Search - Ras Attitude :: Royal Lionage

Royal Vibes. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 02/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(4.5stars)

Names like Bushman, Junior Kelly, Lutan Fyah and Stephen Marley come to mind when speaking of modern reggae artists who are very well polished and refined in their skills and overall presentation. Although one could argue that they all have yet to (and perhaps never will) attain a level of reggae star such as some of their far less polished peers, there can be no denying that time and time again these artists consistently push vibes of a certain level of quality and rarely dip between. In my opinion, it is really these artists who help continuously push reggae music to another level, particularly in the international sense as (at least in some cases) they tend to be FAR more active than their more well known peers. Stephen Marley's case is a very different case as his career will always be much more tied into a producer's role than an (vocal) artist, but one could seriously make the case of him being even more well polished and exercising an even greater degree of quality control than his more celebrated brothers, Ziggy, Kymani and of course Damian. Bushman, throughout his career drawing comparisons to the Messenjah Luciano (and more recently Natty King) has quietly but definitively forced himself into the minds of reggae lover's everywhere due to the fact that (save for one album, which was released twice) you'd be VERY hard pressed to find material from the baritone voiced St. Thomas native which would qualify as poor (and look out for his new album Get It In Your Mind, coming for 2008). This is true despite the fact that his career now tops a decade long of nearly pure top notch consistency. In the (similar) cases of Junior Kelly and Lutan Fyah, both artists have scored with minor (and between them on MAJOR) hits throughout their careers and those tunes have, as expected, drawn attention to their other efforts. Of course those `other' pieces have demonstrated that both are well worth keeping an eye on as Kelly for his part, has shown himself to be one of the most melodic rootsmen of this generation making a style of reggae which both carries a heavy message and is `danceable'; While Lutan Fyah is without a doubt one of the strongest young names to emerge on the roots scene in the last two decades, possessing a bag of lyrics which seemingly has no bottom. Just to mention: Even in the dancehall vibe, while it is COMPLETELY faster paced (both literally and figuratively) and ever changing, we have also seen the likes of General Degree, Roundhead and Delly Ranx become mainstays through their consistencies as well. These are all artists which almost exclusively `serve' the reggae heads all over the world and while the Luciano's (who could definitely fit on the list as well), Sizzla's, Capleton's and Anthony B's of the world continue to capitalize more on the bigger scale, something is definitely to mentioned for consistency, of which all of these artists, are reigning kings.



I believe another such an artist possessing the ability to achieve a certain level of status ultimately through his consistency is St. Croix chanter Ras Attitude. Throughout his career (which now nears its first completed decade) Attitude has attracted attention from the most hardcore of reggae heads and is just now beginning to attract attention outside of that group as well. Ras Attitude had the supreme fortune of being attached to Virgin Island super producer Batch who was in the process of establishing his own name as one of the most talented musicians and producers in the VI reggae scene altogether. Batch had (and continues to have) so much confidence in Attitude that he actually made him the star of his very own label, Sound V.I.Zion as in 2001, Happiness by Ras Attitude became the label's very first release. If you have yet to actually hear Attitude's vibes I often draw comparisons between himself and fellow Virgin Island chanter (of St. Thomas) Pressure Busspipe as well as Lutan Fyah. I would also (particularly in the case of this album) go on to add Junior Kelly to that list as well as he does seem to have a bit of DIRECT personality which tends to show itself in his music at times much like Junior Kelly (for Kelly, you can almost tell by his voice changing that it sounds as if he's smiling while singing and for Attitude, he has this almost owlish chant which often introduces his songs or his presence on songs), also like Kelly, Attitude tends to choose the singing route just as much as he does the chanting style. In 2001, Attitude release the aforementioned Happiness album for Batch's Sound V.I.Zion Records, since then he has released four subsequent records for various labels (including a next stop for Batch with his sophomore release, the very fine Love Life in 2004) and made quite a name and a fan base for himself in the reggae thirsty communities all over the world. Interestingly enough, much like many of his peers from the VI Attitude has found a definite home for his music in California in the states which tends to favour, almost exclusively, the rootical side of the vibes over the dancehall which has made it quite a popular stopping point for not only artists of a varying degree (I know of a few who have actually left the Caribbean altogether and made a home in the west coast state due to its accessibility to their audiences as well as producing talents consistently popping up) but producers and labels as well. Ras Attitude prior to this release, had already taken advantage of the vibes through the release of his third project, 2005's Holding Firm, a VERY solid mature piece of modern reggae for San Diego based label Zion High Productions released in conjunction with Lustre Kings Productions (which is probably the most well known modern reggae Californian based label and maybe the best) and Sound V.I.Zion Records as well. The vibes from Holding Firm were of such a strong and consistent quality that it certainly comes as to no great shock at all that Ras Attitude returned the following year to voice this album, for North California based Royal Inity Records, Royal Lionage.



