Page 14 - BOX SET BOOKLET _ Down In Jamaica _ 40 Years Of Vp Records
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While many reggae listeners craved socially and spiritually uplifting alternative combination mixes of hit songs by Beres Hammond,
lyrics that addressed the struggles with poverty and racism, Garnett Silk, and Luciano that incorporated a deejay and a singer.
dancehall deejays were ready, willing, and able to work both sides of
the aisle. With few exceptions, almost every emcee of the era had hits A remarkable offshoot of VP’s new place in the urban market was
in both the hardcore dancehall vein while also scoring the occasional the success of Panamanian-born emcee El General, and his song “Te
cultural or ‘conscious’ track. Other dancehall deejays, such as Buju Ves Buena” in 1990 on VP’s Gold Disc, which was a key record in
Banton, Capleton, and Tony Rebel would use reggae rhythms that the development of the globally recognized Latin-reggae hybrid called
were a throwback to a previous era, setting the stage for a new reggaetón. The song derives from Shabba Ranks’ “Dem Bow,” found
type of deejay. Sizzla’s style was straight out of the dancehall on on Shabba’s Just Reality LP, which also featured the hit “Wicked
one hand, but he was a gifted and tuneful singer as well. Coming Inna Bed.”
through the Xterminator label and producer Fatis Burrell, who
helped break Ini Kamoze in the 1980s, Sizzla was at his best on VP has been a player in the soca scene as well through the years,
a driving reggae riddim with Afrocentric lyrics, such as “Praise Ye with Michael Mantano & Xtatic, Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood,
Jah” or “Good Ways,” while also at home with a lovesick lament “Dry Fay-Ann Lyons, and Trinidadian superstar Bunji Garlin among its
Cry (Just One Of Those Days).” Similarly, Anthony B was an emcee top artists, frequently anchoring the popular Soca Gold series, which
whose Rastafarian faith would inform his approach in the dancehall. launched in 1997.
Cultural “singjays” such as Turbulence, Lutan Fyah, Junior
Kelly, and Fantan Mojah would follow, with songs popular among If cultural reggae was too didactic for some listeners by the 1990s,
core dancehall fans in urban markets and roots reggae followers Beres Hammond and Sanchez brought a soulful sensuality to
internationally. These artists also set the stage for legitimate foreign the reggae sound, employing the Jamaican rhythmic songbook to
acts like Gentleman (Germany) and Alborosie (Italy), who became one their advantage, while other veterans like Gregory Isaacs, George
of VP Records’ top selling artists. Nooks, Pam Hall, Dawn Penn, and Glen Washington were there for
new reggae hits of their own. Beres Hammond’s place in Jamaican
A survey of the VP catalog during the 1990s shows a broad array music can’t be understated. A successful recording artist since the
of styles among its hit artists and songs. There was something for late 1970s, he reached iconic status by the end of the 1990s with
everyone, including a new wave of combination-style hits from artists a series of superb singles and albums on VP, becoming one of the
including Tanto Metro & Devonte’s “Everyone Falls In Love,” and label’s most prominent and best-selling artists, transitioning into Down In Jamaica: 40 Years Of VP Records
Above, Freddie McGregor. At right, Cocoa Tea.
Top row: Sean Paul, Morgan Heritage, Elephant Man. Second row: Capleton, Sanchez, Sizzla. Bottom row: Wayne Wonder, Lady Saw, Beres Hammond with Jah Cure.
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