Review Of
Real & Personal   
Papa San
March, 2006 on BlackGospel.com,  Review by Jennifer Belot

From the dancehalls of Kingston Jamaica to dancing for the Kingdom, Papa San has definitely let the musical world know where he stands for the last eight glorious years.  Upon his acceptance of the message of salvation, Papa San took a lucrative secular career as one of the pioneers of the dancehall reggae movement and turned it around, bass drums, mile-a-minute-beats, bone-crunching rhythms and all and turned it into a holy party.

Basically, it is a spin on traditional roots grooves formerly attributed to legends such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff with a decidedly urban flare and palpitating sequenced drum beats. 

Many former mainstream reggae artists have decisively turned in their secular ways to sing the Lord’s music, planting their Caribbean roots into the landscape of modern gospel.  Carlene Davis, Monty G and Chevelle Franklin are some of the names which come more readily to mind, but the genre is growing both in popularity and in acceptability as a here-to-stay branch on the Gospel tree.

Eleven tracks all co-produced by Tyrone Thompson (the name on his birth certificate) with helpmates Eddie Perez, Maurice Gregory and Rohan Harrison make up REAL & PERSONAL, Papa San’s third and most contemporary release of sacred songs on GospoCentric records – out in stores nationwide March 14^th,2006 – a high-octane style that is utterly true to his musical expression. 

Starting off this musical journey in the sun are the heart-stopping electronically generated bombastics of More Life offset by the saccharine voice of newcomer Joi Giel Branker, crooning the chorus as Papa San’s commanding baritone intones an urbanized version of John 10:10.

The more sedate For You Lord is a slow-motion urban poem of praise to the Almighty ending on a harmonized church-worthy melody.  Redefining what can be considered “church music” is Oh Zion, a post-modern Caribbean hymn and Cornerstone, the refrain of which would definitely spice up any praise & worship service with its cadenced hallelujahs

Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits who healeth all my diseases and redeem my life from destruction and satisfy my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed as the eagles bless the Lord o my soul!  The words of the hundred and third psalm lay down the foundation to Good To Me, a song which is less bass-heavy than its counterparts, leaving the ear free to revel in the beauty of the melody. 

Jus Seh Di Word features the mile-a-minute selection that personifies Papa San in a positive message against the wiles of gangsta/ghetto-fabulous living.  Those same fast paced poetic ramblings can be found in Stand Strong where the Caribbean rhythms jell with the “Miami-bass” sounds of Jorge Almodóvar (a.k.a. Guillo Man) in a foot-stompin’, shoulder-rollin’, can’t-stay-in-my-seat grooves.  Papa San knows what he’s doing; “You can’t sit still… It’s what the Lord gives me, and what comes out of my head and my heart.  And I let it take me wherever it does.  There are no boundaries—to God, or to music.”

Well, I definitely had trouble sitting still during He’s Coming because I was too busy bopping my head to the sanctified rhythms of this apocalyptic hymn heralding the soon coming of our Savior and King.  Actually, the truth is that I was movin’ & groovin’ to most of the synchronized pulsations that characterized this project.

Tell Me Why quiets the mood somewhat as it begins on prayerful tones of grateful disbelief “Tell me why you have to die for me o Lord? Tell me why You care for me when I was lost... Tell me why you never fail to show Your love... Tell me why You leave the throne and take the cross…”  Cushioned atop the voices of his angelic supporting vocalists, the answer spoken into the soul of the artist comes out as “I Am that I Am… My suffering is great, My love is greater… For your mistakes I became the Savior and take away your sins and I grant you favor”

Some would argue that the heart-thumping, pile-driving, in-your-face character has no place among a spiritual repertoire.  But the truth is that there is a new generation of believers (and more importantly non-believers) out there who cannot relate to the traditionalist melodies the church has laid claim to.  Their attention (and frankly mine too) needs to be revived by a new sound, and Papa San, just as he pioneered in the secular world has laid his roots down in gospel with an unrelenting soul-saving message  "Souls. That's what it's all about. I want to bring as many people as I possibly can to know Christ.”

Just like Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus’ feet with the only gift she had, Papa San is using the rhythms of his heart to anoint the feet of his King.  Uncontrived lyricism and undiluted rhythms is what characterized the artist in the past, and it remains his calling card, only this time, his songs are wrapped in biblical prose.  “The music is the bait to draw all those who don’t know Him, but the message is what will grab them. And once you have found and are holding onto Him, you never want to let go.  That’s whot—and all—I am about.” And that’s real!