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Review
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Muzikifan, Review >>
Subtitled "Celebrating 25 years in reggae recorded live at
the Zenith" this is the same set I reviewed when LKJ played
Maritime Hall in SF before it closed last year. Johnson has
mellowed somewhat with age but it's still welcome to hear
him recite "me want fi go rave" and other immortal lines. I
am not sure what passes for lyrics in urban black music
today but I know instinctively it's grim and I shut it out.
So here's an empirical test: I'll turn on MTV (which I never
do as a rule) and write down what I can catch of the lyrics:
(one minute later) Boy that was horrible! Here it is,
though, from "The Candy Shop" by 50 Cent featuring Olivia:
"This work we do/ and where it do/the things we do/are
between me and you ... give it to me baby/nice & slow/ when
I'm on top/ like Romeo ... get a taste of what I've got/
keep going till you hit the spot/ I'll take you to the candy
shop/let you lick the lollipop/want a taste of what I've
got/you're going to hit the spot." (as seen on FUSE at 10:50
a.m. Friday Feb 18, 2005) Now that has to be the worst piece
of poetry EVER written, though I suspect it's typical of
lyrics in the seedy world of Empty Vee. Actually it was hard
to write with all the grinding vixens in tight satin hot
pants. No wonder youth culture is going to pot!! So, what's
my point? Here's LKJ in contrast:
Shock black bubble down beat bouncin'
Rock wise tumble-down sound music
foot drop find drum, blood story
bass history is a moving
is a hurting black story ...
There are echoes of Dylan Thomas here, so LKJ obviously
studied poetry. Thomas was no John Donne but certainly a
worthy contemporary model for a young poet to emulate. Add a
political edge and you have some tough lyrics that are
provocative and engaged. While American rappers are solely
interested in bling and getting their lollipop licked, LKJ
is screaming outrage at the oppression of black youth in
England, and social injustice. Another Nazi pimp, John
"Deathsquad" Negroponte, is put in charge of the new
Amerikan SS while the youth of America is enrapt in the
lyrics of 50 Cent which aren't even worth a wooden nickel.
Blacks in America don't have it so good that they can afford
to ignore what their masters are up to. LKJ gets his message
across with one of the best reggae bands in existence.
Dennis Bovell's bass is the lead instrument and is
surrounded by jazz guitar and some cracking percussion. They
add violin and harmonica to great effect. When LKJ sings
about the "License fi kill," the violin solo quotes the
"Death March from Saul". On top floats the message of LKJ.
His first album "Dread beat an blood" is still his
best-seller and it is a classic. He started out just reading
his poetry to conga accompaniment and among his other
contributions to culture, he published the work of Michael
Smith on the LP "Mi cyann believe it." Since then he has
gone out fighting the good fight and not compromising.
"Fascists on the attack: we're gonna fight them back!" Wise
up, youth. Word. 03/01/05 >> go there
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