Releases

Dub Judah, a paragon of musical excellence, has an extensive career showcasing mastery of multiple instruments and his distinctive vocal style. His prolific output on his 'Dubtech' label, his role as the bass player for the Twinkle Brothers, and his numerous contributions to music underline his exceptional artistry.

In this release, his inimitable vocal style distills a timeless message, a universal strategy for progress. He reminds us that the most effective solutions are often rooted in the most fundamental acts of will. This is a reminder that progress begins with the individual's decision to 'Put Your Best Foot Forward.' Such an ethos acts as a blueprint for life, urging us to confront challenges with our best efforts and, in doing so, become architects of a better world.

'Best Foot Forward' has been anthemic on the reggae sound system scene for over a decade. It began as a dubplate for Salomon Heritage Sound System on the 'Joshua’s Anthem' riddim, commissioned by Roots Arna from Kibir La Amlak in 2011. As the years passed, it became evident that the dubplate was too impactful to remain just a dub. After several revisions and collaborative efforts between Kibir La Amlak and Salomon Heritage, it evolved beyond its original form into a modern roots reggae classic now ready for public release.

The reworked track now features contributions from Jah David and Tippy I of Zion I Kings, alongside other notable musicians such as Westfinga, Ashanti Selah, Okiel McIntyre, Zoe Brown, and Greg Jata. Produced, mixed, and arranged by Kibir La Amlak, mastered to tape and cut to vinyl by Lewis Hopkin, it is being released globally as a collaborative effort between Before Zero Records and Salomon Heritage Label.

The B-side offers a refreshed 'Joshua’s Anthem,' with Aba Ariginal and I-Jah Salomon's solos now complemented by Okiel and Zoe’s horn arrangements, maintaining the track’s anthemic quality.

Following the vocal track, a dynamic Kibir La Amlak dub mix emerges, infused with syncopated delays and reverberant spring crashes. A straightforward riddim cut follows the horn piece, giving listeners a deep dive into the musical composition and providing sound system selectors with the perfect canvas for vocalists and chanters.

Ma1co1m, a young member of the RasTafari faith, is an artist difficult to categorise. His maternal heritage Ugandan, his paternal Norwegian and he himself currently residing in Stockholm, Sweden. Ma1co1m hails from a new generation of RasTafari musicians, who, although rooted in the ancient foundation of RasTafari reggae and inspired by the greats from Bob to Bunny to Prince Fari, his principal musical inspiration comes from the works of Vaughn Benjamin, aka Akae Beka / the voice of Midnite. It therefore goes without saying that Ma1co1m’s lyrical content is heavily steeped in mysticism, with an often ethereal quality, somewhere between prayer and poetry.  90’s born and raised against the backdrop of millennial culture, Ma1co1m has long followed a calling away from the virtues of the modern world and rooted himself in permaculture projects in Uganda, plant medicine and a keen advocate of sports, athleticism and fitness. Ma1co1m is an artist with a mission and a vision, in the divine inspiration of Haile Selassie I, ‘to become a member of a new race’.

Fi Di Kingdom, is the first of many collaborations between Ma1co1m and London based producer and sound system, Kibir La Amlak. A track that was allowed to become exactly what ‘it’ wanted to be, the riddim was built on a Friday, vocals recorded on Saturday and video shot on Sunday. Just as with Ma1co1m as an artist, one will struggle to accurately confine this track to a specific genre, it's definitely dub, but also hip-hop and trap, its slow in tempo but in places feels fast paced, its electronic and acoustic, yet one thing which is undeniable is it's heavy and deep. An enchanting mbira line summons ancestral forces, the nyabinghi drum sanctifies the ceremonial proceedings and the drum and bass roots the track like a tree well planted by a river of water, providing the perfect tapestry for Ma1co1m to deliver a combination of poetic, prayerful, chanting, rapping, singing, militant yet gentle word sound and power.

Located in East Africa, south of Lake Victoria or Nam Lolwe, Nalubaale or Nyanza, to use some of the pre-colonial names of the waters, the Wakambi people, speak of ‘Queen Marimba’ who is credited as being the ‘Mother of all Song' and creator of countless instruments.

