This month I take a look at an album that to be honest is close to my heart. It was ten years in the making but definitely worth the wait (maybe a decade was a long time though), but finally and after much careful preparation the UK Gospel Ragga/Dancehall artist known as Shama has launched his debut album called ‘Street Life’. 

Prior to getting saved in 1993 Shama was already a formidable Dancehall MC. Upon becoming a Christian he actually laid down the microphone simply because he thought it was the right thing to do or in his words, “I did not realise that God could use my talent to glorify His name”. His breakthrough came at a concert in London when he saw a very popular Gospel dancehall artist called ‘Watchman’ perform. Shocked but inspired Shama began to pen to paper writing new lyrics, this time in the name of Jesus Christ.  God joined up the dots and opened numerous doors. Shama soon found himself ministering at events throughout the UK, working with some of UK Gospels finest artists such as Raymond & Co, UK Prodigal Son, Shekinah Sound not forgetting Soulcure (brap) and of course the artist who first inspired him, Watchman. In addition this he was quickly featuring on bills with a number of international artists and has enjoyed the privilege of working with some of Gospel music’s greats including Papa San and Carlene Davis.

I personally have known Shama for much of this period and want to state that what really drives him and undergirds his music is a strong love for God and His word the Bible (Shama is definitely a student of the Word). This serious man of God also has real passion for the lost. In fact over the years we have worked together at outreaches of all types, in Churches, in secular venues such as clubs and bars and as people would say ‘out on road’. At many of these I have seen Shama rapidly turn the event upside down by bringing a challenging powerful word. Now I know that Mr Sham is a humble guy and will not necessarily want me to big him up like this, however I am sharing what I know of him as I know that this has come through in his album.

Simply called ‘Street Life’ I would say that the overall message is not aimed at Christians but at those outside the Church and in need of salvation. But trust me when I say that Christians will love and be inspired by the album. For me it’s 14 tracks of pure bliss. Track 1 is an introduction which is quickly followed by the title track ‘Street Life’, a banging riddim which will sounds nice through any serious sound system, the message deals with the reality of the lives lived by many our young people today and warns and encourages the listener to surrender to God. I love this track and have used it on my Radio show many times in recent weeks.

Track 3 is called ‘Wait’, this is another direct and straight to the point number. It encourages young ladies to retain their virginity and virtue until marriage and to ‘wait’ for the man that God has for them. The lyrical delivery is hardcore and is delivered on an up tempo bashment riddim. It’s worth mentioning at this point that as well as performing all the tracks, Shama also created and produced the whole album apart from a remix of this track which appears towards the end of the album

Other huge tracks for me are Babylons Garden, Mildew, Klu Klux Klan (big choon) and I Love Her So. In fact I can’t lie, there is nothing about the album I do not like, Shama’s passion is evident throughout and it is an uncompromising, authentic Gospel Ragga/Dancehall project that lovers of the genre will want to own.

The full track listing is below and the good new is that you can listen to snippets as well as purchasing the whole project through our brand new download store ‘Gospel2Go’ … click here for to go there.

Reviewed by Bernard Reilly aka DJ Proclaima (June 2008)

Shama Street Life Album Track Listing

1. Introduction

2. Street Life

3. Wait

4. Weeping Wailing pt 1

5. Babylons Garden

6. Mildew

7. Signs of the times

8. Weeping Wailing pt 2

9. Klu Klux Klan

10. Wait (GKid Mix)

11. I love her so

12. Gully

13. Weeping Wailing pt 3

14. Everlasting Arm

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