CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE
BLACK UHURU: “Red” (Mango):: Forget Sinsemilla—this one’ll getcha. Believe me, Michael Rose isn’t trying to fill anybody’s shoes— he’d probably rather not wear shoes. The ululation and ragged sense of line are pure country, like Jamaican field hollers; lots of times the songs don’t even rhyme.
CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE
Robert Christgau
BLACK UHURU: “Red” (Mango):: Forget Sinsemilla—this one’ll getcha. Believe me, Michael Rose isn’t trying to fill anybody’s shoes— he’d probably rather not wear shoes. The ululation and ragged sense of line are pure country, like Jamaican field hollers; lots of times the songs don’t even rhyme. But with Rose pouring forth and Sly and Robbie rolling that rockers riddim, who needs such niceties? A-
KURTIS BLOW: Deuce” (Mercury):: It’s hard to believe six different social observers collaborated on these raps—“Take It To The Bridge,” the throwaway boast, is more meaningful than “Starlife,” the wishful single—and Kurtis’ natural singsong makes me grind my teeth. But the light, spare, clean, catchy, inauthentic funk rings my bell—every cut, every time. B +