SHOK WAVE is your weekly new REGGAE music blog. SHOK WAVE finds music that is out there in the form of Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Ska, Dub, Reggae Rock & anything else musical with a Caribbean origin and in any language.
Here is what we found this week.......Enjoy!
REGGAE FUSION
Ras-I "Tsojourna"
A sojourn is a journey and "Tsojourna" is a musical fusion of a roots reggae base or new wave roots with injections of soul, jazz, hip hop and R&B. Ras-I is apart of the new wave of progressive reggae artists out of Jamaica. His guests are all apart of the movement: No-Maddz, Royal Blu, Runkus & Jesse Royal. The album starts with an interesting intro from a child. Musically 'I Am' with the No-Maddz is the first track that really sets a tone for Ras-I, both musically & lyrically. This youth a go far. 'Cease Fire' is about stopping the judgement me for my skin color as he mentions the greats that are "black." 'Bad Boy Bully' is about life in Jamaica, the real Jamaica and it does not say it, it features Fyakin. I know that voice. Kette/Nyabhingi style reggae drumming accentuates 'Belle Mama.' My Love goes 'Crazy Over you' is a neo-soul/roots styled love tune. It has a real vibe with it's sexy horns and was the first song I heard from this album so I believe it was the first singlw. It also stars the pompous Runkus & burner Blu Ray. The splendor is in his versatility too from smooth vocals to trigger fast lyrical raps. Which is a great lead into the bonafide single 'Ordinary Day' for a similar sound and feel for a lover with hip hop drums. 'Love She Want' has his strongest melody and true roots reggae with the 'Small Axe' Jesse Royal. So ras sings & Jesse DJs. A nice combination and unfortunately only leaves us the final track 'Keep My Faith.' Oh Jah comes in to Ras-I's faith strong. Roots reggae ends this journey. Ras-I covers many a ground musically & lyrically. Impressive debut and will be in this game as long as he wants. Never too many and always room in my opinion.
DANCEHALL/REGGAE
PopCaan "Vanquish" mixtape
Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan has released a new mixtape. It’s called Vanquish, and its the artist’s first full-length for Drake’s OVO Sound. Reggae gave birth to both dancehall & Hip hop and hip hop created rap. This mixtape is like a dancehall version of today's rap with a few reggae tracks that still get a bit dutty in the mouth. The focus will be on those and won't be a full album review. As dirty as it is I still like Popcaan's music at times & 'Jah Is For Me.' The bwoy have melody, talent and you can not deny him and his art. Jah is a great being and the bad mind ting doesn't work with Jah. There needs to be a balance. So just mek dem know seh 'Father God Ah Lead.' You know seh a longtime Popcaan a hold it. So him a get thru even with a dutty mouth. Popcaan has a major obsession with marijuana. You can't mess with this girl and he can't do without her. She goes wherever he goes. It's expressed in 'One Ting Alone.' Now for the full mixtape pree da link here.
Comments are closed.