Chukki Starr - Most Wanted

Just out is this compilation from British singjay stalwart Chukki Starr on Greensleeves as part of their 'Most Wanted' series, which has featured the likes of the Wailing Souls, Yellowman, Ranking Dread, Johnny Osbourne, Bushman and Eek-A-Mouse.
It is 15 or so years since Chukki Starr, real name Anthony Williams, released his first song after starting out in the early 90's as a deejay for the Echo Stones soundsystem in London's Stonebridge Community. After this he teamed up with Gussie P of London-based Fashion Records and began working for the Evilous sound system, in around 1993/94. A trip to Jamaica then followed where he recorded a couple of tunes for Bobby "Digital" Dixon and African Star plus voicing lots of specials for several Jamaican sounds.
From there it was Back in London and a stint with Saxon where he recorded "Unity", a combination track alongside Frankie Paul, and "Mark Of The Beast" and "Youth Dem Anthem".
Mad Professor produced Chukki's debut album "Ghetto Youth's Livity" on his Ariwa label, which was released in 1998. Three years later the albums "Forever Shall Praise" (Bakchich Records) and "From Crime To Kodesh" (JetStar) were released, then another three years on, in 2004, his second album for Mad Professor's Ariwa label, "True Guidance", hit the streets. The release of his fifth album, "Can't Stop It", took place in 2005 and since then, apart from last years "Ghetto Life" with Michael Rose on the "Seven" riddim things have been rather quite.

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This compilation I hope will change all that as it is full of good tunes and after listening to them you wonder why such a talent, he sounds a bit like Capelton, has not found his way onto record more often. "The Almighty One" taken from his debut album "Ghetto Youth's Livity" opens the set with aplomb and although it is now 12 years old its sound is very relevant to today with the resurgence in roots styled reggae that has happened over the past 12 months and the things that the likes of Naptali and Kinyama Sounds are doing.
Four tracks are taken from the album "Forever Shall Praise". The title track, on a smooth working of Bob Marley's "So Much Trouble in the World", "How Me So Real", plus the pulsing digi dancehall styled "Show Your Love" and "Praise The Creator" , with the later making good use of Shineheads "Mama Used To Say".
From the third album, "From Crime To Kodesh", that was produced in collaboration with Doctor Marshall and Mickey D and recorded at Anchor Studios in Kingston, come "Love & Peace" and the "Earthquake" riddim driven "Down In Da Ghetto".
The rest of the tracks are made up of various 7" and 12" vinyl releases. "Mark Of The Beast" and "Sweet Meditation" came out in 1999 and were recorded for Saxon. Then there is "Crazy Shooting" on an original Henry "Junjo" Lawes riddim, then the classic "Hard Fi Smile" on Frenchie's "World-A-Music" riddim, before all good things must come to an end with a tune on Special Delivery's "Visions" riddim with the superb "Greatest Of Dem All".
I think it would be fair to say that Chukki has found greater success in main land Europe, where he has toured extensively, than in his native UK, but hopefully this set will bring him a bit more prominence here and lead to some new and extensive recordings.

Tracklist:

1. The Almighty One
2. Mark Of The Beast
3. Sweet Meditation
4. Forever Shall Praise
5. Crazy Shooting
6. Hard Fi Smile
7. Praise The Creator
8. Love And Peace
9. How Me So Real – Piano???
10. Show Your Love
11. Ghetto Youth's Livity
12. Down In Da Ghetto
13. Greatest Of Dem All