Customer Reviews

Riddim Driven: Jam Down

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There was a time in reggae music in the not too distant past when we saw SO MANY crews and labels aligning themselves with each other and forming to create what amounted to basically power-stations in the music. These crews were full of members (sometime a revolving door of members) who sometimes performed together, but literally and directly made their names as solo artists before even coming together as a unit. In these days it seems as if the phenomenon is coming back. The group which is really prevalent and popular is, of course, Bounty Killer's Alliance. Bounty is no stranger to forming crews as he was the dominant force in setting the now infamous Scare Dem, and now he has the equally infamous Alliance. The Alliance is (just as Scare Dem was) exclusively dancehall and features a NEVER-ENDING revolving door of members, the roster of which seems contingent upon with whom and not with whom is Bounty Killer arguing with at the specific moment. The group is currently said to be in the preparation stages for delivering its debut album as a unit for VP Records and it is definitely WELL anticipated. To my knowledge, the current roster of The Alliance stands as the basic members being Bounty Killer, Busy Signal, Mavado, Elephant Man, Wayne Marshall and Bling Dog; with lesser known lights such as singer Marlon Binns (who is also himself said to have struck a deal with VP for his own debut) and potentially WICKED up and coming DJ's Einstein and Flexx also filling the ranks of the camp. The Alliance originally included superstar Vybz Kartel and former Bounty protégé turned Kartel protégé Aidonia as well but well publicized rift between the duo and Bounty ended that agreement. For his part, Kartel has began his own groups of artists known as the Portmore Empire from artists from his own community (that camp also includes Aidonia as an unofficial member) which includes artists such as Deva Bratt, Shawn Storm, the young Black Ryno and late singer Craig Dennis as well (Aidonia also has his up and coming JOP Crew alongside the Portmore Empire). There are even more still. Young super producer Stephen `di Genius' McGregor heads the Big Ship Camp which includes his older siblings Chino and Shema as well as a whole heap of younger artists highlighted by the INSANELY WICKED Bramma de Bomba; you also have reggae ace producer Don Corleone with his crew which features the supremely talented trio of `Gangsta Ras' Munga Honourable, dancehall angel Alaine and St. Thomas' finest, Pressure Busspipe. Need more? Capleton STILL heads David House which includes long time members Jah Thunder, Military Man and odd singer Moses I (as well as Munga Honourable); Sizzla Kalonji heads the up and coming Judgment Yard crew with such names as Joseph Shepard, Congo Judah and most recently Lady Junie. . . I could really go on and on (Ward 21's Camp with Mr. Peppa and Tifa) as it seems as if aligning yourself with a crew is just the way to go these days again.

Another crew definitely worth mentioning and one which is a bit more unusual yet well worthy of all attention they are getting these days (and it's A LOT) is the Danger Zone group which currently seems to have the midas touch in dancehall and reggae. Headed by one Delmar `Della' Drummond, the group has actually been around for quite awhile, previously having acted as local promoters and sound systems even (I THINK, they would have been the same ones and if it was they`re still going) in reggae music. The group is highlighted by the inclusion of foundation artists such as longtime veteran dancehall standout Jigsy King, dancehall diva supreme Bad Gyal Ce'cile and SHOCKINGLY Jah Cure. When the Cure was released from his prison last year, he made it crystal clear with whom he would be aligning himself with as he signed a promotional and recording contract with Danger Zone furthering bolstering the camp and making Della and associates the winner of the most valuable reggae free agent at the time. Danger Zone has also continued its production matters as well (THANKFULLY) which they have been doing now almost a half-decade and now bring forth their second go at VP's ultra popular Riddim Driven series with the WICKED JamDown riddim. The JamDown follows what is quiet possibly my LEAST favourite riddim of ALLTIME, the Wipe Out riddim which shot in 2006. The Jamdown, produced by Della Drummond, Jigsy King and Ce'cile (who previously served as co-producer with Scatta for the short lived Ce-Co Productions (small world: Scatta also produced the Fungus riddim for Danger Zone, who remembers the Fungus riddim!). Where the Wipeout was downright corny and off and bad and whatever else you want to call it (although wildly and ridiculously popular) the JamDown is just BEAUTIFUL! The riddim is one which rather easily accessible to roots and lover's rock artists as it blends a rather serene baseline with a downright addictive flute (which doesn't become overbearing, instead it just easily compliments the vibes) and other simple changes. The result of which was not only one of my own personal favourite riddims of 2007, but it was produced into one of the strongest riddim albums of the year as well. The artist selection on such a riddim is generally pretty easy (as long as you aren't looking for any Alliance or Portmore Empire types, you probably have a good idea where to go with it) as Drummond chose some of the finest of established roots talents to compliment his own artists. The riddim covered all of the basic steps for a big riddim: It had a wide variety of different artists singing an equally wide variety of different vibes; it had BIG name artists, some of the finest available in reggae; and of course it produced (and continues to do so) a couple of hit tunes. Altogether, combined with the aforementioned SWEET SWEET vibes of the riddim itself made (and continues to make) the Jam Down a bonafide winner and must hear.

