This is just the Intro, Dexta Daps is here to Stay

Have you ever heard an album, and on the first listen you immediately knew you were listening to great music? From the intro, all the way through the finale you didn’t have to skip a single song, and you enjoyed every moment of it?
Pause. I almost didn’t move forward with writing this review as there are several factors that had me on the fence:
- The overwhelming majority of folks who [I know] consistently read my reviews (read as: the 5–7 people who routinely send me their feedback/thoughts on my reviews) have probably never heard a Dexta Daps song a day in their lives.
- I prefer not to write album reviews on artistes that I haven’t heard (atleast) two or more projects from their catalogue. Yes, since I am reviewing a Jamaican artiste, I will be using British English where appropriate.
- This album was released in March, meaning I am late as hell to the function. It is old news in Jamaica now.
But here we are. Play. Before you go any further in the review, go ahead and listen to this song. It is not on the album, but it does two things for the reader/listener: 1) it gives you a taste of Dexta Daps’ sound, if you were previously unfamiliar with any of his work and 2) it sets the foundation for the type of content and stylistic execution he delivers all throughout the Intro album. Now, there may be a slight bit of a language barrier for some listeners, as he does deliver most of his work in Jamaican patois, but even if there is some difficulty comprehending what he is saying, there are some musical universalities that everyone should be able to catch. Firstly, you can [almost] always tell when someone sounds good (vocally), even if you can’t understand them. Secondly, you can [almost] always tell when musical production — both the instrumental/beat, as well as the actual composition of the song — is well executed. Lastly, you can always (no “almost” needed here) tell when music gives off good vybz and energy. With Intro, Dexta Daps hits all three of those targets right on the bullseye. Production-wise the music flows so seamlessly, that it feels like each song picks up right where the previous one leaves off. If you focus on the instrumentals alone, you will notice the album starts very slow and gentle. It eventually picks up in the middle getting a little faster and more intense, with the climax being a Rock-fusion Reggae instrumental that drives the entire project home. If reading the development of the production seemed analogous to another…activity, that was intentional. Dexta has somewhat made himself the Trey Songz — nah seriously, this hombre has the whole “I’m singing so hard, I look like I want to cry” face down to a science — of Jamaica: the smooth ladies man, who isn’t afraid to get intimate on stage with his “fans.” If you actually clicked the link above and watched the video, that song “Owner,” is on this tape, but we’ll come back to it a little later on.
Balance is key. This album is extremely well-balanced. Yes, there are quite a few lust-filled songs as Dexta knows where his bread-and-butter is, in regards to his fan base (ladies), but there is also a versatile influx of other topics explored throughout the album. His happy-go-lucky anthem “I’m Blessed” chronicles his journey from humble beginnings to superstar riches/luxuries. Accompanied by the smooth harmonizing vocals of [presumably] a Church choir, he is able to acknowledge where he is from, while highlighting where he is going. On “Superhero,” he pays homage to the endless sacrifice his mother has made in his life, particularly thanking her for playing both roles in his life (mom/dad), as his absentee father abandoned them. These two songs are placed back-to-back, and that is clearly very intentional. Both songs are particularly noteworthy because they are relatively against the grain for an artiste like Dexta, but his ability to show that musical diversity has definitely elevated his name and his game. You see being good at one thing and one thing only, makes you a good _____ (insert specialization here, i.e. rapper, singer, etc.). But being good at multiple things, in various capacities however, makes you a good artiste. With this album he showed the world that not only is he a good singer, but he is actually a good musical artiste. Dexta Daps drives that theory home with his songs that are particularly crafted for the ladies on this project.
The tone of the album is set very early with the first song. “Only U” being sang over the smooth accompaniment of a live piano is dedicated to a special lady in his life, who he has some special surprises for. Two of the singles off of the album, “Mi C Mi Bed N Miss U” and “F*** U Mean” serve as counter-arguments to each other. While “F*** U Mean” chronicles the [successful] pursuit of a young lady, “Mi C Mi Bed N Miss U” reflects on the aftermath of lust lost, making it clear that lust can only last so long, before it fades away. The two [biggest] standout tracks from the album however, are “Owner” which has become the impromptu “lead single” (after the raunchy music video was released), and “Be Good” featuring the multi-talented Alaine. Production can make or break a song, and in the case of “Be Good” the production made it an instant hit. Easily my favorite song off of the tape, this song showcases the full skillset that has allowed Dexta Daps to become one of the premier singjays on the Dancehall scene, as he and Alaine perfectly mesh to create a musical masterpiece. Case-in-point, on the chorus they sing in-sync “Mi gone wid yuh (kick), Mi gone wid yuh (kick), Mi pack up everyting (kick) and move on (kick) wid yuh (kick, drop). For this to actually make sense, you would have to listen to the song, but it is pure musical genius how that is crafted and executed. The two of them maintain perfect synergy throughout the song whether on their individual parts, or on the parts where they sing simultaneously, allowing the listener to feel more like they are watching a movie unfold than listening to a song.
With all of that being said, there is always one song on an album that usually serves as the universal hit. The one song that is undeniably better [to most people] than every other song on the album. In the case of Intro, that song is “Owner.” With cuffing season on the horizon, if you already found your lil baby who gon’ listen, this is the song you would put on to set the mood right. This song is the perfect example of Neo Reggae — modern reggae music that is heavily influenced by elements of American RnB — with smooth production, and even smoother vocals. Accompanied by the soothing harmonies and humming of his background singer(s), Dexta creates an intimate anthem, fitting for any “alone” time. This is one of those songs that in about 15 or so years folks will be telling their kids “this song is the reason why you are here today.” It’s that legit. But I could go on and on about how great the song is, or you can be the judge for yourself.
I remember when I first heard some of Dexta Daps’ music in 2015. He had a hit single called 7Eleven, and I recall hitting up my brother who still lives on the rock to ask if Dexta was legit or just another one-hit wonder. He told me Dexta Daps “a run di road haad right now, him have a following but him still a mek a name fi himself” which roughly translates to “he is doing big things, he has followers, but he is still establishing himself.” With Intro, he is now established. This album gives the listener a little bit of everything: Neo-Reggae, Roots Reggae (driven by the infamous guitar bass that made Reggae music a global sensation), Reggae/Dancehall fusion, and even some Rock-fusion Reggae in the outro song “Grow Rough” (some real futuristic type stuff). Dexta Daps is here to stay for the long run, and if this is just the Intro, I’m eager to see what is in store for the next Chapter of his musical story. (NSFW, no seriously, do not open this at work, or anywhere else that could possibly get you side-eyed…or fired)
Overall 3Z Rating: 2.46/3 Z’s (8.2/10)
If you enjoyed this review feel free to follow me on Twitter/Snapchat @Xzzzaari for more music, sports, and culture commentary and make sure to tune in every Tuesday morning for “Tuesday’s Chunez” where I play a few songs current and/or past that have gotten my day (or week) going. Bless.
