No matter what you think of this singer-deejay's extremist politics, you cannot deny his immense talent. Sizzla first grabbed the attention of the reggae world with his '95 "Black and Comely" hit "combination" with tenor M... more »ikey General, in which the then-19-year-old Sizzla managed to demonstrate the radical potential of reggae deejay (rap) style with the brief line "I and I a pure African." The following year Sizzla swept the scene with the force of Hurricane Georges. Two albums, released simultaneously in August '97 by dueling labels, Brickwall's Black Woman and Child and Xterminator's Praise Ye Jah, collected a mere fraction of the rapturous black redemption Sizzla songs that made him a reggae obsession and object of hip-hop fascination. Equipped with the reggae deejay's requisite bluster plus the singer's ability to pitch a note anywhere on the scale, Sizzla subsumes even those considerable gifts to the riddim God, dropping the words to his resonant lyrics like the lightning-swift polyrhythms of a master drummer. Sizzla's aesthetic compass is precisely on course and his craft even further refined for this set of hit singles from Xterminator (which precedes the release of another album from Brickwall). For many frustrated reggae fans, though, the near sacramental awe Sizzla evokes here is undermined by those off-the-record public harangues against Christians, white people, and other "Babylonians." --Elena Oumano« less
No matter what you think of this singer-deejay's extremist politics, you cannot deny his immense talent. Sizzla first grabbed the attention of the reggae world with his '95 "Black and Comely" hit "combination" with tenor Mikey General, in which the then-19-year-old Sizzla managed to demonstrate the radical potential of reggae deejay (rap) style with the brief line "I and I a pure African." The following year Sizzla swept the scene with the force of Hurricane Georges. Two albums, released simultaneously in August '97 by dueling labels, Brickwall's Black Woman and Child and Xterminator's Praise Ye Jah, collected a mere fraction of the rapturous black redemption Sizzla songs that made him a reggae obsession and object of hip-hop fascination. Equipped with the reggae deejay's requisite bluster plus the singer's ability to pitch a note anywhere on the scale, Sizzla subsumes even those considerable gifts to the riddim God, dropping the words to his resonant lyrics like the lightning-swift polyrhythms of a master drummer. Sizzla's aesthetic compass is precisely on course and his craft even further refined for this set of hit singles from Xterminator (which precedes the release of another album from Brickwall). For many frustrated reggae fans, though, the near sacramental awe Sizzla evokes here is undermined by those off-the-record public harangues against Christians, white people, and other "Babylonians." --Elena Oumano
CD Reviews
This album is so tight
05/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It just may be the greatest reggae album I have ever heard. The only competition comes from early Yellowman and Sizzla's other albums. When he hits that high note in "Lovely Morning"..."
"Going through the annals of my collection of Sizzla Kalonji records (about 20 now) I came across Freedom Cry and its UK/Jamaican counterpart "Kalonji" and I realized that I hadn't really ever sat down and listened to it, even though I pretty much already knew just about every tune by heart except for the title track. Anyway, I put it on, and it put out such an incredible vibe that everybody in my house was just sitting around knocking their heads and just feeling the beautiful lyrics on this one. Everybody already knows about Black Woman & Child, and Praise Ye Jah, which both were released the year before this one, and this one went pretty much overlooked. (I bought it, and overlooked it for about 3 years) But its an album like this one and Burning Up, and Good Ways, and Royal Son of Ethiopia that helps build Sizzla's legend outside of his 2 legendary, classic records. This one is absolutely cleansed of all bad tunes and just truly a wonderful record. My favorite tunes include, Freedom Cry, the wonderful Saturated, the hit Rain Showers, which was so good that it was released as a download single in the US and did pretty well, Till It Some More, Real, and my absolute favorite Ancient Memories, which he does so well in concert. Overall, I say, if you like Sizzla and you don't have this one, then certainly pick this one up, if you haven't already. And if you have it, then put it on, its truly a wonderful project."
Undoubtedly a roots classic; lyrics & riddims for the ages.
Achis | 03/27/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To state the obvious would be moot. Just listen to "Made Of" & "Dem Ah Try Ah Ting" & tell me you don't feel the fury & fire of this young prophet. All killa no filla, this is his strongest output to date; supa props to Xterminator for beats & production. The Righteous shall stand, the weak heart shall drop. Prince Far I & Peter Tosh are smiling gleefully right now. Praise H.I.M.!!!!"
Sizzling
Achis | 02/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i think sizzla is the best reggae artist because he speaks the truth in all his lyrics fire bun pope paul fire bun babylon fire bun all false preachers JAH RASTAFARI LIVETH FOR IVER"