Mutabaruka

June 20 - June 27, 1 9 9 6
[Off the Record]

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*** Mutabaruka

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

(Shanachie)

This Jamaican Rastafarian started his career as a published poet and then followed the route of Linton Kwesi Johnson by reciting his poetry to reggae music. He reads his poetry with tremendous dramatic fervor, so much so that his lack of critical political intelligence can sometimes be forgiven. By themselves the poems are simplistic and narrowly moralizing. Don't eat junk food. It's no good to stay in the white man's country too long. Long live Marcus Garvey.

But marry these words to potent reggae beats by ace Jamaican studio musicians, add duets with singers Ini Kamoze and Marcia Griffiths, and you've got world-class reggae in poetic sermon form. Mutabaruka has long needed a "greatest hits," and this collection should keep I & I happy until Babylon falls.

-- Norman Weinstein