Reggae

Snow (feat. Mykal Rose) – Shame

I read a few months ago that Canadian reggae deejay Snow was planning on getting back into the music scene.  Specifically, I remember him talking about wanting to collaborate with Ninja Man again.  To be honest, I didn’t really know what to think at the time since he was out of the game so long that it seemed like his recording career was all but over.  However, it looks like he was very serious about it; so serious in fact that he recruited none other than reggae icon Mykal Rose to bless his first single.  For those who don’t know him, Mykal Rose was the lead singer of Black Uhuru and has since gone on to become a prolific solo artist.  To get someone of his calibre on Snow’s comeback single is no joke, so it required a listen simply out of respect for Rose.  The single is actually pretty good, and the video was clearly shot in and around Toronto which is cool.  Fans of Mykal Rose will also be happy to hear him bring his signature scats to this track.

 

 

Watching the video led me to this interview he did with a Jamaican radio station.  If you don’t have 20 minutes to the spare, the long and short of it is that all the proceeds from his recently released single will be going to a foundation he set up for cancer patients.  His own wife passed away some years ago after a struggle with cancer, and his foundation helps financially support underprivileged folks during their battle with the disease as opposed to going towards funding a cure.  I think it’s a very touching gesture, and really goes to show that he remembers where he came from.

 

 

The interview also touches on the level of respect that Snow has attained in Jamaica.  Being an Irish guy from Canada who sings reggae music would normally barely result in any type of acknowledgement, let alone recognition.  Let’s not forget though that “Informer” was a HUGE track back in the 90’s, and it literally made him a star in the reggae world.  The height of the success he attained can be most easily demonstrated by the track “Anything For You” off his sophomore album which was eventually redone with what seemed like every dancehall superstar in Jamaica at the time (Beenie Man, Buju Banton, and Terror Fabulous among others).

 

 

After watching the interview, I stumbled upon another recent video that follows Snow around his old hood in Toronto.  The video also has what appears to be a new track in the background which I don’t recognize.  It’s possible this is an unreleased single from an upcoming album, and I have to say that I REALLY like it.

 

 

I can’t trace the tune back to anything in his existing catalog, which is why I think it’s new, but it clearly samples an old song by Phyllis Dillon called “Woman Of The Ghetto”.  This song was a classic from Jamaica’s rocksteady era, during which she rose to prominence recording for Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label.

 

I wish Snow the best of luck with this comeback.  There is no denying the dude has talent, and he seems like an overall good guy (what else would you expect, he’s Canadian!).  Also, having more Canadian content for my blog doesn’t hurt either!

 

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