QUEEN MAJEEDA: Conscious

Heartbeat

Queen Majeeda's specialty is dub poetry, a form of reggae whose better known practitioners include Linton Kwesi Johnson and Mutabaruka. Dub poetry features politically charged lyrics chanted more than sung over a reggae bass groove written to support their flow. I can't think of a better way to have a poetry reading. Her lyrics touch on religious (Rastafarian) and third world political themes, with a feminist outlook quite rare in Jamaican music. Vocally, she reminds me of Roxanne Shante with a change of accent. A dandy, hypnotic album. (Pat Anders)

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