MIX: Sizzla Kalonji & Bredren - The Early Years In Roots (1995 - 2002)

Sizzla Kalonji & Bredren - The Early Years In Roots (1995 - 2002)

The first time I got introduced to the works of a, at the time, young singer calling himself 'Sizzla Kalonji' was when I heard the album Black Woman & Child somewhere in the mid to late 90s. I was very impressed with what I heard and ever since started following the musical output of this man from August Town, Jamaica. Lots can be said about his varying output from his debut Burning Up (1995) 'til his latest The Messiah (2013), but here I'd like to focus on the years that I and many with me consider his best: 1995 - 2002. He truly made classic tunes and albums in those years, mainly but not solely for producers Philip "Fatis" Burrell and Bobby "Digital B" Dixon. In this set of 2 mixes I like to showcase the early works in roots of Sizzla Kalonji & Bredren. It started off as a single-mix-effort, but after reaching the 80 min mark on the first, I had too many superb tunes left that had to be included, so a 2nd mix was born. I still had to leave out many killer tunes I highly rate, but felt 2 was enough for now. It does say something about the quality of his output of those days! The choice of tracks is based on my personal preference, diversity in the mix and the vibe of the moment. I'm not a fan of Sizzla in his falsetto style, so left tunes with that out. A tracklist like this is surely debatable, but for now it all lead to this and good music it is! Finding next tracks on riddims or even some dubs has been very time consuming, but very enjoyable to do: hadn't focussed this much on that time period in a while and man, what a pleasure it was to delve into it. Very hard to mix right at points too, due to the included tunes from other artists on the same riddims being mixed totally different (especially with Xterminator, love that attention they gave to every single tune in those days!) or coming from different albums with a different final mixing. I decided to strictly use tunes I have on original format (so no downloads), be it CD, LP or 45s and combined some with other tracks and/or dubs on the same riddims for a diverse, quality journey through the works of Sizzla Kalonji and with that through JA music of 1995 - 2002. Next artists include Luciano, Cocoa Tea, Anthony B, Admiral Tibet, Capleton, Jah Cure, Prince Malachi, Morgan Heritage and more. Mixes are in the usual BMC-style: no full tunes, one continuous 80 minute mix each with soundsamples here and there and with sources given for each track. Big up to my mate Andre who helped in the riddimspotting and provided a couple of original CD's for use in the process!

Enjoy reggae music as good as it gets. Tell 'm, Kalonji!

Tracks (in brackets is the name of the album or label of the single the tune came from, V.A. means the album is a compilation)

Sizzla Kalonji & Bredren - The Early Years In Roots - 1995 - 2002 - Part 1

01) Half That Has Never Been Told (Good Ways)
02) Juvenile (Blaze Up The Chalwa)
w/ Jah Cure - Dance Vibes (Free Jah's Cure)
03) Lift Mine Eyes (Words Of Truth)
04) Dem A Try A Ting (Freedom Cry / Kalonji)
w/ Luciano - Ulterior Motive (Jet Star Reggae Max)
w/ Ulterior Motive Dub (MLK Dub)
w/ Prince Malachi - Love Jah (The World Shall See - V.A.)
05) Live Yu Live (2 Strong)
w/ Anthony B - Watch Out (2 Strong)
06) More Guidance (Black Woman & Child)
w/ Yami Bolo - Chill I Soul (Flag Flown High - V.A.)
07) Do You Ever? (The Story Unfolds)
08) Hale The Woman (Zulu 45)
w/ Version (Zulu 45)
09) Catch The Place A Fire (Reggae Central 45 / Hosanna)
w/ Luciano - Should I Slumber (Reggae Central 45)
w/ Jah Mason - High Grade (Reggae Central 45)
10) Ripe Leaf (Royal Son Of Ethiopia)
11) Go Round Them (Harmony House 45)
w/ Version (Harmony House 45)
w/ Jah Cure - Western Region (Harmony House 45)
12) Praise Ye Jah (Praise Ye Jah)
13) Bless The Youth (Good Ways)
w/ Morgan Heritage - Send Us Your Love (Don't Haffi Dread)
14) Kings Of The Earth (The Story Unfolds)
w/ Luciano - Gunzalis (Rough Inna Town - V.A.)
w/ Weaponist dub (MLK Dub)
w/ Cocoa Tea - The Weed (The Herbalist - V.A.)
w/ Kings Of The Earth Dub (MLK Dub)
15) Solid As A Rock (Da Real Thing)
16) Greedy Joe (Praise Ye Jah)
w/ Cocoa Tea - Repatriation (Israel's King)
w/ Repatriation Dub (MLK Dub)
17) Do Some Good (2 Strong)
w/ Anthony B - (Al) low The Herb (So Many Things)
18) Merciful Father ft. Causion (3 Wise Men - V.A.)
19) Give Them A Ride (Black Woman & Child)
w/ Instrumental (Digital B 12" )
w/ Admiral Tibet - Babylon Brutality (Try To Reach The Top)
w/ Tanya Stephens - Handle The Ride (Digital B 45)
w/ Version ft. Cocoa Tea (Digital B 45)
20) Ghetto Youth (Liberate Yourself)
21) Done Nothing For Us (Harmony House 45)
22) I'm Not Sure (Jet Star Reggae Max)
w/ Cocoa Tea - Hurry Up & Come (Israel's King)
w/ Sanchez - Never Dis Di Man (Forever)
w/ Luciano, Louie Culture & Terror Fabulous - In This Together (Jet Star Reggae Max)
23) Purified Woman (Serious Reggae - V.A.)
24) Rastafari Teach I Everything (Rastafari Teach I Everything)
25) Azanido (Good Ways)
w/ Garnett Silk, Cocoa Tea & Charlie Chaplin - Every Knee Shall Bow (Flag Flown High - V.A.)
26) Stop The Youth (Be I Strong)

