Customer Reviews

Vibes

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally, the long-awaited reggae CD from the Bum-Diddlee-D and it doesn't disappoint! This is true reggae not that americanized Dancehall! This CD is a throwback to the days of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff! Heavy is from the Islands so he is not fakin' Jamaican! He's singing through the entire CD and is doing a very good job. From start to finish the Cd is banging! My favorites are: Queen Majesty and My Love Is All I Have. A true reggae classic!

Many people don't know that Heavy D is actually Jamaican. His family like many West Indians relocated to the East Coast.

I enjoyed Heavy D's rapping. But, THIS Cd "Vibes" is his BEST effort to date in my opnion. From beginning to end, the disc just produces tracks that make you feel, move and react.There is a certain pride one feels when listening to Caribbean music.

"Long Distance Girlfriend" is a great, great track, along with "Queen Majesty" and "No Matter What." Heavy D has just as smooth a singing voice as his rapping was many years ago. He gives us a gentle Jamaican tinged accent when singing. I LOVE this Cd! Whenever it plays in my house, it's on repeat. Kudos to Heavy D. Can't wait for his next Reggae Cd. Big Ups to this Caribbean King!

I have always been a huge fan of Heavy D (and the Boyz). I was impressed by this album. He really shows his roots here. This is a great reggae album. I don't know why it took him so long to make it, but I'm very glad he did!

I was pleasantly surprised with this album. He should get more credit for the album, it deserves it.

It almost seems as if sometimes reggae music becomes somewhat of a `refuge' for artists (and sometimes not-so-artists) seeking a new start in their careers, their lives or whatever else they may have going on at the time. Besides what you typically see with artists of varying genres blending their own styles with reggae `vibes' (which isn't necessarily a bad thing always) , you have some of the most RANDOM situations occurring with individuals seemingly seeking to satisfy their own `curiosity' (for lack of a better phrase) as to just what they may sound like making reggae music. Case and point, a few years back you started seeing stories and rumours of the MOST unlikely of names making reggae, Hollywood action movie star, Steven Seagal! He was said to be working with some of the top names of the business and wasn't just to be reaching with a song or even two; no, Seagal's intention was in fact to release an album. The result of that was 2005's Songs From the Crystal Cave, which did in fact features names like Lieutenant Stitchie, legend Tony Rebel and even dancehall Empress Lady Saw (on the. . . downright odd Strut). The bluesy/popsy/reggae hybrid was far from my tastes, however many people actually enjoyed it. And then not too long ago was the word of none other than Paris Hilton who full on released a reggae-tinged single from her forthcoming album (which I THINK was named after her). While all of these (and trust me, many many more examples) speak to the popularity of reggae as well its overall accessibility perhaps, none of these cases, nor similar ones actually did anything for the vibes. However, the same cannot be said for actual born and bred musicians who have actually left something in reggae music in terms of lasting publicities or maybe even stepping the game up with collaborations and introducing talents to international ears which would have not otherwise received such attentions. A strong example of this over the past decade or so has been hip-hopper Foxy Brown who has CONSTANTLY represented for reggae and dancehall music throughout her career, recording with the likes of dancehall aces Baby Cham, Wayne Wonder and even former beau Spragga Benz on the unforgettable Oh Yeah. Foxy Brown actually has REAL dancehall skill and the same could be said for Canadian based hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall who, of Jamaican heritage, has had a fine career to date (having more fans than I originally had given him credit for) and done combinations with dancehall SUPERSTARS Sean Paul and Vybz Kartel. Other artists, like Akon, Lil' Kim, Mya and even hip-hop pioneer KRS-One have all made significant contributions in their own respective fields, only to be bitten by the `reggae bug' and subsequently make strides within that scope as well. But to date, none of them, not even Seagal has made an entire reggae album.

