Bob Marley: Chant Down Babylon

1999 collection of studio-engineered duets between the Reggae legend and a generation of Hip Hopsters influenced by his music. Includes Guru, Chuck D and many others.

On Chant Down Babylon, Bob Marley's master tapes meet the next generation. Marley hardly needs help selling records, so these studio-engineered duets may reflect an honest attempt at linking his musical legacy with contemporary artists. Even those sympathetic to the concept, though, should wonder if it's wise to substitute new backing tracks for the original sinuous grooves of "Concrete Jungle" and "Rebel Music." (To the disc's credit, the rhythms of "No More Trouble" and "Rastaman Chant" are left largely intact.) And as obvious as the connection between reggae and hip-hop is, Guru ("Johnny Was") and even Chuck D ("Survival a.k.a. Black Survivors") have nothing to add to Marley's perfectly chosen words. Finally, don't be surprised if your patience wears as several of Marley's sons help travesty "Kinky Reggae." --Rickey Wright