In 2018, whilst touring in Bogota, Colombia with El Gran Latido, Kibir La Amlak recorded Iber Jose Gomez, a renowned Marimba player from the Colombian Pacific Coast. Together they created this genre-bending piece of music 'Mother of Song (Queen Marimba)'. A blend of Afro-Colombian melody with a UK-style Digi-dub drum and baseline.

The journey of this instrument from the shores of Africa to the Americas is a journey that is a testament to - the determination to hold onto the memories of your roots against all odds. Recorded in Bogota, Colombia, the Marimbas were carried across the Atlantic Ocean in the memories of the Africans that were stolen, stripped of language, traditions and cultures and sold as slaves. Yet despite these atrocities - the strength, beauty and power of Africa could never depart. The Marimba was recreated from memory and served as an unbreakable thread between the diaspora and the continent.

In 2019, the 'Humanitarian Refuge for Life' was staged in Bogota. Feeling as though their freedom and life itself were hanging by a thread, over 3,000 social leaders from all regions of Colombia gathered to take a stand against systemic violence against; African descendants, indigenous people and women - throughout Columbia. El Gran Latido Sound System provided the amplification and musical backdrop for this occasion and 'Mother of Song' was given its first musical airing. The response was powerful and the combination of the traditional Marimba melody with the militancy of the roots reggae drum and bass elevated the spirit of protest.

To honour this story and amplify the cause, an additional version, entitled “El Pueblo No Se Rinde Carajo” has been made featuring a speech from Diego Fernando Porto Carrero, highlighting the ongoing plight of black and indigenous people in Colombia from slavery times up until this present day.

Majical is a revolutionary wordsmith, undefinable by genre. An MC and a Rastaman that’s journeyed through garage, grime, hiphop and reggae to arrive at his own destination he’s coined as ‘roots hop culture’.

'Do You Know' started out as a dubplate on the 'King of Grime' instrumental by producer Lewi B. Inspired by the title of the beat, Majical penned this song to exalt the many earthy achievements for the King of all Kings, Emperor Haile Selassie I. On hearing this version, Kibir La Amlak approached Majical to make a new version of the track together, that brought it into the world of UK Reggae Sound System he hails from. The final result is a genre bending testament to modern RasTafari music. It is heavily influenced and dominated by the weight and grove of a hard hitting, drum and bass line, but laced lyrically like a UK grime track, mixed and dubbed hard and heavy in the Kibir La Amlak studio.

No other day could be more fitting for this release than the anniversary of Haile Selassie’s birth 23rd July. Due for release on all leading digital and streaming platforms, and a limited edition run of poly-vinyl, followed by a full vinyl run in September.

Macka B’s ‘My Fathers People’ is an upfull homage and heart felt salutation to some of the great Pan-African leaders, who devoted their lives to the freedom and liberation of Africa. Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, Bantu Steve Beko, Dedan Kimathi, Amílcar Cabral, Agostinho Neto, Kwame Nkrumah, Samora Machel, Julius Nyerere and Haile Selassie.

In the fine style that we’ve all come to know and expect of Macka B, this track is not only catchy and upbeat, but also jam-packed full of essential knowledge. In-between each chorus, Macka B gives a brief snapshot of the leaders, their struggles, their victories and their qualities. The track is equally at home in a sound system session as it is in a school. History has long been handed from generation to generation in song, and adults and children alike will find themselves singing along and helping to keep the memories and the works of these great men alive and well in this present day.

No other day could be more fitting for the release of this track than African Liberation Day, the 58th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, by Haile Selassie, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Many of the leaders called upon in this track were leaders that were convened by His Imperial Majesty on that very day to begin the process of liberating Africa from the yoke of colonial and neocolonial bondage, hence the title - My Fathers People.

The musical richness of this track is not only owed to Kibir La Amlak’s composing style, but also to the amazing studio sound of Lone Ark and playing style of Roberto Sanchez who played back almost all instruments on this piece (drums, bass, guitar, piano, organ, percussion) bar the sax and flute which was handled by I-Jah Salomon and the soulful backing vocals from JJ Soul X.

