Rough & Ready, Vol. 1

Shabba Ranks doesn't sound like a leading man, with that booming low voice of his. But the lyrics on digital-heavy reggae jams like "Hard and Stiff" and "Wicked in Bed" here make it clear what’s on his mind. He’s a bit more family-friendly on the smoother "Mr. Loverman," on which Chevelle Franklyn's come-hither vocals burn hot. The half-sung "Pirates Anthem" is super-catchy, and "Raggamuffin" works a live-band sound to huge effect. But the rest of the album revels in stripped-down, riddim-driven dancehall, as Shabba unleashes rapid-fire rhymes against synthesized pulses.