Search - Various Artists :: 4 Rebels

Well Powerful. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 12/18/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The reggae compilation has been around even before international record labels have been releasing reggae artist's albums. Reggae, perhaps even moreso than most other musical forms, makes itself accessible to the compilation album because of the celebratory style of the music. Even on our radio stations here, you will hear what basically amounts to a compilation as generally a particular riddim, but sometimes a particular style or subject matter will have several full or nearly full tunes play at any given time. Reggae fans love compilations!



Myself included.



Thus, most of our big labels and distibutors have their big compilations and semi-big compilations which they release AT LEAST annually: VPRecords has its Reggae Gold and its Strictly the Best series; Greensleeves has its Biggest Ragga and One-Drop Anthems as well as its Ragga Ragga Ragga series, and JetStar has its Reggae Hits and Toe to Toe. Still even they all have a riddim album series and yet more labels, such as Jamdown and Trojan SURVIVE on little more than compilations alone these days.



What I look for, however, in choosing a good one, besides the one's I buy annually is something different. I love seeing a company offer something different that the cookie cutter pieces which are generally promoted. Thus, I am a fan of such comps. as Culture Dem from Lustre Kings and Bambu Station's Talkin Roots series from Mt. Nebo. I am also a fan of the multiple artists with several tracks on a non-mixtape style compilation. That is what attracted me to the 4 Rebels compilation from VP, and although I'm getting around to it more than 5 years later, the 'wait' was still worth it.



This album, again, goes against the grain: Not because of the type of a compilation that it is, but with who it features. You can almost fil in the blank with something like this normally, Luciano, Sizzla, Anthony B and _________. Generally the blank would be filled by Capleton, or even maybe Junior Kelly, but 4 Rebels does NICE by filling in underrated but well deserving singer, Yami Bolo. Bolo is an excellent choice on such an album, because he offers a consistency which most artists don't and just listening for a brief span of three tunes, his talents are greatly appreciated.



Luciano kicks things off with his superb and best offering of the 3, Blessing. Blessing is a big track which is easily amongst the finest 4 Rebels has to offer altogether and it flows in typical Luciano style where the voice and the vibes are the stars.



Anthony B takes teh mic next and he scores his biggest point on his second offering with the wonderful message of Yard & Abroad. The tune not only makes a mention of some of the terrible conditions here in Jamaica, but all over the world as an alternative as well. Very big track from one of reggae's most consistent djays.



Yami Bolo steps in and scores immediately with my second favorite tune on the album as a whole. Conqueror has one of the best hooks on the album and the song is well powerful as Bolo exclaims, "No way can a vampire conquer the children of the Emperor!". Just a big powerful vibe which Bolo's fan's have been enjoying his entire career.



Lastly is Sizzla Kalonji's turn on the mic and he does nothing but offer the single best tune on the album, Thou Shall Not Kill. The song, fans will know because it appeared with a different riddim on 2005's re-release of the Da Real Thing album, Da Real Live Thing (then called Be Still on a BEAUTIFUL Bobby Digital riddim). Knowing his career with lyrics always being his strongpoint, Thou Shall Not Kill is STILL one of the finest songs, lyrically, Kalonji has ever offered.



Further definitely check Anthony B. with an uncredited singer on the lovely My Story! I had a hard time selecting Yard & Abroad ever so slightly over My Story, but the tune is nearly just as huge! Check the wonderful Cool It Down from Bolo which flows on the same riddim as Luciano's Blessing (and another old Xterminator track which I'm almost mad at myself for not remembering, but I THINK its a Cocoa Tea track and I'm sure as soon as I finish this review, I'll remember it). Bolo, of course more than handles the riddim well, and arguably does a better job than the Messenger with it. Check either of Luciano's other tracks. Both Moving Out of Babylon and Black Man King are exceptional (particularly. . . well particularly both of them!). And Sizzla rounds the album out with the wondefully minimalistic Have Your Own, which starts off a pure acapella track but eventually flows lovely over a very minimally produced riddim and the song works perfectly over just a heavy 'clap'.



Overall, I'm definitely recommending 4 Rebels! It came back strong as well, with a Vol. 2 on RAS which is solid as well. I love the mixup here, someone was paying attention, adding Yami Bolo instead of someone who is much more expected, and Bolo does a fine job. The best, however, is done by Luciano and while Sizzla scores the bigger shots, Luciano wears down the opposition with his consistency, ever so slightly moreso than the ever-wicked Anthony B. This one flows in a line of nice comps. such as JetStar's 5 Disciples, and the unearthly wicked underground piece, Saddle to the East. If you enjoyed that type of vibes, then take no exception to adding 4 Rebels to your collection."