determine

Freedom Chant
$15.98
I got this album mainly based on the material that Determine has put out on other artist's songs, especially the shot he laid out with Sizzla on the classic Mi Lord, also some of the stuff he's done lately with people like Anthony B on Universal Joy. And speaking flatly, Determine can flow, he has a high level of skill at djaying, and when stepping in on other artists tracks, he holds his own absolutely, even with Kalonji, which is unherd of. The best tracks here are the ones where he just lets go and starts flowing, see Nuh Member Love (the albums best track), Nah Go Manage Di Damage, the title Track and the absolutely beautiful Head Corner Stone. Overall, I say absolutely pick this one up, its pretty hard to find, (it took me weeks to find it after I decided that I wanted it)but its worth it. No, Determine's not as good as Kalonji lyrically (nothing to be ashamed of) but he's right in that next group pf artists, so support him now, bigup Brickwall!

Prologue to the Final Episode! A Third Man Appears to Determine Lin's Fate!!
$1.99

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Mi Go Through Dat
$8.99
You've got to really try hard to release a reggae album these days which just NEVER, not one time reaches my radars! Be it through my own personal research (I spend virtually countless hours weekly SPECIFICALLY searching new releases and `coming soon' titles), the research of someone else or just through word of mouth I like to think that not only can I find information of a new or forthcoming release, but I can actually find the album or the tune itself as well. And not to try to be boastful, but I consider myself to be pretty good at it and steadily improving STILL. Yet, there are times and have been a few times over the years where I will run across an album which I actually would have had an interest in when it was released but had ABSOLUTELY no idea that it actually reached. This will usually occur with a foreign release as it's VERY difficult to keep track of exactly what some teeny tiny record label in Germany or thereabout is planning on doing with an artist who has moved away from Jamaica to be closer to his/her European fan base (which happen to me just last year as I `discovered` a 2004 release from high pitched David House singer Moses-I, More Than a Dream). However, even those, I tend to get earlier than Western releases these days (and has actually been that way for the last three years or so). Another case in which this might happen is through my own mistake in being a bit overwhelmed and flooded with new pieces that I just don't pay as good of attention and when my plates are finally cleared the release may have already headed underground and away from the limelight (this notoriously happen to me with a General Degree album by the name of Yeah Man from a few years ago when you couldn't tear me away from whichever Sizzla and Elephant Man albums I was listening to at the time) and my view. And lastly there are the albums which tend to `stutter' on their release dates, meaning that the date will get changed and changed again to the point where I'll lose interest and NEVER regain it (which didn't happen to me, but happened with a lot of people on Sizzla's ridiculously hard to find Up In Fire and Blaze Fire Blaze albums). However! I don't think I can recall a time or an album where one of my former favourite artists who was FAR from active at the time released an album on a label in the west (in Jamaica no less!) and it took me almost four years to find!

That was until I happened to `stumble' upon Determine's most recent album, Mi Go Through Dat from the Kingston based Builders which was released in 2004! There was a time at the close of the 1990's and early 2000's when the St. Mary native chanter Determine was a major player in roots reggae music. He never quite reach the ranks of Sizzla, Capleton and Anthony B., but was arguably on his way. He scored hits in the form of Mi Lord, a classic combination with Sizzla and an even bigger combination, Kette Drum with Beenie Man, both of which went very far in established the artist. Determine was a big voiced, talented and VERY lyrically on point chanter who, at his absolute best, worked with some of the top notch producers in the game (he was a favourite of the legendary Bobby Digital who produced and released both of his albums prior to Mi Go Through Dat, more on that in a second) such as Bobby Digital, Richard Bell (Star Trail), Black Scorpio and, obviously, Builders. He was also afforded some of the biggest roots riddims (and later some of the biggest dancehall riddims as well, he voiced more than one Lenky riddim as well) and, again at his best, he was one of the most skillful roots vocalists of his day. Prior to Mi Go Through Dat Determine reached with two VERY solid albums; 1996's Rock The World and 1999's step up, Freedom Chant. To this day, Freedom Chant is one of my favourite albums to vibe and I routinely draw for it at least once a month (and you find me a next man who isn't a professional soundman who now has a first print copy of both the CD and vinyl of Freedom Chant!) as it really showcased Determine to be the EDUCATED lyricist that he was at the time. Rock the World was a bit more dancehall in vibes but it also showed Determine in a great light (and for a bit I favoured it over Freedom Chant actually) from where his vibes started and it also included Ketter Drum (and a decent followup combination to the tune, Beat the Kette Drum with Frankie Paul). Freedom Chant was his last album, before this one, released in 1999 and between roughly 2002-03, I had virtually lost off the artist. Besides a few tunes here and there (one of which was a tune taking a slap at dancehall ace Vybz Kartel for taking Determine's catch line, `Up to di time') Determine had all but left the scene and to my knowledge had moved to the States (which is no excuse because I was living there at the time too) and had been doing more recording in the States and in Canada (with Kings of Kings). I definitely think now of what could have happened had he decided to keep at the vibes more and more consistently, while I doubt he could ever reach the heights of the truly elite artists (critics, myself included, at times call his music a bit mechanical) but in 2008, Determine could definitely be mentioned in the same breath as the Jah Masons, Lutan Fyah's, Fantan Mojah's and Junior Kelly's of the world (Kelly was actually one of Determine's DIRECT peers at the prime of his career). Instead, there is a ton of young fans around the world and DEFINITELY in Jamaica who have never really heard the name Determine in reggae (unless they're smart and have their REQUIRED copy of Black Woman & Child, on which the tune Mi Lord appeared). So when I happened to (online) notice that Builders, of all people (who I had known to voice Determine on quite a few of their riddims in the late 1990's), had released his third album, I definitely tracked down the piece and, as expected, was definitely pleased.

