Search - Ms. Thing :: Miss Jamaica

Wayyyyyy Too Early. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 08/17/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"(2.5 Stars)

Typically in Dancehall music (and actually in all Jamaica music) there is a certain period of gestation for soon to be 'big' artists. It can be a year, it can be two or it can be three, but there is a nice little period between an artists first big tune and his/her first album, no matter how big or small the eventual label. Enter Ms Thing, the newly engaged soon to be 18 year old with the seriously unusual flow. By virtue of her megahit combination with dancehall King Beenie Man, Dude, Ms Thing has propelled herself into an album.



Miss Jamaica's problem is not with its star, but it is. For her age and disposition she shouldn't really be able to ride the toughest riddims from her parent company Shocking Vibes, or her. . . (Uncle company?) Madhouse, where she is as much of a member of the Alias Project not named Dameon Beckett, or Vendetta. But she is afforded them for the albums sake. Songs like (especially) Regular, I Want It All, Hot and Rich & Famous shows Ms Thing struggling in situations where she shouldn't have ever been placed. Also, the odd sounding Ms Thing & The Doctor, which is a song from Beenie Man's latest album Back to Basics changed and added with more Ms Thing (which is honestly something that was missing big time on the original Doctor Mi Rate Yu). And even still the combination with superstar lyricist Vybz Kartel, its listenable but if you have something in your mind as to what it might sound like when its called It Haffi Good, you're probably right. What's also screwed up about this album is that if Ms Thing wrote anything on this album you wouldn't know it. Most of the writing was left up to the producers of the particular track and Dave Kelly (and I would guess Baby Cham as well). And yet even still something else wrong here (besides Dude not being on the album)is that its edited! I don't know exactly what kind of audience Sequence Records are going for here, I would guess the younger crowd, but tunes like It Haffi Good and the serious dirty Muscle Tight (which is exactly what you think it is about) are not aimed at that crowd.

Thats the bad! The good here is that there are a few good moments here. The (dirty) tune Jump Up & Rail shows Ms Thing riding one of the sickly toughest riddims to come down K-Licious in a long time. The tune Get that Money with Jimmy Cheeztrix shows Ms Thing's unusual. . . almost autobot computer style flow and shows you probably what Dave Kelly saw when he met her. And the closer combination in which she pairs with the equally young sounding Sugar Daddy Sweet Soca Music, probably the best of the album, its cute.

Overall, for all this album's faults, NONE of them fall on the feet of the artist. Ms Thing probably did exactly what she was told. The result is an over-produced album which does its star no good besides exposure. To Sequence Records, take the handle off next time, let us actually meet Ms Thing, and not Dave Kelly again, Tony Kelly again, Vendetta again. . ."

Princess Of The Dancehall

Regasum | Bronx, NY USA | 08/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With Beenie Man as the "King of the Dancehall" who else could fit the title of princess. Miss thing though still young and pretty (and also sexy) makes a good effort on this album. Following in the footstep of dancehall queen Lady Saw this artiste is bound for sucess.



The hottest tracks on the album to me are 1,5 & 9. This album will surely be a hit with dancehall lovers."

Hello Miss Thing...

A. Bilal | Washington DC | 01/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Damn, I was suprised by this album, and the different directions she took it. Yes, I was mad that it was edited, but there is one song on here that more than makes up for it. Number 13, Love Guide, is one of the best songs I've heard this year, the beat is oh my god, her flow is just f*ckin bananas, and this girl is only how old???? She is a hot contender to be Lady Saw's heiress to the throne of Dancehall Queen. Other hot songs are Jump Up & Rail, Hot, and Muscle Tight...which are just, hot to death... I mean, Ms. Thing could use some room to grow, but this album is a sure fire debut for her. Good job..."