Enter the `enormously' popular Heavy D. The not as heavy as he used to be 'overweight lover' who made his name as unarguably one of the most popular (and, in my hip-hop NOVICE opinion, SKILLED) rappers of all time would have seemed one of the most likely artists to take the reggae `plunge' at the height of his powers (almost twenty years ago now). The Montego Bay born, New York grown artist mixed quite well with his reggae and dancehall counterparts, having voiced with the likes of Buju Banton, Frankie Paul, Josie Wales and most notably alongside `Don Dada' Super Cat on the MAMMOTH shot Dem Nuh Worry We. He also can lay claim, even in spite of the prevalence of Jamaicans being involved in the building and constructing the foundation of hip-hop, to have been one of the very first BIG NAME rappers to take his music back to Jamaica and do so with some of the island's top talent as well. By my count, its been nine years since Heavy D even released any album at all (1999`s Heavy for MCA being his last one), having spent the decade since doing a variety of things including working as an executive for a record label and acting amongst other things. Thus, it was to my GREAT SHOCK that I pulled through a news story that he would, now at age forty-one, be releases his maiden voyage into releasing a full-blown reggae album, Vibes, and doing so on his own coin and his own label, through his own means and under his very own direction. My first thought was that he was about fifteen years too late, as had Heavy D come around in the early 1990's with an album featuring himself alongside some of the dancehall elite at the time (which, unbelievably, would have STILL included the seemingly IMMORTAL Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Buju Banton) with some of the equally top notch reggae and dancehall production talents, we may have had something which was special, if not downright LANDMARK for both genres. As it stands, strutting in nearly a decade and a half after it's probable most ripe release date is the simply stated, shriveled up, disheveled and old Vibes, which has been LOCKED in my players since I received it. The album comes via Heavy D's very own California based (where I THINK he lives now) Stride Entertainment label and in its all too brief ten tracks is full of just a taste of what we may have hoped to have heard in the artist's heyday. What was most interesting in the promotion I heard concerning Vibes was the fact that Heavy D readily admits that his best musical days are behind him and he is essentially pushing Vibes because he wants to. He also admits that he probably couldn't even produce a decent hip-hop album if he wanted to considering the tastes of today's hip-hop head; which, to me is a plus as, besides an album (did I mention that it was too short?), reggae heads just may be getting an entire artist. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a reggae follow-up to Vibes somewhere down the line and maybe even further participation from Heavy D. Even if not, what you have in Vibes is simply what the title suggests, solid vibes throughout and one of the real surprise reggae albums of 2008 altogether.

Now the question when you get Vibes (which is apparently to be physically available before the end of 2008) is what to expect. Well, as his hip-hopper days have gone, so too apparently have his dancehall days, but that opens things up for what you actually do get: a very MATURE and GENUINE creation combining elements of old school dancehall, lover's rock and just a touch of roots and something which overall lives up to the status befitting one of Heavy D's credentials. Getting things started on Vibes is the song which has become the signature track in the album's brief time being around and is definitely my choice for Vibes' biggest tune overall, the KNOCKING Long Distance Girlfriend. This thing comes in like people will remember from Collie Buddz' Come Around over the LETHAL refashioning of the Last War riddim, maybe even with a greater strength to it, it literally sounds like its ripping the speaker! The tune speaks of Heavy D's infatuation of and desire to get back to his `long distance girlfriend' and even more important it pretty much sets the table on what you can expect from him. His tone sounds SOMEWHAT like something you might hear from Stephen Marley with more of an American accent. Long Distance Girlfriend is top notch and hopefully when the album is fully released we can see a nice cool video and have the song get the proper rinsing (even here in Jamaica) that it deserves. BIG TUNE. Next up, speaking of cool, is the laid back near brilliance of No Matter What. This tune is a bit complex in its vibes, it definitely has an R&B edge to it, but if you listen REALLY closely you'll notice the Spanish sounding guitar, the ska horn and somewhere in there is a one-drop. It is another tune for the ladies (which you`ll find is appropriately his favourite subject), as he says he will remain by his special lady's side, no matter what. Completing the opening the old school vibes of Queen Majesty. The tune originally recorded more than forty years ago by The Techniques. Heavy D doesn't the tune quite as well as The Techniques or Dennis Brown, who took it to new heights, which I think he himself would admit, but he well does the tune justice. Queen Majesty is simply one of the greatest tunes EVER, PERIOD and it's a mighty hard tune to screw up and definitely Heavy D doesn't screw it up and it suits his style well and this was the type of thing I would have expected if he wasn't doing dancehall and he definitely doesn't disappoint, ending the opening to Vibes in fine form.

