Black Woman & Child

On this 1997 release, Jamaican sing-jay Sizzla Kalonji uses his fiery voice to chant and sing revelatory Rasta doctrine over producer Bobby “Digital” Dixon’s sturdy one-drop rhythms. Sizzla’s orthodox Bobo Ashanti beliefs inform songs that explore spiritual purity and rail against societal oppression with the voice-cracking fervor of a tortured prophet. Powerful and joyful messages abound, from anti-violence ode “Make It Secure” to the hand-waving positive vibes of “Do Good Everytime.” Dixon’s productions draw inspiration from classic riddims (like Jackie Mittoo’s “Drum Song”) and provide ample fuel for Sizzla’s multi-octave incantations.