Black Scorpio All Stars Vol.2 – Uprising

The second Black Scorpio All Stars set catches that late-’80s dancehall sweet spot: rough-edged voices, sharp hooks, and a rhythm section that never lets up. General Trees opens with “Tarzan, ” but the real tug is how the comp moves from Gregory Isaacs’ cool, clipped “C. O. D” to Papa San’s fast-talking “Livety” and Yellowman’s “Obeah, ” three cuts that show just how flexible the Black Scorpio camp was in 1990. Jack Scorpio’s imprint had a habit of pairing veteran charisma with streetwise dancehall energy, and that’s the pull here too, with each singer riding the same cut in a different style. Ten tracks, just under 40 minutes, and “Death Squad” closes it out with a harder bite than the title suggests.