Hip-hop sons of Jamaican parentage, have that raw Reggae vibe entrenched within them so, naturally, it comes out in their music. Though not by coincidence, Jamaica is where the fundaments of Hip-hop began back in the early ‘70s when ‘toasters’ (deejays) would ‘chat’ over the instrumental side (version) of a popular tune. When the USA latched onto it and the Rap culture became epidemic, the music obviously outgrew the confines of ‘the streets’ and middle America embraced it as their own. But, quite often these days, a Hip-hop or Rap artist will remind us of the true origins via the Reggae / Dancehall vibes that will bless their albums and give it a seal of approval. Takes one back to when Busta Rhymes first landed on the scene with none other than the Dancehall maestro, Buju Banton on the sublime track ‘Wicked Act’ (from Banton’s 1995 ‘Voice Of Jamaica’ set for Mercury Records) and everyone thought Busta was a Bashment artist! He later dropped ‘Woah’ which had instilled his career-defining flow on the Reggae / Hip-hop hybrid. KRS One and Pete Rock had also used this ‘special brew’ back in the day to great effect. And, although he loses the dreadlocks, a leaner, clean cut Busta continues that flow in 2010 as, on his current set, he teams up with Jamaica’s Dancehall dons DeMarco and Movado for more of the same…. QB