Collie Buddz [PA]

Performer: Collie Buddz
Engineer: S. McGregor; Collie Buddz; M. 'Khan' Chin; Screwface; Matthew 'Smokey' Harper; Ari Levine; Kori Anders; Curtis Lynch, Jr.; Dwayne "Supa Dups" Quee; Tony Kelly
Producer: S. McGregor; Collie Buddz; M. 'Khan' Chin; Screwface; Curtis Lynch, Jr.; Dwayne "Supa Dups" Quee; Tony Kelly; S. McGregor; Dwayne 'Supa Dups' Chin-Quee; Collie Buddz; Jammy 'Jam 2' James; M. 'Khan' Chin; Kah-So-Real; Curtis Lynch; Bang Out; Screwface; Bobby Konders; The Crown; Shea Taylor
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Clurell Henderson (guitar); Maurice Gregory (keyboards); Jammy 'Jam 2' James, Collin "Demarco" Edwards, Nick "Fantastic" Listrani (unknown instrument). Additional personnel: Yung Berg, Roache, Krayzie Bone, Paul Wall (rap vocals). Audio Mixers: Collie Buddz; Claude "Weakhand" Reynolds; Brian Stanley . Recording information: Backroom-Black Cell Entertainment, Glendale, CA; Black Chiney Sutdios, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Circle House, Miami, FL; CJM Studios, Virginia Beach, VA; Harper Digital Studios Toronto, Canada; King Jammy's Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica; Levcon Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Mahem Studios, London, England; Wood Room Studios, Orange, NJ. Photographer: Dan Mandell. The self-titled debut from Jamaican dancehall singer Collie Buddz makes good on the promise of his smash-hit single "Come Around." A bouncy, catchy, feel-good ode to the powers of herbal intoxicants, "Come Around" rattled the charts in Europe, the U.S., and his homeland, earning plenty of pre-album buzz. While purists may take issue with the singer's cavalier genre-mixing and commercially oriented sensibility (there are heavy overtones of hip-hop, reggaeton, and straight pop throughout), Buddz turns in a very convincing first effort, one that mixes island flavor with urban accessibility in just the right way. When Collie Buddz's debut single, "Come Around," came around, it catapulted this unknown white Bermudian into the Jamaican dance hall charts by first conquering Europe and then making an impression on American urban radio. It usually doesn't work like that, but this "Legalize It" for the Beenie Man and Akon generation was so instantly infectious and gloriously speaker-rumbling that the sometimes fickle JA dancehall massive had to let this outsider in. With his debut album, Buddz proves he deserves it. This is partially due to the way he rides the seemingly impossible jumble of genres his showcase of a debut throws at him. The Shakira-flavored "Mamacita" lives a couple doors down from the bravado-driven street track "Defend Your Own" featuring rapper Krayzie Bone, while further down the road there's the righteous roots number "Let Me Know," produced by the tasteful choice of reggae stalwart Bobby Konders. Then there's the David Bowie "Let's Dance" sample that figures into the wicked ragga of "My Everything" and the almost too polished and pop "Tomorrow's Another Day," which could have been pure syrup in someone else's hands. Wherever the music goes, Buddz is always Buddz, with island soul and convincing delivery, like a more punkish Sean Paul with traces of Anthony B. and Damien Marley. His lyrics are right there, too, be it a swaggering club track or a plaintive plea for social justice. This ambitious whirlwind falls into place after a couple listens as any lack of focus is forgotten, thanks to the many great tunes and the exciting, hungry, and extremely talented man who anchors it all. ~ David Jeffries

Spin (p.127) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "He has mastered hardcore dancehall chatting, lover's rock crooning, and Rasta chanting. There's even a sweet soca tune..." Entertainment Weekly (p.67) - "The results are insightful, lustful, streetwise, and perfect for summer block parties." -- Grade: B+

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25