Streamola Archive

In part two of this session Ras Kush, of Black Redemption Sounds of Praises, dug further into his extensive vinyl collection sprinkling liberal amounts of Wackies in the process.. It kicks off with an african selection, followed by some mash down babylon vibes turning into a brief vocalist showcase featuring singers like Barry Brown and Al Campbell. A modern international steppers segment includes the magical ‘Superstar’ by Japan’s Mighty Massa – a staple of Black Redemption sets at the time – leading into a couple of other popular tunes..

 Ras Kush – Article Vinyl Pt.2 – 11.21.00 [94:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is part one of this session in which Ras Kush, of Black Redemption Sounds of Praises, dug into his extensive vinyl collection for rarely played tunes. He began by showcasing the dubwise style including selections from producers Coxsone Dodd, Lloyd Barnes, Adrian Sherwood and Tapper Zukie. Then comes ‘blessed’ selection of rastafari tunes including Earl Sixteen’s take on Niney’s “Jah Love is Sweeter” riddim before he flings some of classic instrumentals – particularly notable is the work of Douglas Guthrie, a much undersung sax player whose work must have influenced Dean Frazier.

 Ras Kush - Article Vinyl Pt.1 - 11.21.00 [94:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It was shortly after I first started streaming the old Dread Broadcast Corp. programming that I first encountered Ras Kush via some NYC club website in 1999. I was amazed, in amongst the techno, house, etc, to discover a selecter playing all Wackies music, so much beloved by the D.B.C. back in the day. With some difficulty I made contact and, after some delay, Ras Kush eventually showed up on my door. It turned out he was freshly returned from Japan. Wackies had just, via the offices of Ras Takashi, formed a Far East Chapter, and Black Redemption Sound had been called upon to visit and wave the musical flag. Ras Kush gave me a tape of one of the Japanese sessions and that became the first of many of his sessions to grace the streamola bitwaves.

 Black Redemption in Japan 1999 [94:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

St. Paddy’s 2001 – a Saturday night.  Ras Kush, returned from an extended visit to Japan, goes live on the Reggae Vibes stream. He kicks off with some warm rub-a-dub before breaking out the crucial UK steppers. Ari Up aka Madussa shows up and immediately gets on the mic for an extended skank on her tunes of the day. After a short period of technical difficulty we hear some sublime roots n culture in the old time come back again style; as the version runs back comes Ari with “No Peace” – a song I’ve never heard her sing anywhere else.  A Gregory Isaacs segment allows Ari to tear it up on the Slavedriver riddim.  A strong Horace Martin dub sees her produce a novel take on The Slits  ‘New Town’.

I know the tape cuts off suddenly, but Part 2 is coming..

 Ras Kush w/Ari Up - Reggae Vibes - Mar 17 2001 (Pt.1) [95:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download