Yow 4 - A work of art
Album: Yow 4 Reggae Street Gospel
Artist(s): Various
Genre: Reggae
Label: Main St. Records
No of tracks: 19
Date released: September 29, 06
As Bless aptly described it at the launch, “this is one of the better Yow CDs he has seen”: I agree. I think this is one of those CDs that everyone should have. Yow 4 does a great job of blending ministry with rhymes and with rhythms. This is one of the ultimate street Gospel CDs ever!
But don’t take my word for it. Pop one into your CD player and 10 seconds into the first track and you will definitely agree. Dj Nicholas without a doubt is one of Gospel dancehall’s new sensations, and he superbly opens the CD with Back 2 d owner. You’ll be singing this song for months to come. It’s one of the most played songs on my PC right now!
Another song worth mentioning is God have mi back by Ryan Mark. God is purposefully using Ryan to minister to his people and this song is a real encouragement to any Christian and especially to those going through the struggle. This song is based on betrayal of Jesus by Judas but it is tactfully applied to this 20th century to be relevant to today’s youth.
A review would not be complete without mentioning Get Loose by Sherwin Gardner & Prophecy, Careful by Goddy Goddy & Jason Mighty, What a day by Shepherd, and Tell mi a who & Help! by newcomer Omari (which were splendidly done). Some of the more popular track on the CD. Look out for these songs on the charts.
Of special mention as well is another track very relevant to counter today’s conspiracies about Haile Selassie and the whole Rastafarian movement. Superbly done and not without his own comical and analytical style Bless clearly delivers the message on Bongo Town to the Rastafarians that Haile Selassie is in no way or form God, and to the Christians that we should bring the Gospel to them.
Apart from the songs, Yow 4 is also attractively packaged and designed. Good job Andrew Grey for the Art Direction.
There are a few shortcomings however that makes purchasing this CD a little less attractive than it should be. One is the lack of lyrics for the songs in the Album cover [and despite the fact that it was written on the album cover that the lyrics are available online when this was being written the lyrics were not there.]. Also, the fact that the songs are not automatically named when it is ripped to the PC (for persons who rip all their songs to their computer-legally), or played in a portable player is also of concern. If these are not big issues to you, then Yow 4 is definitely a buy. In fact, don’t let these turn you off.
Overall Yow 4 is a good CD to have, one that will provide ultimate pleasure to Gospel Music lovers and especially those who desire the the more up-tempo genre. Don’t forget Gallimore’s Brokenness to Victory which is also included on this CD, and the exclusive interview FiwiVoice did with him months before this release.
Hear his song and a few other clips in the Audio section.
August 5th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Very well put together CD. I love Brokeness to Victory and I can never forget the first time I heard Dj Nicholas perfom Back to d owner, I was taken to another level. These Reggae Gospel artists must be commended for their work and for allowing God to flow through them lyrically. I know how encouraging this compilation has been and I know right now the best thing to say is ‘TO GOD BE THE GLORY’.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:21 pm
God definitely in this project! Loooovvee! it to the musicbones. Bless ya outstanding. If mi nin savb now Iwould get savb now tu to way me a com from. ebrey song sweet ina de CD.KEEP LIFTIN UP JESUS and he will do the rest. NA WORRY BUT NUTIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!