Blackman Know Yourself

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Chicago Tribune	[9]
Robert Christgau	[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[11]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide	[12]
The State	[13]

The Austin American-Statesman wrote that "the rumbling bass of Aston 'Family Man' Barrett keeps the music anchored in authenticity and Higgs' expressive voice does the rest."^[5] The Boston Globe praised Higgs's "silky smooth vocals," writing that "the music upholds a roots-reggae sound and consciousness."^[6] The Houston Chronicle stated that Higgs's "soulful, powerfully 'dread' singing offers a reminder of the music's spiritual foundation too often neglected or trivialized by latter-day reggae artists."^[14]

The Gazette thought that "'Sons of Garvey', 'Wave of War', and the title track, 'Blackman Know Yourself', are all sparkling examples of Higgs at his best."^[15] The Chicago Tribune concluded that Higgs's "voice of middle-aged experience is well-suited to plaintive love songs such as 'She Was the One' or Bob Marley's sultry 'Sun Is Shining'... On the title track, his dignified, authoritative rasp breaks into a falsetto wail that by itself is worth the price of the disc."^[9]

AllMusic wrote that, "when other reggae artists were going for high-tech productions and incorporating hip-hop or urban contemporary elements, Higgs stuck with the type of simplicity that had characterized him since the '60s."^[8]