Capitol 1212 unveils debut album titled “The Return of Rudy Nacho
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“The Return of Rudy Nacho” is introduced by a western whistle song on which Danger Man emcees“he is sending out a warning, he is bad like a warrior”. This short introduction somehow sets the pace of the album and more precisely the next song titled “Born As A warrior”, featuring Gappy Ranks. The popular Reggae Dancehall singjay sings “freedom fighter, I was born as a warrior”. This song is probably my favorite one the album. On this Modern Roots Reggae riddim showcasing a triumphant horn section, Gappy Ranks sends a wise message of hope and reminds us that “freedom is a must” and you have to fight to earn it. Danger Man, who first warned us of “the return of Rudy Nacho” in the introduction is back on a cheerful Ska-oriented track titled “Warning”. This time he warns us of Jah judgement:
“Unnuh take di warning, unnuh take di teaching, Jah nah play”, Jah nah play. Yuh haffi stay pon di part of di righteous way and don’t go a stray cah my Lord nuh play”
M.A.D. picks up the pace with “Worldwide Echo”, an uptempo jungle track interlaced with a short Roots Reggae break and the whole is spiced up by Reggae horns samples echoing and giving it a sound system live mix vibe. “Lif Up” by Tenor Fly is the next track on the album. The horn section is still present and the broad sound of the organ brings up its Roots flavor. As the Reggae sounds blends in with the heavy jungle drum and bass beat Tenor Fly sings “a better must comme tomorrow, lif up your head my brothers…” Million Dan maintains the energy to the highest level with “Do It Like We”.
Here, the album takes another turn. Legend Hip Hop artist Donald D takes his time to tell us a little bit about history of Hip Hop and its tight connection with Reggae music.
In the keeping with Hip Hop, next up is “Flex Like We” featuring Daddy Freddy who deejays “Juggle like we dem cyaa flex like we” on a dope beat sampling a cinematic choir song. Then the rhythm slows down with the next track titled “Making Disturbances” with Serocee who delivers a tight rap song on a heavy beat sampling “Carry Go Bring Come” recorded by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes in 1963 for Treasure Isle Records. In the next track “Murder Dem”, Deadly Hunta sings “fyah me a go bun pon dem, fyah me a go bun pon dem. Murder dem!” on a Reggae Hip Hop crossover beat that then turns into an uptempo Jungle beat. This song illustrates perfectly the influence of UK sound systems and sound clashes in terms of lyrical content. “Everybody Move Like Robot” featuring Daddy Scotty is a laid-back Reggae song in which he invites us to “take time” and relax. He criticizes the way how we tend to live our life constantly under pressure and in hurry “like robots”. instead of taking our time and enjoying our lives.
“Nuh need to fret, me say nuh need to worry. Why you live your life in such a rush and hurry? You moving too fast, me seh yuh gwaan be sorry and sorry cyaan buy yuh nuh soul diary.”
“Haven’t You Heard” by Profisee & Junior Bear is another huge Hip Hop track sampling the riddim of one of my favorite Reggae songs [of all time] “Truth and Rights” made famous by Johnny Osbourne. No other sample could be better for this song as Profisee & Junior Bear who incite us to “educate and elevate” ourselves and claims that “truth and rights need to be told”. And like Johnny, they reminds us that “the truth is there for who have eyes to see”. In the end, the album seamlessly ends with the same song as the intro.
Overall, it’s a quite good album in which Fly T and Professa Fresh combine various cultures through music. I really like how most of the songs bring a positive message. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea as they do not hesitate to mix Reggae music with Jungle, Drum & Bass and Hip Hop but it is probably what makes this album stand out from the crowd.
Capitol 1212’s album “The Return of Rudy Nacho” is available for purchase on digital outlets. You can preview it below. Share and comment if you like it.
