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!
Instead of not doing a blog this week we decided to list a bunch of good songs that released. I did not find anything great just good. Maybe this should be the start of an additional playlist? What do you think?
REGGAE
Chronixx 'Safe N Sound'
Azato "Love Is The Conqueror"
A seasoned musician who grew up in San Diego playing with bands and all types of music, Brady Giusta
is a seasoned percussionist and also plays keys, ukulele, melodica and now the lead vocalist of his own roots reggae band. Over 20 years of playing music, Giusta has released his debut album and with his band called Azato. A Ghanaian artist he played with, gave him the name Azato, which means joyful or smiley one. The band and music is heavily influenced by Hawaiian culture. The first song on the album 'Ku I Ka Pono' featuring Hawaiian Kawika Kahiapo, which means stand for righteousness and similar to the states slogan. This song is like the Hawaiian reggae version of Peter Tosh & Bob Marley's 'Get Up Stand Up.' The saying goes 'behind every good man is a better woman.' This is found in Azato's Hawaiian princess 'Tarona Loa.' This song features reggae artists Elijah Emanuel from Panama. There are three other songs that have that Hawaiian influence the loss of friend 'Dayne Kawika Ortiz,' 'Mahalo Nui Loa Faʻafetai' and the somber 'Wesley Ulugalu-Sula (Featuring LJ Wells and the Sula Ohana).' This is a reggae album, musically it is a roots reggae project, even with all the other influences of musical styles, cultures and languages. It is also the beauty in "Love.' Isn't that true "Love," since "Love Is The Conqueror." You hear the reggae from the first track, the second track 'Your Love' is straight roots and is one of the albums best. If there wasn't a title track it would be found in the other shining reggae song 'I'm Ready' and 'Oly Ible' is the last of the gems. 'No One Else,' 'Love' with Hawaii's Irie Love' and 'Love Is The Conqueror' are the other good, straightforward reggae tunes. Love the sounds included in 'I'm Ready,' which has percussion and jazzy horns while the flute stands out in 'Mahalo Nui Loa Faʻafetai.' 'Ever Priase' feat. Irie Love & James McWhinney of Big Mountain has a bhinghi vibe with a jazzy feel, which is a nice change to that sound as does in 'Gift From Above.' We also love all the horns in their different moods throughout the album. After hearing this album, you can hear the experience, the depth and the quality in Azato's debut album 'Love Is The Conqueror.' Our only question at this point is.....Why did you wait so long? As the saying goes, nothing happens before it's time and in this case it was well worth the wait.
Abka Kaba 'Hold Yah'
SOCA
Nailah Blackman & Sokah 'Iron Love'
This girl brings so much to soca, Trinidad & the Caribbean as a whole. Her roots are traced to the origin of soca music. The Blackman family is her roots & Trinidad is her home. In fact her relatives are on guitar and mix & master the track. Nailah brings so much talent to the forefront of soca. She IS soca's biggest, hottest talent RIGHT NOW!!!!!! She brings beauty, integrity, fashion, creativity and seems to bring something new, different and cutting edge every time she sings a new song. 'Iron Love' sound and it's video each bring it. She almost looks completely different every time you see her and always looking great when she does. The world is very visual at the moment so this is only going to be a plus for her. She puts a lot into it. Her biggest attribute is her talent and the quality of muzik she puts out. This a new version of the same song with a different style. It is almost zouk and African combined. Then the title of it is rooted in calypso & carnival. An iron is an instrument traditional played on the road during carnival. This is where the road mixes come from and originate. Lots of history & meaning here. Nailah keep doing your thing you are doing more than you know.
DANCEHALL
Sean Paul "Live N Livin"
Sean Paul is a dancehall king. He is a cross between Shaggy who is king in the pop world & Beenie Man who is king in the dancehall world of Jamaica. Sean has found the formula to be both. Sean is not into the clashing thing and turned down an invite to do a Verzuz episode. His answer to that challenge is his new album "Live N Livin." Instead of musically battling with your peers and he produced an album of unification. Sean called in the dancehall fraternity: from Squash & Busy Signal to Suku Ward & his old Dutty Cup crew member Looga Man. There are obviously a few missing, Paul has 21 different artists with 2 artists appearing three times on 16 tracks. The album starts out with tracks that feel they could all have been on the riddim and have a similar vibe. About half way through the album takes a turn with Buju Banton on 'Crazy.' 'Schedule' with Damian Marley & Chi Ching Ching has an organ sound that is uncommon in dancehall and really makes this track standout. It also has a catchy melody using a 'Uh Huh.' Sean spits some positivity with Serani on 'Protect Me.' His only solo track 'Lion Heart' is our favorite track. Sp has haters always has & always will. He touches on it as well Verzuz. 'Who's going to try to hate me now ...who's going try to dismiss me now cuz misery loves company.' Them a go point finger pon me. He calls for unity. Then there's the only song we have heard, the albums first single 'Guns Of Navarone' with Jesse Royal & Mutabaruka. 'Danger Zone' Sean states 'only Jah Jah can save we.' 'I'm Sanctify' Sean Paul comes with 'no negativity lord, livin my life to fullest with my cup don't let them in it, they don't know love, let the light shine every minute, we ain't giving it up.' Now Mavado sings 'lord the things I've been through in my life, the fight keep me stronger & wise.' 'Dem a wonder how we live thru dis I'm blessed I'm Sanctify.'BOOM!!! He who feels it knows it. Then the album ends with the highest one of all in 'Everest' with Masicka & Skillibeng. Sean has some of his tuffest lyrics yet. Listen 'no matta who jah bless no man curse, in the abundance of watta dem thirsty, so feed dem a verse from psalms & proverbs. I'm smokin the herbs.' Sean continues 'lyrical shots, me work hard me never rest, respect taller than everest, call mi a lion heart, so mi never stress.' On many of the tracks the guests, in my opinion, the collaborations only make Sean's parts better. This is the first of two albums for Sean Paul in 2021. Right now Sean is out to 'Live N' and keep "Living." All produced by Sean too the Dutty Rock.
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