Search - Various Artists :: Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems 2006

That Time Already?. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 11/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Either its been a relatively short 357 days since the last `Athems' album was released or I just haven't been paying good attention. It seems like almost last week that I was sitting down writing the review for that album which seemed like it had literally been produced by Vybz Kartel, as he had appeared on about a quarter of the 40 tracks.



What a difference a year makes?!



Just a week shy of a year later and Kartel appears on just 3 tracks, with even one of those being a combination with recent Greensleeves signee Mavado. Things have definitely changed in the order for Greensleeves as well, as their roots output goes higher and higher, their once so annoyingly superfluous stream of riddim albums has slowed and Vybz Kartel has even threatened to leave (and get a new name). They have added Busy Signal who just released his quality debut, Step Out and reportedly Mavado whose debut is set for sometime early next year (which, in Greensleeves' dancehall terms, means next summer). Ward 21 fled the camp for some obscure Japanese label to release their latest album King of the World, you can expect Macka Diamond's next record probably in 2008-'09 if at all, and NOBODY knows what happened with Kid Kurrupt and Predator.



But the Dancehall Anthem album is the jewel in Greensleeves crown. 40 tracks strong over 2 discs, every year, always something new, always interesting, and this year is no different. One of the more interesting aspects of the 2006 edition is the presence of 3 artists. Burro Banton, Ninjaman and King Yellowman are not typically the type of artists you would find anywhere near this album. But all score decent: Burro with his Man Guinep over the Intercom Reloaded riddim, Ninjaman with his `y'all forgot me' style Back in Town, "Them think I gone away, but I'm back to claim it. Nuff a them a hype but them cant maintain it!", over the Foundation riddim from Vendetta and of course King Yellow with his massive Orphan shot on the 85.



Without a doubt the star of the project, however, is young singjay Mavado. His mega hit Real McCoy over the Anger Management riddim might just be the best that either of the 2 discs have to offer. Also check his nice combinations with Kartel and Busy Signal, Sunrise and Full Clip, respectively, also his Weh Dem a Do over the Red Bull & Guiness.



Highlights include from disc one: Definitely Ms Angellic Alaine! With her Whine over Vendetta's Sweat riddim; A nice nice combination between Lady Spice and Pinchers over Dave Kelly's Stage Show riddim; Sizzla's infamous Nah Rape over the Inspector riddim and a DJ whom I had long left for mediocrity, Mr Peppa with his LETHAL Talk over Ward's I-Rob 21. I'll even give Hollow Point an up for his Easy Skanking over the Chinkuzi.



Disc one is CONSIDERABLY better than disc 2.



Save for about 5-6 tracks (2-3 of which have more than made the rounds on the compilation circuit, especially Beenie's Come Again and Busy's Step Out) the second disc is very weak. Check tracks 9-10 for the main highlight. Beenie Man and Bounty Killa continue their decade+ long war with the outstanding Bullet Proof Vest from Beenie and not to be outdone Bounty's Bullet Proof Skin. Beenie scores the bigger shot as Bounty turns to recycled lyrics, but both are still well done over the hard hard (Bellyas-esque) Show Off riddim.



Also check Sizzla's nice Purple off the Battlefield riddim. And 2 extras from disc one, Bounty and Angel Doolas, also over the Battlefield on Not Me (a decade after Merciless used the same title for a Bounty counteraction) and Kartel on the infectious Beyonce Wine.



The bad? I don't like the soundmen/dancers making tunes. And they are in healthy abundance here. Between Matterhorn's 4 tracks (including the well well traveled Dutty Whine), Ding Dong's equally prolific Bad Man Forward, Bad Man Pull Up and the steadily annoying Soltex 3000, makes a nice corner of this album barely listenable. Also Supahype's HORRID take on Baby Cham's Ghetto Story on Uptown Story and Bunji's Brrrt which is actually good (provided you don't listen to it more than a couple of times).



Overall, through my rants, I don't know how I couldn't recommend this one. Between the 40 tracks, there is bound to be a steady stream of about 14-15 which you will like. That's an entire album worth of songs at no extra charge. This edition, perhaps more than any other has made sure to try and stay current with Jamaica, many of these songs are still weeks and weeks away from being off of the radio here. So you get up to date with some vibes, meet some new artists (including David House, Capleton protégé, Munga whom I didn't mention) and you're guaranteed to find something you like here if you like dancehall at all."