I Against I

1998 reissue on vinyl LP. Many fans and critics declare "I Against I" as Bad Brains' masterpiece. More than just hardcore punk and reggae, it is a very tight album that infuses soul, funk and heavy metal. The message of the album cohesively ties all of the musical and lyrical themes together, and it is a real crowd pleaser. The title "I Against I" plays on the Rastafarian slang "I and I," which is a first-person plural reference to the union of the speaker, his audience and God. In addition to being a critical success, this album was Bad Brains' biggest commercial success and saw hits with the songs "I Against I," "House of Suffering," "Secret 77" and "She's Calling You."