Search - Chezidek :: Inna Di Road

Better Late Than Never. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 09/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For a company who spent such an incredibly long time in musicland getting things wrong, Greensleeves has suddenly seemed to have the midas touch in reggae music. Following a period of about three years which saw them nearly completely abandon `standard' (I.e. LOGICAL) practices for a record label, the English based reggae giant has finally gotten things together under new management. Before, Greensleeves seemed aimed DIRECTLY at the DJ market and ONLY the DJ market, releasing riddim albums by the handful for their Rhythm Album Series. The series, which began with the MASSIVE Bellyas riddim back at the beginning of 2000 had reached all the way up to 86 with the final release, the Ghetto Whiskey, which averages out to roughly seven Rhythm Albums a year, which isn't bad, however at the end of the run, the number of riddim albums which were release were outnumbering the number of artists' albums they label released by a huge margin. Basically the only artist who had a guaranteed release with Greensleeves for a few years was Sizzla Kalonji, following the departure of mainstay Elephant Man to a major deal. GS' own artists were unhappy with the label as the artists with which they actually had official deals began making noises noise of their discontent with the label not putting out their albums. Names like Predator, Kid Kurrupt and Ward 21 who left the album after two albums all voiced their discontent. It even stretched to the artist who now reigns as the bigman at Greensleeves, Vybz Kartel, who also threatened to leave the label, even at the cost of CHANGING HIS NAME! Fast forward to 2007 and things have changed, having been sold and placed under new (and seemingly very competent) management, Greensleeves has once again set itself as the chief rival for reggae leader, VP Records. Kartel has remained, Macka Diamond's (who was also unhappy at a point) album has been released and she seems set for her next project (the Rhythm Album series has been stuck on 86 since the Ghetto Whiskey) and the once roots-resistant Greensleeves has added a rootical side to their releases. In the last two years alone, the label has released albums for the likes of Jah Mason, Chuck Fenda, Fantan Mojah, Lutan Fyah, Norrisman and dual releases for Nasio Fontaine and Natural Black and they are actually selling albums at a nice pace. Had you told me a couple of years back while browsing the label new releases and seeing riddim album after riddim album with the yearly doses of Ragga Ragga Ragga and Dancehall Anthems (which were largely compilation products of songs which you heard on those riddim albums) that the Greensleeves of today is what would eventually sprout, I would have certainly thought you insane. The people at the label have definitely gotten their act together and it is better late than never.



A similar situation is their current release which follows the very impressive line of roots releases over the past couple of years. Chezidek takes his turn with Greensleeves' good luck for his debut for the label, Inna Di Road. Inna Di Road comes a bit late as I can remember the artist speaking about the album as early as late 2000 as being something for fans to look out for and keep on the schedule. Despite being `late' for this album, Chezidek has certainly kept himself busy and in doing so his career has taken a jump up in terms of his popularity and notoriety and even definitely in the quality of his vibes. I remember picking up his debut album, Harvest Time (still, in my opinion, his best album to date) based solely on the strength of him being Xterminator's new artist and having the vault of the legendary label's vibes at his disposal. What he did with that album was position himself as being one of the most unique young talents in the roots game, gifted (and some might say `cursed' as you will always hear a WIDE range of opinions on his voice) with one of the most unusual, but captivating voices the music has ever seen. Harvest Time had al the components of making the singer come off very good. The follow-up, Rising Sun, had all the components of making the singer seem not so good as virtually all of the wonderful melodic ability he showed on Harvest Time were gone, in exchange for a very mechanical and downright odd album showing just how wrong it could go when dealing with a talent such as Chezidek's. Even after making the world know of the impending album, Inna Di Road (which probably becomes his highest profile release to date) Chezidek (a ST. ANN's NATIVE!) remained active on all fronts, recording, touring and making albums (which I suppose is a bit different than `recording`). He scored very sizable reggae hits (perhaps the most sizable of which do actually appear on this album), continued touring all over the world and did actually release two albums in the meantime. Mash Dem Down was a decent enough project for Al.Ta.Fa.An which scored well and received very good reviews (including one by your's truly) and even stronger was just this past summer's very strong Firm Up Yourself for Cousin's Records and producer Kemar McGregor. Firm Up Yourself was a true return to high quality for Chezidek, while not as good as Harvest Time, it was definitely a very powerful piece. Now, coming down the road we see Inna Di Road. Inna Di Road is the much anticipated release of pieces we have been listening to for nearly two years and have been scoring all over reggae's extended community as certifiable hits. Greensleeves also does it up as a nice release, presenting a very nice cover and packaging which will definitely snag a few uncertain fans, and on an enhanced disc as well. The time spent on the making of this one, at least on sight, appears worth the wait, and were there ever a time for Chezidek to shine musically, Inna Di Road would certainly be that time which reaches late, but better late than never.



