(Compare this Bolt-inspired image with the one at the bottom of this post...)
The latest in VP Records once-yearly Strictly The Best compilation series is out now. STB 39 is a solid collection with established club hits such as Vegas' "Mus Come A Road" (on Barrington Levy's "Prison Oval Rock" riddim), "Winner" by newcomer Konshens and uplifting lovers rock anthem "Just As I Am" by supergroup L.U.S.T (a.k.a. Lukie D, Thiller U, Singing Melody and Tony Curtis).
Like any 15-track comps that attempts to summarize a genre as diverse and specialized as reggae/dancehall, there's bound to be a few filler tracks that don't quite hit, especially as these comps are a vehicle for recycling VP-signed artist content.
But those moments are few are far between, with stronger content in the majority. Highlights include Tarrus Riley on the Jah Live riddim with "Marcus Teaching," Tony Rebel's searing poor-people anthem "Another Bill" (send that one straight to Wall Street's head!) and Mavado's 'Overcome," which forcefully defends gully-dweller's aspirations.
Track List
1. NUH LINGA - ELEPHANT MAN
2. BACK IT UP - MR. EVIL & SEAN PAUL
3. PLAYING GAMES - SERANI
4. GIMME LIKKLE - BEENIE MAN
5. SWEEP - ELEPHANT MAN
6. MUS COME A ROAD - MR. VEGAS
7. OVERCOME - MAVADO
8. WINNER - KONSHENS
9. SORT DEM OUT - DEMARCO
10. I AM NOT AFARID - ETANA
11. ANOTHER BILL AGAIN - TONY REBEL
12. LOVE CREATED I (MARCUS TEACHING) - TARRUS RILEY
13. JUST AS I AM - L.U.S.T.
14. LOVE YOU LIKE THAT - BERES HAMMOND
15. BROKEN MELODY - TESANNE CHIN
Ele's lead track on STB 39 got me thinking back to his amazing Olympics-inspired re-cut that circulated briefly pon the net. "Usain Nuh Linga" contained the Energy God's patented observations and boasting delivered in his distinctive lisping patois.
Did he really say "The whole Birdsnest Stadium nearly cave in!" -- yes, he did. (See full lyrics below).
As a fan and follower of Jamaican athletics, this is definitely an anthem to keep in mind with the IAFF World Track & Field Championships coming in August 2009.
Get ready to sweeeeep!
"Usain Bolt Nuh Linga" MP3, lyrics Download
Usain Bolt Nuh Linga lyrics
Intro
Sweep!
A wah happen to dem Bolt?
Jamaica – Jamaica – Jamaica
Sweep!
The fastest runner dem come from we acre
Sweep!
Jamaica – Jamiaca – Nuh Linga – Nuh Linga
Sweep them away just like a paper
Chorus:
A history Jamaica go create down a Beijing
The whole Birdsnest Stadium nearly cave in
Usain start sweep and the whole crowd ragin’
When di female runner dem gwaan win it was amazin
History we go create down a Beijing
The whole Birdsnest Stadium nearly cave in
Usain start sweep and di whole crowd ragin’
When di runner dem gwaan win it was amazing
Verse 1
Signal di plane! Sweep like Usain!
Jamaica bigger and we better and we faster than before
Improve so much since 2004
Remember when we dominate all di World Indoor
Over a 10 weeks a pure medal we go score
Jamaica – don’t you love how ‘we Olympics team do it?
Look how much country a face we and get defeat
When Bolt win di hundred meter yuh nuh see him weep
Dance and give dem a clean sweep!
(Chorus)
Verse 2
Jamaica shocked di world like country gwaan revolt
Usain a run strike dem like a lightning bolt
The Tide Is High but we moving on like John Holt
Faster than a bullet coming from a 45 Colt
The world say dem shocked but we never surprised
Cause we know say Jamaica have the fastest man alive
Who a do 100 meter nine-point-six-five
Buck up inna Shelly Ann and her bee hive
