Album Notes

"Better Your Soul", Norris Man's Jah Scout Records debut, establishes the Kingston-born singer/songwriter as one of the leaders of the roots and culture revival. This stellar album is produced by Colin McGregor with production assistance from riddim specialist Rankin Scroo of Crucial Youth Productions, the multi-talented Dia "Warrior" Fearon of Builder's Music and beat master Duane Dyer of Jacquzzi Records. "Better Your Soul" is a poetic journey through a young man's soul as he searches for truth, righteousness and salvation. Norris Man's distinct wailing vocals soar up and down the musical scale, embracing Rastafarianism, Ethiopia and Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Raised in the Trenchtown and Hannah Town areas of downtown Kingston, Jamaica, Christopher George Campbell, also know as Norris Man, derived his moniker from Chuck Norris, who starred in some of his favorite karate films. As an aspiring singer in the mid-eighties, Norris Man cut his teeth DJing on sound systems like Stacks international and Bionic Steve. In the nineties, Norris Man and his music matured into a devotion to Rastafarianism. This spiritual transformation manifested his first album "Persistence, in 1998

Like his contempoaries Anthony B, Sizzla and Turbulence, Norris Man is one of the fire children who inject reggae with a new militancy, passion and spiritual fervor. On "Better Your Soul", Norris Man delivers the King's message at its finest. The lead track, "Change of Life" immediately draws you in with its infectious rhythm guitar interwoven with pianist Winston Smith's succlent calypsonian instrumentals.

"Hold on to Your Faith," a hypnotizing two chord anthem, urges the youth to turn away from the seductive yet dangerous and corrupt world of Jamaican politics. Laced with Mcgregor's ebullient guitar strings and growling bassline, the song send shivers.

"Wouldn't You Like" features Norris Man's bare vocals and Mcgregor's acoustic guitar. This song is a tender prayer of hope for mothers who cry, for those who fall aside and for people who need to be cared for the most. This unplugged duet gives us a rare glimpse into the producer/artist process as the two musicians strip the music down to its original soul essential elements.

"Better Your Soul" is conscious music devoid of slackness or superficiality. Listen well.

-Shelah Moody