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Abja |
Mahogany Road |
I Grade Records |
2006 |
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Real Audio |
Real Audio |
1. |
Don't Feel No Way |
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9. |
Long Time |
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2. |
Consideration |
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10. |
One Shot |
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3. |
Good Vibez (With NiyoRah) |
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11. |
Rejoice |
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4. |
Mahogany Road |
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12. |
Wanted |
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5. |
Praise The Day |
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13. |
Danger Zone |
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6. |
Good Sensimilia |
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14. |
Whitewash |
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7. |
Dread Time |
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15. |
Jah Love (With Ras Attitude) |
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8. |
Preservation Of The I |
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Musicians & Credits
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01. |
Don't Feel No Way
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, T.
Williams, T. Davis) - Drums:
Tyrone "T Rock" Davis; Bass: Kenyatta Itola; Keys
& Background Vocals: Laurent
"Tippy" Alfred; Guitar: Tuff Lion;
Produced by Red I Band (Tippy, Kenyatta, Tuff Lion & T
Rock) |
02. |
Consideration
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, G.
Jackson, A. Campbell) - Drums:
Astor Campbell; Bass: Kenyatta; Keyboards
& Background Vocals: Tippy;
Produced by Tippy, Kenyatta & Abja |
03. |
Good Vibes (Featuring
NiyoRah)
(J. Saleem, N. Olivacce, L. Alfred,
K. Itola, T. Williams) - Drums:
T Rock; Bass: Kenyatta;
Organ & Guitars: Tuff Lion;
Keyboards: Tippy; Trombone:
Balboa Becker; Trumpet: Joel Berhman; Tenor Saxophone:
Garret Cobses; Horn Arrangements by Million 7 Horns;
Produced by Tippy, Abja, Kenyatta & Tuff Lion) |
04. |
Mahogany Road
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, G.
Jackson, A. Campbell) - Drums:
Astor Campbell; Bass: Kenyatta; Keyboards
& Guitar: Tippy; Guitar: Tuff Lion;
Background Vocals: Angelique & NiyoRah; Produced by
Tippy & Kenyatta |
05. |
Praise The Day
(J. Saleem, L. Alfred, T. Williams)
- Binghi Drums,
Acoustic Guitar & Organ: Tippy; Guitars: Tuff Lion;
Background Vocals: Angelique & NiyoRah; Produced by
Tippy & Tuff Lion |
06. |
Good Sensimilia
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, T.
Williams) - Drums: T Rock; Bass: Kenyatta; Keyboards
& Guitar: Tippy; Produced by
Red I Band (Tippy, Kenyatta & T Rock) |
07. |
Dread Time
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, T.
Williams) - Drums: T Rock; Bass: Kenyatta;
Piano & Background Vocals: Tippy; Guitars: Tuff Lion;
Produced by Tippy, Kenyatta & Tuff Lion |
08. |
Preservation Of The I
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred) - Drums:
Astor Campbell; Bass, Guitar &
Keyboards: Tippy; Organ: Tuff Lion;
Background Vocals: Angelique; Produced by Tippy |
09. |
Long Time
(J. Saleem,
L.Alfred, K. Itola) - Drums:
Astor Campbell; Bass: Kenyatta; Piano: Magama Skosana;
Keyboards & Guitar: Tippy; Produced by Tippy & Kenyatta |
10. |
One Shot
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, T.
Williams) - Drums, Organ &
Guitar: Tuff Lion; Bass: Kenyatta;
Background Vocals: Yahadanai,
Angelique & Tippy; Trombone: Balboa Becker; Trumpet:
Joel Berhman; Tenor Saxophone: Garret Cobses; Horn
Arrangements by Million 7 Horns; Produced by Tippy,
Kenyatta & Tuff Lion |
11. |
Rejoice
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred) - Drums:
Astor Campbell; Bass: Kenyatta;
Keyboards: Eric Williams; Keyboards &
Guitar: Tippy; Guitar: Tuff Lion; Produced by Tippy &
Eric Williams |
12. |
Wanted
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, T.
Williams) - Drums: Tuff Lion;
Bass: Kenyatta; Keyboards,
Guitar & Melodica: Tippy; Background Vocals: Angelique;
Produced by Tippy, Kenyatta & Tuff Lion |
13. |
Danger Zone
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred, K. Itola, T.
Davis) - Drums: T Rock; Bass: Kenyatta;
Keyboards & Guitar: Tippy; Produced
by Red I Band (Tippy, Kenyatta & T Rock) |
14. |
Whitewash
(J. Saleem, L.Alfred) - Drums
& Keyboards: Tippy; Bass: Kenyatta; Guitar: Tuff Lion;
Background Vocals: Angelique & NiyoRah; Produced by
Tippy |
15. |
Jah Love (Featuring
Ras Attitude)
(J. Saleem, M. Goodwin, L.Alfred, E.
Franklin, V.Iyer) - Drum
programming & Keyboards: Sol
Messiah; Bass: Gregory "Mr. Bassie" Jackson; Guitars:
Tippy; Keyboards: Vijay Iyer; Produced by the downbeat
production collective (M-1, Sol Messiah, Tippy & Vijay
Iyer) |
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Liner Notes
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Recorded, Mixed and Executive Produced by Laurent "Tippy"
Alfred. Additional
recording by M-1 (track #15).
All lyrics and lead vocal melodies by Jaleel "Abja"
Saleem except for tracks #3 & #15 - respective
lyrics and melodies by NiyoRah & Ras Attitude.
