Producer
George Phang rocketed to fame on the back of riddims supplied to him by
the Taxi Gang, all driven, of course, by
Sly & Robbie's ballistic rhythms. With these, he was able to entice superstar
Yellowman into the studio and record a clutch of hit singles and this 1985 full-length set. After several years of riding high first with the
Hookim brothers and then
Henry "Junjo" Lawes, the DJ was ready for a change, as were the Jamaican dancehalls, which were now embracing the new ragga sound. The all-conquering Casio-crazed "Under Mi Sleng Teng" reigned supreme, but
the Gang's sly version is indeed a "Fat Thing," given heft by
Robbie Shakespeare's thrumming bassline and plenty of bouncing rhythm guitar.
Yellowman has a grand time riding the riddim straight into the ground, which is precisely where such an organic version originated. But
the Gang's riddims gleefully plundered from the spectrum of Jamaican music, from
Larry Marshall's reggae smash "Throw Mi Corn" to
the Wailers' rocksteady classic "Rudeboy" and on to the eternally popular "Full Up." If the versions were breathtaking,
Yellowman was absolutely scintillating. The plastic surgery-seeking
Michael Jackson is told where to get off on "Beat It," Babylon gets a beating on the title track, and his fussy girl is told off on "Cuss Cuss," while the true value of the dollar is dissected on "Money Make Friend."
King Yellow also shows off his skills with the opposite sex, and even though that didn't win him a Grammy, he still celebrates the introduction of a reggae category to the award. The DJ is at the top of his game,
Phang is sailing high, and the
Taxi riddims are unbeatable. A classic album. ~ Jo-Ann Greene