ALBUM DESCRIPTION

A prodigy of world acclaimed reggae artist, Bob Marley, Ziggy Soul (born Devon Beckford) returns with his sweetest musical offering to date. From the first note he strikes hard with "Tell Me Who." Ziggy said he first envisioned this song over Marley's "Heathen" riddim, but then asked the musicians flip it up and build their own original track around it. It's a good thing they did 'cause this one is burning up! The best word to describe this timely release is "Original". Refusing to imitate, Ziggy sets the pace and delivers an album that is far more rootsy than any of Marley's children's recent releases.

You may have first heard Ziggy Soul on Lion of Zion's Dancehall Baptism 1 with the 80's influenced "Draw Me Nearer" from his debut effort "Born Again". Since then he has given us many years of silence. As you may already know, one of the greatest obstacles in the gospel reggae arena is the ever-delayed sophomore album by an up-and-coming artist. In this case it took Trench Town Rocker Ziggy Soul a whopping seven years to follow up his solo debut "Born Again". With this in mind, it is appropriate that his follow up is titled "Genesis", for this is a new beginning, BUT REST ASSURED, IT IS WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

On "Genesis," Ziggy displays an uncanny ability to float excerpts from the Bible over bubbling reggae rhythms without making it sound forced. He does this with eloquence on songs like the ska/rocksteady "Genesis" ('In the beginning God created the heaven and earth') and "Hallelujah" ('The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear...').

With "Rescue Me" (inspired by Psalms), it's no wonder that he now calls himself the "Psalmist". He continues to quote this incredible book in songs like "There is a God" (taken from Psalm 14); "Fools say in their heart 'There is no god". Ziggy switches up the pace a bit with the uptempo dancehall praise offering "Hallelujah" before he brings us to the raggamuffin hip-hop flavored "My Soul" (inspired by Psalm 62) featuring the flow of Deejay Gallimore (formerly of the KGees).

Ziggy takes us beyond Psalms with the ethereal modern roots of "Proverbs" and the Gospels; "Honor the Son," and "Love" (inspired by the Book of John). Other stand out tracks include the funky urban roots crusher "I Can Do Anything", "Tell Me Who" and "Resue Me" with clavinet by Othniel Lewis.

A reoccurring theme on this album is the salvation of Trench Town, an infamous slum in Kingston, Jamaica. On "Jesus Is Trench Town Rock", written by Tommy Cowan (formerly of The Jamaicans), Ziggy mentions this rugged ghetto. Check out his clever wordplay;

"In my home town, there is a rumor going round/They say I've gone uptown wearing Jesus' crown/They can't understand what's come over me/But when I take a stock, Jesus is Trench Town Rock... The Rock in which I stand 'Jesus' is Trench Town Rock." - (Jesus Is Trench Town Rock).

On track 10, Ziggy declares "God is justice, His mercy keep us from all condemnation", and he goes on to say; "None a we innocent, we're all guilty... it's so filthy." He follows it up with the blazing dancehall anthem "Hell Fire" (featuring a gruff DJ Moses) where he says; "Someone will have to tell, no good no gwaan a hell" This sets the listener up perfectly for the good news of Jesus Christ shared so eloquently in "Rescue Me" and "Love".

It would have been a huge disappointment if Ziggy made us wait seven years for an album that was out dated and riddled with poor production. But this is far from the case, once again proving the idiom that "Good things come to those who wait." This is a genuine, well-produced roots reggae album with an outstanding sound quality and sweet female harmonies reminiscent of Marley's I-Threes.

Ziggy's voice is drenched with authenticity and possesses is an unmistakable conviction, intensity and anointing from the Lord. Trust me when I say that there is nothing else like it in your gospel reggae collection. This is a genuine Boomshot and a must-have for any Christian reggae fan. Order your copy today!

Review by Mark Mohr