Shok Wave is your weekly new REGGAE music blog. Shok Wave features all styles of REGGAE & Caribbean music: soca, dancehall, dub, reggae rock, ska & anything else with a Caribbean root to it musically.
NEW REGGAE RELEASES
Jah Sun - 'Between The Lines'
Jah Sun releases his fifth album 'Between The Lines' and it's already showing growth & lots of maturity. I think part of it is just the time he's put in and the fact that he's gotten married as witnessed in 'New Hope.' His messages are strong as in 'Love Currency,' which he states his love is his currency not his money. 'Fool's Gold' shows his lyrical magic & prowess: 'fools make a fool of a heart that's made of gold, only a fool would make a fool of a heart that's made of gold.' The surprise track of the album is 'Ghetto Ballad.' 'Babylon a give bun........ government tell me where your heart is ....... every lie....' this song could buss big a Jamaica. It deservingly needs that and would turn a new leaf in reggae music. A great album if you can't tell.
I Octane - 'Where Is The Love'
Similar to the song above lyrically, musically & style, I Octane talks truth in 'Where Is The Love.' 'Tired of the killing.....where is the love where is the joy....put we in a race we can't win.' I Octane ask why 'the place broke out like a sore whey can't heal.' Jamaica needs help.
Pablo Moses - 'The Itinuation'
Pablo Moses, the living reggae legend, retuns with a new good album entitled 'Itinuation.' 'Itinuation' is Pablo's testament that he's still trodding on and doing the works while 'Living In Babylon' and 'In This Jungle.' A lot has to do with 'Attitude' and his attitude is great because he tells the world 'I Love You.' If you can't change your 'Attitude' maybe you can 'Open Your Minds,' which has a nice & different musical feel and my favorite song.
Devi Reed - 'Essence of Life'
Devi Reed is a new artist and lead singer for the band The Banyans. His 'Creation' is nice & rootsy & positive. In life it's not about where you're born or where you're from, we are all one it is the 'Essence of Life,' love is the 'Essence of Life.' There's also lite dancehall & hip hop. French is there as well since he's from France as in 'Noublie Pas' which is on an acoustic, singer/songwiter vibe and thats when you know it's good.
Letoyo + The Roots Radics - 'Simple Ticket'
Along the same vein of french reggae comes Senegal artist Letoyo who is backed by the great Roots Radics band on his new album 'Simple Ticket.' The rasta in him keeps up the fight against 'Babylon.' Letoyo pays homage to the motherland in 'Mama Africa' with help from Saba Tooth, Muzam & Thunderess. Muzam joins him again 'Ton Ange' and the french continues on the title track even though the title is English, interesting to say the least.
No Surrender Riddim
The 'No Surrender' riddim is named for the song that features Capleton's 'Babylon Days,' which is the best song on the riddim. It also features two other songs on the riddim from Fantan Mojah & Sizzla and are all mixed into one song. Capleton's song makes that song as well.
The Sensous Riddim
The Sensous riddim has reggae's sexiest singer. The track is called 'Wine On Me' and I love playing it for the ladies. Can you guess who it is before you listen to the video track? Let me know your honest guesses.
Skip Marley - 'Calm Down'
There's alot of hype on Skip Marley right now because of his song & performances with Katy Perry. His song 'Lions' also got picked up by mainstream radio. Now he's released his latest song called 'Calm Down.' Let's hope when that happens the fluff is gone and the real substance of his music carrys him through as it should.
Soom T - 'Ode To A Karrot'
Soom T 'Ode To A Karrot' is the first full digital reggae/dancehall album all about the ganja in one sense or another. It has a different sound yet gets a little tiresome after 19 tracks of it. The best is the first, it has the biggest impact 'Easy Weed.'
Rod Anton - 'Ubatuba'
Rod Anton releases a new album minus the Ligerians as 'Ubatuba.' Keeping to true to tradition in his style and reggae music, the roots reggae continues. Jr Dread joins him on 'Be Wise' while 'Song Of Liberty' adds Cedric Myton & one of my favorites has Marcus Gad on 'Divine Splendor.' A solid reggae album. 'False Preacher, ' 'Mama Earth' and the title track are other good songs.
St Ann'z Riddim
The parish of Jamaica called St Annz gets the spotight as the new reggae riddim with Nature taking the melody of Peter Tosh's 'Burial' with 'Dem Want I.' Singing Melody has a great message in 'No Love' with asking where the love has gone. Jamaica has so much talent that every day there's a new talent to emerge and today it's Sycure with 'Your Love.' Lastly, it's Turbulence with it's 'Almost Time' and he's singing more than he's djing of late.
The Skints - 'Let's Stay Together' (Al Green Cover)
We saved the best for last. The Skints have done a great job on Al Green's song 'Let's Stay Together.' The video is great too. A great song done really well, which is hard to do since Mr Green is full of talent. The Skints should be proud.
NEW REGGAE ROCK RELEASES
Gary Dread Ft Bobby Hustle - 'Better Off'
Gary Dread, drummer for The Movement, has a hit on his hands with the help of one of the most underrated American based reggae singers in Bobby Hustle and their song 'Better Off.' Gary's solo career takes a boost and will help his new album when it releases.
Tribal Seeds - 'Rude Girl'
Tribal Seeds have not let any changes affect their music in a negative way. Their new single 'Rude Girl' sounds great. The melody of the chorus and the way they sing 'Rude Girl' is so original, you wouldn't know that it was 'Rude Girl.' The sax sounds great too.
NEW DANCEHALL RELEASES
Gaza World Riddim
The Gaza King has the top cut on the Gaza World riddim called 'Life' courtesy of TJ and it's a re-release. Good lyrics with lots of good advice.
Konshens - 'Do Di Work'
The Prince of dancehall has done the work & 'don't want anything that come too easy.' Konshens newest dancehall bubbler is 'Do Di Work.' Keeping it simple all the way through.
NEW KULCHA LATINO RELEASES
The Delirians
The Delirians are known mostly as a ska band. So it's no big stretch or deal for them to do reggae or rocksteady. What got me was them doing in in Spanish and that's what Kulcha Latino is all about, basically anything that can fit into this blog as long as it's of Spanish or Latin origin. This is a really nice tune, it's called 'Ya No Estas.' Their next tune is a rocksteady rocker called 'You Don't Love Me (Like I Do).' Great harmonies and a bit of that soul infused so often into ska.
NEW SOCA RELEASES
Ricky T's ft Jah Cure - 'Freaky Girls'
Ricky T's 'Freaky Girls' made him famous. Now it has been remixed and given a soft, sexy touch from Jah Cure.
Nailah Blackman Baila Mami Parallel Riddim
The Parallel riddim has the stand out track coming from Nailah Blackman, the grand daughter of Ras I Shorty, the creator of soca music. Her song is called 'Baila Mami.' The title gives it that spanish flavor added to the soca vibe that's naturally there and makes this a boom for the Latinos. In case, you didn't know the Latinos love soca, so this should be a smash.
Valence Nedd - 'Great Things'
Grenada's new rising soca star is Valene Nedd. She has 'Great Things' (Melanin Riddim) happening for good reasons. She's the most talented singer coming out of the Spice Island. She's putting the spice back in their music and it's different than the Jab Jab vibe which is a little tired.
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