To put it simply: Holding Firm was very strong album, Royal Lionage is stronger. The album comes through different (but ultimately similar) means as Sound V.I.Zion and Royal Inity linked to produce what is without a doubt at the very least the second strongest album of Attitude's now five albums (it is, in my opinion, only eclipsed by his most recent effort, Trodding Home). Royal Inity itself is quite a big deal as it is a label which is operated in part by members of California reggae act, Groundation and Royal Lionage (the label's first (and only to date) LP release)is co produced by current Groundation member Ryan Newman. It also features Groundation members Marcus Urani and Kelsey Howard playing on tunes on the album as well. While Holding Firm took a while to grow on me (I actually bought it twice having given it away the first time, now it is one of my favourites) Royal Lionage stuck to me very quickly. The album opens with the classic and epochal big vibes of I Know. I Know is an excellent way to start the album it has an old vibes to it but it's incorporated into Attitude's very modern chant so it actually has the overall FEEL of a new vibes. Trust that if you heard the riddim track alone (or just are perceptive enough to tune into the riddim itself) you'll feel that classic vibes. At the end of the day the tune rates very highly on an album which is very well jam packed at the top. Next up is Revelation Time one of the signature tracks of Royal Lionage (very very nice album title I must add) and definitely one of the real highlights here. Even though the tune is prefaced by a corny sort of interlude, when the song gets going it is downright magical. The tune features so many different subtle changes throughout its 4:31 as Attitude goes from singing (on the very lovely chorus) to chanting to flat out rapping on the opening first (a bit in the third as well). Of course the message is crucial as it always is in Attitude's music as he speaks about the Revelation and various things people (particularly the children) encounter which can steer us away from righteousness ultimately, and does so over a minimalist riddim which serves perfect as you key in on every single word. Finishing the opening of Royal Lionage is one of my favourite tunes altogether on the album (you find yourself saying `one of my favourite songs' a lot on this album) the absolutely wonderful Joyful Day. Joyful Day has a much more upful rootical vibes to it, almost bouncy even and it works at every turn. It sounds very much like the type of tune which you find (probably as the opener) on a Junior Kelly album and Attitude uses his very fine singing voice throughout. I just really found the song to be a definite one to just make you feel good and really appreciate the day as it is (I've been listening to a ton of soca and Joyful Day is night to day when compared to soca but the feeling I got from was the same). Definitely a strong opening few tracks for Royal Lionage.



Joyful Day actually ends the opening of the album but at the same time begins a VERY strong stretch of three songs (including itself) which go to make up some of the real top order of Roayal Lionage. Check the somewhat hip-hoppish but very strong Push Up Your Level Rasta. Speaking of Junior Kelly, the tune reminds me very much of (in terms of message) Kelly's hit Rasta Should Be Deeper. In sound, it does have a feel of a hip hop track (I believe that the album's executive producer, Will Robinson actually has a background in hip hop) and Attitude goes completely hype over the track. Even at one point in the late portion of the middle, he dispenses with all style completely and delivers in an almost complete SQUEEK. Definitely something to hear. Although the first `interlude' is just bad, the one which comes between Push Up Your Level Rasta and the absolute brilliance which is More to Life is adorable as it apparently features Attitude's young daughter. Musically speaking, More to Life has just about as big of claim as Royal Lionage's best track (and it would be were it not for a VERY addictive track later). The song flows over an almost hypnotizing beautiful one drop (with a STRONG string piece throughout) and speaks of all the negative things and material things which really don't matter as there is FAR much more to life than them and (as Sizzla said) they will fade away. Very nice track and one you definitely need to check.



Royal Lionage maintains its strength. Check another signature piece here, the vocodered vibes of Where There is Jah Will which features over probably the heaviest one drop on the album, Royal Inity's first official riddim release, the very nice Mad Notes. Upstream of Life is another bouncy selection and a nice one for all of the Empress (my Empress did very much so love the track) and its another track which finds Attitude singing exclusively throughout. Again, the closing stretch here is again one to keep an eye on and includes my choice as Royal Lionage's best track. Kette Drum is mad. Featuring a very heavy conga drum throughout and just a slew of various types of drums throughout over a riddim which is SIMPLY COMPLEX and a message which celebrates a vibe which is arguably the basis for all one-drop reggae music. Know Who Is Jah! The song has almost an R&B edge to it, but BEWARE, you will listen to the song once and you will not be able to stop! My choice as the best tune on Royal Lionage, Know Who Is Jah is a tune which has the strongest message on the album, "Everybody shoulda know who is Jah, the Lion Conquerah, the whole world should fear HIM". Magic! And the song is delivered in one smooth vibes which makes it stick so deep in the mind, VERY STRONG! As I said, definitely watch out for the track, it sneaks up on you and it certainly catches the attention, hopefully the message does as well. Rounding out Royal Lionage is the well powerful drum heavy Shelter Me Oh Jah. As I said I consider Attitude's vibes to be a cross between Pressure Busspipe and Lutan Fyah, but Shelter Me Oh Jah is a track which ONLY he could sing. It has such a building vibes throughout the tune and a message which you definitely need to pay attention to; Attitude is essentially saying for all to beware of all the negative things and the evil things in the world and to call on the protection of Jah to steer us away from those things and he sums it up quite well when he says, "Jah I know in your arms its painless!". Truly! And you will truly be impressed by Shelter Me Oh Jah perhaps the most musically impressive track on Royal Lionage.



Overall, I am SO tempted to give Royal Lionage a five star rating and the only thing preventing me from doing so is that the album checks in at a mere eleven tracks (and in my review I talked about every song except Live Up, another very nice tune) with the longest of those tracks coming at nineteen seconds shy of five minutes. I almost found myself wondering `okay where is the rest of it' after making my way through it the first few times. If all albums were eleven tracks long however, this would be five stars easy, yes its that good. I will say that even though there are spots of a hip hop or R&B vibes, this one (like most of Ras Attitude's work) is strictly for the reggae heads (newer fans I would probably recommend the Love Life album as it was harder and on an almost dancehall vibes at times). Reggae heads, meet one of the new pillars of consistency, when you find yourself spinning the shine off of Junior Kelly, Lutan Fyah, Pressure and Jah Mason, check Royal Lionage, Ras Attitude is in that royal class."