Tanya Stephens - Gangsta Blues Live: 20th Anniversary (2024)

Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (Tanya Stephens for short), began recording in the late 1980s but wouldn’t make her break until nearly a decade later. Her first release on VP was the Fatis Burell produced “No More Lies” single in 1994, but her real move would come with songs found on her second album, Too Hype, in 1997. The album featured major hits in “Goggle,” which rode Anthony Kelly and Patrick Roberts’ popular “Cloak And Dagger” riddim, and “You Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet,” which rode Dave Kelly’s “Joyride” riddim. Despite her dancehall credentials and comparisons to Lady Saw, her best-known track to date is “It’s A Pity,” a slinky rub-a-dub reggae tune, later found on the Gangsta Blues album on VP. She has four albums in total on VP, most recently with Rebelution in 2006.

Today marks 20 years since the release of Tanya Stephens' critically-acclaimed fifth studio album, Gangsta Blues. The singer is celebrating its birthday with a live version, adorned with a bonus track or two. The It's A Pitysinger recently dished on creating the album, and being creatively stifled by industry players.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Tanya Stephens - Intro (Live) (1:10)
1.02 - Tanya Stephens - Way Back (Live) (3:36)
1.03 - Tanya Stephens - Boom Wuk (Live) (3:57)
1.04 - Tanya Stephens - Damn (Live) (2:53)
1.05 - Tanya Stephens - Good Ride (Live) (2:09)
1.06 - Tanya Stephens - Little White Lie (Live) (4:31)
1.07 - Tanya Stephens - It's A Pity (Live) (4:30)
1.08 - Tanya Stephens - Tek Him Back (Live) (3:52)
1.09 - Tanya Stephens - I Am Woman (Live) (2:06)
1.10 - Tanya Stephens - This Is Love (Live) (5:13)
1.11 - Tanya Stephens - Gangsta Gal (Live) (3:36)
1.12 - Tanya Stephens - What's Your Story (Live) (3:18)
1.13 - Tanya Stephens - Can't Breathe (Live) (4:07)
1.14 - Tanya Stephens - Sound of My Tears (Live) (3:25)
1.15 - Tanya Stephens - The Other Cheek (Live) (5:45)
1.16 - Tanya Stephens - What A Day (Live) (3:27)
1.17 - Tanya Stephens - We A Lead (Live) (4:03)
1.18 - Tanya Stephens - Heart of Stone (Live) (3:54)