 |
By Michelle Lin |
TOK undoubtedly delivered the biggest song in dancehall this year with "Chi Chi Man," with Elephant Man following closely with "Log On." TOK's debut album "My Crew, My Dawgs" is making waves in New York with THREE records added to mainstream radio over the past 6 months. These current crossover radio tracks are "Chi Chi Man", "Shake Yuh Bam Bam" (on Hot 97) and "Money 2 Burn" (on WBLS). George Nooks took reggae back to a spiritual standpoint with his #1 tune "God is Standing By". Coming back from last years massive hit "Down By The River", the rule of thumb for Morgan Heritage in 2001 was to break down barriers. The album "More Teachings" was packed with strong messages, insights and relevant historical information for the reggae massive. Musically speaking, the album's key tracks were "Down By TheRiver", "Meskla Square", and "Jah Seed." The Morgan family group was determined to break new ground with this, their fourth VP Records release.
The WARPED tour was one major triumph for the band whose participation in 18 dates primarily along the East Coast this summer put them on stage beside acts as diverse as Kool Keith, Rancid and the Rollins Band. The Morgan's have continually written and recorded new material for their forthcoming album. Anthony B also showed great depth of talent in 2001. His writing and performances continually gave his audience lyrics with substance and meaning. 2001 saw Anthony B on extensive tour dates through the US and Europe. "That's Life" was a multifaceted album with a range of rhythmic styles. He also showed his social commentator side with his controversial hit single "Good Cop."
The resurgence of the 'one rhythm albums', found in the Riddim Driven series, kept the dancehall massive pumping with the most current music from the streets of Jamaica. Chiney Gal featured "New Application" by Elephant Man and "Give It To Dem" by Sizzla, as well as "Counteract" by Beenie Man and "Changes" by Ce'cile (who produced the rhythm). Big Ups to her for being an exciting, new artist and a FEMALE producer!
Richard "Shams" Browne had a big year, not only with the Juice riddim, but with the much anticipated release of T.O.K.'s debut album "My Crew, My Dawgs" on his rising B-Rich Records label. Shams also worked on the Extasy riddim for Shocking Vibes crew that produced "Romeo Must Die" for Elephant Man, "One Girl" with Beenie Man, Tanto Metro & Devonte, and T.O.K.'s "On the Radio."
Then Trilogy exploded on the scene like a bomb with its infectious base line and remained a top seller all year. Ward 21 from the legendary King Jammy's Studio, produced this down tempo, hip- hop inflected Electro- groove that included tunes like Beenie Man's "Mi Nuh Inna Dat", Bounty Killer and Wayne Marshall on "Smoke Clears" and Lexxus along with Flexx from T.O.K. on "Spy."
Producer Rohan "Snow Cone" Fuller with his massive Rice & Peas rhythm took the dancehall scene with flavor and spice. For this special release VP Records created a special double vinyl set with nineteen vocal tracks and the version especially for the dancehall DJ community. Feature tracks included the blazing "Warrior Cause" by Spragga Benz and Elephant Man, "Mystery Is The Man" by Bounty Killer, and "Whoa" by Capleton. With more big tunes from Hawk Eye, Bling Dawg, and Tanto Metro & Devonte.
Closing out the year, two brand name producers with big riddims are getting the buzz. The Liquid riddim from 2 Hard productions founder Jeremy Harding ("Who Am I?" Beenie Man, "Infiltrate" Sean Paul) busted back on the scene with twenty new tracks from the top names in dancehall reggae. Feature tracks include "Log On" by Elephant Man, Tanto Metro & Devonte's "Give It To Her," "Can You Do The Work?" by Sean Paul & Ce'Cile (in their first combination) and "Keep It Blazin'" from T.O.K..
The Buy Out riddim, like all K..licious productions is a highly anticipated release from super producer Tony Kelly. The riddim features some MAJOR tunes for 2002 like Sean Paul's "Like Glue" "Money To Burn" from T.O.K., Notch with "Nuttin Nuh Go So" and Elan's remake of "Red Red Wine" all making their way up the international reggae charts and booming in the dance.
On the Soca side, it was a good year for the band Surface, voted band of the year for 2001. Surface returns with their second album for VP "Breaking the Surface" which will be released January 29, 2002. The most impressive developing solo artist in Soca is undoubtedly Bunji Garlin (the ladies darlin'), whose dancehall-influenced style earned him the Ragga Soca Monarch title two years in a row. His first album with VP Records "Revelation" will launch January 15, 2002. Rupee also had a big year with the hit song "Insomnia" featured on Soca Gold 2001. The tunes running things this year out of Trinidad Carnival were Shadow's "Stranger", "Lookin for Horn", Peter C. Lewis and Xtatik's "Taylaylay." The latter half of the Soca season produced songs like Krosfyah's "Sak Passe," "Hairy Bank" by Poorsah, Kevin Lyttle's "Turn Me On," and Alison Hinds & David Rudder's "Glow" which are also featured on D'Soca Zone: The 2nd Wine. The great Mighty Sparrow also returned with a song addressing the September 11th tragedies with "God Bless America" (a re-version of "Wanted Dead or Alive"). VP Records also released a collection of Soca classics titled Soca 101. The collection features 16 international Soca hits and a special DJ mix CD from God Bless Productions.
Albums to watch for in the year 2002:
Bunji Garlin "Revelation" (VP1628) January 15
Surface "Breaking the Surface" (VP2168) January 29
Fiona "Wanna Make Love" (VP2171) January 29
Sanchez "Stays on my Mind" (VP1636) February 12
Glen Washington "Your Love" (VP1635) February 12
Capleton "Still Blazing" (VP1625): February 26
New Riddim Driven Releases:
* Nine Night (VP2170): Dec 4
* Buy Out (VP2174): Dec 4
* Engine 54/Humanity (VP2173): Dec 4
* Just Friends (VP2177): Dec 17
* Glue (VP2175): Jan 29
* The Flip (VP2178): Feb 26
* Bondage (VP2179): Feb 26
Top 10 Sellers for 2001
1 VP1629.2 VARIOUS ARTISTS REGGAE GOLD 2001
2 VP1624.2 HAMMOND, BERES MUSIC IS LIFE
3 VP1617.2 LUCIANO A NEW DAY
4 VP1632.2 T.O.K. MY CREW MY DAWGS
5 VP1615.2 MORGAN HERITAGE MORE TEACHINGS...
6 VP1607.2 JUNIOR KELLY LOVE SO NICE
7 VP1640.2 VARIOUS ARTISTS STRICTLY THE BEST 28
8 VP1639.2 VARIOUS ARTISTS STRICTLY THE BEST 27
9 VP1630.2 VARIOUS ARTISTS SOCA GOLD 2001
10 VP1631.2 SIZZLA TAKING OVER
Top 10 Current Soca Albums:
1) D'SOCA ZONE: THE 2ND WINE/VARIOUS ARTIST
2) SOCA 101/VARIOUS ARTIST
3) SOCA GOLD 2001/VARIOUS ARTIST
4) KOOL UNDER FIRE/KROSSFYAH
5) COLOUR ME SOCA VOL. 2/TERENCIA COWARD
6) BLAME IT ON THE MUSIC/RUPIE
7) MASTER STROKE/RED PLASTIC BAG
8) PEEPING/SUPER P
9) SOCA VIBES/BYRON LEE
10) SOCA GOLD 2000/ VARIOUS ARTIST