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Her voice resonates far beyond the rough ghettos of Jamaica, Lady Saw, Dancehall’s First Lady, is inarguably the wickedest female Deejay to ever rock the mic. Her audacious delivery, cocksure style and no nonsense attitude, has garnered Mama Saw an admirable position on reggae music’s food-chain; a spot that has been untouchable since the release of her first LP on VP, Lover Girl (1994). A Dancehall pioneer and one of the most distinguishing images in both hip-hop and reggae. 10 years deep, 8 albums strong, Jamaica’s bad gyal says goodbye to VP Records on Walk Out (2007), her final album on the independent label. The risqué hit maker’s self proclaimed best work to date. “I’m in love with this one, it’s hot in every way” says the 30 something St. Mary’s native in a delightful British seasoned Jamaican accent. “I’m singing about a lot more positive things and revealing a side of me that people never knew I had.” And with Triple Platinum status and Grammy under her frock for her collaboration with No Doubt on “Underneath it All,” and the ability to consistently headline shows all over the world (whether she has current chart topping singles or not), Lady Saw, born Marion Hall, remains true to her raunchy sexual ego, while demonstrating a mature, not often explored, emotional side that ultimately authenticates her diversity as an musician. She’s a Songtress, Deejay, Producer, Writer and most importantly, a Woman that has managed to garner tremendous success in a fickle, male-dominated industry. Simply put, her longevity reveals that true artistry always stands the test of time.
Walk Out is a 14 track collectable that wholeheartedly speaks to every single Lady Saw follower. Whether it’s the pat-your-front woman anthems that she’s notorious for (“Power of Pum Pum,” “Walk Out”) or the rugged street tracks that win her credibility amongst the thugs (“Me and My Crew,” “Chat to Mi Back”) Mama Saw delivers a perfect Raw blend on Walk Out. On the Roach produced tune, “Chat To Mi Back,” Saw advises haters’, When you see mi man/ gal don’t violate…any day you feel you can rush this/ you and ya friend dem gang up and touch this…chat to mi back/chat to mi back/ cause this a body that a gal’ cant knock. The punany lyricist also heats up things on “Me and My Crew (Roach),” preaching…“My crew push the hottest ride…mi and mi friends have the hottest guys. We make dem know wah name bling…introduce them to the finer things…tennis bracelets and diamond rings.” Both records are currently mashin’ up the streets of Jamaica.
Lady Saw, mama to three adopted children, takes listeners to a more sensitive place when her very personal epics are revealed on songs like, “No Less Than a Woman,” which is currently a lead single in Jamaica and more importantly, an inspirational ballad for infertile women. Not having a child does not make me no less than a woman/ Cause I’ve got so much love to give/ So much unwanted kids/ Say all you want about me/ Try to ruin mi reputation/ I still have got so much love to give. “People feel if you can’t breed or get pregnant, then you must not be a real woman,” says Saw. “But they are not God. If I keep loosing the babies and never have a child of my own, then God knows what’s best.” The legendary Sly & Robbie produced “World’s Prettiest” is another grown up, Mama Saw track, where she vividly creates a lyrical expose of women’s psychical insecurities, in an image driven society. “I wrote this song to uplift women who are not in love with themselves,” says Saw. And she does nothing less than remind vulnerable woman, I’m not the worlds most prettiest but I turned out fine…I wasn’t born with a pretty face and I don’t have a super model shape…but I’m beautiful so I walk with grace; preaching, “Love what God’s created,” the track’s important subliminal message.
Saw produced a handful of songs on her exit album (You Need Me, No Less Than A Woman, Baby Dry Your Eyes), adding to the hefty resume that includes previous production for A-list reggae artist, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Capelton and Spragga Benz. At the height of her career, mainstream appeal resulted in dynamic collaborations with Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliot, Foxy Brown and Pharrell Williams, reiterating, for what she refers to as “hurry come up” talent (rookies), that Mama Saw is a confident veteran that fully understands her craft. Lover Girl (94’), Give Me The Reason (96’), Passion (97’), The Best Of Lady Saw (97’), 99 Ways (98’) and Strip Tease (04’) all uniquely contributed to the personal maturity and spiritual growth that enabled Marion “Lady Saw” Hall to “Walk Out” and leave her footprint in Reggae music forever.
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