Customer Reviews

Voice of Jamaica

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this CD after hearing "Tribal War" and "Operation Ardent" on a reggae mix tape in 93. After hearing Shaba Ranks go from dance hall to commercialized what ever you wanna call it, it was a big refreshing breath of fresh air to hear someone in dance hall keeping it true to Jamaca and dance hall. This CD is the true introduction to the God of Dance Hall seen today. The track "Litte More Time" was a inspirational song to me because of what I was going through at that time in 93-94. When ever I'm in that need for a real dance hall vibe, I know that this CD is that musical pill to releave my needs. Please go get this one if you don't already have it.

oNe

wicked,just wicked i loved every song this album made me a buju fan.

As a big reggae fan I was never turned on to to Buju Banton until recently. I never knew who he was. NOW I DO... He has a unique style and I LOVE IT. Can't wait to see him on tour. PLEASE COME TO Phoenix, AZ, USA. "Make My DAY"

One Love, Redsista

Party party Yeeeeah;)

Dis is good music, soft too.... Good for us smokaZ

Solid recording as expected by the artists. shipping, pricing and all that was fine by seller.

"Voice of Jamaica" marks Buju Banton's first attempt to crossover to an American/International audience. The slim, gruff-voiced deejay is still cast in the role of the street-savvy rudebwoy on this album. His neatly trimmed fade and clean shaven face stand in sharp contrast to the full beard and flowing dreadlocks that would become emblematic of the deejay in his later career. As with his previous offerings ("Stamina Daddy" and "Mr. Mention") Buju is still on about girls and guns. But what separates "Voice of Jamaica" from Buju's earlier body of work is slick, hip hop infused, Yankee-friendly production and a burgeoning sense of social consciousness.

"Stamina Daddy" was pure, gleeful slackness, a collection of pounding dancehall bangers. "Mr. Mention" contained more of the same, along with a bevy of love songs and the sole conscious tune on the album, "How the World a Run". "Voice of Jamaica", by contrast, begins to showcase Buju's developing maturity with a spate of conscious tunes such as "Deportees (Things Change)" (which blasts Jamaicans who go abroad to find their fortune and abandon their needy relatives back home), "Operation Ardent" (which takes the police force to task for its harrassment of innocent partygoers), "Willy (Don't Be Silly)" (which promotes the value of safe sex), and "Tribal War" and "Wicked Act" (both of which tackle the subjects of bloodshed and violence).

Still, "Voice of Jamaica" has no shortage of love songs and odes to women in general, such as "Searching" (for love - self explanatory), "Commitment" (about a man torn between two women), "Red Rose" (an homage to a beauty with a fondess for ornamental flowers), "Make My Day" (in which Buju promises a young lady, "I'll be your friend to the end like Chucky!" - From "Child's Play"? Yikes! Run, girl! Run!), and my personal favourite "Good Body" (Buju's description of an absolutely gorgeous girl is so convincing on this track that I was willing and ready to propose to the sister, and I'd never even laid eyes on her!).

Guest stars abound on this disc, including the deliberately cartoonish Busta Rhymes (who taps into his Jamaican roots to chat a little patois on "Wicked Act"), dancehall veterans Tony Rebel and Terry Ganzie (who join Buju in his condemnation of gang violence on "Tribal War"), Brian and Tony Gold (who add their lilting harmonies to "Make My Day" and a couple of other tunes), and, most importantly, the phenomenal Beres Hammond who returns to collaborate with Buju on the instant classic "A Little More Time".

Very few artistes consistently crank out "perfect five" albums in my book, but Buju Banton is one of the most complex and talented deejays ever to grace the microphone in terms of lyrical content, flow, and delivery, and on this album he shines once again. As a music afficionado with an appreciation for both dancehall and hip hop and the combination of the two to various degrees (from KRS-1, to Shinehead, to Born Jamericans) I feel perfectly comfortable giving this solid crossover album five stars. I can, however, understand why hardcore dancehall fans would regard Buju's adventure into uncharted territory with some trepidation, although I hope they would avoid hypocrisy and hold Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Jr. Gong and others to the same standard.

Hey, you cannot slow down and rewind the early 90's when Buju picked up the notch in the quality of Dancehall. His music even though more than 10 years old still sounds fresh.
So, what you waiting for ..... proceed to checkout !!!
Buju, much respek ...

Buju Banton is one of the many reasons I love reggae. Red Rose and Make My Day are my favorite songs on this cd. I remember hearing Red Rose when I was younger and loving it. The songs on this cd are dance worthy and groove worthy. I highly recommend this blend of island flavor for your collection. Buju Banton is the CHAMPION!

A few years ago a friend of mine couldnt stop talking about Buju. Finally, I heard this album, and I have to say I was hooked. While all of his releases (I haven't heard his current release) have been exceptional, Voice of Jamaica will always be my favorite. All the songs are good to excellent, but Deportees (Things Change), and A Little More Time stand out as the best tracks. I do realize, however, that it's almost unfair not to mention at least five other tracks. It is that good. Buju shows that, whether solo or teamed with another singer (such as Beres Hammond on a Little More Time), he carries a tune with authority. I highly recommend this album.

(Searching) and (Tribal War) are two of the most powerfull dancehall songs ever.