BLACK UHURU
Sinsemilla
SPECTRUM
released on the island records subsidiary mango in july 1980, 'sinsemilla' was black uhuru's first album to be issued internationally & their 3rd overall.
in effect, 'sinsemilla' was a solo album by michael rose, who wrote all the songs & sang lead vocals. in addition to his writing & singing duties, rose can be credited for bringing in the production team & rhythm section of sly dunbar & robbie shakespeare, whose taxi gang provides the distinctive musical tracks. rose's lyrical vision is revolutionary & radical, extolling the primacy of africa, opposing apartheid, & praising the virtues of marijuana. but his sweet tenor & simpson's harmonies soothe the message, & the music has a spare, rhythmic appeal that is distinctive & forward-looking, suggesting a hard, stripped-down direction for reggae.
