The Riddim
Following on the heels of the ‘Greediness of Dub and Otherwise’ Steve Netshishivhe’s third Studio Album and most successful production to date, with the lead single Lufuno still enjoying rotation on local radio stations, Deep Roots Studios now prides itself as having produced the first Reggae Riddim outta Limpopo and working with varied artists and musicians in the Reggae and Dancehall genre, it has come out with a solid offering for the pandemic period, Limpopo’s very own Inity Riddim production.
Conceptualized by bass player Steve Netshishivhe, who plays with the The DRC band in Pretoria where he is based, he explained the process behind the project: “My last studio album Greediness of Dub, and Otherwise felt like it needed some sense of continuation, with a deeper meaning. It was at this period that the world came to a stand still due to the pandemic, we were on lockdown, so I started working on a beat with Lufuno Munzhelele. Once we felt that the instrumental mirrors the reality we are currently faced with, we then reached out to a few artists. Those who feel it, know it, and they are the ones who made it to the final product.”
The project is called, ‘Inity Lockdown Riddim and it is a collaborative effort and features reggae stalwarts The Meditators Band from the KZN with Ras Shante on lead vocals delivering a smoothly laid out track on Covid19. Luwe Da Lion acknowledged the message in the riddim and came out with the track Sikelela, flexing his lyricism on the sounds of dub Riddim and showing growth and versatility. Both Luwe and The Meditators are part of the growing Durban Reggae Explosion, a movement intent on promoting Reggae culture in KZN.
Fellow Dub Artist Thomani Tshikororo a veteran from Limpopo with a number of independently produced albums under his belt comes with a warning : The Wind is Blowing. A sickness will hammer yah / A sickness wind is blowing. Love yah life / live your life. Wind is Blowing will be out on digital platform as a Lead single from his upcoming Album.
C2B De Poet, real name Mulweli Sithubi, a young poet and singer from the rural village of Maungani near Thohoyandou, accompanies the riddim with a soliloquy and musings on the Corona Virus. Don Dadda Ft. Mama’s Boy with Nwali Ri farele, calling on the ancestors and seeking their mercy to help in these trying times. Bashy Jahbless received the riddim, voiced it and and ran with it. He made the track the lead single off his latest album with same title: Run For Your Life.
The South African Upcoming Music Awards (SAUMA) 2019 winners for Best Reggae Song, The Natty Lions – A Roots Reggae Band from Limpopo – they feature a young unknown poet, Clemy who comes with a touch of humour as he talks about the woes Lockdown.
The version Dub De Covid by producer and Bass player Steve Netshivhishe concludes the journey through Limpopo through Dub Reggae sounds that are familiar in the streets corners and Supermarket squares of Limpopo, where its common to find a reggae band playing at shopping malls, village squares, in the tarvens. Almost everywhere in Limpopo you will never fail to hear the homegrown sounds of Reggae. The Riddim has been touted by those who had the opportunity to hear it, as a ‘must-have’ on your playlist and highlights and one to watch for post Lockdown period.