Customer Reviews

Wow the Story

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

 

 

This album is great. It has many big tunes from when I was at school in Jamaica. He is truly a great artist and not easily forgotten.

The best tracks are:

MANY MANY, QUE SERA,FUNNY,GHETTO PLEDGE,GALLANG YAH GYAL, BOOM TUNE, BABYLON BWOY, MAN AND MAN and ANOTHER LEVEL one of the greatest songs featuring Bounty Killer.

I also liked Mama's teaching even though it is more hip hop sounding. Personally I wasn't into disc two with the more hip hop sounding tunes. I would have preffered Another Level and Mama's Teaching to be moved to disc one and be done with it because I don't listen to the other songs and it seems like a big waste of time switching discs just to play two songs.

Basically if you want a hip hop album buy that and not this because ppl are complaining about the reggae beats etc are we forgetting who baby cham is?

Four stars is what I give this album because I found the other songs unnecessary for a dancehall/reggae album but I guess that may appeal to others but the other songs are top marks recommended to dancehall fans.

Wow is the right word for this cd. From Track 1 on Disc 1 straight down to track 10 on Disc 2 this cd is the bomb. Baby Cham has put us all on another level with this cd. The tracks on disc one should be very familiar to us and then he comes at us again with disc two with some in your face lyrics and beats that with having you bopping your head in the jeep or whereever. Ms. Foxy is on with "More". Shaggy and Hope is on with "High Rollers" and let's not forget about Mr. Bounty Killer himself with the smash hit, "Another Level". This cd is HIGHLY recommended. Can't wait to see what he comes with next.

BABY CHAM, (Dameon Beckett) is a rising young star that, by the time
his first album, "WOW...THE STORY" had been released, has
had 12 major top ten hits in Jamaica. He is a deejay whose big tunes
include "Desperate Measures," "Ghetto Pledge,"
"Another Level" and "Boom." On this double-CD
release the 2 discs are divided into separate themes. The first disc
titled, "THE BEGINNING," is a collection of all his ragga
singles that have mashed up the airwaves in Jamaica over the last few
years. The second disc titled, "ANOTHER LEVEL" consists of
10 new songs tailor made for the crossover hip-hop market in the
United States. Although this album is loaded with wicked hits, only
occasionally does it show any depth or originality in the artist or
his producer.

Many of the hit tunes on disc one, "THE
BEGINNING" take up the tired subject of slackness (sex). One or
two songs on an album about one-night stands can be amusing but after
the third or fourth song on the subject this becomes annoying and
repulsive. For instance on the smash single "MANY, MANY" in
a deep baritone voice CHAM asks, "How many girls get slammed too
many?" A chorus of mocking voices singing, "Many, many,
many, many, many," answers him. CHAM then really displays his
role as a player when he brags, "Kerry did easy 'cause she love
off me car/ she lined up Susie for me go to sleep with her/ she never
get a visit 'cause she live too far/ so me go to meet her at Cactus
bar." What a player he is. Good for you CHAM! Who cares? Not
me.

It may sound as though I don't appreciate CHAM's talent however,
that is not the case. In fact his competency as a intelligent artist
is represented on songs such as 'DESPERATE MEASURE" and "MA
PEOPLE." These two songs stand out amongst the others on the
album because of both their meaningful lyrics and hot riddims.

In
the song "DESPERATE MEASURE" Cham puts the smack down on the
Jamaican politicians. He says, "To the MPs/ the opposition
leader/ the mother-__ Prime Minister/ cut back on school fees/ better
jobs we need, ah/ make sure this one register!" His blatant
attack on politicians is very powerful. CHAM's awareness in the
futility of changing the system by himself is expressed when he says,
"Mr. Wow too young to be a revolution leader/ but me too smart to
be a politician either." The clever word play combined with a
propulsive beat make this a stellar tune.

Another song that
addresses socio-political issues is the brilliant "MA
PEOPLE." In this song we find CHAM pleading with the world to
make a change for the better when he says, "My people let us live
in peace/ let me feel the love/ unity in the east/ let me see the
doves/ fire upon the beast/ abolish all the drugs/ and let us give
praises to the father above." The songs heartfelt lyrics, catchy
keyboard riff, and razor sharp riddim make this one of my favorite
songs on the album.

"WOW... THE STORY" is just as much a
showcase for the talents of Baby Cham as it is for hit producer DAVE
KELLY. On this CD Kelly co-wrote as well as played or programmed the
instruments for most of the songs. Each song features the influential
KELLY trademark of sparse electronic drum rhythms with simple bass
lines. Most of the time the melody in the music is non-existent but
when it is present a keyboard line usually provides it.

Disc two,
"ANOTHER LEVEL" features 10 new songs where producer DAVE
KELLY blends dance hall and hip-hop beats to present CHAM in a more
commercial light. This deeply influenced hip-hop and r&b music is
definitely made to cross over into the American market. The main
differences from disc one can be heard in the language, rhythm, and
melodies of the songs.

Whereas on the first disc I felt at times I
needed an interpreter to explain the lyrics, on disc two,
"ANOTHER LEVEL" American slang is often used so that the
words can be understood by both cultures. One can also hear the
difference in the rhythms. Whereas ragga drum beats can tend to be
somewhat stiff, the hip-hop beats on disc two swing a bit more. The
other noticeable difference is the way the music is sung. More melody
is injected into the songs via additional guests who can sing and not
just rap.

There are few high points on disc two but some bright
spots include a duet with east coast rap diva, Foxy Brown on the song
"MORE" and Mr. Easy smoothing over CHAM's player lyrics on
"SMOOTH OPERATOR" by crooning, "Mama's smoothest
operator's got this love thing locked."

Together CHAM and
KELLY may have worked hard to take ragga to another level but overall
I think this is just a mediocre album. If you like CHAM's hits then
you'll want "WOW...THE STORY.". The big question in my
mind is who'll want to listen to the second disc. I don't care too
much for hip-hop so it's definitely not for me. Perhaps others will
feel different. Do the same people who like ragga also appreciate
hip-hop or vice-versa? What with SHAGGY crossing over into mainstream
radio with hits like, "IT WASN'T ME" and "ANGEL,"
this may be just what the American public is looking for.

KELLY's
influence on the Jamaican music scene is huge. Having a vehicle such
as BABY CHAM (with his good looks and deep voice), to present his
ideas can only help to tilt current music trends on the island towards
the direction KELLY thinks will be popular. It will be interesting to
see if the music from the second disc truly takes modern reggae
(ragga) to another level by influencing other Jamaican artists or if
it only winds up looking like a failed attempt to appeal to a larger
audience.

Respect! -Mark "Homebody" Groesbeck