Now we're getting into the real ish that sparked my interest in reggae...the stuff that reminds me of freshman year in high school. I think I listened to this album nonstop on my "discman" for a whole year and never once got sick of it. Freedom Cry (titled Kalonji in Europe)was released in 1998 on VP/Xterminator Records by the then 21-year old budding superstar and went on to solidify his spot as the biggest reggae performer of the mid-90's/early 2000's. He led the way for a youthful, rebellious, cast of artists, along with the likes of Capleton and Anthony B on way to creating a style of conscious reggae music unlike any before it. This was Sizzla's fourth full-length album at such a young age, and all of his material to that point was rock solid. So many classics on here but I'll only name a few. "Lovely Morning," "Til It Some More," and "Freedom Cry" all showcase his vocal range from singing the chorus to chanting the verses. "Long Journey Bad Storm," "Real," and "Define Yourself" are all a little more upbeat, as well as the energized "Confuse City" and one of my top five Sizzla songs of all time, "Ancient Memories." First ballot reggae hall-of-famer in his early (best) days right here.
-EB
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