Gangsta Blues

Gangsta Blues
Gangsta Blues
Studio album by Tanya Stephens
Released	March 30, 2004
Recorded	2001–2004 (Tarantula Studios (Tanya's home), Anchor Recording Studios, 321 Recording Studio, Digital B & Steven Stanley Recording Studios)
Genre	Dancehall, Reggae, Hip hop, Pop rock, Lovers rock, Political Reggae
Length	61:56
Label	VP/Tarantula Records
Producer	Andrew Henton, Barry O'Hare, Neil Amos, Romain "Sherkhan" Chiffre, Tanya Stephens, Mr. Doo, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Louis "Flabba" Malcolm, Anthony Senior, Boris Silvera, Steven Stanley, Digital B
Tanya Stephens chronology
Singles from Gangsta Blues
	"It's a Pity"; Released: December 22, 2003; "Can't Breathe"; Released: June 12, 2006;

Gangsta Blues is the fifth studio album by Jamaican recording artist Tanya Stephens. This album was probably the most politically driven album with tracks like "What a Day", "The Other Cheek" and "Sound of My Tears".^{[citation needed]} The album also has a lovers rock feel to it (as is common in Tanya's albums) with songs such as "Good Ride" and "It's a Pity" (with the latter giving her international success).^{[citation needed]}

Background

Recording for the album took place in-between 2001 and 2004. It was recorded across various recording studios in Jamaica and America. Production came from her longtime life partner Andrew Henton among many others including Neil Amos, Romain "Sherkhan" Chiffre, Mr. Doo, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Steven Stanley, and Digital B, with writing coming from Tanya herself on every track, Andrew on most plus a lot of other writers throughout the album. The general topics covered on Gangsta Blues range from government, the current quality of modern music, love & politics.

Track listing

Track listing
No.	Title	Writer	Length
1.	"Intro"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	01:14
2.	"Way Back"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	05:17
3.	"Boom Wuk"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	04:01
4.	"Damn" (Skit)	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	02:21
5.	"Good Ride"	V. Stephenson, C. Lawrence, R. Myrie	03:54
6.	"Little White Lie"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	03:47
7.	"It's a Pity"	V. Stephenson, P. Baigorry, J. Bugnon, L. Topp	04:15
8.	"Tek Him Back"	V. Stephenson, C. Dodd	03:38
9.	"I Am Woman"	Helen Reddy, R. Burton	01:44
10.	"This Is Love" (featuring Wyclef Jean)	V. Stephenson, E. Gotthard, W. Jean	04:26
11.	"Gangsta Gal" (featuring Spragga Benz)	V. Stephenson, A. Henton, C. Grant	03:54
12.	"What's Your Story"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	03:52
13.	"Can't Breathe"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton, M. Miller	04:12
14.	"Sound of My Tears"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	04:05
15.	"The Other Cheek" (samples "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" by Gabrielle)	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	03:57
16.	"What a Day"	V. Stephenson, M. Chin	03:22
17.	"We a Lead"	V. Stephenson, A. Henton	03:57
Total length:			61:56

Reception

Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times described the music as "acoustic-guitar laments and joyful digital dancehall", and in Sanneh's view the album is "full of witty reggae protest songs".^[1] Vibe's Rob Kenner regarded it as Stephens' best album to date.^[2] Allmusic writer Rick Anderson gave it two and half stars out of five, describing the rhythms as "expert but not exactly revelatory ", and the lyrics "mostly a predictable mix of defensive braggadocio and by-the-numbers slackness", but picking out "Little White Lie", "What's Your Story", and "It's a Pity" for particular praise.^[3]

Chart History

Billboard

Billboard Reggae albums - 10^[4]

Personnel

Writers - V. Stephenson, C. Grant, W. Jean, A. Henton, C. Lawrence, R. Myrie, P Baigorry, J. Buggon, L. Topp, C. Dodd, H. Reddy, R. Burton, E. Getthard, H. Seaton
Producers - Dave Kelly, Tony Kelly, Andrew Henton, Barry O'Hare, Neil Amos, Romain "Sherkhan" Chiffre, Tanya Stephens, Mr. Doo, Phillip 'Fattis' Burrell, Louis "Flabba" Malcolm, Anthony Senior, Boris Silvera, Steven Stanley, Digiteal B
Editing & Mixing - Paul Shields of VP Records
Cover Art photography - William Richards
Cover Art design - Kerry DeBruce
Publishing - VP Records, Tarantula Records, Warner/Chappell, STB Music, Topp Entertainment, Jamrec Music

Please note

Information such as Writers & Personnel is taken directly from the CD inlay.

References

^ Sanneh, Kelefa (2004) "MUSIC: PLAYLIST; Reggae's Riddims And Crews", The New York Times, May 23, 2004, retrieved September 8, 2012
^ Kenner, Rob (2004) "Boomshots", Vibe, July 2004, p. 138, retrieved September 8, 2012
^ Anderson, Rick "Gangsta Blues Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 8, 2012
^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/tanya-stephens/chart-history/

[Sanneh-1] Sanneh, Kelefa (2004) "MUSIC: PLAYLIST; Reggae's Riddims And Crews", The New York Times, May 23, 2004, retrieved September 8, 2012

[Kenner-2] Kenner, Rob (2004) "Boomshots", Vibe, July 2004, p. 138, retrieved September 8, 2012

[Anderson-3] Anderson, Rick "Gangsta Blues Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 8, 2012

[4] ttps://www.billboard.com/artist/tanya-stephens/chart-history/

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