For those not in the know, Jah9 (Janine Elizabeth Cunningham) was born in Montego Bay in Saint James, Jamaica. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother was a teacher and social worker.

She spent much of her childhood in Falmouth, Trelawny and in 1991 the family moved to Kingston. After a period at the university she commenced realizing her musical passion - which has often been described as "jazz on dub", because her singing voice is influenced by Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, partly combined with the dancehall sound of Sizzla and the more potent dub rhythms similar to those of Augustus Pablo.

In 2013 her first album New Name appeared which was followed by the "self-titled" 9 (2016) and then a year later Mad Professor Meets Jah9 in the Midst of the Storm (2017).

And come March 13th, 2020, Jah9 returns with the highly-anticipated Note To Self (via VP Records).

The culmination of more than two years of touring and recording, a true voice of the reggae renaissance, Jah9 is a powerful writer and inspiring performer primed to take her spot at center stage in the genre.

The album blends productions from reggae veteran Clive Hunt with appearances from Pressure and Chronixx and presents a spectrum styles and perspectives. 1. 'Heaven (Ready Fi Di Feeling)'
2. 'Ma'at (Each Man)'
3. 'Mindstorm'
4. 'Note To Self (Okay)' (Feat. Chronixx)
5. 'Field Trip'
6. 'Never Race (A Way)' (Feat. Akala)
7. 'Hey You'
8. 'Highly (Get To Me)'
9. 'Feel Good "The Pinch"'
10. 'Love Has Found I'
11. 'You And I' (Feat. Pressure Busspipe)
12. 'Ready To Play' (Feat. Tarrus Riley)
13. 'The Reflection'
14. 'Could It Be'
15. 'In The Beginning'

Wow, this album is simply INCREDIBLE! Refreshing, invigorating and as present in the here and now as anything that I've come across in a long time.

It opens with the dub spirit of Jah9's powerful femiNINE energy on 'Heaven (Ready Fi Di Feeling),' and backs that up with the dancehall hipsway of 'Ma'at (Each Man)' and then the short spoken word, dedication of mind and space coming together to aid the self within 'Mindstorm.'

With its gentle head bounce and foot-tap beats, the title track 'Note To Self (Okay)' featuring Chronixx is one of the obvious stand out highlights here and that's followed by the Caribbean pop rock vibe of 'Field Trip.'

Next up is the uplifting 'New Race (A Way)' featuring British rapper and poet Akala, which is backed by the laid back, yet welcomingly perky tones of 'Hey You,' and then another absolute gem in the luscious R&B mid-tempo 'Highly (Get To Me).'

Jah9's chrysalis of dub poetry sparks positive thoughts of our own bodies within 'Feel Good "The Pinch"' and referencing the King once more, Jah9 then glides into the rhythmic beauty of 'Love Has Found I.'

Jah9's sophomore album with VP Record's continues onward with the old school, free flowing magnificence of 'Love Has Found I,' then comes the one-two sway of 'You And I' (featuring Pressure Busspipe).

The album then rounds out with the lavish 'Ready To Play' (featuring Jamaican-American reggae singer and member of the Rastafari movement, Tarrus Riley), the spoken word contemplation of 'The Reflection,' and then comes to a close with the R&B pop sway of 'Could It Be' and another short spoken word moment, one embodying her faith, entitled 'In The Beginning.'

Official 'Note to Self' CD Purchase Link

www.jah9.com

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