Having dealt with the business of the popular Wipeout riddim, it was no surprise to see VP jump back on board for the Jam Down release as well. The album is highlighted by the two biggest shots of the Danger Zone crew; one of which scores a MASTER CLASS of a single tune, while the other chimes in with a LOVELY piece and threatens to steal the show altogether (not to mention a more than solid supporting class of very familiar names). Getting things started on Riddim Driven: Jam Down is a string of three VERY solid tunes. The first of which is actually FAR more than just solid and is downright SPECTACULAR as Jah Cure checks in, unsurprisingly, with the riddim's finest effort altogether the MASSIVE bomb which was Sticky. Putting Jah Cure on a riddim threatens to virtually undermine the quality of the other material on the piece and just as he did on Corleone's Drop Leaf and Seasons riddims, the Cure once again steals the show. Sticky is a tune which has impressed me (and everyone else fortunate enough to hear it over the last year or so) from the very beginning. It was actually one of the last tunes Cure voiced while he was still incarcerated and it actually even made it to the Reggae Gold album in 2007. Sticky is a downright DIVINE spiritual track and one of the best of Cure's career telling everyone to keep focus on His Majesty even things may get a little `sticky' at times; one of the real highlights of Jah Cure's career (which is saying a lot) and THE tune to hear on the Jam Down riddim (and if you can definitely check the nice video for the tune). Holding the unenviable task of following Sticky is, luckily, more than one person as yet another crew, Morgan Heritage checks in with the very very nice herbalist track Plant Up the Herbs, shot which missed their current long player, Mission in Progress. Had Plant Up the Herbs been on the album, it would have been amongst the best efforts there, just as it is here as the Morgans hold a very nice and solid vibes on the Jam Down, a riddim which is really on their vibes. Topping (in my opinion) the Morgans, however, for the dominant herbalist anthem on the Jam Down is (ST. ANNZ own!) singer Chezidek, with the wonderful Herbalist. The chorus on Herbalist is downright addictive and later in the tune Chezidek ascends to the peak of the tune and begins to name drop some of his peers for what is easily the biggest stretch on an already BIG BIG tune to complete the Jam Down's Riddim Driven opening.

There are two TRULY big name reggae superstars who check in on the Jam Down riddim as both Capleton (unexpectedly) and Buju Banton take their turns on the piece. King Shango steps in with the anti-violence No Guns. Capleton urges all, especially the youths, to put down the gun and pick up righteousness in it's stead and in doing so he harkens back to a much more peaceful time of yesteryear. Buju comes in with the somewhat sappy but somewhat addictive Love Needs. The tune, probably more than any other on the riddim, is an example of one which I, initially, didn't like AT ALL, but grew on me to the point of actually liking it these days. Now, even in spite of those two big names and the very nice beginning on the riddim, including Jah Cure, without a doubt the MVP on the Jam Down riddim and is one of it's co-creators, Ce'cile who not only co-produced the track itself, but steps forth with one of the riddim's finest pieces altogether and sings back ground for some of the other tunes as well. The first of which, Waiting, is actually a relatively recent hit for the Manchester native. Waiting is a very nice tune which maintains the importance of not only women, but men as well, standing firm in relationships and `sticking by her man' when its worth doing. Definitely a very nice track and one which is a message which is not too popular in reggae these days and very original track as well (incidentally, she voiced another track for the riddim as well, the Jamaica-inspiring riddim title track which you have to track down her album to enjoy (its worth it, yet another big big tune)). Current personal favourite of mine Lutan Fyah CONTINUES to impress on the Jam Down, offering his EXCELLENT Rastafari affirming Mightier Than Them for another of the riddim's strongest pieces. It's a nice thing when you can have a riddim which can support equally a tune like Waiting and just a few tracks on do a BRILLIANT standard roots track without a missing a beat. On the tune Fyah simply reminds you if you've forgotten, `Selassie I mightier than them all!'. I was quite surprised to see longtime underappreciated veteran Junior Kelly on the Jam Down as he, typically (even more than Capleton), is cautious about where he voices. His offering, the lover's track Always, isn't one of the best here, but its still a nice addition as Kelly undoubtedly nears his next album release. Someone who does offer one of the riddim's best is recent Lutan Fyah collaborator Ras Shiloh with the wonderful unification anthem, All Are One. It is as much credit to Shiloh's ridiculous voice as it is to his actual skill that All Are One is a winner as, in both cases, he was almost MADE for this type of riddim. His voice just sounds perfect for the piece and he's not singing rubbish either as he crafts a wonderful message which many of our leaders need to take 3:06 to listen to sometime definitely. Beres Hammond product and continually impressive and improving Gin(Jah)ger pushes forth with the well solid Love First. Ginjah (much like Lutan Fyah a few years ago) is quickly becoming one of the names I look for on roots riddims and usually his name on any piece goes to the betterment of it. The Jam Down is no different as Love First is top notch vibes throughout. I would mention quickly just his presence, singer Strat Don, who is a former Scatta favourite, no surprise that Ce'cile would bring him in (and don't expect to see Scatta's more known former artist, Aidonia, on a Danger Zone piece anytime soon, the two don't get along AT ALL these days). The final track is the always useful clean riddim version of the tune which is always a nice touch and should really be mandatory for riddim albums in this time.

Overall, I would like to mention that there are even more tunes on this riddim. Unsurprisingly, VP used their discretion in which tunes to take for the album and which not to take and they didn't take artists such as Cutty Corn and the wicked Mikey Pelpa (both are younger members of the Danger Zone crew) which gives the riddim even further strength (as if it needed it) (and it didn't) (especially check Cutty`s rather ULTRA-SIMPLE but wonderful lover`s track Lucky Day). Still, what made it to the album form is very impressive! Danger Zone, due to the nature of nothing more than their roster alone, will probably never even need to do more than simply function and exist and be itself. BUT, should they continue to put out material like the Jam Down riddim, you will have to pay attention to more than just the names, but the label as well. Riddim Driven: Jam Down is recommended to ALL fans of modern reggae, new and old. It is simply DIVINE.

p.s. I would have LOVED to hear Cocoa Tea on this thing!