Search - Nookie 2k6 :: Nookie 2k6

Everyone Needs Some Nookie in Their Life!. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 02/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Each and every time I hear a new riddim from the King Jammy's camp, I get more and more impressed. Besides resting on the laurels of family patriarch King Jammy himself, the extended family, in the form of John John, CJ, Baby G (who is, to date, the only of the legendary producer's tribe to turn vocalist) , and Jam2 (and I'm SURE there are a few others). In preference, I've always favored Jam2's vibes better. Jam2 will typically build a BIG sounding hardcore dancehall riddim with a twist. From the Engine which he built with his brother, through the WONDERFUL Amharic and most recently in 2006, the Sidewalk University. He always manages to put out a seriously wicked riddim for the dancehall and actually, for one of the very few younger producers, Jam2 exercises fantastic artist choice for his riddims, even amongst the newer and un-established talent he voices, the artists always seem made for the riddim and rarely do you get the `fish out of water' vibe from one of his tunes (and that's saying something because both the Sidewalk University and the Amharic had some crazy twists).



Mixed in there somewhere and flying under my radar apparently (I think I must've been in the shower or something) is the sickly high powered Nookie. The Nookie is simply one of the coolest riddims I've ever heard! Its not big like the Engine was, it has its own type of vibe while still maintaining its hardcore base, but its so wonderfully crafted and built that the result is a well functioning well oiled machine of a riddim which goes to back some of the finest hardcore dancehall talents available in Jamaica.



Typically on a riddim album, I like to look at who actually produced the riddim, and what they have done previously; I like to look at the artist selection, which almost always tells you who produced the riddim (certain producers lovvvvvvvvvvvve voicing certain artists, which is how we get such pairs as Vybz Kartel and producer Vendetta and Bounty Killa and King Jammy despite the absence of a binding contract); and besides the actual riddim itself, I like to see if the producer has gone the extra mile to give any variations on the riddim, making the album FAR more fan friendly and easy to listen to, for those who may not have the patience to sit through sometimes 20 tracks (this time `only` 16) worth of tunes on the exact same riddim. Besides the variations, the Nookie has everything I look for. It does take a few minor shifts during its 16 tracks (most notably during Elephant Man's track Buss Up Yuh Steel), but for the most part, the riddim is a somewhat unusual docile hardcore riddim (it almost reminds a little of Scatta's Double Jeopardy riddim from 2001) which proves a little difficult to ride, probably due to the oddly placed (but wonderfully done) guitar right in the middle of the track.



Jam2 and his brother John John, who built the Nookie together also did a great job of artist selection. Due to their family's extensive experience in the field, they pretty much had their choice of anyone they wanted to work with but they took their time and even added some of the younger talents who really shine on the Nookie and thus, make the riddim itself shine. Never neglecting the true dancehall and reggae heavyweights, you'll find the type of names which will ultimately sell an album of this variety as the Bountys, Beenies, Sizzlas, and Bujus of the world are on track as well (as well as I couple I didn't mention) and they all (with one possible exception) do a well enough job.



Starting the album is actually two of the weaker tracks on the riddim. Both Sizzla and especially Buju fail to deliver their bests with their Oh Yes and Look Out Fi Dem, respectively. Sizzla's Oh Yes isn't bad at all however, he actually pushes one of the best hooks on the riddim completely and several times I remember the tune playing in Jamaican dancehalls, but you go through and you get lyric after lyric for fodder of the Kalonji critics who claim the Bobo has gone too slack. Buju just doesn't seem to have the Nookie set well in his sites. It took me several times actually listening to Look Out fi Dem to FIND the chorus (and maybe that says more about me than Buju) in the track, and it actually comes off as a complete freestyle and definitely not Gargamel's best freestyle at that. The only other truly questionable track on the Nookie riddim is probably the stereotypically named and discussed All About the G's, by the poorly named Money God, and all I can say about that is that I'm definitely not looking forward to anything in the future from this young artist (although he does drop a few clever lines and has a decent flow, a longer gestation period is needed before tackling such a `big' riddim).



That leaves the other 13 tracks to shine and most of them more than carry their weight on the track. Check what is probably the riddim's best tune, We Set Di Trend by the Doctor. Despite ridiculously not being included on Beenie's last album, Undisputed, one could make the point that late 2005-early `06 saw no bigger track from the dancehall king, dropping in finely on the history of the dancehall, just a powerful track despite being completely in control of the big riddim at the same time, and clearly aimed at the dancehall session. Beenie's counterpart, Bounty Killa also shines on the Nookie delivering his harsh harsh Under di Blood. Under di Blood is pure and simple exactly what I imagine John John and Jam2 had in mind when they finished the Nookie. it's a high powered and very hardcore track by that specific genre's ace over the past decade, and Bounty doesn't disappoint at all, as he completely KILLS the Nookie with Under di Blood.



"Murder dem mi son Adi, dem no ready fi yuh daddy!", Bounty utters on Under di Blood and when `mi son' gets his chance over the Nookie he delivers the seriously slack and equally wicked Proper Thing (aka Ain't I, also aka Proper English). Kartel shows you can take a well worn and tired topic of discussion and CONSTANTLY bring it back and back and no one will complain should you have the vibes and lyrics to do so, Proper Thing is more than top flight material for the Nookie!



Check surprisingly Wayne Marshall's vocodered Put Your Lighter High. Never been too big of a Marshall fan, but he does his thing on the Nookie so you have to respect the track. Also checking in is Elephant Man on the ridiculous Buss Yuh Steel, which finds Ele turning back the clock circa 2000 with tracks like One More Start a War (with Ward 21) and the sick sick Replacement Killers, Buss Yuh Steel is of that quality. Repping for the ladies is dancehall Empress and Princess, Lady Saw shines on her man's riddim with her No Drop di Ting as does Ce'cile with her Nah Badda, explaining exactly what her man can't be lacking in the bedroom.



But this riddim is all about the leaders of the next generation, the big timers as well as the not so big timers. Check Bugle's surprisingly strong Caan Trick We. And lastly the big three of the next generation: Mavado teaming up with Ward 21 (who sound just as home on the Nookie as anyone,, considering it sounds exactly like something straight out of their studios) on the exceptional Baby Shatta, sounding like something which could have fit perfectly on one of their earlier albums. And I'm torn between which tune I enjoy more, Busy Signal's !SICK! Think Dem Bad on which you almost wonder where he's taking his breaths with the flow being so exceptional; and on the other hand is lyrics machine Aidonia's HEAVY One Motion! In typical 'Donia style he almost outruns the riddim but stays on cadence perfectly demonstrating a style only the masters could appreciate honestly.



Overall, definitely recommending the Nookie to the riddim collectors out there. Always love new riddims from the less than active (they do their part, but with their volume we could certainly see much more) Jammy's camp these days. And the Nookie is amongst the best that we've heard coming down the road in the past few years, place it amongst the Sidewalk University (one of the widely regarded best of 2006) but not receiving that type of push. For the non-collectors out there, if you're a fan of modern hardcore dancehall, trust that it doesn't get much better than the Nookie.







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