All four stars featured here enjoy international reputations for their fiery brand of Rastainspired lyrics, which they deliver over beats forged from a mesmerising blend of dancehall and old school reggae. All too, are revolutionaries at heart and fearless
in their criticisms of the system, yet they still find room for songs of love and praise, as well as soundbwoy tracks. Such diversity has won them a widespread fan base, despite many of their recordings only being available on limited edition, import 7” singles.

Kings Of Zion Part II now compiles four tracks apiece from this high profile quartet’s more underground releases, and following on from its popular successor, provides CD buyers with an unmissable opportunity to catch up with some of their cult dance-hall sides.

Capleton, like Buju Banton, timed his arrival to coincide with an earlier dancehall explosion headed by Shabba Ranks at the on-set of the nineties. Fans of the Big It Up/Batty Rider era Buju will delight in new tracks like Slam Bam or the cantankerous Waan You and My Intention, on which he returns to his dancehall roots. Capleton’s embrace of Bobo Ashanti meanwhile, saw him reborn as the Prophet and dominating the ragga/roots scene from there on, despite having to share the limelight with a string of brilliant releases from Sizzla, who started out from the Exterminator camp, and defined the new Jamaican roots movement with songs like Praise Ye Jah, Like Mountain and Black Woman & Child. After voicing massive hits galore, Both have retained their lead status ever since, which isn’t easy in the highly competitive dancehall market. Sizzla’s in top form on tunes such as Only
Jah Alone, World Without End and Someone To Love, whilst Critics, produced by Computer Paul, is typical of Capleton at his best as he blasts his detractors over a blistering recut of the Scandal/M16 rhythm.

In the wake of Capleton and Sizzla’s success, a number of other gifted, young Rasta artists appeared on the Jamaican scene. Junior Kelly made the loudest splash of all with his breakthrough hit, Love So Nice, which preceded best-selling albums for Jet Star and VP. A keen ear for melody and well reasoned lyrics lie at the root of his appeal, as listeners to Time, the jaunty Bur-den’s Heart or Jah Know can attest. Here then, are four of Jamaica’s reigning Kings Of Zion presented as only soundmen and diehards usually get to hear them.
Individually, each of these artists are magnificent, but heard together, they represent an entire culture.

01. Why Worry - Capleton
02. Who Is Dem - Capleton
03. Only Jah Alone - Sizzla
04. World Without End - Sizzla
05. My Intention - Buju Banton
06. Love You Forever - Buju Banton
07. Dem No Remember -Junior Kelly
08. Time - Junior Kelly
09. Critics - Capleton
10. Dangerous - Capleton
11. Destroy Dem - Sizzla
12. Someone To Love - Sizzla
13. Slam Bam -Buju Banton
14. Waan You - Buju Banton
15. Burdens Heart - Junior Kelly
16. Jah Know -Junior Kelly