To Di East Riddim

Title: To Di East Riddim
Artists: VA
Format: EP / Riddim Compilation
Label: Jah-N-I Roots Movement & Bantu Nation Movement
Genre: Reggae, Roots-Reggae, Dub
Release: April 2018

Tracklist:

Warrior King – Many Mansions Feat. Jahriffe

Kazayah – The Mission

King MAS – Can’t Draw We Out

Ras I-Dre – Sweet Reggae

Jahriffe – God Body

Wadadah II – Spiritual Ancestor Dub

Nearly a century ago, in the year 1920, the honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey prophesied:

“Look to the East for the crowning of a Black King, he is the Redeemer for the days of deliverance are near.”

In the spirit of the great ancestor, an army of Roots Reggae soldiers have organized and centralized in a musical tribute to our forefathers (and mothers) who have paved the way for Rastafari culture and Afrikan liberation theology as I & I carry the torch into the new millennium.

The “To Di East” Riddim, available on all digital music platforms as of April 6th, is the brainchild of the Jah-N-I Roots Movement in collaboration with the Bantu Nation Movement. Both collectives operate out of Boston, Massachusetts with seasoned musicians, Jahriffe & King MAS respectively, as the spearheads of each production team. The musicians responsible for this instrumental, infused with a celestial tone and vibration, are one of Boston’s top musical ensembles known as Circadian Riddims. Many recognize the potency of the “American Reggae” music coming out of Hawaii and California, but this heavy one-drop Reggae release will give you a reason to look “To Di East”.

In the opening number, Jahriffe teams up with Jamaican Reggae veteran Warrior King. Drawing upon the often quoted biblical verse “in my father’s house are many mansions,” the warriors cry out for “tolerance” and unity in these times of division and strife amongst nations.

The dub heavy sound of the project is due to the masterful mix provided by the skilled hands of Wadadah II of the D.O.V.E. Muzik recording label out of Chicago, Illinois. Emerging from this powerful musical camp, founded by Tzaddi Wadadah I circa 1983, 2 vital messengers are featured on this project by the names Kazayah & Ras I-Dre.

Kazayah sets the tone early on with her “mission” statement urging one and all to put aside “petty prejudices” and “come together” with a tone and delivery both hypnotic and captivating.

Ras I-Dre, a young fierce lyricist from Jamaica, then invokes the entire pantheon of Roots Reggae legends (past and present) in a tune paying homage to all who have maintained the vitality and integrity of this “Sweet Reggae” music throughout the years featuring vocal harmonies from Kazayah.

As usual, King MAS reaches into the ancestral realm as the “musical Obia man” and highlights one of the founding fathers of the Ashanti kingdom by the name Okomfo Anokye. “Can’t Draw We Out” brings light to the sword that Anokye drove into the ground during his time as an Ashanti high priest in the 17th century. Anokye stated that “if anyone removes the sword, that marks the end of the Ashanti kingdom.” The legendary sword, which remains unmoved & can still be seen in Kumasi today, inspired this musical tribute expressing solidarity between the people of Ghana and the children of the bloodline carried into the diaspora.

Finally, Jahriffe reveals more musical Mdu Ntr as he encourages one and all to “be who you come to be” and recognize your own divinity. “God Body” is followed by the “Spiritual Ancestor” dub mix by Wadadah II which any Roots Reggae practitioner would do well to add to their collection. As we move through the vernal equinox, the light of the sun rising from the east has overtaken the darkness enveloping the planet during the winter months. Just like the ever increasing power of the sun, look out for more heat from these Reggae warriors and light bearers ‘trodding’ from the east and chanting “To Di East”.