Capleton

Like fellow Jamaican heavyweights Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks, Capleton has had a shift in attitude from his early days as a rude boy. These days, his lyrics are all about culture and his Rastafarian faith -- a bit different from the slack lyrics that resulted in some of his songs being banned from Jamaican radio. He may have gained his audience with his graphic sexual themes, but it was the Rasta elements, like the addition of nyahbingi drumming, that earned him his place as a pioneer. His deep, commanding voice takes over a hard digital track or even hip-hop inspired R&B. Whether he's working with Stuart Brown's African Star sound system, or legendary duos Sly and Robbie or Steely and Clevie, it doesn't matter -- it's always predictably tight, fresh Dancehall.