Well, while Inna Di Road isn't exactly Chezidek's best album to date, it certainly doesn't completely disappoint on the rather lofty status which it has to live up to. Part of the reason it was so anticipated is that the album FINALLY finds Chezidek linking up on a full scale project with the famed Massive B label, headed by longtime reggae staple Bobby Konders. Together, the pair has made magic together, pushing some of the finest material Chezidek has ever produced along with making, arguably, the biggest hits of career (well that's not really arguable at all). The first thing that you notice about this album (that is, if you have heard the singer before, if you haven't the first thing you'll notice is that voice) is the nice vibe overall of the album. There is a consistent and persistently nice vibe on Inna Di Road, something some of his albums have missed over the years (especially both Mash Dem Down and Rising Sun) and It works to the betterment of this album, as although not all of the tracks are truly top notch, it is rather easy to listen to this all the way through in one sitting. Working to the betterment of your ears is the opening track, the title track. Inna Di Road the song is a sizable hit for Chezidek and Massive B, and one that shows the singer in his absolute best light. The track, being much more of the melodically strong variety is only an ever so slightly heavier version of what we heard on the Harvest Time album and is a track which would have fit in quiet nicely with the mix of vibes on that album. On this one however, it is still strong enough and recognizable enough to be the signature track (the `signature' track, not the best). Complete with a very nice video in hand and built over Massive B's epoch Jah Love riddim, the social commentary is amongst Chezidek's best efforts to date. Incidentally, the song immediately following Inna Di Road, on the album, Far I, a song I seem to remember but just can't place a finger on, may just be even stronger than the title track. While it doesn't go as hard as the first track and is a great deal more simplistic, Far I, is just a simply nice song in the name of His Majesty, just pushing a very strong vibes and definitely gives you something to listen to should you be one of those just listening for the first track. Let it keep going! You won't be disappointed.



The other truly large track here is the track which I believe was the artist's first JA number one tune. In a rather shocking occurrence, Leave the Trees, a HUGE tune for Chezidek which is now nearing four years old, by my count, has yet to appear on any of the artist's subsequent albums to date and thus becomes somewhat of a nice sized score for Greensleeves and Bobby Konders. The song is almost an aside on Inna Di Road (actually, had this album arrived when it was first expected to, it may have actually been called Leave the Trees), having been WELL rinsed on many compilations and thoroughly spun on radio. But the herbalist anthem, built on the Chapter a Day riddim, still holds some weight and not being hyped here at all, it is FINALLY nice to see it included somewhere. The other track here certain to sound quite familiar to your ears is Dem a Fight We. Most familiar, definitely because it comes over Massive B.'s mighty Truth and Rights riddim. While it certainly isn't even one of the stronger tracks here, it will surely bring a nice vibes a few times through (and speaking of the Truth and Rights riddim, everybody check out Khari Kill's long awaited debut album Picture of Selassie). Another tune which will sound quite familiar to the reggae heads is She Struggles, an ode to the women out there who are doing their absolute best to hold things together for their families. The tune is cut over Konders' lick of the Cuss Cuss riddim and one of the better tracks Inna Di Road offers. All that being said, the best tune here, clearly, is Call Pon Dem. Call Pon Dem is just a warning for those who aren't living correctly and don't care to live correctly. If you are (at least attempting to) living correctly, however, and living clean, Call Pon Dem will carry you just a HUGE vibe that is worth the price of admission to Inna Di Road alone. It shows Chezidek in a melodious style and doesn't sacrifice at all his overall message and complete with the video here, it is currently do a damage in Jamaica for the singer and may ultimately prove to be one of his bigger hits (if it isn't already). Definitely have to check Call Pon Dem, and have to link the video here as well.



Other tracks which stand out for Inna Di Road include the real changeup here (and what is an album without a changeup?). Check Mi Nah Run over Massive B's No Borders riddim. Mi Nah Run is probably as close as you ever get to hearing Chezidek enter anywhere near the spectrum of dancehall and surprisingly, it works. Immediately when I heard just the basic intro, I skipped it over, such a riddim for Chezidek would seemingly make as much since as putting Luciano on a soca riddim, but, being the professional that he is, Chezidek handles it with one of the most interesting titles here altogether (now weren't you just expecting Konders to dust off the Wanted for Chezidek after that!). I Shouldn't Do That is one of the very few lover's tracks on the album and it is definitely the strongest of the tiny faction, definitely check that one out. And lastly, give a few spins to Trouble Maker. Trouble Maker sounds like the type of vibe that you might here from Warrior King and it is without a doubt one of the best times spent on Inna Di Road, complete with a very nice and bouncy presence of backup singers, the best on the album, the song just works very well.



Overall, this one seems to be for reggae heads only. Although it might be one of the better spots for newer fans to jump on Chezidek's vibes (you newer fans PLEASE stay away from Rising Sun!) as it includes some of his better known material (or you could always just attend a live show, Chezidek's stage show is very strong). This may just be the album which adds some normalcy to Chezidek`s very unusual talent. Inna Di Road is inching ever so closely back to showing not only the promise that I saw for Chezidek back from Harvest Time (this MAY actually be a better album than Firm Up Yourself, check that one out as well) days, but also, again the label itself (next up is an album from Ras Shiloh!). Definitely nice to see both heading back to prominence finally, better late than never.

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