WHAT makes a hit? Is it the lyrics, the artiste, the hype at the time? Is it ‘something special’ about the voice or rhythm? The TEENage Hitlist pinpoints the hits and the misses as soon as we hear both local and international releases.

Kingston Be Wise

Protojé

Ever since Damian Marley’s groundbreaking 2005 single, Welcome To Jamrock, several contemporary reggae-dancehall artistes have followed suit and found international success in releasing songs about the gritty side of Kingston.

Collie Buddz charted with Come Around, Alborosie and Busy Signal both did with tracks called Kingston Town respectively, and no one can forget Cham’s glorious run with Ghetto Story.

Now it’s time for Protojé to hopefully do the same with Kingston Be Wise.

Although the track features an Ini Kamoze sample as Welcome To Jamrock did, Protojé’s narration differs from the former’s successors in several ways.

Kingston Be Wise is an account reflecting upon the ambiguity, in Protojé’s view, regarding the May 2010 Tivoli incursion, the harsh side of gentrification, media covertness, and more.

The song’s title is used as a warning tool for citizens of any nation, to be “wise”, and not naïve regarding information fed to them, based upon face value.

Production-wise, Don Corleone flips where necessary of the bass heavy, early digital dancehall instrumentation of the Sly & Robbie helmed, England Be Nice by Ini Kamoze, into a sound more contemporary for radio rotation without losing its 1980s edginess

TEENage Hitlist believes that Kingston Be Wise is a substantive release in the midst of the silly season, and will make listeners think as opposed to solely hear when played.