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Few reggae artists since the great Bob Marley have managed to make their way into the mainstream pop world.
However, an emerging artist from the Edinburgh section of London seems to be pressing his way through the usual genre boundaries - and he has the potential to penetrate the realm of rock stardom.
Remember this name: Finley Quaye. He's going places.
Quaye's debut release, "Maverick a Strike," blends an eclectic range of music styles, from the sounds of reggae and rock, to soul and calypso, in producing one of the most resonant albums of the 1990s.
His intoxicating voice reverberates with longevity, and the 13 songs on "Maverick a Strike" have enough universal appeal to soon make it a classic.
Released in November, "Maverick A Strike" has already earned Quaye quite a following. This year, Quaye was voted best male solo artist at the Brit Awards. The album's first single, "Sunday Shining," has won airtime on such mainstream radio stations as KROQ-FM.
A recent live performance at the Roxy in Hollywood proved that Quaye is drawing in the masses.
Yet, despite powerful lyrics and a melodious voice, Quaye, 23, still needs time to develop a keen stage presence.
Though "Maverick A Strike" is an exciting preview of what we can expect from this hybrid musician in the future, his live show did not live up to the album's charismatic impact.
Backed by a heavy guitar, bass and a cast of drummers and horn players, Quaye fluctuated between getting the audience's full attention and making them wait for his radio hits "Sunday Shining," "Even After All," and "It's Great When We're Together."
Quaye paid tribute to an undoubtedly enduring musical influence, Bob Marley, by covering "Kinky Reggae" and "Slave Driver."
Between frequent hits from a big ol' fatty at the side of the stage and his less popular tunes, Quaye had a hard time revving up the crowd.
A hint of nervousness could be detected from the young talent whose future is so promising.
Had he just passed that joint around, maybe the show would have reached the expectations brought on by such a brilliant album.
It is fortunate that Quaye is young. Surely he will realize his potential in the new millennium.