'Til Shiloh, Me & Buju

"He who seeks knowledge begins with humbleness."

Of late when I'm a bit low in spirits, I find myself turning to the lyrical genious of the Gargamel and getting some real inspiration. 'Til Shiloh, my favourite, I admit; is a classic body of work, proof - I say without any reservation - which gives the artiste every right to class himself with the likes of Marley.

Shiloh, the intro to the album is a soulful, reflective and spiritual acapella:
Strangest feeling I'm feeling but Jah love we will always believe in Though you may think my faith is in vain 'Til Shiloh we chant Rastafari name.

"It's not an easy road", the Jamaican experience, and the artiste knows it, and on 'Til Shiloh Buju makes communion with the experience of his fellow countryman. "Who feels it knows" - economics, bad mind, murderers, political corruption, failed government - he represents them all empathetically from the viewpoint of the common man but with the spiritual optimism that eternally underlines the Jamaican psyche. Crime and violence are unfortunate threats in the Jamaican reality and the savagery does not escape the notice of the artiste. Yet he takes up the mantle of social responsibility and pleads rationality over the savagery asking, "The looting and shooting and the killing on the rampage, when will it cease?" A solution isn't so evident and in 'Til I'm Laid To Rest he underscores the restlessness of Jamaicans about staying on their home island. However, for those drinking the wine of violence, Mr. Buju warns, "Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder!" But, it is my foolish opinion that it is Untold Stories - with that sole guitar and drum and Buju's chanting- that should be our national anthem for how it captures the indomnitable spirit that proves again and again the sole enduring Jamaican resource.

Despite his current woes, Buju is arguably one of the greatest lyricist of all time, an artiste with dynamic talent and nuff style. In his Champion [Remix] the Gargamel makes his own introduction, just in case you've never heard of the likes of him, and he definitely lives his versatility on the album. It's All Over is another of the dancehall bubblers we expect of the originally rude bwoy dancehall artiste. On the original Champion who can resist the suaveness with which he lays the offer "Buju B. would be more than glad to take your hand and take you into the promised land... mi 20ft divan, all you have to do is be true so let's correspond". Sharp, yes, Champion brandishes Jamaican male bravado at its charming best. But the album is not all about male bravado, it is a showcase of the passion, dimensions and complexities of the artiste Buju, a coarsed-voice dancehall rude bwoy who also croons:

"Caught up passionately
in a love rhapsody
I'm like waiting on some honey
But there ain't no queen bee, Everybody a laugh
Some say I'm silly
No infatuation, no love fantasy
Woman you lead my life on a string
I can't take the on and off thing
I'm oh so lonely inside so I sing"

"I could go on and on" about the Gargamel, but in brief, 'Til Shiloh is an investment that will "lotion your feelings with all the positive meanings"; teach you how to skip over hard times, "walk like a champion, talk like a champion" and deal with the strangest feelings that come over us from time to time. Best of all, it reassures single folks that there is that at least one reflective, spiritual and soulful spunk of a charmer willing to rock you all life-long.

P.S.
"We must also bear in mind that international recognition is not the primary determinant of the success of any cultural form. Cultural products are designed primarily for a domestic audience. International success is usually a bonus."- Clyde McKenzie, Jamaica Observer (October 17, 2010)

P.P.S.
Here's the video, Untold Stories.