Dancehall Reggae

Artist: Ras Muhamad
Album: Reggae Ambassador
Label: JAHStar Records
Rating: **1/2 out of *****
Standout Tracks: Musik Reggae Ini (This Reggae Music),
Awas!: Lintah Darat (Watch Out!: Loan Shark),
Sound Bwoy, Live Upright

It is likely that the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the word ""reggae"" is the legendary Bob Marley, the most famous performer of this genre.

So it's no wonder that nearly everyone who plays reggae is influenced by this Jamaican singer-songwriter. This also happens in Indonesia.

Ras Muhamad, however, shows in his music that reggae has progressed since the Marley's death in 1981. He inserts hip-hop elements -- such as sampling and rapping -- into his songs, which makes them kind of ""dancehall"", similar to the music of well-known reggae-influenced rapper Shaggy.

In the opening track, Intro, he jeers at reggae musicians who still play the same old Marley-ish stuff. He also claims to be the one bringing a breath of fresh air to this country's reggae scene.

The album's first single, Musik Reggae Ini, is catchy and danceable.

However, Ras sometimes goes a bit too hip-hop in some songs, such as Runaway, It's Yourz! and Hot Like Fiya, which is disappointing.

Yet he also tries to stay true to reggae culture in this 15-track collection by writing some of his lyrics in Jamaican patois, better known as broken English.

Besides talking about love and sexuality, Ras, like many reggae performers, also brings up social issues in his songs, such as in Live Upright and Awas!: Lintah Darat.

Frankly speaking, this album would make a decent addition to any collection even though Ras has yet to prove he is really the reggae ambassador of Indonesia.