Customer Reviews

Bob Marley: Chant Down Babylon

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

There are a lot of ignorants in this world that do not really understand the whole legacy of bob marley. He wanted to be loved, and he did things so people would love him. He also wanted to spread the message of our religion around the world, and make us come out as good people, scince about 50 years ago, us rasta people were thought to be very dangerous. He wanted his message to continue to be spread, no matter if he were dead or not. And I think that this album does just that. It spreads his message onto a new generation, with the help of up and coming singers. It also adds new senses of rythm, for those people who are not into the reggae vibe. I think this disk is something Bob would of have done himself if he were still alive. And please people, do not critizize this album, for it is one of the only things that has lived up to this bob marley legacy. And for that superape man, you really are going against everything rastafarianism stands for. It's all about peace. Love for everyone.

Read this review in its entirety... (especially if u gave it less than 3 stars) I'm empathizing with those who are giving this album 1 star, but for the life of me I don't see why.... This album is in NO WAY insulting to Bob Marley. Was it insulting to Patti Labelle when P!nk, Lil Kim, Mya, and C. Aguilera remade and remixed Lady Marmelade? Uh, No. Is the Luther Vandross Tribute Album insulting? No. This is the cycle of our times people... That's what makes black people beautiful, our music, our culture.. how we can mix and match it and its still just as beautiful. There is nothing wrong with this cd and although of course I cannot speak for Bob Marley anymore than any of you can... To say he would not be happy is obsurd, how do we know what would make him happy? We don't! But to say the album is garbage to me is an insult to the artists who came together to blend with the Legend. I do not at all think it was a poor or sore attempt.. I think it was very creative. People do remixes all the time... so what, it's ok for 50 Cent but not Bob? lol... be serious, this is about the music. And aside from Defending Bob Til Death as some of you are admirably doing, these tracks do not degrade him or his music in any way... What this cd Does is ALLOW BOB MARLEY TO BE APPRECIATED THRU THE TIMES... and yes, you should appreciate the original tracks!! But lets be real, a lot of people can't get into some of the original tracks so what this CD does is Open up a door for appreciation across the genre boundaries. It allows the "hip hop heads" so to speak who may sooner recognize the name "Lil Scrappy" before "The Wailers" to embrace the Marley ESSENCE... it's just like a baby, if u want your child to each vegetables, maybe u mix them with some rice... if you want them to intake more calcium.. maybe u let them drink Ovaltine.. are you degrading Calcium? lol.. anyway, moving along... This is an awesome cd that embraces BoB Marleys talent and mixes it with our evolving urban style... I think they did an excellent job on the cd. All too often "remix" and "master mixes" drown out the quality of the songs we come to love and respect an artist for but this project was the exact opposite! I love the original tracks, but I must admit I am loving Some twists on the tracks JUST as much! Especially REBEL MUSIC and JOHNNY WAS... I don't want to go thru track titles cuz I'll end up naming them all... Each track and the guest artists get a thumbs up to me, at least for creativity... I see the vision of what this CD was and I like it. Most definiately a must have for raggae/raggaeton music lovers, especially, but anyone who likes urban music should be able to appreciate this album... And while you are at it, check out Matisyahu! Excellent addition to a family of cultural music artists.

I have been reading some of the reviews. Others call it a disgrace and a weak representation of Bob. These people need to lighten up and consider the contribution that this cd is making to the general consciousness of today's people. I was talking to a 13 year old kid. I was playing "Talkin' Blues" by Bob. He asked me with great enthusiasm on who the artist was. And when I told him, he said he never heard about Bob Marley. This saddened me greatly. I myself have been listening to Marley since I was 12. I realized that if there was this one teenager in my face who never heard Bob's music, then there are probably millions of kids who are disillusioned in the sounds of the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Puff Daddy, DMX, and the many other "artists" of the sad trend of popular music that the industry is thriving off of today. Many of today's youths are missing out on some great sounds in the history of music. Chant Down Babylon is a modernized sound of Mr. Marley, opening his channels to those who are interested in many artists of today. Stephen Marley has beautifully constructed a "different" sound. Although it is not as glorious as Bob Marley's own records, it is still a beautiful work of art, blending the words of a prophet with the artists of today who may or not be prophetic themselves. If you don't own any Marley, start off with legend and if you have the money GET SONGS OF FREEDOM. And for those who are Marley fanatics already, this is a different blend of Bob Marley that is definitely worth your listen.

I've been waiting for this album to come out for over a year, how can you pass up a CD held together by Bob Marley and featuring Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu, and the Roots? I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. The Marley brothers did an incredible job putting this together. "Johnny Was" is magnificent; Guru and the rest of the track blend in seemlessly. The vocal gem of the album is Lauryn Hill's "Turn Your Lights Down Low". Her voice is simply beautiful. "Rebel Music" is mesmerizingly mellow. "Kinky Reggae" and "Concrete Jungle" also sound great. The only part that was merely good instead of excellent is Steven Tyler and Joe Perry's rendition of "Roots, Rock, Reggae". I appreciate that they were trying to show their respect. However, they should know better than trying to sing lyrics that Bob sang better decades ago and should have sung this time. Tyler's vocals are too overblown and the style doesn't fit with the other artists, all from hip-hop backgrounds. Despite that, this album deserves more attention than it has gotten so far. Anyone who enjoys reggae or hip-hop would probably be very happy if they picked this up.