What will undoubtedly stand out to reggae heads, at least on paper, going into Vibes are the two combinations. With someone having worked with the reggae names that Heavy D has in the past, he definitely has large standards to live up to and he does quite well with who he chooses. First up is the somewhat ska-ish and bouncy Love Me Like This which features Heavy D alongside reggae legend Barrington Levy. Levy isn't even CLOSE to his best (to my ears) on the tune, but the veteran that he is still makes it work and actually it stands as one of the best tunes on the entire (short) album. Its just a smooth and fun vibes and Heavy D definitely holds his own. Given Levy's proclivity for making recordings alongside international (based in this case) artists that wasn't a HUGE surprise, his presence on Vibes, but what happens on Private Dancer is DEFINITELY that big surprise. This tune features Heavy D alongside none other than Sizzla Kalonji (who just happens to be my favourite artist of all time) and its no surprise that I well rate the very simple track. This tune is actually a story about a `stripper`, but its definitely more detailed than just that and it never dips to a slack nature and its just highly enjoyable throughout. Big vibes! The balance of Vibes (all five songs of it) is actually pretty high as well. Check the tune All I Have which made me fall in love with it and hate in just within the first fifteen seconds or so as it seem to have a problem picking a vibes, but when it does what emerges is a BIG and VIBRANT tune for the people. It is just a little sappy, which was bound to happen with so many lover's pieces, but even in that vibes is a tune which, perhaps more so than any other on Vibes, will have you singing along with every note. Hugs and Kisses is another horn heavy somewhat ska-ish lover's piece. It actually isn't one of the better tunes here to my ears, but I think it kind of goes to make a point about Heavy D's obvious skill level in that he can make such a tne very memorable and it is, despite not being at his best, which is a quality I think most top level artists gain after awhile. The vibes on Vibes change up just a bit briefly going down the stretch with a couple of tunes. First is Delilah which when it strikes in kind of had me thinking he might actually go the dancehall route before the vibe goes to a far more calm (almost Zouk-like) yet thumping vibes supporting a story of the hard lucked Delilah which is actually quite a lovely tune by its end. The cryptically titled Chasing Windmills takes you all the way back to Long Distance Girlfriend with that KNOCKING riddim behind it. This tune is VERY strong, definitely one of Vibes' real highlights altogether, it well has a bit of R&B to it as well, which helps in this case and again, dedicated to the special ladies out there and they're sure to love it, you will too. Finally, ending things is kind of ODD sounding Sincere which has elements of roots reggae, dub, jazz and blues, an electric guitar later in it and a bit of UK garage sound (or drum and base, whatever its called!). Sincere is a song which DEFINITELY requires several spins to REALLY get what's going on with the vibes. And its odd because my main critique on this album is that even though its only ten tracks I don't think Heavy D takes enough chances and risks to where he goes with his `vibes', but I think Sincere maybe went out a little bit too far. Its not at all a horrible tune and the singing is full on the best part of the tune, but at the end you're with the feeling that Jimmy Hendrix got stuck in London and this is what he came up with. Odd, but not a bad way to end things is Sincere (another lover's piece essentially).

Overall, like I said, the thing about this one is that had you been wondering what Heavy D been up to personally, its obvious that the man is in love (congratulations Heavy D) as each and every tune on Vibes is either a full on lover's piece or has elements of such. But being this his first such effort, it is excusable. I'll love to see if he continues to make reggae music, maybe not going all the way and recording on Don Corleone's next riddim or something like that, but just staying more and more involved and doing more big combinations. I would have loved a Supercat - Heavy D reunion special here, but again, we can wait on that. Anytime an artist of Heavy D's stature comes to reggae, especially in this case of an actual born Jamaican (and I'll also mention the notoriously delayed sophomore album of Jamaican blooded singer Jimmy Cozier produced by Beres Hammond also SUPPOSEDLY coming out EVENTUALLY MAYBE) basically comes back to reggae, it's a big deal. Despite being well on in years for a rapper as a reggae artist he can do quite a bit of damage and if Vibes is any indication then Heavy D's music career may just be getting started in his forties. Vibes is a very nice surprise and a strong addition to any fan of reggae with a lover's rock preference as well as an old school taste. Looking forward to what he brings (and who he brings it with) next). Welcome home Heavy D.

My sweetie loves when we travel because we can literally put "Vibes" in and just allow it to repeat and repeat again. Truly, Heavy D will be missed, I only wish there could have been more music left behind from him.

Heavy D has an amazing voice. This is one of those albums you can play straight through, without skipping a song. It's that great. Every song will be your favorite song. If u love roots reggae, u need this album for your collection!

Wow, Heavy D did it again. I loved all of his other music, and this one did not disappoint. It has a nice, smooth reggae sound that's perfect to listen to anytime. This is one of those rare cd's that I listen to straight through. No need to skip past any of the songs because they are all good, from start to finish.

YOU WILL BE MISSED TERRIBLY!!!! I PICKED THIS UP A FEW MONTHS AGO.... SO GLAD I DID... ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVES...I LOVE YOU HEAVY AND WILL MISS YOUR TALENT IMMENSELY....

I was suprised when I came across this CD. Heavy is known for rap but this is a enjoyable mix of great music of the caribbean. Heavy wrote most of the songs on this CD and it turns out he is an ok song writer. Pick up this CD and you will be suprised at how good it is.