In retrospect, Mi Go Through Dat is definitely a more solid piece than Rock The World and comes VERY close to challenging Freedom Chant as Determine's finest album ever (if it goes the same way, in about six years I'll be calling it his best overall). The album is highlighted by one BRILLIANT tune and several top notch and more than memorable roots combinations throughout its well packed twenty tracks. Getting things started out on Mi Go Through Dat is an overactive interlude Besides a sermon from Determine (which is actually rather nice) there's a baby crying, wind blowing and doors being slammed in the background. Its very short (twenty-eight seconds) and doesn't at all detract or add to the vibes in any way at all actually, but is definitely interesting still. The first actual tune on the album is the title track and BY FAR the best tune you'll find on Mi Go Through Dat (which is saying a lot) and definitely one of the best of Determine's career overall actually. The tune plays out on Builders' infinitely wicked Gabber riddim (which I immediately recognized for having backed Anthony B's scathingly wicked Rally Round) from Builders' head Dia Fearon, which pushes a heavy head bouncing, yet rootical vibes (check the very subtle nyah drum behind it). The tune speaks of all the negative and unfortunate things people facing poverty and harsh elements must face and ultimately makes us stronger because of it, it definitely carries a powerful message. It is also VERY interesting to hear a bit of a running monologue throughout the tune as almost a commentary, it's a VERY nice touch and just generally adds to the well polished vibes on the tune. MASSIVE! Following the opener is the first of three combinations and, arguably, the best of the bunch Down The Lane alongside Cudjoe Rubber and the legendary Cocoa Tea (I think we can call him legendary now). It had been more than bit since I had heard the name Cudjoe Rubber and I never knew much about him ever (save for the fact that he once dropped the WICKED Let Jah Be Praised) but the singer holds his own with Determine and Cocoa Tea. The veteran Cocoa Tea definitely steals the show, but the three definitely work well together on the BIG and bouncy combination to finish the opening of Mi Go Through Dat.

Definitely check the other two combinations here as well. The first of which is the powerful Don't Know Rastafari over Fearon's LUSH Runner riddim alongside Lymie. The tune carries a VERY heavy message speaking to those who seek and perform and act on the more visual concepts and ideas of Rastafari but fail to accept (and really Overstand at all) the real concept of it and of His Majesty. It is definitely a tune which was (and is STILL) needed in these times as more and more music `publicizes' Rasta throughout the world to people who aren't really ready to TRULY receive it. The final combination here features longtime veteran, the Ganga Lee himself on the far more straight forward but well solid still Live Up. Check the wicked wicked baseline on the tune, which helps the duo really push a nice vibes, however, it must be said that they actually voiced a stronger combination, Jah Is the Answer, for Builders which isn't here, but definitely Live Up is solid still. The tune here which arguably was the album's biggest hit (and should have alerted me that there actually was an album) is the totally acoustic Heartless Vampire, one of the non Builders' productions on the album (its produced by Mr. G, aka Goofy actually on his Soul Food riddim). Listening to the chorus somewhat gave me the vibes from the Determine I remember when he would just start YELLING to make his point. On Heartless Vampire, its definitely crystal clear as the tune ranks highly as one of the finest on the album altogether. The obligatory tune for the Woman here is also actually quite strong, Sweet Little African Darta. Determine employs a straight dancehall DJ cadence throughout the tune which he is very good at (track down Rock the World for more of that), of course. The obligatory love Mama tune is even stronger however and is probably my second or third favourite here overall, Mamma Mamma. The tune flows over a riddim which, again, I remember Anthony B absolutely ripping with his Never Go Down Low (incidentally, both that tune and the aforementioned Rally Round are both from Anthony B's excellent That's Life album), the riddim's title track. Mamma Mamma is a very unique Mother tune because it actually gives as much thanks and praise to the Father as well and I've probably heard about a thousand (at least) tunes on a similar vibes and off the top of my head I cannot remember a tune doing that. I can remember tunes which biggup the Father (check Kenyatta Hill's AWESOME Daddy) and I can remember songs which biggup the Mother IN SPITE OF the father's absence (check Turbulence's BIG Mamma Is There), but never a song which gave praise to both Mama and Daddy, both of whom are definitely deserving! The two tunes which close out the album definitely send Mi Go Through Dat out on a very hard vibes, similar to how it began. Check the pounding Rasta Nah Run over Fearon's Lime Key riddim (which you remember for having backed earlier Assassin hit, We Bad From, Kartel remembers it too doesn't he?) the tune is straight forward and Rasta affirming in vibes of course and it's a good addition here. Lastly, the album ends with a tune DIRECTLY for me the Dancehall Medley. The tune is something you would expect to see closing a Merciless album instead, but I LOVE it! Its basically just Determine doing verses and choruses from his various dancehall hits. I recognized Shaka Zulu, Kette Drum, Time Like This and a few others (and a few others still which I'm now going to be looking up!). Its definitely one for those of US who have longtime followed Determine and something very reminiscent of what you'd be privy to should you catch a Determine live stage show (and last time I saw him, he was very good).

Overall, if you knew about this album (then you should've told me! Shame!) then you've been enjoying a very strong modern roots piece for quite awhile now haven't you? For me, Mi Go Through Dat is a very welcome blast from the not so distant past which definitely kept my attention throughout. I would also say it to be more accessible to newer listeners than Freedom Chant (Rock the World is too, but its so much more dancehall oriented) and older fans, if you're like me you can consider this one a very nice bonus! Now all they need is someone to write a really cool for it to tell people about it. . .