Roots Archives Forum

There's always a few "current" tunes around which might be enjoyed by the RA posse - John Holt and Queen Ifrica "Ghetto Queen" and Shaggy "Bad Man Don't Cry" are worth a listen... Love the Shaggy myself but I suppose he's not to everyone's taste.

I have to admit from my perspective as someone who gleefully likes all time periods of JA music (and who insists his ears absolutely ARE open) it's pretty funny to see someone question Sizzla while promoting Trinity. Sizzla often has more lyrics (usually good, too) in a single song than Trinity would have on an entire album. And I like Trinity. Sizzla is a rare talent, period. If you don't see it, that's fine, but I think it's your loss.

SIzzla USED to be a rare talent. I think he must have suffered a major head injury right around the turn of the century, and every couple of years he hits it on something pointy and hard again. Man, when Sizzla came on the scene in the mid-nineties I thought "Finally, a truly amazing talent coming from Jamaica once again!" What the hell happened....

I know there are countless threads on reggae forums about Sizzla and his new music being either great or horrible, and I don't mean to open that can of worms. I probably shouldn't be saying anything. I just used to love Sizzla so much! It's like having a good and trusted friend change overnight into someone you can't stand, and being sad that the friend you loved is no longer there.

Too many weak riddims these days for vocalists to get their best work out. The foundation stone of reggae, rhythm and if the rhythm is weak then the vocals and lyrics are going to reflect that.

peace

Rim Bim wrote:SIzzla USED to be a rare talent. I think he must have suffered a major head injury right around the turn of the century, and every couple of years he hits it on something pointy and hard again. Man, when Sizzla came on the scene in the mid-nineties I thought "Finally, a truly amazing talent coming from Jamaica once again!" What the hell happened....

I know there are countless threads on reggae forums about Sizzla and his new music being either great or horrible, and I don't mean to open that can of worms. I probably shouldn't be saying anything. I just used to love Sizzla so much! It's like having a good and trusted friend change overnight into someone you can't stand, and being sad that the friend you loved is no longer there.

I know where you're coming from. Sizzla definitely expanded his sound to embrace other styles, and if you only really like roots, I can see why that woud bother you. But it seems to me that only if you gave up on him and stopped paying attention could you assume he's totally different now. He's done stuff in the past year that's as good as stuff on Black Woman And Child. He never abandoned his old style, just added to it.

hi flashman. i think the 'problem' with sizzla isnt sizzla himself, but the producer he's voicing for. i have a lot of sizzla albums. there are some that i wouldnt rate, but almost anything he has done for xterminator are excellent. maybe philip burrell expects more from him and he delivers over burrells riddims. would really like to see him on stage sometime. lyrics factory for true.

ital kemar

super ape wrote:we gonna rock down to electric avenue...and then we take it higher!

sorry cant resist- how can you not get down on the dance floor with the ladiies when this comes out of the speakers late at night?

that unmistakable bass hit in that song sounds outerworldly on a loud sound system,

frederick wrote:Hey Guys,
I was on this site www.digitaldreamdoor.com and these folks have a top 100 greatest reggae artist list. I was kind of shock to see Chaka Demus and Plyers, Ziggy Marley,Spanner Banner,Sizzla, Damian Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie Man,Gentlemen?, Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks and J.C. Lodge on the list while more notables like Tappa Zukie, Dillinger, Trinity, Owen Gray, Al Campbell, Bim Sherman, Derrick Morgan, Max Romeo, Ansel Collins, Junior Delgado, Madoo, General Echo were missing.To my suggestion the editor added these names,but the ranking is still a bit off.I know the ranking might be a matter of personal opinion, but some artist were producers and writers for others as well. Have a look and comment, maybe some of you could help with the rating.

Frederick,

I think it has to do more with popularity than musical quality (which I believe to be universally true and not subjective) and since popularity is so grounded in the 'now" the musicians are weighted as such.

What have you done for me lately?

flashman wrote: I know where you're coming from. Sizzla definitely expanded his sound to embrace other styles, and if you only really like roots, I can see why that woud bother you. But it seems to me that only if you gave up on him and stopped paying attention could you assume he's totally different now. He's done stuff in the past year that's as good as stuff on Black Woman And Child. He never abandoned his old style, just added to it.

It's not that I only like roots. I'm into all kind of styles, and I loved Sizzla's 90s dancehall stuff. I don't even mind some of the better gun-tunes, because I understand the need to sing about what is happening around you. But I can't hang with the violently-anti-gay thing, or the putting down of women that Sizzla started really getting into in his songs. Also, that falsetto of his drives me nuts.

However, please give me a couple of examples of things he's done in the past year that you think are "...as good as stuff on Black Woman And Child". I would love to check them out.

Sizzla seems to come out with one or two good albums out of every 7 or 8 . I was thinking mainly of I Space when I made that comment, though looking back, it was actually 2007, not 2008. Anyway, I think I Space is on par with Da Real Thing, and Waterhouse Redemption was also good. If you hate the falsetto (I kinda like it sometimes) maybe you won't like this stuff, though it's not all falsetto.

I also like his new cut on the Strange Things riddim, and clips from his upcoming album with Firehouse Crew, Ghetto Youth-ology sound like the good old Sizzla from back in the day.

Maybe you won't find it as good as Black Woman and Child, but I think they're on par or close.