Israel Kamakawiwoʻole used his second solo studio album to balance traditional Hawaiian-language material with contemporary "Jawaiian" (island reggae) rhythms and mainstream pop.

: It balances indigenous protest with "Jawaiian" (Island reggae) and traditional hapa-haole music. The Global Medley

If you have ever watched a film, turned on a television commercial, or attended a wedding in the past twenty years, you have likely been touched by the voice of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Known simply as "Iz" or "Bruddah IZ," this Hawaiian giant created music that transcends the boundaries of genre and geography. His 1993 album, Facing Future , is the album that broke all records for Hawaiian music, and it remains the best-selling album of all time by a Hawaiian artist.

For years, the mainstream public listened to Iz’s legendary medley, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," through heavily compressed MP3s, YouTube rips, or low-bitrate streaming. While the emotional weight of his voice still cuts through compression, listening to Facing Future in changes the experience entirely.

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