Macka B - Looks Are Deceiving

Review by Nidirah Pearlie Lawrence

Looks Are Deceiving by Macka B: A Raw, Timeless Vibe That Still Hits Hard Macka B’s Looks Are Deceiving isn’t just an album—it’s a vibe, a statement, and a trip back to 1990 when reggae and electronic beats were blending into something fresh. Produced and mixed by the legendary Mad Professor under the Ariwa label, this record is pure ragga-meets-dancehall gold. It’s got that raw edge you don’t hear much anymore, with lyrics that hit like a punch to the gut but leave you nodding your head in agreement. The track “Proud To Be Black” sticks with me every time I listen. It’s not just some anthem; it feels personal, like Macka B is sitting across from you, spilling his soul over a beat that grooves so deep you can’t help but move. The message? Unapologetically proud of heritage and identity. In today’s world, where we’re still fighting for respect and recognition, these words slap harder than ever. You feel the weight behind each line—C. McFarlane knew what he was writing about. This one’s more than a song; it’s a rallying cry. Then there’s “Unemployment Blues,” which hits different if you’ve ever been stuck in that grind, feeling like life’s handing you lemons without even a glass to squeeze ‘em into. The bassline crawls under your skin, slow and heavy, while Macka lays out the struggles of joblessness and frustration. It’s haunting, man. Like, it doesn’t sugarcoat anything—you’re right there with him, staring at those four walls, wondering how to make ends meet. For a track made in 1990, it’s wild how relevant it still feels. Mad Professor’s touch on production deserves its own shoutout. He didn’t just mix this thing—he crafted a soundscape that pulls you in. Every track has layers, textures, and grit that keep you coming back. And let’s not sleep on TMcD’s cover art either. Simple yet striking, it sets the tone before you even press play. What gets me most about Looks Are Deceiving is how real it all feels. No gimmicks, no trying too hard to be cool—it’s just honest music made by people who cared. Listening to it now, decades later, it’s clear why this album crossed oceans, hitting both the US and UK scenes hard. It’s timeless because the stories it tells haven’t gone anywhere. Here’s the kicker though—listening to this album makes me wonder: are things really that different now? Sure, the tech’s changed, but the struggles? The pride? Nah, they’re still here. Maybe that’s why Macka B’s voice cuts through like it does. Or maybe…maybe we just need reminders every now and then that looks are deceiving. Even after all these years, this album proves it.

Artist: Macka B
Album: Looks Are Deceiving

1990

Rating: 4.18

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Download

Filename: macka-b-looks-are-deceiving.zip

MP3 size: 42.9 mb
FLAC size: 344.3 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Proud to Be Black	6:46
What's He Done?
Joker	6:27
Roots And Culture
What's He Done?	6:8
Roots and Culture	3:15
Badder Than Jah	6:55
Unemployment Blues	3:26
Looks Are Deceiving	6:29
Proud To Be Black
Drink Too Much	6:14

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Macka B - Badder Than Jah

Macka B - Looks Are Deceiving

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Catalog Numbers

ARI LP 038, ARILP 038
ARICS 038
ARI LP 038
ARICD 038

Labels

Ariwa

Listen online

ascolta in linea
online luisteren
lyssna på nätet
kuunnella verkossa
lytte på nettet
ouvir online
online anhören
écouter en ligne
escuchar en línea

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
Cassette
CD

Companies

Role	Company
Recorded At	Ariwa Studios
Mixed At	Ariwa Studios
Published By	Ariwa Music
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Ariwa Sounds
Distributed By	RAS Records

Credits

Role	Credit
Producer	Mad Professor
Mixed By	Mad Professor
Written-By	C. McFarlane
Cover	TMcD

Notes

℗ 1988 Ariwa Sounds.
Catalog number is printed as "ARILP 038" on disc labels, and "ARI LP 038" on back cover and spine.
White labels.
CD only Bonus Track 8 "Roots And Culture" is from the 1988 Ariwa compilation album "Breaking The Barriers With Sound Volume 1".

Barcodes

Barcode: 021823103846

About Macka B

Jamaican-british reggae singer and musician. Born in 1966 in Wolverhampton, England.

Real Name

Christopher McFarlane

Name Vars

Macha B
Macka
Macka 'B'
Macka . B
Macka B.
Macka-B
Macka-B.
Macka.B
Mackba B
Maka B
Maka B.
Makka B

Aliases

Christopher McFarlane

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The album *Looks Are Deceiving* by Macka B is a hidden gem from 1990 that blends electronic beats with reggae vibes. It’s got that raw Ragga and Dancehall energy, thanks to the legendary Mad Professor, who produced and mixed the whole thing. Fun fact: the track "Proud to Be Black" shows up twice on the album—once with a slightly different title, "Proud To Be Black." Maybe it was intentional or just a quirky oversight, but it’s a cool little detail that fans still talk about today!

Comments

srvrajeswarifilms

2025-03-12

Wolverhampton's finest

vandervalla

2025-03-12

Extended Dub by Mad Professor, UK, 1988

007adbll

2025-03-12

DDiis is Da # 1

lbarreralopez

2025-03-11

Charleston 11-25-2020

quantumgardener

2025-03-11

Hi. ? Please, let us pray together. Dear God who art in heaven hallow be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever in Jesus Christ's name we pray amen.

1001daysfor101things

2025-03-10

One of his best tunes by far. Saw him live many many years ago.

janymar

2025-03-10

True, True, True Macka B. I dated a young woman just like that who could "pass". Her dad was Jamaican. Her mother was white. She and her black girlfriends would go into supermarkets and stores and while security was busy watching the black girls, this young woman would steal half the store then split it up later with her decoy girl friends. Racist mofos wont ever learn!