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Review of Anthony B: "Seven Seals"

© Ryan A. MacMichael

When I interviewed Anthony B about three years ago, he was a new name in reggae -- and he was still a year younger than me. He had just realeased his debut album on VP titled So Many Things on the heels of his controversial but phenomenally successful single, "Fire Pon Rome." The fact he was a DJ that spoke pure conscious lyrics (I've never heard Anthony utter one slack lyric) and was willing to use some non-typical dancehall riddims really elevating his image in my eyes.

His debut album did very well, and it deserved the praise it received. With tracks like "Fire Pon Rome" and the cover of Tracy Chapman's "Cold Feet," it was perhaps the best DJ album of the year, establishing Anthony as the next Garnett Silk: a conscious brethren not caught up in a popularity race.

Anthony's second VP release, Universal Struggle, was another solid release, though not quite as good as his debut. Still, though, it was one of the best releases of the year.

Seven Seals has me believing that Anthony B can do no wrong. This may be his best all-around effort yet, with 18 full-length tracks featuring some of the catchiest hooks and most inspiring lyrics of 1999.

"Conscious Entertainer" has Anthony B singing the praises of the conscious youth: "Everyone when they speak the truth, dem dem execute, / Pop off remote ready fi put yu pon mute, / Glad me recruit Selassie I youth / Babylon dis, a fire undilute, / Pop off dem gun and a we dem caan shoot, / Inna mi turban and me khaki suit." The Gumption Band provides a wondful backdrop.

"Nah Go Hide" features a talented singer named Iyashanti and focuses on harassment by police towards Rastafarians and herb smokers. Iyashanti sings: "Mi nah go hide and lick mi herb, / Cause it a preserve mi nerve." Anthony chats: "Tired fi lick mi chalice inna bush, / Want to go out in the open, / Tired fi have mi weed and see police and mask, / Police bwoy kiss out mi Rastafari."

One track that's sure to turn some heads is the "Hello Mama Africa" remix featuring the late Garnett Silk (who sung the original version) and the mighty Buju Banton. Talk about a solid, uplifting line-up. Buju comes with a "Destiny" stylee and trades lines with Anthony, allowing Garnett's original vocals to grace the choruses.

Other especially strong tracks include "Family Business," "Who Shoot First," and "Me Dem Fraid Of" (which has had similar controversy to "Fire Pon Rome" due to the anti-government sentiment). There are only a few tracks that are noticably less powerful than the rest of the collection, but the overall result here is definitely one of the best reggae releases of the year. But I wouldn't expect anything less than the best from Anthony B at this point.

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