Part 1 now up for listen (and download) @ [bettermustcome.blogspot.com]

Sizzla Kalonji & Bredren - The Early Years In Roots - 1995 - 2002 - Part 2

01) Life's Road (Rough Inna Town - V.A.)
02) It's Amazing (Da Real Thing)
03) Love Amongst My Brethren (Freedom Cry)
w/ Cocoa Tea - Rastaman (Israel's King)
04) The Poor (Burning Up)
w/ Luciano & Spanna Banna - What We Need Is Love (Duets)
05) Holding Firm (Jet Star Reggae Max)
w/ Anthony B - Raid The Barn (So Many Things)
06) World Wide Love (Hosanna)
w/ Instrumental (Hosanna)
07) Hard Ground (Black Woman & Child)
w/ Junior Tucker - Praise His Name (Flag Flown High - V.A.)
08) Rejoice (Da Real Thing)
09) The World Shall See (The World Shall See - V.A.)
w/ Prince Malachi - Life Cycle (The World Shall See - V.A.)
w/ L.M.S - Zion Gates (Zion Gates)
w/ Xterminator All Stars - Life Cycle (Dub Down Babylon)
10) Can't Cool Can't Quench (Good Ways)
w/ Admiral Tibet - Envious People (Try To Reach The Top)
11) Submerge Cocaine Base (The Herbalist - V.A.)
12) True God (Jet Star Reggae Max)
w/ Cocoa Tea - Israel's King (Israel's King)
w/ Luciano - Never Give Up My Pride (Messenger)
13) Bandulu (Black History)
14) Woman I Need You (Da Real Thing)
w/ Morgan Heritage - Works To Do (Pt.1) (Three In One)
15) Strength And Hope (Bobo Ashanti)
w/ Prince Malachi & Turbulence - Righteous Way (Armageddon Time - Chapter II)
16) No Other Like Jah (Praise Ye Jah)
17) Babylon Homework (Royal Son Of Ethiopia)
w/ Jah Blessing ft. Luciano (Freedom Cry)
18) One Away (Black Woman & Child)
w/ Admiral Tibet - To Jah I Pray (Try To Reach The Top)
w/ Capleton - Raggy Road (Flag Flown High - V.A.)
19) Healing Of The Nation (Liberate Yourself)
20) Babylon A Listen (Jet Star Reggae Max)
w/ Luciano - Sweep Over My Soul (Sweep Over My Soul)
w/ Sweep Over My Soul Dub (MLK Dub)
w/ Cocoa Tea - Mr. Neck Tie Man (The World Shall See - V.A.)
w/ Capleton - Stand Tall (More Fire)
21) Like Mountain (Firehouse Crew)
w/ Lukie D - Heavy Load (Firehouse Crew)
w/ Jah Cure - Chant (Firehouse Crew)
22) Food Of Thought (2 Strong)
23) Trod Mt. Zion (Da Real Thing)
w/ Instrumental (Digital B 45)
w/ Morgan Heritage - Blackman's Paradise (Digital B 45)
24) Love Is Divine (Black Woman & Child)
25) The Vibes ft. Capleton (Be I Strong)

Find it at [bettermustcome.blogspot.com]


Or listen both on the stream at Mixcloud: [www.mixcloud.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2013 11:12AM by BMC.

good call... one of the better periods in the history of jamaican music

I havent downloaded anyones mix inna while but this one cant miss!

