Akira Watanabe | Oakland, CA United States | 11/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Amazing riddims and complex flows from a youth who's taking dancehall to a new level. No crossover attempt here. Just hardcore lyrics from beginning to end. Not even Elephantman can test Kartel right now. If you think Sean Paul is doing something,listen to the DeeJay who is rated as number 1 by Jamaicans. Listen to "Pussy Jaw" on the Mad Ants riddim and you'll see why Kartel is Bounty Killa's protege. Not to mention the bonus CD that's almost better than the entire album itself ! Pick this album up before the masses get to it so you can be one step ahead of the bloodclat squares them. Just don't expect it to be on a Bob Marley vibe though. This album is "slackness" defined. If you like 1)Girls 2)Guns 3)Ganja 4)but nah love battyman, check fi Kartel the "War Angel." Ya done know."
Vybz in De Air
mgogo | Dodoma, Tanzania | 05/25/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album is off the hook..The best dance hall album of 2003.
New DJ Vybz Kartel is sintilating, his lyrics, rhymes and ability to blend dem with some of the best 2003 riddims makes him one of the hottest DJ's out there right now...energy god should watch out..If you like dancehall, Up 2 De is your CD.His advice is, Don't Drink and Drive, You Should Smoke and Fly instead.."
Toasting ragamuffin
mgogo | 02/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think Vibz Kartel's "Up 2 di time" is the most progressive dancehall album to come from Jamaica."Badman Party" has got stomping beats, the lyrics have attitude and the fast-paced vocals are snappy as you like."Sen on" and "Sweet to the belly" are classic bouncing dancehall tracks with a hip hop vibe. Don Corleone's production has mashed up all these influences and the result is innovative and fresh. The highlight of this debut for me is the delivery on"Kartel and Kardinal" which is as slick as hip hop but as exploding as great Ragga"
"Up 2 Di Time might be the finest dancehall album I've heard this year altogether. While it boasts songs that I am tired of and no to the letter, there are no truly bad songs, and the new stuff is serious.
Kartel, probably the best young talent out of Jamaican right now, boasts some seriously odd flows, he's on a scale that might be unchallenged in DANCEHALL right now (i think Kalonji might have something to say about that in all of reggae music)and it does not stop here. The best song here is Sen On, an older song that I've loved since the first listen, also really love Robbery which is hilarious! Kartel & Kardinal with Canada's leading MC Kardinal Offishal, Start Well is madness as is Badman Nah and AKA (really mad on AKA).
Overall, I've been waiting on this cd for a long time, its been delayed and delayed again, and delayed a week after being finalized, but it was worth the wait and for the wait, Greensleeves threw in a 13 minute freestyle album with Kartel and Ward 21's front man (a lot of Nuh Climb in the freestyle album). And dancehall doesn't get much finer than this, some people have different point of views of things, and Kartel is one of those people, Up 2 Di Time is golden."
Great Album Already a Classic
Nobeahmon | USA | 11/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great CD buy it if you can also get the new release with 5 additional songs on it. Batty man tap di noise shut yo nasty mouth. Stop fingle batty get a life and stop messing with dance hall. If yuh nuh like it don't listen to it. If you have the right fi mess with batty, we have the right to say its wrong so shut up. The likes of you will not stop me from listening to dancehall. By the way how come your not complaining about how they reject your in the US from getting married. MOVE YUH BLOODKLAAT AHH GUWEH."