Voice of Jamaica

Voice of Jamaica
Studio album by
Buju Banton
ReleasedAugust 3, 1993 (1993-08-03)
Studio
  • Chung King Recording Studio, New York City
  • Digital B Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Mixing Lab Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Music Works #2, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Penthouse Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica[1]
Genre
Length61:40
Label
Producer
Buju Banton chronology
Mr. Mention
(1992) 		Voice of Jamaica
(1993) 		'Til Shiloh
(1995)
Singles from Voice of Jamaica
  1. "Operation Ardent"
    Released: April 26, 1993
  2. "Deportees (Things Change)"
    Released: July 6, 1993
  3. "Make My Day"
    Released: August 2, 1993

Voice of Jamaica is the third studio album by Jamaican dancehall reggae artist Buju Banton. It was released on August 3, 1993 via Mercury Records/PolyGram and was his international debut. Its remastered and expanded edition was released in 2002 with additional tracks. Recorded in Kingston and New York City, the album is considered to be the one that introduced Banton to the world outside Jamaica, also bringing dancehall to the wider world.[2][3]

Production was handled by Donovan Germain, Steely & Clevie, Dave Kelly, Bobby "Digital" Dixon, Busta Rhymes, Mikey Bennett and Sly Dunbar. It features guest appearances from Beres Hammond, Brian and Tony Gold, Busta Rhymes, Terry Ganzie, Tony Rebel and Wayne Wonder. The album peaked at number 159 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States.

Music and lyrics

"If Loving Was a Crime"
A sample of "If Loving Was a Crime", showing the blend of dancehall and R&B on the disc.[1]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Musically the album shows a wide range of reggae music, with rhythms that vary from mainly hardcore dancehall, to roots reggae, R&B and ragga hip hop.[1]

Lyrically it faces various personal, political, and cultural themes, including love, war, violence, police brutality, safe sex, poverty and spirituality.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[4]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[5]
Rolling Stone[6]

Jo-Ann Greene of AllMusic said that "This is the kind of album that leaves the listener breathless with amazement", also stating that "It's a superb album, and deserved every accolade it received.[1]

Track listing

Voice of Jamaica track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Searching"
Sly Dunbar4:14
2."Red Rose"
Donovan Germain3:55
3."Commitment" (featuring Wayne Wonder)
  • Myrie
  • Charles
  • Kelly
Dave Kelly3:18
4."Deportees (Things Change)"
  • Myrie
  • Charles
  • Germain
  • Kelly
Donovan Germain3:54
5."No Respect"
  • Myrie
  • Cleveland Browne
  • Wycliffe Johnson
Steely & Clevie3:59
6."If Loving Was a Crime" (featuring Brian and Tony Gold)
Mikey Bennett4:53
7."Good Body"
Bobby "Digital" Dixon3:52
8."Wicked Act" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
Busta Rhymes3:52
9."Tribal War" (featuring Tony Rebel and Terry Ganzie)
Donovan Germain3:48
10."A Little More Time" (featuring Beres Hammond)
Donovan Germain3:53
11."Him Take Off"
  • Myrie
  • C. Browne
  • Johnson
Steely & Clevie3:38
12."Willy (Don't Be Silly)"
  • Myrie
  • Dunbar
Donovan Germain4:54
13."Gone a Lead"
  • Myrie
  • C. Browne
  • Johnson
Steely & Clevie3:41
14."Make My Day"
  • Myrie
  • Kelly
Dave Kelly5:05
15."Operation Ardent"
  • Myrie
  • Germain
  • Dunbar
  • H. Browne
Donovan Germain3:54
Total length:61:40
2002 re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
16."Vigilante"
  • Myrie
  • Clemente Dodd
4:01
17."Deportees (Things Change)" (Tan So Back Haul Up Mix)
  • Myrie
  • Charles
  • Germain
  • Kelly
4:01
Total length:68:52

Charts

Chart performance for Voice of Jamaica
Chart (1993–1994) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[7] 159
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] 29
US Reggae Albums (Billboard)[9] 6
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[10] 5

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Greene, Jo-Ann. "Voice of Jamaica - Buju Banton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  2. ^ "'Til Shiloh - Buju Banton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  3. ^ "Buju Banton Biography, Songs, & Albums".
  4. ^ Fox, Marisa (August 6, 1993). "Voice of Jamaica". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Buju Banton". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
  7. ^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Reggae Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2020.