Papa San: Real & Personal

Listen: Jus' Seh Di Word

Listen: Stand Strong

Listen: He's Coming

It’s often been said that music is the universal language. And, if that’s so, no one speaks it better than Papa San. He opens his latest release, the astonishing, compelling, arresting Real & Personal, with a question that almost teases the listener to try and answer it. “Is it rock? /Is it roll?/Is it reggae?” Papa San asks, as machine-gun volley of percussion, crunching metal guitars and synths pound into play on the sizzling “More Life," the debut single from this CD.

And, of course, the answer is simply, “Yes! All of the above.” It would be more accurate to just say it’s international, Jamaican, “new-school” Dancehall Papa San: back, bold, and in your face like never before. With a sound completely his own—and constantly evolving—Papa San stretches Gospel to places only he could take it.

“You can’t sit still, “ he says. “Sure, this is still Dancehall, but it’s new-school. It’s some things that are familiar, and some that are brand new. 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.”

In 1997, Papa San, a long-established king of Dancehall and World music, had what he describes as a supernatural visitation, and committed his life to Jesus Christ. The content of his songs changed to convey his newfound faith in the Gospel, but the mighty grooves, unforgettable hooks and mile-a-minute words and rhymes continued to soar, pour and roar forth.

You can’t have a culmination on a journey that never ends—and make no mistake, after 20 years and almost as many albums, Papa San has not once even slowed down—but Real & Personal is definitely the most dramatic, captivating, and downright thrill-a-minute ride in his long and preeminent career.

The album’s 11 new Papa San originals take the listener to a place of its own, and when everything stands out so distinctly, it’s impossible to list any one or two stand outs. Still, if you get through just “More Life” alone, and are less than dazzled and devastated, you might want to head for the nearest ER and make sure you’ve still living. As Papa San and a pile-driving rhythm section pound home the message of eternal life through Christ, a soulful—even sweet—female vocal ensemble moves in, above, around and through it all with a classic, too-cool and catchy, melodic chorus.

At the speed of light, Papa San turns the whole groove around, with the other-worldly beauty of “For You Lord,” as his singers float in on a gorgeous cloud of melody, and Papa San answers with a slow, penetrating rap, setting up a dialogue with the singers that continues until the two merge into one, in one of the freshest, most fearless expressions of simple and outright praises to the Almighty imaginable.

Yes, Papa San is back, and in a big—very big—way. But then again, he never left, or even took his eye off the prize for a minute. “I want to see souls saved for the Kingdom,” he says, “and not just a few, but millions! It’s as simple as that. 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 who—and all—I am about.”

And that is as real and personal as it gets.

Yes, Papa San is back indeed, and kicking it harder than ever for Christ.