Damita - Anticipation [Music Review]

Artist: Damita

Album: Anticipation

Label: Tyscot Records

iPod Pick: Won’t Turn Back

Damita is back! And this time she didn’t make us wait long as we did between her debut and sophomore project which was a seven year wait. If you aren’t familiar with the music of Damita, she’s got bold, powered up, ‘independent lady’, kind of style in the likes of Shontelle, Keisha Cole, Tamia, and Beyonce. What I love best about her music is the audacious form with which she sings her lyrics, you have no choice but to turn and find out who’s the lady with pipes behind the mics.

Damita’s new one ‘Anticipation’‘s got determination and making it happen against all odds written all over it. The songs are beaty and anthemic declaring powerful truths and powerful ways God has intervened throughout history. Also, Damita does something new by taking all the way to church on the ‘Choir styled’ ‘Amazing God’ and she does it so well delivering a song that I’m sure would soon be heard sung in the four walls of churches worldwide. ‘Be Revealed’ sounds like something we’ve heard before but gives us a fresh feel of that sweet Latino beat we accustomed to from Damita and her husband Deitrick Haddon.  ‘Don’t Walk Away’ which is obviously a song about a relationship gone awry has that swag ‘hands on hip’ attitude to it, I’m sure the ladies know what I mean.

The intro ambient feel on ‘Anticipation (Waiting 4 U)’ is powerful, I think that’s worth best describe it for such a song with a soft feel but heavy impact. It would soon be a favourite for late nights on your sound/dock station after first listen. On this very song we hear Damita give that ‘free to the wind’ vocals only artists like Aretha Franklin, Crystal Lewis, Jennifer Hudson, and sometimes Brandy bring to the table. It’s a great song. Just for the intro, ‘TTLO (Turn The Lights On)’ is worth the mention.

The sound on ‘I Love You’ would pierce your heart combined with its opening lyrics ‘ Oh God, I choose to worship/ When I feel good and when I’m in pain. And it continues in a steady beat which accentuates and still fall back to base. Somewhere in the middle you would here a dance-hall loop which you would probably hear only in songs crafted by people like David Guetta. It’s creative and beautiful in its entirety. 

I first thought ‘Super She’ro’ was cheesy on seeing the title but on listening, It’s a nice, feel good song you would sure move to on first listen.

I think Damita has finally found a niche musically, this is evident on this new album which is her third album and we don’t see  the wide experimenting of different ‘genres’ as we saw on her (especially) first album and second (‘No Looking Back’). 

No just for fans, ‘Anticipation’ is worth the get. It’s what we’ve been anticipating for the past 4 years. Go Dami! :)

P.S. - By the way, whoever designed the album art, we could have used more colors, portraying better the ‘feel’ of the whole record. :)

[Review Originally Penned  For and Featured Courtesy of TheGospelGuru.com]

Jai - Culture Shock

Artist - Jai
Album - Culture Shock
Label- Outlet Music Group
Street date- August 02, 2011

Album length- 15 tracks: 59 minutes, 10 seconds
Genre- Hip-Hop/ RnB/ Urban
IPod pick- Saviour

Meet Jai though She's been around for a while, featuring on various hip hop artists' songs such as 'Hero' by Trip lee and 'God is Enough' by Lecrae. And now, she's out with her debut titled 'Culture Shock' which is sure to put out some shock waves on the music scene.

The album though upbeat and really hard to be classified into one genre is centred on the greatness and the mighty works of God ( 'I Love You (Human)', 'You Deserve My All', 'I'll Wait', 'Praise Grenade', 'Calling You'). Jai also tackles the subject of being confident in one's own skin on the upbeat 'Reflection' singing 'who am I to say i'm not good enough/ not tryna add colur to the Mona Lisa'. On Saviour we hear beautiful accapella echoes in the style of veteran artist Brandy. You would simply love it! 'Stand Alone' has a beaty african-esque danceable tune in the style of Beyonce's 'Girls' but at a slower pace. It's one of my personal favourites. 'Dancing For You' on which Guvna B features sounds like Beckah Shae meets Kesha, In fact Jai drops a long rap.

Other highlights include the morning sunshine song titled 'Good Day' which is sure to brighten up anyone's day with it's powerful message and energetic beats and 'Calling You' (on which Lecrae features) which is a pure praise song unto God.

I wasn't surprised when I learnt Jai wrote or co-wrote every song on this album and this is why. Fine, it's a hip album with lots of beaty tracks, party-ready is the term. In fact, a friend of mine while I was playing this said playfully 'and the party album of the year goes to Jai's Culture Shock' and I really giggled at that. But beyond the beaty music I hear some deep passion and heart on this album sincerely. The lyrics are deep, reflective and at all times point to a sincere relationship with God.

Truth be told there's no song titled 'Culture Shock' on this album but this album is 'shocking' in every sense. Tired of the same ol' same ol'? Need something fresh, real and at the same time entertaining? Let Jai awaken you with a shock from the deep 'sleep' our culture keeps pulling us into. :)

DAMITA - NO LOOKING BACK

Artist- Damita
Album- No looking back

Label- Tyscott

Street date- July 22, 2008

Album length- 14 tracks. 57 minutes.

Genre- Urban/R n B/Reggae/Pop

IPod Pick- Best thing


Meet Damita. Youth pastor at the Without walls church, Tampa, Florida (Pastor Paula white’s church) and wife of all time gospel sweetheart Deitrick haddon. With her second release after eight years of long wait from her fans she establishes herself as a gospel diva.
The album opens with a groovy tune that would get you off your seat dancing (‘plain and simple’). Damita tells us her strong voice can do all things by doing the reggae hit (‘Best thing’). The album goes soft but still with beats that would steal your heart away on ‘Midnite’. The worshipful ‘I will trust’ is a proclamation of faith in Christ and his faithfulness. Radio ready ‘No looking back’ is that song you wouldn’t mind listening to on a drive in the car. Damita goes ‘political’ on ‘pray’ encouraging the people to pray to God so He can heal the land.
Eight years is a long time and surely Damita doesn’t disappoint us after this long wait with fresh messages from the heart of God. Fans of Beyonce need not look further, Damita is the real thing!