Okay this is a lethal hit RIDDIM that has origins in everyone’s favorite acquitted child molester. The melody is lifted from Michael Jackson’s January 1983 monster single, BILLIE JEAN. But the intro and underlying themes are borrowed from ENNIO MORRICONE’S 1966 soundtrack to the western GOOD, BAD and the UGLY. Both tunes were first merged like peanut butter and jelly by SHINEHEAD on his very cool debut. Who would of thought these two very opposite styles would mesh seamlessly together?
His story reads like a travel brochure. Born in England, raised in Jamaica and then he became a man in New York City. Those mean streets of the Bronx to be specific. That borough was an early incubator for what would hatch into Hip-Hop. SHINEHEAD was working the Rotten Apple’s sound-systems. Critics compare his vocal flow to the FRESH PRINCE had WILL SMITH traded West Philly for Kingston. I sort of hear it. Yeah, SHINEHEAD is good times music but his tunes have a dark side if you go looking for it.
The DREADLOCK less, (hence the moniker SHINEHEAD) singer, DJ chanter , and rapper were given the birth name Edmund Carl Aiken.
He blazed the trail for SHAGGY to follow a decade later. SHAGGY blew up international while SHINEHEAD still remains a hipster’s secret.
Since the ROUGH and the RUGGED debut CD are fetching ridiculous prices I would strongly recommend finding it here.
Speaking of New York City DANCEHALL and HIP-HOP being infused, this two-fer comp packs a lot of punch. Blast it loud and beat up the woofers!
SOUL JAZZ is another top-notch UK boutique label. Unlike their other BRITISH contemporaries BLOOD and FIRE and PRESSURE SOUNDS they don’t just specialize in all things REGGAE.
SOUL JAZZ gathers together long lost missing pieces to all kinds of different musical puzzles. They dig stuff up from dusty recording vaults all over the world. Are you interested in Bossa Nova or early Hip-Hop? They got something for ya! Are you interested in experimental German Electronic or funky Blaxploitation soundtracks? They got something for ya!
It is their catalog of REGGAE/DANCEHALL that gets my pulse pumping tho. Tons of the classy stuff from STUDIO ONE. You will feel like a connoisseur dressed in your silk robe, slippers and pipe. You can always count on them for great presentation and incredible mastering of analog to digital. The SOUL JAZZ crew are absolute authorities of good taste.
I hadn’t heard any thing new with this RIDDIM in any form until this collection dropped. I simply don't get sick of this RIDDIM. All of the above rates a ten outta ten.
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