Search - Triple Spin :: Vol. 1-Triple Spin

You get plenty of bang for your buck in this 22-track compilation. Chock full of prime reggae dancehall cuts that would fit quite nicely onto any hip-hop-jungle club DJ's turntable, this disc solves the long-standing problem of how to make that crossover leap to American pop audiences. Mr. Vegas--the thrilling sing-jay who leapt from nowhere in 1997 to dominate international reggae top 10 lists--leads off with yet another treatise on equality in oral sex. Among the other luminaries hitting three hard riddims--"Bookshelf," "Unda Watta," and the "Hype," created by producer-writer-label owner Tony Kelly--are Beenie Man, Lady Saw, Degree, Red Rat, Goofy, and others. Buccaneer bounces his booming operatic rap, and the great Buju Banton gets off the mountaintop and into the dancehall for a gruff-voiced turn in his "Mr. Mention" mode. T&T's talented soca groundbreaker, Machel Montano, essays an authentic and sizzling Jamaica-style rap spiced with Trinidad flavors. Swinging the sharp, heavy riddim ax one needs to keep this exalted company are newcomers Mossy and Looga, Pento Kid, Evette, U.T. Dread, Chrissy D, and "Easy," whose "Bashment Time" duet with Frisco Kid is heard on Hype Williams's Belly soundtrack. --Elena Oumano