All songs published by I Grade Music (ASCAP)
except track #2 & track #4 - published by I Grade
Music (ASCAP), Garvey's Ghost Music (SESAC) &
Astor Rock Faster Music (SESAC) Track #15
published by I Grade Music (ASCAP), Michael
Goodwin (BMI), War of Art Music (BMI), E.
Franklin Music (ASCAP) & Multiplicity Music (SESAC).
Graphic Design by
Mama
Saba Designs |
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Abja
Gives Tanks...
Give thanks for life and creation.
Dis lion trod was made possible due to the strength of
God Almighty I Jah Rastafari Haile I Selassie I de
first. Family thanks - moms, pops give thanks for
a chance at life. Ocean-a, luv u always.
Amir - love conquer hate. #1 son luv u always and
for iva. Zayd - unstoppable. Nadia (luv u
cuz) - good farming. Brandin #4 (lone wolf solo
warrior). Se-I-go (great Silvaback) strength I Lion, Jah
Love is for Iva. Ms. Swe-da - grace beauty and
assurity. Kaz, Hotep, Mickey, Kizzie, Neshwa -
beauty beyond your time. Kendall
(Buckey) U and Ken is de key. Mahalya - Jewel of
de Nile. Ken - twin bro, Jah Rule and Reign.
Khalid - Krystal - Love is for Iva. Sul, Link,
Dave, Jay, Ding, Mollo, Jah Sun, Twin Sound, Jamaki, Jah
Neeko, Lox, Whole a BK, Natty Rebel. Z-Issa Love u
for iva (my heart). I Grade family, all VI
Artists, Zion Roots, all support across de globe.
Tippy, Iyatola, Tuffy, T Rock, Crusty Bassie - we did it
again. Give thanks to Mama Saba for the artwork
and hard work. |
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Contact Info:
I Grade Records, LLC
P.O. Box 223281
Christiansted, St. Croix
U.S. V.I. 00822
Tel: (646) 226-1738
(340) 719-3195
www.igraderecords.com
www.viroots.com |
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Album Reviews |
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Reggae
Reviews:
A sophomore album is always a
tricky proposition, since its nature is such that it
will invariably be compared to the album before it, and
the sound will invariably not be quite as fresh the
second time around. And while Abja's second album,
Mahogany Road, may not be quite as fresh for this
reason, it manages to avoid the sophomore slump. In
fact, it runs all over the sophomore slump with
boundless energy, pointed lyrics, and the type of rich
roots music we've come to expect from Laurent "Tippy"
Alfred, Tuff Lion, and the rest of the gang at I Grade
Records. - More
JahWorks.org:
I sThe I Grade crew continues its trod forward with its
summer releases. Producer, singjay, and I Grade staple
Abja is certainly in lock step with this crew’s cadence.
Mahogany Road is his follow up to Inna Red I Hour in
2003. The key I Grade
musicians perform on this sophomore effort: Laurent
“Tippy I” Alfred; his brother and bassie Kenyatta Itola;
drummers Astor Campbell and T Rock Davis, who toured
with the Red I Band this past spring; and guitsie/multi-instrumentalist
Tuff Lion. The Million7 Horns composed of Balboa Becker,
Joel Berhman, and Barret Cobses add another aural layer
to several tracks. If you made it to one of the I Grade
Trilogy shows in Northern California this past spring,
you’ll recognize the vibe. -
More
Reggae Vibes:
Abja's tune "Crucial Confessions" (included on I
Grade Records' first compilation album, "Weep Not",
released in 2002) provided a glimpse of the unique
talent of this artist hailing from St. Croix in the
Virgin Islands. With "Inna Red I Hour" -- his first
full-length release -- he delivered a much promising and
powerful collection of tunes, which brought him to the
attention of (V.I.) roots followers around the world.
Now here's Abja's long-awaited sophomore CD "Mahogany
Road", which not only reaffirms that he's one of the
most promising new conscious artists, but this set also
fully lives up to expectations raised by Abja's debut
album. While listening to Abja's new album it's obvious
that he has made a natural progression and thus has
taken his musical efforts to the next (higher) level. -
More
Reggae Connection: (french)
Amis du ‘New Roots’
réjouissez-vous car cette petite plaque va vous plonger
dans un état de confiance absolu. Confiance en l’avenir
du reggae authentique mais qui n’hésite pas à s’ouvrir
aux ambiances jadis révélées par des artistes tels que
Steel Pulse ou I Jah Man …Définitivement inspiré de ses
aînés, Abja réussit à introduire dans ce reggae là des
éléments de blues, jazz et hip hop. -
Encore
VI Roots:
Take a ride down Mahogany
Road with one of the VI's most unique and talented
artists. On this - his second full length album - Abja
takes his rootical singing and chanting to a new level
of intensity and originality with soon-to-be classic
tunes like "One Shot", "Dangerzone" and the massive
title track, "Mahogany Road." Also featured are two big
combination tunes, one with label-mate NiyoRah and
another with Sound VIzion's Ras Attitude.
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More
BigUp
Radio:
Abja’s Mahogany Road is
another I-Grade production outta Christiansted, St.
Croix, USVI. Released in 2006 the album showcases
another great roots reggae talent from the island that
continues to blaze a new fya of consciousness. Mahogany
road pays tribute to the largest island in the Virgin
islands. On the western end of St. Croix rising 1096'
above sea level is Blue mountain where a lush rain
forest of saman, tibet and mahogany trees grow.
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