Reggae Gold 2000 CD

Includes Limited Edtion CD Mix Disc;Bounty Killer,Beenie,Bere

Initial packaging of REGGAE GOLD 2000 comes with a limited edition, continuous in-the-mix bonus CD compiled and mixed by Adonai.
Compilation producers: Joel Chin, Lorna Lewis, Edwin Howell.
As expected, the Reggae Gold series continued its annual collection of some of each year's most crucial tunes, and 2000 proved to be especially hard-hitting. Opening with Bounty Killer's powerful toasting on "Look," the tone is set for fast-paced riddims and booming-voiced DJs, with Bounty, Capleton, and Lexxus appearing on the first three tunes. Indeed, caustic and gruff DJ performances fill the majority of the CD, from Madd Anju's humorous "Nuh Play Chess" and Baby Cham's "War Forever" to Professor Nutts' catchy "Magnet." For those who need some respite from dancehall's rough beats, there's an excellent offering of smooth lovers rock, from Beres Hammond's soothing "They Gonna Talk" to Sanchez' masterful remake of Brian McKnight's "Back to One." This is truly an all-inclusive greatest-hits package. ~ Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
VP Records continues its reggae compilation series with this double CD offering of new and established singers. Disc One features a variety of Jamaican music that ranges from spiritual, conscious fare like "Down by the River" by Morgan Heritage, to sexual conquest stories like "Call You," a terse duet between Lady Saw and Lexxus. Other highlights include yet another Sanchez cover (Sanchez made a name for himself covering pop hits from the U.S. in dancehall style), the Brian McKnight original "Back at One," which improves in its new guise; "Cook," another bawdy track from newcomer Lexxus; and "Stalag Y2K," a medley of songs that have all used the famous Stalag 17 riddim, including Buju Banton's "Sound Boy Killing," Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam," and Tenor Saw's "Ring the Alarm."
Disc Two is a mix of Disc One's songs, done in classic sound system fashion, with the DJ commenting all over the mix, rewinds and sound effects (bombs exploding, machine gun rat-tat and echoes). Also worth noting is that U.S. hip-hop beats, in the minimalist, blurpy style of Swizz Beats or Manny Fresh, have made their way to Jamaica, with questionable results.

Entertainment Weekly (5/26/00, p.75) - "You won't find a better mix of modern reggae this side of Kingston....most worth their weight in gold." - Rating: A-
CMJ (6/12/00, p.32) - "...Spotlights the current cream of the Jamaican reggae crop....the tracks flow together just as they would in a real Jamaican dancehall."
The Source (8/00, p.233) - "...With its eclectic lineup and content, REGGAE GOLD 2000 will invoke, relax and soothe in one sitting. It's the obvious - and only - choice for this summer's musical companion."
Rap Pages (8-9/00, p.108) - "...Party-starting jams....a bulls eye for every musical occasion." - Rating: A-