nice presentation of Yabby You's work with King Tubby, Mykal Rose and many others. All tracks originally recorded in the period between 1972 and 1977. Different and rare versions of the same riddim are presented without everything becoming a "Riddim CD".

As the title of this release already shows, expect some serious consciousness. Yabby You's deep spirituality sounds in ways that go beyond just the lyrics. Lyrics that are usually very upfull and clear!