Tony Rebel ‎– Rebellious

“Understandably, Tony Rebel’s solo debut, Rebel With a Cause, created quite a stir with its blinding ragga rhythms and the DJ’s eloquent cultural toasts. In the dancehalls, that set couldn’t be beat, but Rebellious, Rebel’s follow-up, has a decidedly wider appeal. Clive Kennedy of Sky High & Mau Mau fame oversees this set, and with Steely & Clevie, Danny Brownie, and Dalton Brownie laying down the majority of the rhythms, the sound is crisp, the beats irresistible, but the atmosphere is decidedly rootsy. Rebel remains in top form, riding the rhythms with the ease of a bronco buster, his toasts eloquent, dramatic, and thought-provoking. “Firing Strong,” which opens the set with a suitable salvo straight into the dancehalls, twines together the de rigeure self-promoting DJ boasts with a dramatic anti-violence message. “Anytime we fire, we no kill anybody/When we fire, we fire lyrically/We fire pure reality,” is the perfect slap-down to the ragamuffins and a taunt to the competition. Further shots are fired off on a re-cut “Hurry Come up Deejays,” which Rebel had originally recorded for Derrick Morgan a few years earlier. And not content with that, he also attempts to pry away their women. “Don’t Let Them Use You” warns the ladies to beware of men’s egregious behavior, then Rebel pays tribute to his own perfect lady on “My Woman.” Two of the album’s strongest tracks adapt R&B standards. “Working Man” is an inspired take on Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang,” wherein Rebel offers up a phenomenal toast on bettering one’s life and the world in general, joined by Ken Bob, whose sweet vocals add sparkle to this classic. Religious fervor feeds “God of Abraham,” a splendid take on Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.” Elsewhere, economics are deftly dealt with on “Strong Pound” and “Money Tree.” And as every roots album needs a unity number and a reggae rallying cry, Rebel and Half Pint offer up the fiery “Rainbow People,” while Rebel alone delivers up “Reggae a Come,” an impassioned homage to the genre. There’s not a less-than-inspired number on this set, and although dancehall fans may prefer its predecessor, the roots set will find Rebellious far more to their liking. They’re both equal masterpieces from one of Jamaica’s most eloquent and thoughtful artists.” – allmusic.com

Label: Real Authentic Sound – RAS 3097

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album

Country: US

Released: 1992

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