 Isaac's
compositions reflect the deeply spiritual center from which he creates,
OF "I&I" he says, "We let the system have all the
power fro the people, and people are powerless in the very system
they themselves built. They live in fear, and they know God is there,
but they try to run away from Him, but you can never run away from
Him. "Black Panther" is an Amharic Ethiopian
song, asking "why people kill each other over color." Unity is
a prevailing theme herein, both in the title track, and implied in
"Heading to the End" which talks, according to Isaac,
"about the situation and the day we are liivng in, with mandess, chaos,
carelessness. We look like we're about to cross the finish line of
our lifetimes in the universe, with cursing and destroying the motherland.
We're heading to the end and it seems like there's nothing to stop
us." And I wrote "Life" so I can be able
to count all my blessings. I was a very happy child, but as soon as
I got responsibility I learned to worry, have nightmares, and I wish
I was like a child with no worry." I sing "Can You Hear Me
Knocking" in Amharic, asking God to forgive me for all the
sins I have committed. As for "Careless Ethiopians",
I think my people are dividing themselves into pieces, and
we learn all this kind of madness called technology from the rest
of the world, but we dump all this selfish and greedy self-superiority,
forgetting the land and the poor people with the power that they have.
I wrote this during the time of Mengistu Haile Mariam. "How
Could It Be Lord" is just my prayer to the Lord asking
how to find forgiveness. "Our Father" is a
very special version. We all need prayer.
"Love What You Gonna Say" is a dialogue between
Talk, and Love, Trust and Peace. These other elements all have a big
problem with Talk. When people don't love you, they say they love
you; when people want to fight you, they say make peace with you .
When people distrust you, they act like they trust you. But they're
just using the tools of Talk. And that's the question from Love for
Talk. I wrote "Day of the Fear" because I
saw people in fear. They dress up Fear like their protection, like
fancy clothes. Fear rules the world, and I'm asking what's the use
of fear. Don't fear Evil, just fear God. As King Solomon says, the
beginning of knowledge is the fear of Almighty God."
BUY ISAAC'S CD DEBUT "UNITE"
JUST CLICK HERE!
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REVIEWS
"The roots
meet the future in the person of Isaac Haile Selassie" -- Roger
Steffens, founding editor, The Beat Magazine
"A must for all reggae fans; I cannot stress the strength and
joy this album gives to the listener." -- James Snidow, Reggae
Nucleus Magazine
"Like Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube or Majek Fashek, Isaac Haile
Selassie returns to the roots of reggae for a cultural approach..."
--Chuck Foster, Reggae Central
"An incredible roots reggae sound mixed with traditional African
rhythms, combined with a peaceful message of bringing the world together
in an effort to increase compassion, replace war with love and promote
acceptance of all peoples..." -- Vincent Michale, Campus Circle
"UNITE marinates 11 beautiful, warm weather tracks for any
free spirit to enjoy...it's not just about the songs, it's about a movement.
A dream. A man of Ethiopian descent, spreading his message throughout
the world. Now, hopefully, people will realize the truth in his words."
--Zack Selwyn, 28th Street
UNCREDITED REVIEWS
Isaac Haile Selassie is an Ethiopian-nurtured, Los Angeles-living
reggae singer making wide and convincing claims on "Unite" (Resin****)
to be the cross-cultural debut album of the year. He gives us, at any
rate, the most memory-imprinting use of Amharic for Western ears these
Western ears have ever heard. "Unite" is an inspired synthesis
of reggae and world beat with a Bob Dylan-esque voice of authority and
socially relevant lyrics. The album is a deep well. Isaac Haile sings
in both English and Amharic, an ancient language of Ethiopia, at times
adapting religious chants to crisp reggae rhythms. He crosses musical
lines fluidly, wrapping the musical ideas around a core of impassioned
ideas. Afro-pop ventures sit alongside "Love What You Gonna Say,"
a folk-tinged meditative dialogue. The anthemic title track is followed
by a clip of deposed Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie delivering his last
speech. (Isaac was raised under the auspices of Haile Selassie's palace
and so adopted the Emperor's name.)"Unite" becomes a morality
play with Isaac leading the chorus and steping forward with fresh songs,
calling up the wrongs of society and a humble, charitable vision. Even
when his unity message is familiar, he creates a gravitational pull with
convictyion and charisma. Of the ranks of artists making a claim to speak
to the conscience of a global audience, only a few create a true sense
of moment, and Isaac Haile Selassie does it by reveling in erasing borders.
Coming seemingly out of nowhere, Ethiopian Isaac
Haile Selassie, adopted son of Emperor Haile Selassie I (although they
didn't have a close relationship) drops "Unite," a gorgeous
testament to the power of music that immediately thrusts him into the
spotlight of the reggae elite. ...The melodies he writes have a universal
appeal that can't be resisted. Most of the choruses (and indeed, all
of the best ones) on this album are sung with gospel-like power and
emotion by Selassie's outstanding, butter-voiced female background singers.
The singing is backed by a vibrant full-band roots sound, played by
such talents as Ras Michael (African drums), Carlton "Santa"
Davis (drums). Richard Hardy from the Dave Matthews Band (flute) and
Spacey Singleton from Fishbone (guitar). Such a diverse line-up lends
readily to Unite's universal--that is, light (despite the heavy subject
matter), catchy, borderline pop at times--sound, as does Selassie's
Ethiopian upbringing (although he resides now in California), apparant
in his recording of the
great Amharic Ethiopian tune "Black Panther." Overall, "Unite"
ois a refreshing life-affirming statement.
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