With his 2010 album Hold You and its hit title track,
Gyptian became reggae music's unofficial ambassador to the world. Add a
Nicki Minaj-featuring remix or dubstepping, bass-dropping mixes from the likes of
Diplo and
Toddla T, and the singer became the genre's Wayne Gretzky, its David Beckham, or its Tiger Woods; a figure who could bring in a new audience like
Marley,
Tosh,
Shaggy, and
Sean Paul had done before. The most interesting bit has to be that unlike
Marley and
Tosh,
Gyptian's music has skillfully shifted with his success, as the slick
Sex Love & Reggae suggests sufferer's songs are now in his rearview mirror (check previous hits "Serious Times" or "Mama" for some Rasta-approved new roots music), while the future looks like bling and bottle service. Not entirely though, as "One More Time" with
Melanie Fiona is a lovers rock throwback, "Majestic Lady" with
Estelle is like a sequel to his hit "Beautiful Lady," and the cover of
Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" is sweet, sane, and sincere enough for highlight status, but the intro to the album is titled "G Spot," and it’s a bombastic intro of epic proportions. It's a suitable one, too, as big-time pop-reggae like "Be Alright" pushes
Gyptian into
Wyclef territory, while the stomping dancehall tech of "I'm So" is like
G-Unit moved to JA, and yet
Gyptian commands the cut, sternly and thoroughly. Even when
Diplo returns on the title track with an electro beat and his
Major Lazer crew,
Gyptian and
Bunji Garlin tip the scales toward fast and furious reggae. As a nod to the singer's island neighbors, "Wet Fete" cares little for what U.S. and European Union tastes prefer, catering instead to the Trinidadian people with some Kes the Band-featuring Soca. In other words, excitement abounds on this varied effort and the execution is on point, but reggae fans who have their taste set on "purist" might think there's too much booty talk and big pimpin'. There is plenty, and there's a tad too much music, too, as 17 mostly hedonistic numbers make this a long haul party, but
Sex, Love & Reggae generally wins with its "get it while you can" attitude, so consider it
Gyptian's worthy weekend album. ~ David Jeffries