Search - Various Artists :: Pop Hits Inna Reggae, Vol. 6

There's a long tradition of pop hits being re-recorded to suit Caribbean tastes that stretches back to the fifties and beyond. Jamaican music itself was born from such a synthesis, and since it's a crime for any good song to be restricted to its original audience, you just know artists from other genres are going to be putting their own spin on them before long. Jet Star have now mastered the art of translating such hits into reggae, whether they were origi- nally made for pop fans, like Daniel Powter's Bad Day, or the hip-hop and r&b market. Nato, who sings Bad Day and several other selections here, including Chris Brown's Say Goodbye, and Ne- Yo's Sexy Love, is just one of the exciting new talents to have joined the Jet Star family of late. There's been a changing of the guard at the label's north London studios, with some of the more familiar names being replaced by fresh contenders with lots to prove, and a real sparkle in their performances. The best known of them is Savana, who's already recorded an impressive debut album for Jet Star. This Jamaican born sing-jay/rapper contributes two tracks - Pussy cat Doll's Don't Cha, and the reality tune Riding Dirty, which tells of a successful black man's problems whilst out driving his Benz or Bimma. (Because you have to keep those papers clean, right? Whilst knowing you're going to be pulled over anyway...) Baby Chris, shining here on another Ne-Yo original, is also a member of the dancehall trio L.O.C, who had a massive hit with Ring Ding Ding, and have their first album due out on Jet Star anytime. He is joined here by Danzo, heard covering the Chris Brown hit, Yo, and a handful of female stars-in-the-making, including Nyima and Madeline. Lily Allen's Smile is one of the biggest pop hits of the year, and yet it's reggae influences are obvi- ous to everyone. Meleka now takes the song back to the source, as well as singing over Say I, and the Le Toya hit, Torn, and Jo-Anne is another outstanding prospect, as proved on the two Mary J Blige tracks, Enough Cryin', and Be Without You. These gifted newcomers have all have been nur- tured by Jet Star's in-house production team of Tony Philips and Valerie Skeete, and also Danny Ray, who produced Nato's Sexy Love, and Donna Hinds' remarkable Voodoo Child.