Track Listing

1. Message: Killimanjaro Remembers Garnet Silk
2. Bless Our Soul
3. Marley Medley
4. Fight Back - Garnett Silk, Richie Stephens
5. Philistines on the Land
6. Pressure
7. Respect Jaro - Capleton, Garnett Silk
8. Evacuate
9. Jaro Ruling
10. Green Light
11. Poor and Needy
12. You Still Care for Me
13. Hard Way - Garnett Silk, Richie Stephens
14. Rule Dem - Luciano, Garnett Silk
15. Blessing
16. One Blood
17. Rub a Dub Soldier
18. Jump Up, A We Rule
19. Dancehall Business
20. Complain - Capleton, Garnett Silk
21. One of a Kind
22. Joyful Noise
23. Sing with Me - Dennis Brown, Garnett Silk

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #230755 in Music
• Released on: 2006-05-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Rule Dem showcases some of Garnet Silk’s finest recordings from two different era’s in his life. There are some of his earliest cuts produced by the great Bunny Lee as well as some mesmerising dubplate recordings from his days toasting with the Jamaican sound system Killimangaro. These dubplates also feature a Who’s Who of guest appearances from the likes of Capleton, Dennis Brown, Richie Stephens and Lukie D. Rule Dem shows us that although Garnet Silk is gone he’ll never be forgotten.

Customer Reviews

KINGLY CHARACTER
RULE DEM: By the time Garnet Silk recorded these exclusive sides for the Kilimanjaro sound system, he was essentially the last great hope of the roots reggae movement. Following the digital takeover of the mid-late eighties, the good vibes of seventies roots reggae were all but drowned out in the clamour of guns, girls and gangsters that dominated dancehalls and reflected a more aggressive, less hopeful mood in general. Sure, veteran performers like Culture, Mighty Diamonds and Cocoa Tea were still around, and still recording, but their popularity was increasingly eclipsed by upstart bad men like Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks. Enter Garnet Silk, the Silky One, initially recording as a deejay under the name Bimbo or Little Bimbo, but soon to be recognised as a concious singer of almost peerless pedigree, and a natural successor to the people's crown prince, Dennis Brown. Blessed with an extraordinary voice at once authoritative and uncommonly well-trained, Garnet Silk began to make real waves in the early nineties, not only in the studio, but as this latest Trojan retrospective reveals, also in the dancehall. The rough and ready sound quality here sounds absolutely fantastic with Silk's smooth vocals soaring above, and although there's the usual compliment of sound-boy killer lyrics (which, it has to be said, he handles quite nicely), it's the awesome roots rockers that really hit the spot, including the popular BLESS OUR SOUL, as well as the nice Bob MARLEY MEDLEY. There's also a sampling of combination cuts, featuring some of the conscious artists who would carry the torch following Silk's untimely demise in 1994, including Capleton on the wicked COMPLAIN, and roots hero Luciano on the title track.

Overall, this is a fantastic release from Trojan, with informative liner notes detailing the history of the Kilimanjaro outfit, and nice photos as well. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Garnet Silk laid the foundations for conscious artists like Sizzla, Luciano and Capleton, as well as making it possible for one-time gun slingers like Buju Banton to relaunch their careers as upright rastamen. Now, twelve years after Silk's passing, roots reggae is enjoying a remarkable revival, and the spirit of the Silky One - as well as Dennis Brown and Bob Marley - burns brightly once again, with up-and-coming artists like Gyptian (MY NAME IS GYPTIAN, soon come from VP) and Nanko, and the amazing Jah Cure leading the way.