The highly demanded song, ‘Strengthen My Faith’ from Brother Dan and Kibir La Amlak is finally ready not just as a single, but as a showcase vocal / dub EP! A modern roots reggae masterpiece, authentic and orthodx yet still contemporary and current. The credit list lining the majestic artwork by Ras Elijah Tafari, lists a plethora of top musicians such as JAH David (bass), Rankin Dred (drums), Ashanti Selah (keys), Roberto Sanchez (percussion), Gyasi Crossdale (guitars), Natty Keyz (keys), Jellis (guitars) and Alison Campbell (backing vox). Recorded at top studios all over the globe from Lone Ark in Spain to Tuff Gong in Jamaica, KLA studio in London UK, Zion High Studios, Florida, USA, This EP showcases some of the best global talent of modern roots reggae. The title track of the EP ‘Strengthen My Faith’ started out as a dubplate voiced by Brother Dan for Kibir La Amlak. The dub was an instant hit as part of the Kibir La Amlak live dub show, and was further championed by Aba Shanti-I who mixed his own exclusive cuts of the track ahead of his annual residency at the infamous Nottinghill Carnival. As the video clips of Aba mixing and playing the track went viral, both Kibir La Amlak and Brother Dan received a bundle of messages from people asking about its potential release. This feedback inspired both Bro Dan and KLA to head back into the studio to write more material.

After weeks of writing 5 vocals were selected for the EP; Strengthen My faith, As Far As I Can See, In the I’s (of JAH), Higher Region and God I Am. Each track was given the utmost care and attention to detail, both lyrically and musically. Everytime the bar was raised lyrically the bar was raised musically and each track grew organically as each musician added their own flavour and vibe. God I am stands alone as a deeply spiritual and hypnotic acoustic track. The other four vocals are followed by heavy-weight dub versions, mixed by Kibir La Amlak at Bow and Arrow Studio Stockholm, in the original analogue fashion, hands on faders, spring reverbs, valve filters and tape delays. Mastered by Luis Bonilla at Old Street Studios, London. The final sonic character of this EP (especially the vinyl) is huge! Warm, punchy, analogue, roots-reggae at its finest.

The long awaited EP from Messenger Douglas and Kibir La Amlak is finally ready, and ready with style. Yes, it was definitely worth the wait! This testament to modern roots reggae has cut no corners and taken no shortcuts! A large credit list lines the back of this EP, naming a plethora of the best musicians, studios and engineers that the UK reggae scene has to offer. Such as Dennis Bovell, Jerry Lionz, Ashanti Selah, Roberto Sanchez to name but a few.

Messenger Douglas is an artist in a league of his own, high musical standards are seamlessly married with deep lyrical content! The four vocal instalments on this EP showcase this marriage immaculately.

‘Real Works’ the title track of the EP, kicks off proceedings as a rallying call to anyone who knows they can do better in life. A solid roots rockers riddim explodes out of the speakers to carry the message that ‘there is no time to idle, relax or sit down, the battle can be won!’ ‘Blessings’ follows as an exploration of faith and confidence in the ever present blessings of life. As life is a journey with many ups and downs, the riddim track, especially the bassline, reflects this. Dennis Bovell’s world class bass playing shines through here, taking us from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Regardless of the position on the journey, the faith still remains.‘Happiness’, a song written by Messenger over 30 years ago, finally finds its way onto the anthemic Joshua’s Anthem riddim, with a message as relevant to the world today as it was when it was written. The EP concludes with ‘Sufferers Tea’, a true lyrical masterpiece, that deals with the harsh and bitter realities of life as a sufferer. The hypnotic guitars, and relentless pace of the riddim echo the intensity of the sufferers life, yet true to Messenger’s songwriting genius, the song remains upful and even humorous in places.

All four vocals are followed by heavy-weight dub versions, mixed by Kibir La Amlak, in the original analogue fashion, hands on faders, spring reverbs, valve filters and an immaculate attention to detail. The tracks were mixed by Kibir La Amlak and Nick Manasseh at the Yard Studios and then mastered and cut to vinyl by Lewis Hopkins at Star Delta Mastering. The final sonic character of this EP (especially the vinyl) is huge! Warm, punchy, analogue, roots -reggae at its finest.

Both Kibir La Amlak and Messenger Douglas have a firm root in the world of reggae sound system, so it felt only natural that this EP echo that foundation with the vocal / dub format that is so richly associated with that world. The vinyl release honours this tradition with the EP coming on 2 separate 12” disks! Whether you choose to play your favourite track as a vinyl single through a sound system, or tune into the whole EP start to finish on Spotify as you cook dinner, one thing is guaranteed. You will not be disappointed!