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Album Review: Jagznation Vol.1, Thy Nation Come

Album:                 Jagznation Vol.1, Thy Nation Come
Artiste:                 Jesse 'Jesse Jagz' Abaga
Year of Release : 2013

 

It's been a while I did an album review and my last was on www.naijasidecomments.com which is more or less now dedicated to sports matters when the need arises. More so reviewing an album has become a drag not that there have not been releases, but simply because all our musical talents tend to bring the same thing to the table these days.

 

I must confess that I had previously not reckoned much with @JesseJagz the musician , but his reputation as a producer has never been in doubt. Hence his debut album under Chocolate City label passed without my own appraisal .

 

Jesse caught my attention and indeed the public attention with his decision to take a personal sabbatical to work on his sophomore album which indeed he was technically out of the scene for close to two years. Next was the bombshell about leaving Choc City which was more like leaving the cover of a shelter into a stormy night. On hindsight, one can safely conclude that his decision was the best judging from the first product by his personal effort : 'Thy Nation Come' which is the subject of this review.

 

Jagznation Vol.1: Thy Kingdom Come is an 18 track Cross Over  album leaning heavily on the reggae side of music which is a great deviation from the current wave of Nigerian music.

The album opens with the cough laden 'intro' with a heavy reggae bass line that gives a picture of what the album is all about, the intro flows into the more groovy 'Burning Bush' and further to the third cut 'Bed of Roses' an easy flow motivational rap song with the heavy bass line that characterizes the whole album.

 

Jesse Jagz successfully employs his hip hop background to full effects on the album with full blown rap verses running on reggae rhythm  while at times mellowing with R&B feel like in songs like 'after party' which features former label mate Brymo and on 'where you at' and 'pedal on the floor'

while not forgetting the memorable choruses that bridge the rap verses.

 

His delivery of Patois is near perfect on the full reggae tracts such as 'redemption song',  'desire', the melodious 'sativa' which sounds much like his 'third world war' movie sound track and on the feel good love anthem 'bad girl' which features Wiz Kid.

One cannot also fail to notice the acoustic improvisation on 'mamacita' and the violin and keyboard  overlay on some of the songs.

 

Theme wise,  Jagz touches on various subject in the album include sex, money, weed,deprivation, spirituality and also motivating at some point.

 

'Thy Nation Come' also deviated from the current norm of featuring many guest artistes with minimal collaboration with Brymo, 9ice, Wiz Kid and James Marwik.

 

In all 'Thy Nation Come' is about the best Nigerian  musical work in year 2013 and is worth collecting as it will still be pleasing to the ears in years to come.

 

My last line is that the Tuff Gong boys, I mean Ziggy, Stephen, Damian, Julian and Kimani should start making space for their Nigerian "distant brother' Jesse Jagz at the top of Reggae/World music platform. 

 

Ratings: 4/5