Since he made his transition, I’ve been thinking about two related things in regard to the late Determine. The first is the fact that virtually every single article/tribute/mention that I’ve seen on the occasion has, in one way or another, noted that the chanter was “underrated” and/or “underappreciated”. Typically, I find myself trying to drift away from such ideology because I think we as reggae fans and people who write about the music cling to such things in the ‘global’ sense. The entire genre is underrated and underappreciated. We get it.
In Determine’s case, however, I think it is a fair and accurate distinction. There was a level of fame and stardom and recognition reserved for his peers such as Buju Banton, Sizzla Kalonji, Capleton, Luciano and Anthony B that he never reached and, you could even make the case that if you were to go to the likes of Jah Mason, Norris Man, Turbulence, Lutan Fyah, Chezidek and others, that Determine spent long stretches of his career releasing music that didn’t even go to their levels in terms of notoriety due in no part to his own (more on that in a second).
The other thing that I’ve been thinking about Determine that goes hand-in-hand with him being underappreciated is just how sad that is. I’ve been stuck on the notion lately of just how IMPORTANT it is to show people how much they mean to you in the moment and what they do for you. Sizzla knows it. He enjoys it, I’m sure. He’ll live out the rest of his days with the knowledge that, long after he’s gone, SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE will be singing songs that he scribbled in his notebook decades/centuries before. Buju knows the same as does Capleton. I don’t know if Determine knew that and I don’t know if he got the opportunity to enjoy it while he was with us and, if he did not, that is such a shame!
Determine was clearly inspired by early 1990’s Dancehall and he would, largely, bring that style into his brand of Roots music (sometimes, he would just make actual early 90’s vibed Dancehall, as well). Furthermore, along with that characteristic delivery, Determine’s glaring talent was his lyrical ability. The man could ride absolutely any riddim and do it with SENSE. He didn’t chat rubbish on anything, there was a point or a message. HE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY and the way he went about saying it would place him in the absolute highest lyrical class of his era. He was every bit as naturally gifted with words as ANYONE who I’ve mentioned thus far. In honour of Determine, today we go back into our Signatures series and take a look at someone whose contributions we all should have done better at recognizing over the years. Signatures: Determine.
(Photo: Edit of album sleeve Mi Go Through Dat (Zulu Productions)