This week’s piece is written with woman in mind because it is not a man’s world. It has been long since I last did a piece on a female reggae artiste. It’s only fair that I feature one this week. Interestingly though, the incredibly sexy artiste that I feature this week hates being categorised as a female singer. “…I hate being categorised as female singer because my job has nothing to do with gender. Don’t say I am one of the best female lyricists in Jamaica. You are not really complimenting me at all. There is so few females and even less who actually write their own stuff…”, the artiste says.

She is Tanya Stephens who provided backing vocals on Garnett Silk’s 1998 release, Journey. Now, admittedly my best female reggae artiste is the raunchy and powerful Lady Saw (Pretty Pussy), widely considered the matriach of all female dancehall DJs. But I can’t help but take note of this year’s ReggaeSoca Awards’ Female Vocalist Of The Year, Tanya Stephens.

Incidentally the two song birds are said to be having a beef. The rivalry was inevitable considering that they are literally two sides of the same coin. They are both not exactly backwards in coming forward. They both speak their minds, are sexually explicit as one can ever be and are equally controversial. The similarities do not end there. They are both bombshells by whom millions of male reggae lovers across the world are smitten. Thus, like I said before, both personal and professional rivalry was always going to be inevitable.

It might interest you to know that Tanya Stephens has just released her latest album Rebelution and I have sampled a few tracks including a video featuring Kymani, one of Bob Marley’s sons which was sent to me by UK based friend and critic of this column, Riddim King. And I must admit, Tanya Stephens does not disappoint on her latest project.

The singer and songwriter last won the hearts of many with her album Gangsta Blues featuring Boom Wuk, Tek Him Back on which she says to a wronged woman: …Take him back because me nah love how your man perform…

Born Vivien Stephenson on July 2, 1973, Tanya Stephens made her major breakthrough as a recording artiste with her hit, Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet–a song reggae critics consider to be a ladies’ anthem. She recorded her first track in 1993 titled Is This For Real and it was featured on producer Barry O’Hare’s Further East compilation album.

O’Hare also produced the singer’s first album Big Tings A Gwaan. The album featured tracks such as Love How Your Body Tan, Kick Way and I Bet You Miss Me. Thereafter, other albums followed in quick succession. These include Too Hype, which featured Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet and Rough Rider which yielded many hit tracks such as 119, Part-Time Lover, Think It Over, Man Fe Rule, Draw Fe Mi Finger and Big Ninja Bike, which pokes fun at many who do not deliver on sexual promises.

After this she migrated to Sweden where she spent three years. While there she worked on and released rock tracks for Warner Sweden. But still, she couldn’t resist the lure of dancehall. Thus she returned to Jamaica in 2001 were she immediately released the hugely successful Gangsta Blues. Other tracks on this album include Little White Lie, It’s A Pity, Gangsta Gal (in combination with Spragga Benz) and Can’t Breathe. After the acclaimed Gangsta Blues now comes the latest offering, Rebelution, which has number one written all over it.

In an interview with The Observer soon after the release of her latest album last week, Tanya Stephens said she was not impressed by those who choose to judge female artistes by their physical attributes rather than their music.

“…I find that really stupid because singing is a sound and not a look. And I don’t believe that it’s the public who are crying out for sex symbols in the music industry. I have never heard of any consumer going into a record shop and asking for a record by the sexiest girl the record shop has…”.

Yours truly would say point taken. But the fact still remains, Tanya Stephens is all that a woman should be. And even the blind can see that! Believe you me, that is no flattery. In any case, flattery is only flattery when it is not the truth. So much about the beautiful Tanya Stephens.

The Above is only a section of an article.
Please read the full article at the Source - AllAfrica

Popularity: 3% [?]