Search - Michael Rose :: Never Give It Up

As a member of Black Uhuru, Michael Rose transformed early '80s roots reggae with his ornate, serpentine vocals. After recording for Yabby You and Niney the Observer, Rose soared to fame on the work he did for Black Uhuru's Sinsemilla, Red, and Anthem. Yet it's fair to say that his output has been uneven since then. His stylistic innovations were thoroughly absorbed by singers like Junior Reid (who took his place in Black Uhuru), Barrington Levy, and Sizzla. Rose suddenly seemed displaced by the authority of ragga's frontline artists. But while Never Give It Up finds him two decades removed from the glory days, it is a credible effort. Drawing inspiration from the minimalism of the dancehall, Rose is in great form on tracks like "Big Ting," "Jailhouse Call," and "Musical Rate." And the title track itself offers a great performance, as Rose attacks a spare riddim with his signature clarion call. --Jeff Chang