I was a little leary about buying a CD with artists dubbed in with Bob, but this CD was produced with the utmost respect to Bob. His son Steve produced most of the songs, and they are great! The Steven Tyler/Bob Marley version of "Roots, Rock, Reggae" is outstanding! The whole CD is done in great taste, and the song selection was perfect. Much respect to Steve and the rest of the Marley family (Tuff Gong release). This is definitely a brighten-up-your-day kind of CD. Buy it, listen to it, LOVE IT!

I want to start off saying that this cd is a beautiful blend of reggae and hiphop. I am a devoted fan of Roots Reggae and Jah Prophet Bob Marley. In a purely musical sense, the cd was superb. The beats and vocals do not try to overwhelm Bob Marley's true spirit, and it is a great tool for bringing His music to America. However, I was a bit surprised at Stephen Marley's choice of artists. Many of them represent of the black man exactly what Marley was fighting against: disrespect, irresponsibility, absence of pride, and immorality. Example: Krayzie Bone, a gangsta rapper in every sense of the word. In all of his other songs he preaches violence, disrespect, and immorality. He obviously has no pride for his people. The same goes for Busta Ryhmes, Rakim, etc. On the other hand, bravo for his choices of Lauryn Hill and The Roots, who really strive for self-pride of the African Nation. In other words, the music was great and the lyrics beautiful, but if (hopefully) there is another cd, Stephen will choose better role-models for the Afro community. Great tracks include: Johnny Was, Concrete Jungle, Turn Your Lights Down Low, Kinky Reggae, Burnin' and Lootin'.

My feelings for this album are torn. On one hand, I am a devoted fan of the roots reggae, which to me is the true Bob Marley. So I can see how some people think this album is distorting Bob's legend.
However, I see this album as the artists showing their respect to Bob, which is cool with me (I'd want to do the same thing). My hope is that this album introduces people to the power of Bob's vibe, and that it sparks their interest so that they go back and listen to his original works, which to me are more powerful than this album.

There are two schools of thought concerning this CD. Some are tradionalists and and prefer the original tracks as BM intenended them to be recorded. Others like the new versions of classic BM songs because they are infused with a contemporary style. For people to argue about the "purity" of these songs and feel they do a disservice to the original recordings is unneccessary as his heirs have chosen to create updated versions for a new generaton of listeners. I love the old stuff he originally recorded but this CD is tight, a super remixed package of songs with a hip hop flavor that is very cool. I've played this CD over and over, too numerous times to mention, and the guest vocalists are excellent and I am not even a big fan of hip hop! The mixes include BM talking from interviews, street sirens and such from radio broadcasts announcing an attempt on his life and good drum programming by his children. "Rebel Music" with "Krazie Bone" is an excelent remix complete with echo effects and a twist on the original lyrics as KB talks about"being pulled over for what, you wanna harrass me"? "Johnny Was" is a great song with vocals lent by "Guru" as he does a fine job while he eulogizes his dead contemporary rappers."Jammin", one of BM's most popular songs is brought up to date by "MC Lyte" who praises Allah and Bob Marley and speaks of the inequities of the have and have nots. The message of the struggle of the people is still here but brought into the 21st century. Some things never change. If you are a "Lauryn Hill" fan there is a nice rendition of "Turn Your Lights Down Low", a sort of spiritual romantic tune."Burnin' and Lootin'" is a strong song to end the CD with as "The Roots" call out to expose the hardships woldwide and the militant stance many are forced to take. This is a very good CD that you will enjoy if you have an open mind to something different. I highly recommend the original recordings of BM, although many re-releases posthumously are less than worthy of your dollars. The superb stuff is out there for those who seek unadultered BM, the prophet and mystic who put Reggae on the map internationally. Get this CD and you will feel Irie!

I've LOVED Bob & Ziggy FOREVER!!! I purchased this CD when it was 1st Released in 1999 & STILL listen to it today! If you are a TRUE MARLEY FAN; then you will appreciate and overstand that this eclectic group of artists RESPECT & will expose new listeners to Mr. Marley's light. Everyone from a ROOTS DREAD to a Metal Head should own this CD.

I have read most of the comments dealing with this CD, and I have to say that they were either praising it or condeming it. I, for one, am stuck in the middle. It is true that some songs, i.e. Jamming, are completely ruined. However, I can not help but love the catchy backround beats mixed in with Bob's singing. This is a CD you should buy if you have the time and money. Buy all of the Tuff Gongs before, but do not completely look this one over.