By: Joseph Cunningham
Tanya Stephens, Jamaican singer and songwriter, is known for her insightful, relevant and often comical musical deliveries. Proof of this is evident through her latest projects that show she is still atop of her musical game.
"Rebelution" and "Gangsta Blues," are the names of her two new albums, released over the last 4 years.
But before the albums, she scored international hits with the classics, "Goggle," and "ou Nuh Ready Yet." Her last album Gangsta Blues yielded the one-drop anthem "It's a Pity." The song displayed her versatility and was clearly one of the biggest tunes of 2004.
The single received rotation on mainstream radio as well as MTV and was critically acclaimed by the New York Times, Village Voice, Source and Vibe Magazine.
Two years after its release, Gangsta Blues remained on the Billboard Reggae chart.
When asked what she considers to be her most valuable assets Tanya replied, "Transparency and consistency. I believe if people want to gamble they will go to a casino. There shouldn't be any risk involved in walking into a record shop and using your hard earned cash to buy an album. That's why I had to make sure I kept honing my craft until I could confidently invite you to pick up any Tanya Stephens album being entirely secured in the knowledge I will never violate it!"
On the first single from the "Rebelution" album titled, "These Streets", Tanya rides an airy acoustic guitar track in pleading with her thug-love to realize that, "these streets don't love you like I do." It was her sixth album and it brought greater international acclaim and recognition for Tanya.
"Rebelution" features the musings of a songbird who is vulnerable enough to get hurt, but tough enough to live through it. With a militant swagger, "Rebelution" is an Edgy narrative of a street smart poet who broke the stereotype of what a female Jamaican artist should sound like.
In an industry historically dominated by male artists with an occasional sexy vixen, Tanya introduces an element of advanced creativity not common in her era. She is ahead of her time, with ideological dissertation, reminiscent of a past era when soul music by the likes of both Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley reigned supreme.
Armed with a fervent voice and classy demeanor Tanya Stephens always tells her truth the way she sees it, uncompromising and uncensored.
