Morgan Heritage’s 19th album, “The Homeland,” takes listeners to the motherland, Africa, recruiting a cadre of artistes with features on every track except “Everything Gonna Be Alright” and “Just A Number” It seems the theme for this year’s reggae releases are fixed on “bridging gaps” as Afrobeats makes its way onto the charts in the US. The Homeland is an attempt to do just that as it is nothing like previous Morgan Heritage albums. The CTBC Music Group release still offers a rich buffet of musical experiments, with the remaining members of the group Peetah Morgan, Gramps Morgan, and Mr. Mojo Morgan.
The album’s intro track, “Bambubele,” from the Zulu language, meaning “never give up,” features the Brothers and Sisters Art Organization, and it sets the tone for the journey to “The Homeland.”
Their album launch in Accra, Ghana, drew a lot of attention from music lovers, including Ghana’s three-time Grammy nominee Rocky Dawuni, who is featured on track 19 “Afreeca The Future”, a track that relies on traditional African sounds mixed with roots reggae messages. showcasing the project’s significance as a rebirth for the group, built on a lineage that has lasted decades.
A young child in the 90s could not have predicted that there would be a future in music where a collaboration with Morgan Heritage, Bounty Killer, Cham and Stonebwoy is possible. The lead single “Who Deh Like U” brings that hardcore fusion of dancehall acts together with the conscious reggae group as they drool over the charisma and charm of women from the motherland. It is both Bounty Killer and Cham’s first sojourn into Afrobeats territory as they lace their usual rhymes on the riddim convincingly, the same way they would a Dave Kelly beat. Cham, a brilliant code switcher even adopts a pseudo west African accent:
“Wow Wow To me you’re more than a pretty face (Pretty face, pretty face), So I’ll get marry if that’s what it takes (What it take, what it takes), Girl I love the lovin’ we make (Love we make, love we make), So never leave me for goodness sake (Goodness sake, goodness sake).”
Bounty on the other hand delivers authentic dancehall:
“Well, alright den She classy, she sexy, her body are blaze Her beauty shine for days She move like ah model upon di runway In her owna league she play Gyal U so Pretty like ah Angel eva proud up.”
Social issues are brought to light on the track “Headline Fi Front Page” with dancehall artistes I-Octane, Rytikal, and outspoken artist Jahshi.
For what it’s worth, “The Homeland” is a musical love letter to Africa, with a cast of talented artists who are not afraid to go outside their comfort zone. A unique blend of rhythms, beats, and simple lyrics, the vocal experiments are impressive.
★★★★☆
