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VOL 3. NO. 16 Friday, April 13 - Thursday, April 16, 2001
AFRICA
AGAINST THE GRAIN
BUSINESS/NETWORKING
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION
CONSCIOUSLY SPEAKING
FOR THE FAMILY
GALLERIES/MUSEUMS
GET YOUR LAUGH ON
GO GO GROOVES
HEALTH/LIVING WHOLE
HIP HOP/R&B
JAZZ/CLASSICAL
JUST CLUBBING
MORE MUSIC
PRAISE & WORSHIP
SOULFUL CUISINE
SPORTING ACTION
STAGE
THE WORD
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION
Sizzla Heats It Up Once Again With Words of Truth
By Ryan MacMICHAEL

Courtesy photo

When you think of conscious DJs, three names come to mind: Anthony B, Capleton, and Sizzla. Anthony B is one of Jamaica's busiest recording artists, recording what amounts to a single a week. Capleton's lighting up stages (including at Sumfest in Montego Bay last year), as well as stereos with his latest VP release, More Fire. Last, but certainly not least, is the energetic, controversial character known as Sizzla. He performs on Friday, April 20 at the Ritz Night Club (919 E Street, NW, Washington, DC). Doors open at 9 p.m.

Sizzla's had a number of successful releases with VP Records. First was his incredible Praise Ye Jah, which was also the first album released on Phillip Burrell's Xterminator label in 1995. The title track burned up dancehalls thanks to infectious production and its controversial homophobic, anti-Christian lyrics. He followed it up with Freedom Cry and the strong Be I Strong. Words of Truth continues Sizzla's hot streak, serving as his fourth album of anthems for the oppressed.

Production is once again handled by Phillip "Fattis" Burrell, and he's way above par for the course. While Burrell is one of Jamaica's top producers right now, even he has times where his riddims fall into a set pattern. Fortunately, he's brought out the big guns for Sizzla. "Love, Love" is a pretty basic dancehall riddim, but it serves as good backdrop for Sizzla's lyrical onslaught without overshadowing it. This one sounds like it was almost made to perform live -- you can practically see Sizzla bounding across the stage.

Sizzla always manages to name his album after the most powerful track, and he does it yet again with Words of Truth. The title track is one of the few that isn't backed by a frenetic rhythm, but rather a slower, roots oriented groove with a mellow, bubbling bassline. Compared to the remainder of the album, it's a more introspective track, and works extremely well. "Powers of the Earth" is in a similar vein, and was appropriately placed right after "Words of Truth," providing a nice mid-album respite from the normally frantic pace.

Sizzla drops a couple more hip-hop-oriented tracks as well, which he really hasn't done before. Both "Love Ah Di Way" and "Uplift Your Standard" work quite well. They're not as outwardly aimed towards the hip-hop crowd as, say, Capleton's two major label albums, but they're included as a taste of something different. I don't think they'll automatically give Sizzla the crossover appeal that Capleton got by teaming with Method Man, but that doesn't make the tracks any less solid.

There aren't as many stand out, run-away tracks on Words of Truth as there were on previous discs, but all-around, it is probably Sizzla's most solid effort. It's clear that he's maturing lyrically while maintaining the hot, firey spiritual nature that separates him from most other DJs.

As a bonus, the CD version of Words of Truth comes with a bonus disc featuring a 30-minute live set, recorded at Brixton Academy of Music in the UK (Dennis Brown also released a live album recorded at the Academy a number of years ago). It's a nice collection of tunes, including "Praise Ye Jah," "Dem Ah Wonder," and "Black Woman and Child."

As summer winds to a close, its going to be hard to find a better album to take you into the fall than Sizzla's Moment of Truth. This kid's come a long way from his RAS debut, Burning Up, growing and changing while maintaining the fire necessary to remain a powerful voice of the poor and oppressed in Jamaica.

Admission to Sizzla's April 20 performance is $25 in advance. Call 301-422-1728 for more information.

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