Bakersteez: ‘Active’ EP Album Review
Jamaica’s fast-rising rap star Bakersteez returns to share his new EP titled Active. The eight-track collection presents a distinctly new and exciting sound out of Jamaica, bringing rap together with its Dancehall roots. While echoing voices like Bob Marley, Popcaan, and Stylo G, the EP focuses on loyalty, overcoming hardships, and gratitude.
No better way to start off the project but by featuring an interview by Reggae’s legend, Bob Marley near to the end of the introductory track, M&M’s Intro. In the renowned interview, Bob Marley declares that his “richness is life.” Highlighting that materialistic wealth is not his goal but rather the joys of life. This sets the contemplative mood of the EP as Bakersteez now focuses on the wealth of life.
In Lovely he raps, “Aint it lovely / when u come from ntn turn it into sumn / tell moms I’m bout to make it out the struggle”. The song, which highlights his drive to achieve his wealth of life, also showcases his badness with the catchy phrase “index finger go to work if we don’t trust u.” All this over an infectious instrumental, making the song even more memorable.
The title track Active, was released prior featuring Stylo G, a laidback party anthem that came with a raucous video shot in Steez’s local house. Stylo G kicks off the beat with his powerful vibe while we hear a smoother Bakersteez on the chorus. Celebrating the party vibe Steez raps “young n—a never had shit / so I’m in di track getting active.”
Before going on to feature the Unruly Boss Popcaan, Steez samples Dancehall’s lyricist, Vybz Kartel. Borrowing the lyrics “my place a my place” from Kartel’s 2009 single Weh Dem A Go, Steez again asserts his dominance on the sixth track, Relay. Adding to Kartel’s infamous repetition, “my scheme a my scheme”
The seventh track, Blessings, which was featured on BBC 1Xtra via Seani B, offers an electric appearance from Dancehall legend Popcaan. Definitely another hit collab, bringing a little upbeat vybe on the album and placed perfectly as the penultimate song.
Popcaan adds some inspiration, singing vibrantly “God a gimmi blessings whole heap / gyal a gimmi head inna jeep… been a tell u seh we go dweet.” Bakersteez adding to the flavor “dem nuh like fi see we up u don’t see it / don’t give a f–k bout who try dis before me / Jah jah put these blessings on me.”
The outro song VN from Pablo closes the EP with words of encouragement. As the name suggests, the ‘outro song’ isn’t a song but rather a voice note from Pablo encouraging Bakersteez to ignore the haters and naysayers and focus on continuing his path of greatness.
In Pablo’s words “ca’ yuh have whole heap a ppl out deh weh believe inna d ting, yuh zimi dawg, just like mi self, believe inna di ting more than anything else dawg so yuh affi jus do di right ting”
With a dedicated Kingston following, Steez’ unique style has seen him in the past collaborating on Popcaan’s 2020 OVO Sounds album FIXTAPE, as well as with island stars Sizzla, Tommy Lee Sparta, and Projexx. Bakersteez was also featured as a main subject in Red Bull’s Out Deh documentary about Jamaican youth and culture.
Bringing rap to Dancehall is no easy feat but one thing for sure, Steez is bent on remaining Active in the pursuit. The album gets a 3/5.