I can't really put together a definite favorites list, but about ten years or so ago, on a now-defunct reggae website, I came across an article about the top 50 reggae albums of the new millennium (according to the author's opinion). And it inspired me to share my own top 50 in the comments section of said article. Fortunately, before I posted that comment, I composed it in a notefile, which I still happen to have, so I can copy it here (it's a list in alphabetical order, not a ranking):
1. Abja - Inna Red I Hour (2003)
2. Ambush - Tinkin Out Loud (2011)
3. Ancient King - Conquering Sound (2005)
4. Arkaingelle - O' Pen (2008)
5. Army - Struggler (2003)
6. Black Dillinger - Live And Learn (2007)
7. Cali P. - Lyrical Faya (2008)
8. Chezidek - Inna Di Road (2007)
9. Dan Tafari - King Spirit (2013)
10. Danny I - Jah Fury (2001)
11. Dezarie - Fya (2001)
12. Dezarie - Gracious Mama Africa (2003)
13. Gentleman - Journey To Jah (2002)
14. Gyptian - My name is Gyptian (2006)
15. Iba - Many Lives (2006)
16. Ickarus - Mind Of The Icktionary (2007)
17. Jah Defender - Rastaman Rise (2013)
18. Jah Mason - Keep Ya Head Up (2010)
19. Jah Mason - Most Royal (2004)
20. Jahman - Life As An Artist (2006)
21. Junior P - Give Thanks (2004)
22. Lion D - Reap What You Sow (2011)
23. Lutan Fyah - Healthy Lifestyle (2006)
24. Macka B - Word, Sound & Power (2004)
25. Massiah - Honor Rebel (2007)
26. Midnite - Children Of Jah (2012)
27. Midnite - Fifth Son - Standing Ground dub (2011)
28. Midnite - I Grade - Rule The Time (2007)
29. Midnite - Lustre Kings - Infinite Quality (2007)
30. Najah - Blessed (2005)
31. Naptali - Long Journey (2010)
32. NiyoRah - A Different Age (2005)
33. NiyoRah - Purification Session (2006)
34. Pressure - The Pressure Is On (2005)
35. Ras Attitude - I-Meditation (2009)
36. Ras Charmer - Jah Carry Us Through (2006)
37. Ras Chunks - Rastaneogenesis (2014)
38. Reemah - Check Your Words (2012)
39. Revalation - Serious Matters (2008)
40. Revolution - Fyah Everywhere (2008)
41. Sista Kat - Inner Strength (2007)
42. Sizzla - Da Real Thing (2002)
43. Soom T & Disrupt - Ode to a Carrot (2010)
44. Spectacular - Find Yourself (2005)
45. Tarrus Riley - Parables (2006)
46. Terry Bible - Zot Ja Sav (2009)
47. Turbulence - Triumphantly (2004)
48. U Brown - Rougher Than The Rest (2003)
49. Volcano - Mo Fyah Chant (2006)
50. Xkaliba - Baptized In The Ghetto (2005)
Honorable mentions: Abja - Mahogany Road (2006)
Alborosie - Soul Pirate (2008)
Army - Rasta Awake (2005)
Capleton - More Fire (2000)
Earl Sixteen - The Fittest (2011)
Glen Washington - Masterpiece (2012)
Jah Cure - Ghetto Life (2003)
Jahman - Reggae International (2004)
Lion Sitté - Otros Tiempos (2012)
Midnite and Mystic Vision - New 1000 (2006)
Norrisman - Home & Away (2006)
Sizzla - Taking Over (2001)
Takana Zion - Zion Prophet (2007)
Toussaint - Black Gold (2010)
Warrior King - Virtuous Woman (2002)
Yahadanai - One Atonement (2004)
Since I rarely venture outside of reggae music in my listening habits, and my favorite era within the genre is the 00s, it is as close to an actual favorite albums list as I can think of. Sure, if it wouldn't haven been strictly about 21st century releases I would have put a few older classics on it. Like "The Heart Of The Congos" by The Congos, and "Satta Massagana" by The Abyssinians. I am sure I would have put a few 90's albums up there as well. And if I would put this list together nowadays, there would be a few other changes here-and-there too. There are some releases, which, I would say, only made it to the list at that time due to recency bias. For example Jah Defender's "Rastaman Rise", Lion D's "Reap What You Sow", maybe I could say the same even about Naptali's "Long Journey", while Lion Sitté's "Otros Tiempos" definitely falls into this category. It is also very likely that a few other Midnite albums would appear on the list (I am 100% sure I would make room for "Ark A Law" at the very least). But even with all those changes, 80-85% of the list would remain the same. So I am still pretty satisfied with this selection of albums overall.
P.S.: Revisiting this list gave me the idea to listen through it. I already went through "Inna Red I Hour", "Conquering Sound", and "O' Pen" (I skipped Tinkin Out Loud for now, since it isn't on Youtube... I will get to that one by other means eventually), and I am having a blast.
P.P.S.: I know this list, and by extension this whole post, must be super uninteresting for those who aren't into reggae music. So props to you, and thank you if you have read it anyway.