Respect Same Way

nice mix BMC, thanks. looking forward to vol. 2. My only question is: Why nothing from Words of Truth or Royal Son of Ethiopia? Some really nice tunes on those albums! Bless.

BMC consistently creates the best mixes out there.....looking forward to it

Akee

BMC Again~> Thank You !

one love-juan love
(SAPO)

You just made my weekend BMC....

Thanks a lot for the positivity people, highly appreciated. It was great fun making these mixes (what a talent Sizzla is / can be and what a lovely music is made in those years!), lovely to see others feel the vibes too.

Quote
Reggabe
My only question is: Why nothing from Words of Truth or Royal Son of Ethiopia? Some really nice tunes on those albums! Bless.

Hi Reggaebe, from Words Of Truth I included Lift Mine Eyes (#3 in mix 1), from RSoE I included Ripe Leaf (#10, mix 1) and Babylon Homework (#17, mix 2). Had some other tunes nominated from both albums, but they didn't make the final selection (for instance Enemies Are Confounded from WoT).

Part 2 following tomorrow hopefully.

Bless!

loving this one!

about to track for my walk along the beach..

Quote
BMC
Ripe Leaf
Bless!

Great tune, seriously slept on imo

My bad BMC, didn't pay close enough attention. Yes, "Enemies are Confounded" was one I was thinking of, also "Words Without Work" from Royal Son, that's one of my all time favorites!

Thanks again, people, appreciate the positivity!

@papajoshua, agreed, love Ripe Leaf, but it hardly ever gets a mention. Big tune.

@Reggabe, I had Enemies are Confounded planned to be combined with Mr. Biggs - Lately on the same riddim, but as said, reached 80 min on the 2nd mix and it didn't get in eventually. Have so many tunes left I could easily make a 3rd, but 2 will do for now.

Part 2 is now up and ready to be heard!

Find it at [bettermustcome.blogspot.com]

Or listen to the stream at Mixcloud: [www.mixcloud.com]

Enjoy!

BMC
always love every mix i have heard by you. give thanks for the work & for sharing
the work
bless,
a

Pretty much my favorite reggae music ever. Thank you.

Sweet mix...Mr. Kalonji's best for sure.

thanks for sharing

Thanks for these and all of your mixes BMC!

Am I missing something on the first Sizzla mix? I can't seem to find a link to download it.

Quote
niceup
Am I missing something on the first Sizzla mix? I can't seem to find a link to download it.

Hm, first time I used Sound Cloud, but it seems they only allow 100 downloads per audio-upload, so when it reached 100, the download link disappeared. I've uploaded the files to mediafire, find the links at [bettermustcome.blogspot.com] .

Thanks for mentioning that!


And thanks again all for the comments, really appreciate you all taking the time to leave a comment instead of just taking like most do. Nice one!

Been bumping vol.1 the last couple days and now into vol.2. Really nice to listen to some of these songs again. I had forgotten how incredible Sizzla was as an artist back then! Thanks again BMC, and especially give thanks for Sizzla!

Wow you nailed this one my friend. Sounds real good. Just missing two of my favorites, What does it Worth? and Jah Jah run things. Waiting for vol. 3 and 4 Your mixes are always top notch, give thanks for your effort.

give thanks. downloading now. respect to kalonji... bmc sameway!

Quote
Reggabe
I had forgotten how incredible Sizzla was as an artist back then!

I had the same some time ago when a friend who hardly knew Sizzla asked me to introduce his music. That's how I rediscoverd his early output and the idea for this mix was born.

I did buy some additional albums of his I didn't own for tunes I found out about in my search through those years and was amazed to find out I now own 21 albums of his (of which one best of and one with Anthony B ) from those years (1995-2002) alone [sleeves are all in picture I made for these mixes]. Definitely not all of the Praise Ye Jah, Black Woman & Child level, but some good tunes on all of 'm.


Thanks spliffp and royal majestic sound, appreciate it!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2013 08:58AM by BMC.

running part one as i ride through the san diego hills.. this mix surely brings back tons of memories.. and very fitting as i used to run these tunes as i traveled the same roads back in 98-02

Respect BMC for taking the time to separate the wheat from the chaff with these mixes. The sheer volume of Sizzla's ouput is far too large (and quite frankly, spotty) for a casual fanboy like me to afford/collect/process. Keep up the good works.

I love reggae music.

BMC!...this is really well done! thank you! a lot of top tunes and gems I completely missed!

cheers!

Quote
Joshwa
BMC!...this is really well done! thank you! a lot of top tunes and gems I completely missed!

cheers!

i agree.. these two mixes have been on rotation the last week.

i appreciate the sizzla tunes and the other artist tunes on the same riddim.. keeps the mix live...