Dutty Rock Explicit Lyrics

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Sean Paul Dutty Rock

REVIEW
The opening skit to Sean Pauls latest stateside album offers one of the key reasons why dancehall has converted hip-hop heads and entrenched itself as a dominant presence in Americas most diaspora-friendly cities: Rock bands cant play it. A hokey rehearsal band shows up to back him on past hits "Deport Them" and "Infiltrate," strangling the rugged classics into nu-metal crap. He stops mid-song, banishes them and declares that this is dancehall, nothing more or less " This the REAL dutty rock." Over the past 20 years, dancehall has made a slow incursion on the American market, with a few successes but countless dashed hopes. With his unmistakably crisp voice and stylish lyrics, Sean Paul is one of Jamaicas greatest hopes for crossover success, as evidenced by the MTV-endorsed success of his recent single, "Gimme the Light." His album justifies the hype. Enlisting top-notch Jamaican producers (check the work by Dave Kelly, the man responsible Timbalands stuttering blueprint), Paul stays close to home with his sound. The hard-stepping "Street Respect" gives "Oochie Wally" a run for its orientalist money while the violent stomp of "Get Busy" levels all comers. For the lovers, he and Sasha duet for "Im Still in Love," a surprisingly nice update of Althea and Donnas classic "Uptown Top Ranking." The songs dont exactly tackle a diversity of issues wine, women and soundbwoys but Pauls brazen flow never wears thin. Though Dutty Rock isnt particularly well conceived, it features enough hopped-up thrills and self-proud pomp to win a piece of even the staunchest rap fanatics heart.

Hua Hsu -- From URB Magazine