Marley Boyz Educated Fools CD

The Marley Boyz (aka Damian and brother Stephen Marley) jump on the one riddim bandwagon with Educated Fools. Only a failing pupil would have trouble identifying the riddim, a remix of Damian's song of the same name which was pulled from his Grammy-winning Halfway Tree album. This set is already spinning off a slew of singles, as the Marleys have roped in a host of hot acts to voice the track. The album kicks off with a sizzling remix of Damian's original number, with Bounty Killer toughening up the song even further with a barrage of hard-hitting thoughts, setting the stage for the overwhelmingly cultural toasts within. Determine offers up a slice of life in the yard, and Morgan Heritage's Mr. Mojo and LMB's Laza continue that theme, noting that even when sufferers start climbing up the ladder, the pressure drops hard on their heads. Which is why Bounty Killer returns for the sizzling solo "No Pardon," offering no apology for taking on the government and standing up for the people. Yami Bolo moves the action out of the yards and into the larger world, where war, hunger, and genocide threaten our very existence, but insists "Love Can Save the Human Race." El Pancho also offers counsel, "You have to be wise/You have to be strong/The only way we'll ever fight this armagiddeon." Which is why Capleton stresses that youth want education, but warns that they can't take any more disillusion, confusion, or destruction, calling down fire on the fiercesome "Yuh Nah Hear." But it's difficult when "Babylon Agwaan So." The youths are rebelling, the people have had enough, and so Ky-Mani Marley and Spragga Benz are going to "Set It Off" for once and for all, igniting another one of the best tracks on the set. Hip-hop hero Sli brings it full circle, returning to Damian's original theme before branching out into a tough look at ghetto life, where the rapper draws parallels between American inner cities and Kingston's yards. Which leaves Buju Banton, strangely enough, the odd artist out, and while "Love Haffi Request" has its charms, his instructing the ladies on how to light up his life is grossly out of place within the rest of this excellent, heavy-hitting set. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Tuff Gong International & Ghetto Youths International return to Lightyear & WEA with this project from Damian ''Jr. Gong'' Marley & Stephen Marley. The remix opening this CD features reggae super deejay Bounty Killer along with Damian Marley, & is followed by 11 additional tracks produced by The Marley Boyz, featuring some of the most sought-after talent from Jamaica, such as Buju Banton, Capleton, Yami Blo, Determine & Spragga Benz & Kymani Marley. 2003.

Recorded at Ikus, Miami, Florida and Marley Music Studios, Kingston, Jamaica.

Marley Boyz: Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Stephen Marley.

Additional personnel: Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Determine, Mr. Mojo, Laza, Yami Bolo, El Pancho, Capleton, Daddigon, Spragga Benz, Sli (vocals).