CAPLETON I -TESTAMENT

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I-TESTAMENT


TRACKLIST


1. Divide and Rule - (Patois)
2. East Coast to the West Coast - (featuring DV Alias Khrist)
3. Old and the Young - (Patois)
4. Hurts My Heart - (Patois)
5. Original Man - (Patois, featuring Q-Tip)
6. Escape the Judgement - (Patois)
7. Nah Bow (Do Now) - (Patois)
8. Steep Mountain
9. Mark of the Beast - (Patois, featuring Big Youth)
10. No Man Can Save No Man - (Patois)
11. Movin' On - (Patois)
12. Ready to Shout - (Patois)
13. Death Row - (Patois)
14. Stop the Coming - (Patois)
15. Love the One You're With - (Patois)
16. Raggy Road - (Patois)
17. Babylon a Use dem Brain - (Patois)
18. Free Our Minds


Label Def Jam
Orig Year 1997
Discs 1
Release Date Nov 25, 1997

I-Testament is a calculated attempt to increase dancehall singer Capleton's appeal to the contemporary urban artists of America. That means that whatever genuine reggae roots he had are now smoothed over, but that isn't necessarily bad, since his voice is powerful and convincing. I-Testament owes more to sinewy, seductive contemporary R&B rhythms influenced by ragga and dancehall than to reggae itself, but much of this music is solidly constructed, such as the soulful "Hurts My Heart." There's still a bit of filler on I-Testament, but the best moments make it a winning record. ~ Leo Stanley


Recorded at Mixing Lab Studios, Kingston, Jamaica; Quad Recording Studios and Powerplay Manhattan, New York, New York.


Engineers include: Ian Allen, Jason Sterling, Orville Baker.


Personnel includes: Capleton, Big Youth, Q-Tip, D.V. Alias Khrist, Glen Washington.


Producers include: Ian Allen, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Stuart Brown, Ira McLaughlin.


Rolling Stone (3/5/98, p.68) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...Chanting down Babylon, repatriating Ethiopia, worshipping Haile Selassie and denouncing `politricks' are all themes that continue to dominate his lyrics....I-TESTAMENT pust smoothed-out familiar beats at the center..."