As Raw as Ever

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Shabba's 1991 Epic Records debut captures the sophistication of his roughneck reggae style, although Jamaica's breakout dancehall deejay (rapper) voiced his best efforts before signing to the American label and being marketed as an X-rated buffoon. The two tracks where his eye is shamelessly fixed on the R&B/hip-hop crossover prize--"The Jam" with KRS-1 and "Housecall" with Maxi Priest--are the only artistic failures, though "Housecall" did well as a single. On his own for the rest of the cuts, Shabba proves himself to be a languid yet keen styler of time. In tunes like the album's lead single, "Trailor Load A Girls" and "Gun Pon Me," he drops rhymes with artillery precision, while blanketing the tinny drum machine beats and computer game mixing board F/X with that unmistakable chesty bass. --Elena Oumano

As Raw as Ever,Shabba Ranks,Sony,Dancehall,Jamaica,Pop,Ragga,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Reggae,Reggae Music

As Raw as Ever

Tracks:

Trailor Load A Girls
Where Does Slackness Come From
Woman Tangle
Gun Pon Me
Gone Up
Housecall
Flesh Axe
A Mi Di Girls Dem Love
Fist-A-Ris
The Jam
Ambi Get Scarce
Park Yu Benz

Amazon.com

Shabba's 1991 Epic Records debut captures the sophistication of his roughneck reggae style, although Jamaica's breakout dancehall deejay (rapper) voiced his best efforts before signing to the American label and being marketed as an X-rated buffoon. The two tracks where his eye is shamelessly fixed on the R&B/hip-hop crossover prize--"The Jam" with KRS-1 and "Housecall" with Maxi Priest--are the only artistic failures, though "Housecall" did well as a single. On his own for the rest of the cuts, Shabba proves himself to be a languid yet keen styler of time. In tunes like the album's lead single, "Trailor Load A Girls" and "Gun Pon Me," he drops rhymes with artillery precision, while blanketing the tinny drum machine beats and computer game mixing board F/X with that unmistakable chesty bass. --Elena Oumano

Customer Reviews:

Mista Ugly Man... Shabbaaaaaa!.......2006-11-10

Buy this album for "The Jam" if nothing else. It is hands down the best hip-hop dancehall collabo EVER. I used to rock this tape on the bus back in junior high and it's still in heavy rotation... However, Maxi Priest Sucks!!!

RAPPIN' & ROLLIN'.......2000-07-11

Trailer Load A Girls triggers off a rollercoaster of rhythms and rap, mostly unintelligible. Gun Pon Me and Flesh Axe are particularly raucous, the former's only discernible words being "jezebel, prostitute, mongrel" and there's a definite preoccupation with ladies throughout, as evidenced by titles like Woman Tangle and A Mi Di Girls Dem Love. Maxi Priest lends some respectability as he duets with Shabba on the radio-friendly Housecall, while the closing track, The Jam, features KRS-1 of Boogie Down Productions. Shabba rants about his hero Yellowman on Where Does Slackness Come From?, and about blue movies and reality, casually dropping profundities like "Me I went to high school/Was once a prefect/Took some great subjects English and mathematics/But my greatest subject was sex." (Fist-A-Ris). As subtle as an air raid yet affectionate in a naive sort of way. It's all the excitement of ska and early reggae returned, infused with a very positive vibration.

Sweet Dancehall Rythms!!!!.......1999-08-11

The entire CD is slammin' with good dancehall. It's not all "sooped" up to be a cross-over pop hit. It's one of Shabba's best. The tracks are not necessarily hardcore, but the beats the lyrics and Shabba's "gruff" voice set the CD off lovely. A must have CD for all the dancehall junkie's out there.