Roots Manuva’s new single Jah Warriors, featuring Ricky Ranking is due for release on August 30th This release from the forthcoming, Roots Manuva meets Wrongtom project, includes 3 tracks. A radio edit of Jah Warriors and a re-work of, Bashment Boogie and Buff Nuff.
The title track, Jah Warriors, may have a reggae based, hip hop beat, but that is the only positive for the track really. Beyond the tin drums at the start of the track, you really do struggle to take away any more musical merits. The vocals from Roots Manuva at each verse may have a deep, urban edge to them, but the chorus’s fail to impress. Even the lyrics, are lack lustre as this track ultimately disappoints.
The second track on the release, Bashment Bogle, improves things a little, the reggae drum beats and bass are more prominent, providing a more upbeat rhythm to dance too, but it is still some way off the mark. There is an improvement in the lyrics too, but the chorus still turns me off completely.
Rebuff, the final track on this single release, is more like it. Still not convinced enough, to hail this release as anything other than average. The drum machine beats and upbeat rhythm are a danceable bonus. The vocals are much improved too, with no chorus’s disrupting Roots Manuva’s vocals. Lyrically this track is quite humorous. They are not great, but at least they provoke some emotion.
This is without doubt marmite music, its appeal limited to those who will ultimately love it. Unfortunately, I do not fall into that category. This single fails to stir anything from within and indeed, the title track, Jah Warriors is the worst offender.
Hip Hop’s biggest asset is the lyrics from the genre and the beats that these lyrics are worked over, it is here that Jah Warriors impresses the least and the main reason why all three tracks leave me disillusioned and disappointed.
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Rebuff, the final track on this single release, is more like it. Still not convinced enough, to hail this release as anything other than average. The drum machine beats and upbeat rhythm are a danceable bonus. The vocals are much improved too, with no chorus’s disrupting Roots Manuva’s vocals. Lyrically this track is quite humorous. They are not great, but at least they provoke some emotion.
