{"title":"Akae Beka","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAkae Beka is a roots reggae band hailing from Saint Croix, in the US Virgin Islands. The group was formed in 2015 by members of the renowned Midnite group. With their soulful and powerful music, Akae Beka has captured the hearts of reggae enthusiasts worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown for their authentic sound and conscious lyrics, Akae Beka's music resonates with listeners on a deep level. Drawing inspiration from their Caribbean roots, they create captivating melodies that transport audiences to another dimension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eInfluenced by artists such as Samory I, Rorystonelove, and Hempress Sativa, Akae Beka brings a unique blend of traditional reggae elements infused with modern twists. Their performances are nothing short of mesmerizing, leaving crowds energized and craving more.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mek-a-menshun-feat-protoje","title":"Mek a Menshun (feat. Protoje)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAkae Beka's inimitable style of rich, deep, multi-layered songwriting, uncompromising devotion to RasTafari and soulful healing melodies developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite and countless recordings. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP's. He is without a doubt one of the most prolific reggae artists ever known.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe stellar production trinity that is Zion I Kings have been involved collectively and individually in creating some of the most highly regarded contributions to the vast Akae Beka catalogue. The timeless songs of 'Mek A Menshun' amply reward the listener who can penetrate into the mystical musical realms of Rastafari. Longtime fans of Midnite and Akae Beka will note that Vaughn Benjamin's singing on 'Mek a Menshun' reached new heights of melodic delivery and emotional intensity. Coupled with his always poetic and insightful lyrics, these 10 original songs rank among his best recordings to date. The title track 'Mek A Menshun' includes vocals by Protoje Grammy (R)-nominated artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginally released digitally and on CD, this LP is now being released for the first time on as a 12\" vinyl LP courtesy of Before Zero Records.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Before Zero Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50461259891019,"sku":"2001276","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cover.ki-1_bdcb0e67_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727246136"},{"product_id":"polarities","title":"Polarities","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePolarities\u003c\/i\u003e is the 13th and final full album of new material from Vaughn Benjamin and I Grade Records, the culmination of a 20 year working relationship that began with 2001's Nemozian Rasta album, which was Midnite's 4th album released to date at that time. \u003ci\u003ePolarities\u003c\/i\u003e was produced jointly by the Zion I Kings production team, with Tippy I of I Grade at the production helm, alongside Vaughn Benjamin himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe album also includes two notable guest features: Tiken Jah Fakoly of Ivory Coast on \"Everything Bless\" and Chronixx of Jamaica on \"Black Carbon\", which were both released in 2020 as the first singles off of \u003ci\u003ePolarities\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Before Zero Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50466460926283,"sku":"1130648","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/fa535e79-46ce-4b32-b9ae-7e49c46c9a3a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727313883"},{"product_id":"kings-bell","title":"Kings Bell","description":"\u003cp\u003eKings Bell, first made available to the world on CD and digital on November 1, 2011, is now being released on a 12\" vinyl courtesy of Before Zero Records. This LP joined the best of St Croix with the best of Jamaica: an amazing lineup of players spearheaded by the venerable Jamaican production maestro Andrew \"Bassie\" Campbell. The result of this collaboration is Kings Bell – a modern roots masterpiece. As Vaughn Benjamin's first-ever full-length collaboration with a Jamaican producer, Kings Bell was a historic release and features some of the greatest musicians the genre has ever seen including Leroy \"Horsemouth\" Wallace, Earl \"Chinna\" Smith, Squidley Cole, Mikey \"Boo\" Richards and Sticky Thompson.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe driving musical force behind the album, producer and bassist Andrew \"Bassie\" Campbell has crafted beautiful rhythms that truly compliment the deep lyrics of Vaughn Benjamin. The power and authenticity of Andrew Bassie's productions stand out from the mass of slickly-produced modern roots coming out of Jamaica today. Much of the music was recorded organically in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studio, with additional overdubs, vocal recording and mixing completed at I Grade's studio in St. Croix. The result is a collection of songs that capture not only the essence of classic roots from the hands and minds of some of the individuals who have literally helped build the genre, but also the urgency and innovation of the present time. In more than seventy albums and in over twenty years of Midnite music nothing like this cross-fertilization of Jamaican classic roots tradition mixed with St. Croix's own deep roots tradition has ever happened, making \"Kings Bell\" a glowing highlight in the expansive catalogue of Vaughn Benjamin. A catalogue born from a non-stop movement in pursuit of progressing his craft and delivering his message to the world. One of Benjamin's most fruitful stops along his journey was with I Grade Records, headed by producer\/engineer\/multi-instrumentalist Laurent \"Tippy I\" Alfred, regarded by many as some of the finest work of his career.