Rise Them Up

A well selected compilation of some of Capleton’s finest releases over the past decade, though the tracks are cobbled together with a casual disregard for chronological or thematic continuity, Rise Them Up contains a wealth of material that is not easily available elsewhere and, as such, is something of a necessary purchase for Capleton fans. Rise Them Up sees Capleton spitting his trademark roughshod flow, all breathless exclamations and strangely tuneful whoops, over a set of classic rhythms, augmented by booming digital overdubs. As always, Capleton seems to be channeling the formidable talents of many of Jamaica’s best chanters, and one can here echoes of Trinity’s boastful exuberance, and Yellowman’s rapid-fire chatting in Capleton’s masterful delivery. At the same time Capleton is a skilled singer and his compelling, if untutored, crooning on “Spread the Love” provides a welcome respite from the relentless assault of tracks like the pummeling “Who Dem” and the vengeful “Dem Doom.”