****ABJA - INNA RED I HOUR****

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****ABJA - INNA RED I HOUR****

TRACKLIST


1. Red I Tune
2. War
3. Crucial Confessions
4. Rise Up
5. Rebel I Lion
6. Lion Walk
7. Love Jah
8. Chances
9. Love Potion
10. Pass De Kahn (With Yahdanai)
11. Play On
12. Still Have Love
13. Love Jah Dub
14. Lion Walk Dub


DATE 2003

Musicians & Credits


01. Red I Tune - Drums: Dion "Bosie" Hopkins; Bass: Kenyatta Itola; Keys: Laurent "Tippy" Alfred; Guitars & Organ: Tuff Lion
02. War - Drums: Batch; Bass: Kenyatta; Guitars: Tippy
03. Crucial Confessions - Drums: Matthew Miller; Bass: Kenyatta; Keys: Tuff Lion; Keys: Eric Williams; Guitars: Tippy
04. Rise Up - Drums, Bass & Guitars: Tippy; Bass: Kenyatta
05. Rebel I Lion - Drums, Bass Keys & Guitars: Tippy; Keys: Eric Williams
06. Lion Walk - Drums & Percussion: Abja & Tippy; Bass, Keys: Tippy; Piano: Emi Augustin; Guitar: Tesfa
07. Love Jah - Drums: Abja & Gregory; Bass: Gregory Jackson; Harmonica & Percussion: Zaka; Guitar: Tesfa
08. Chances - Drums, Bass, Keys & Acoustic Guitar: Tippy; Acoustic Guitar Lead: Tuff Lion
09. Love Potion - Drums: Jamaki Knight; Bass: Phil Merchant; Keys: Tippy; Guitars: Tuff Lion
10. Pass De Kahn (Featuring Yahadanai) - Drums: Jamaki; Bass: Kenyatta; Keys & Guitar: Tippy
11. Play On - Drums: Jamaki; Bass: Phil Merchant; Keys: Ras El; Keys & Guitar: Tippy
12. Still Have Love - Acoustic Guitar rhythm: Tippy; Acoustic Guitar Lead: Tuff Lion
13. Love Jah Dub - Drums: Abja & Gregory; Bass: Gregory Jackson; Harmonica & Percussion: Zaka; Guitar: Tesfa
14. Lion Walk Dub - Drums & Percussion: Abja & Tippy; Bass, Keys: Tippy; Piano: Emi Augustin; Guitar: Tesfa


All songs produced and arranged by Laurent "Tippy" Alfred except:
Love Jah produced and arranged by Jaleel "Abja" Saleem, Gregory "Bassie" Jackson and Greg Lox
Lion Walk co-produced by Abja
Tracks 1-5. 8-12 Mixed by Laurent "Tippy" Alfred
Tracks 6-7 Mixed by Jamaki Knight
Tracks 13-14 Mixed by Abja
Additional writing on Chances by Elton Standy
Additional writing on War by Abu


Recorded by Laurent "Tippy" Alfred
Graphic Design by Mark "Feijao" Milligan II

I Grade Records brings you Inna Red I Hour, the debut album of Abja whose selection Crucial Confessions was also included on the Weep Not compilation. The 14 tracks on this album have a distinctive rootsy-blues feeling that is sure to move you.

****ABJA - MAHOGANY ROAD****

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****ABJA - MAHOGANY ROAD****

TRACKLIST


1. Don't Feel No Way
2. Consideration
3. Good Vibez (feat. NiyoRah)
4. Mahogany Road
5. Praise The Day
6. Good Sensimilia
7. Dread Time
8. Preservation Of The I
9. Long Time
10. One Shot
11. Rejoice
12. Wanted
13. Danger Zone
14. Whitewash
15. Jah Love (feat. Ras Attitude)I Grade

LABELI Grade

DATE 2006

Abja's tune "Crucial Confessions" (included on I Grade Records' first compilation album, "Weep Not", released in 2002) provided a glimpse of the unique talent of this artist hailing from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. With "Inna Red I Hour" -- his first full-length release -- he delivered a much promising and powerful collection of tunes, which brought him to the attention of (V.I.) roots followers around the world.


Now here's Abja's long-awaited sophomore CD "Mahogany Road", which not only reaffirms that he's one of the most promising new conscious artists, but this set also fully lives up to expectations raised by Abja's debut album. While listening to Abja's new album it's obvious that he has made a natural progression and thus has taken his musical efforts to the next (higher) level.


The album starts off in great style with "Don't Feel No Way", an awesome piece underpinned by a wonderful, hypnotic backdrop with subtle keyboard layers. Next drops "Consideration", a roots killer, which comes across the same riddim as "Enter" from the Midnite album "Jah Grid'. The combination tune with label-mate NiyoRah, "Good Vibez", has horns and a real funky groove, but unfortunately doesn't match the two previous tracks.


The slow-paced title track is a beautiful song with a great vocal and lyrical delivery... "goose pimples" music! The same goes for "Preservation Of The I", a brilliant effort with great backing vocals! "Good Sensimilia" is a well done tribute to the benefits of ganja and royal meditation, while "Long Time" shows that Abja is also able to deliver a noteworthy song dealing with matters of the heart.


The remaining tracks maintain the quality throughout and are truly worth of hearing. All tunes included on this album benefit from the heavyweight all-live instrumentation provided by the I Grade stable of producers and musicans including Tippy I, Kenyatta, Tuff Lion, T Rock, Astor Campbell and Balboa Becker.


Abja and the I Grade production team have managed to create a well balanced, exciting collection of tunes. So, ignore at your peril!!