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Before Zero Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50466462400843,"sku":"2004067","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cover.ki_25_5d360bde_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727313946"},{"product_id":"ride-tru","title":"Ride Tru","description":"\u003cp\u003eAkae Beka's inimitable style of rich, deep, multi-layered songwriting, uncompromising devotion to RasTafari and soulful healing melodies developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite and countless recordings. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP's. He is without a doubt one of the most prolific reggae artists ever known.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe stellar production trinity that is Zion I Kings have been involved collectively and individually in creating some of the most highly regarded contributions to the vast Akae Beka catalogue. Ride Tru, originally released digitally and on CD in 2014, stood every chance disappearing into the all eclipsing shadow of the LP released by them earlier that year, Beauty for Ashes, which had been named by iTunes as the reggae album of the year. A monumental achievement for undiluted, uncompromising RasTafari roots reggae music this side of the millennium. So needless to say, the bar was high and Vaughn Benjamin and Zion I Kings must have known that, as they managed to raise it higher again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRide Tru continues in the same form, rootsy, soulful, refreshingly polished and authentically raw, the threads of anciency that any devout reggae lover will be looking for and the threads of modernity that keep it alive and appealing in the modern day. A uniquely regal tapestry that has become synonymous with music created from the unity of Zion I Kings and Vaughn Benjamin\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing 8 years of anxious anticipation, for the countless Akae Beka fans that are also vinyl connoisseurs, this LP is now being released on as a 12\" vinyl LP courtesy of Before Zero Records. This offers the listener not only the chance to enjoy this LP in an analogue form, but also the chance to hold the artwork as a 12\" square masterpiece, created by the hands of Ras Marcus, the artist who gave the powerful visual presence that became synonymous to much of the I Grade \/ Akae Beka works over the years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Before Zero Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50486256107851,"sku":"1161649","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/70a99b40-82bc-4caf-a596-b51f4dc09e01_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727607641"},{"product_id":"beauty-for-ashes","title":"Beauty For Ashes","description":"\u003cp\u003eAkae Beka's inimitable style of rich, deep, multi-layered songwriting, uncompromising devotion to RasTafari and soulful healing melodies developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite and countless recordings. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP's. He is without a doubt one of the most prolific reggae artists ever known.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe stellar production trinity that is Zion I Kings have been involved collectively and individually in creating some of the most highly regarded contributions to the vast Akae Beka catalogue. Beauty For Ashes was named as the best reggae album of 2014 according to iTunes. A monumental achievement for undiluted, uncompromising RasTafari roots reggae music this side of the millennium. Two of the LP's tracks, Weather the Storm and Same I Ah One, have been catapulted into global notoriety in part due to the viral success of the YouTube video of the 'Dub in the Rainforest' session organised in St. Croix by Tippy I in 2014. The video offered an unparalleled audio visual insight of the powerful, captivating, energy of Vaughn Benjamin, Pressure Buss Pipe, Ras Batch, and many of the bredrin and sisterin of St. Croix rallying around the I Grade Dub living dub experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing 8 years of anxious anticipation, for the countless Akae Beka fans that are also vinyl connoisseurs, this LP is now being released on as a 12\" vinyl LP courtesy of Before Zero Records. This offers the listener not only the chance to enjoy this LP in an analogue form, but also the chance to hold the artwork as a 12\" square masterpiece, created by the hands of Ras Marcus, the artist who gave the powerful visual presence that became synonymous to much of the I Grade \/ Akae Beka works over the years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Before Zero Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50490158285131,"sku":"1169519","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b84a4701-46de-4712-a4fc-68356dac8583_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727653381"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_6d367cc5_thumbnail_4096_590082b4-d6ab-4479-90a2-21b735d454d7.jpg?v=1727246116","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/akae-beka.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}