I can't really put together a definite favorites list, but about ten years or so ago, on a now-defunct reggae website, I came across an article about the top 50 reggae albums of the new millennium (according to the author's opinion). And it inspired me to share my own top 50 in the comments section of said article. Fortunately, before I posted that comment, I composed it in a notefile, which I still happen to have, so I can copy it here (it's a list in alphabetical order, not a ranking):
1. Abja - Inna Red I Hour (2003)
2. Ambush - Tinkin Out Loud (2011)
3. Ancient King - Conquering Sound (2005)
4. Arkaingelle - O' Pen (2008)
5. Army - Struggler (2003)
6. Black Dillinger - Live And Learn (2007)
7. Cali P. - Lyrical Faya (2008)
8. Chezidek - Inna Di Road (2007)
9. Dan Tafari - King Spirit (2013)
10. Danny I - Jah Fury (2001)
11. Dezarie - Fya (2001)
12. Dezarie - Gracious Mama Africa (2003)
13. Gentleman - Journey To Jah (2002)
14. Gyptian - My name is Gyptian (2006)
15. Iba - Many Lives (2006)
16. Ickarus - Mind Of The Icktionary (2007)
17. Jah Defender - Rastaman Rise (2013)
18. Jah Mason - Keep Ya Head Up (2010)
19. Jah Mason - Most Royal (2004)
20. Jahman - Life As An Artist (2006)
21. Junior P - Give Thanks (2004)
22. Lion D - Reap What You Sow (2011)
23. Lutan Fyah - Healthy Lifestyle (2006)
24. Macka B - Word, Sound & Power (2004)
25. Massiah - Honor Rebel (2007)
26. Midnite - Children Of Jah (2012)
27. Midnite - Fifth Son - Standing Ground dub (2011)
28. Midnite - I Grade - Rule The Time (2007)
29. Midnite - Lustre Kings - Infinite Quality (2007)
30. Najah - Blessed (2005)
31. Naptali - Long Journey (2010)
32. NiyoRah - A Different Age (2005)
33. NiyoRah - Purification Session (2006)
34. Pressure - The Pressure Is On (2005)
35. Ras Attitude - I-Meditation (2009)
36. Ras Charmer - Jah Carry Us Through (2006)
37. Ras Chunks - Rastaneogenesis (2014)
38. Reemah - Check Your Words (2012)
39. Revalation - Serious Matters (2008)
40. Revolution - Fyah Everywhere (2008)
41. Sista Kat - Inner Strength (2007)
42. Sizzla - Da Real Thing (2002)
43. Soom T & Disrupt - Ode to a Carrot (2010)
44. Spectacular - Find Yourself (2005)
45. Tarrus Riley - Parables (2006)
46. Terry Bible - Zot Ja Sav (2009)
47. Turbulence - Triumphantly (2004)
48. U Brown - Rougher Than The Rest (2003)
49. Volcano - Mo Fyah Chant (2006)
50. Xkaliba - Baptized In The Ghetto (2005)
Honorable mentions: Abja - Mahogany Road (2006)
Alborosie - Soul Pirate (2008)
Army - Rasta Awake (2005)
Capleton - More Fire (2000)
Earl Sixteen - The Fittest (2011)
Glen Washington - Masterpiece (2012)
Jah Cure - Ghetto Life (2003)
Jahman - Reggae International (2004)
Lion Sitté - Otros Tiempos (2012)
Midnite and Mystic Vision - New 1000 (2006)
Norrisman - Home & Away (2006)
Sizzla - Taking Over (2001)
Takana Zion - Zion Prophet (2007)
Toussaint - Black Gold (2010)
Warrior King - Virtuous Woman (2002)
Yahadanai - One Atonement (2004)
Since I rarely venture outside of reggae music in my listening habits, and my favorite era within the genre is the 00s, it is as close to an actual favorite albums list as I can think of. Sure, if it wouldn't haven been strictly about 21st century releases I would have put a few older classics on it. Like "The Heart Of The Congos" by The Congos, and "Satta Massagana" by The Abyssinians. I am sure I would have put a few 90's albums up there as well. And if I would put this list together nowadays, there would be a few other changes here-and-there too. There are some releases, which, I would say, only made it to the list at that time due to recency bias. For example Jah Defender's "Rastaman Rise", Lion D's "Reap What You Sow", maybe I could say the same even about Naptali's "Long Journey", while Lion Sitté's "Otros Tiempos" definitely falls into this category. It is also very likely that a few other Midnite albums would appear on the list (I am 100% sure I would make room for "Ark A Law" at the very least). But even with all those changes, 80-85% of the list would remain the same. So I am still pretty satisfied with this selection of albums overall.
P.S.: Revisiting this list gave me the idea to listen through it. I already went through "Inna Red I Hour", "Conquering Sound", and "O' Pen" (I skipped Tinkin Out Loud for now, since it isn't on Youtube... I will get to that one by other means eventually), and I am having a blast.
P.P.S.: I know this list, and by extension this whole post, must be super uninteresting for those who aren't into reggae music. So props to you, and thank you if you have read it anyway.
--------------------