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"Nah Go Like Me"
by Nubian Natty
"Baptised in the Ghetto"
by Xkaliba
"Aneed"
by Midnite
"Set The Pace"
by Donny Dread
"T-Shirt"
Sizes are XL, L, M, S, Youth Large
Nubian Natty music combines the Tradional groove of Dancehall and Culture reggae rhythms with the urban taste of cruzan and Antiguan style mix. Nubain Natty was born on the Island of Antigua located in the British West Indies where most if not all her foundation came from. Later on moving to St. Croix Virgin Island with her mother an brother at the tender age of 7. Coming to the United States! This was a dramatic - change in her life that would lead her to be so versatile and creative in order to adapt to a different environment as St. Croix a U.S. teritory, which was much smaller than Antigua. She fell in love with reading and writing novels and poetry, she was told throughout her school years that her writing skill was Greate! So She began to take her skills very seriously. Nubian Natty wrote her first real poem to writing and chanting rap, and reggae music. No one knew of her singing or writing powers until she Exploded! On the scene at her First Stage Show with her first single "No Black Stone" at the Fredericksted/SandBar/Restaurant on St. Croix VI, 1997. During the past few years upon deciding to do research work, she begin to sing out in order to acquire justice for the progression of women especially, single parent women that is at a young age. Her style began to emerge from her courage to take on this important mission. Nubian Natty got her first recording deal with G.B. Records in 2006. This opportunity took her to California where she embarked on a long-journey delivering an exciting performance in San Frannscisco at the popular independence night club where she stole the show. Surprising audiences anywhere she performs. Her recent shows in the Mountains at Tahoe, Squaw Valley at the Zembu Lounge Ski Resort. Also at California Azkennaz Night Club. Due to her New Release "Nah go like me" has her well known in California and Virgin Islands areas. This LP was released by Groundbreaking Records New Years Day 2007. Nubian Natty is a Fire Female that really speaks the facts. She Quote, "Reality is someone's opinion it isn't Facts." Look Out for her upcoming CD release parties and compilations CDs with various artists.
My name is Michael Lionel also known as Xkaliba. I was born on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on April 7, 1975. I am the son of an Antiguan/Christian mother and a St. Lucian/Rastafarian father. As a young child growing up, my two sisters would go to church with my mother while my brothers and I would stay home with our dad. While spending time with dad, we were educated and motivated by the great reggae of the 70’s and 80’s era. As a child going to elementary, I was singing and listening to songs by some of the early legends. Artists like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Big Youth, Third World, and Culture were my first reggae influences. During elementary, I was never chanting. I was a fan of the reggae music that I heard before any other genre music, rap, R&B, calypso, gospel, etc. My older brother, seven years older than me, Pulse, was already chanting. Pulse had a friend in our neighborhood, “Seferally” project, named Danto. Danto had a sound system and was one of the best chanters in the neighborhood. Danto and my brother, Pulse, and other chanters on the island would perform in the ghetto every now and then. Danto’s sound system was the first one I used. During the summer, while I attended jr. high, my dad got me a keyboard and paid for me to take piano classes from Archie Thomas. During my years in jr. high, I became more familiar with dancehall. Charlie Chaplin, Super Cat, Ninja Man, and Shabba Ranks were my early dancehall influences. After listening to artists like Lovindeer and Commander Shad, I told myself if they could do it, so could I. Their style of dancehall incorporated comedy and storytelling. When I first began to chant, most of my songs were counter action; that is what you call it when someone changes the lyrics of a song, but uses the same flow. My first performance chanting was at Arthur A. Richards Jr. High School for a Black History Month show. When I reached high school, I became better in chanting and I began to write original songs instead of counter actions. Garnett Silk, Tony Rebel, Jr. Reid, Buju, Capelton, and Bounti Killa gave me motivation. I also got plenty other influences from watching dancehall videotapes such as Sting, Sunsplash, Sound Clash, etc. In 1992, while working a summer job in a metal shop, my right hand was crushed in a machine and my right index finger was amputated. Ever since, I labeled myself “Original Nine Fingers.” In 1993, my older brother now “Ranking Pulse” released his 1st reggae CD named Shake U Down on Prime Record label in Puerto Rico. He was also the 1st Virgin Islands’ artist to be interviewed and had his video shown on Caribbean Satellite Network (CSN). In my last year of high school in 1994, I performed in a show we called Central High Sun Splash (C.H.S.). This was my first time performing in front of a big crowd. This show featured ten (10) artists from different parts of the island who attended school. The first artist out of the show to release his own CD was Goldfish. After graduating from high school, I was inspired by new reggae artists like Luciano, Sizzla, Anthony B., and Jr. Kelly. I also began to purchase music that my dad never had from artists like Aswad, Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, Twinkle Brothers, and Jah-Shaka. In 1997, I started to attend “Chant-out” in Whim, where I discovered DJ Swain of the Underground Sounds. We became friends and he was the first to record me and put my songs out on his mixtape (CD’s). I began to record on his mixtapes year after year along with other V.I. artists. This introduced me to Donny Dread, who gave me the opportunity to record three whole songs on his first various Artists CD named “7th St. Faren Heights.” The songs I recorded were “Babylon Pan We Mind,” “Raspect the ladies,” and “Come Together.” Donny Dread was a young artist and producer who was forming his own label, “Groundbreaking Records.” During this time I met Tippy and Kenyatta, who were two young musicians and producers. In 1999 when Midnite returned to St. Croix, I was inspired and became a fan of the band and Idren to Vaughn Benjamin. When Tippy released his 1st (Various/Weep Not/I-Grade), I recorded “Baptized in the Ghetto” to give the world a sneak preview of what was coming. “Baptized in the Ghetto” is also the title track for my album that I began to record with Donny Dread. When he released his 1st solo, Set De Pace in 2004, I was featured on a combination tune named “See and Know” along with “YAHADANAI.” From 1999 to 2004, I have been working off and on with a local reggae band named Gravity. They were known for singing covers so I performed as a backup singer and chanter with them to develop my skills. In 2005, I linked up with a next band, Reggae Bubblers, who had their own studio. In May 2005, they released their 1st various Artists CD, “Blackstarliner Vol. #1,” which featured my song, “Mr. Problem.” Shortly after, I began recording for “Blackstarliner Vol. #2,” and recorded “Life,” which was released in October 2005, followed by Vol. #3, which featured "Reggae Lives On". I am currently awaiting the release of my 1st album “Baptized in the Ghetto” and recording whenever I get the opportunity.
Hailing from the Island of St Croix, Midnite is one of the most promising roots reggae bands of the millennium. They are vanguards of conscious reggae who represent the King's and Queen's music to the fullness of Jah. Midnite's profound and innovative lyrics are sincere and deeply rooted to present the other half of the story. Their cd recordings and live performances will have reggae and non reggae listeners open to the messages they bring. Lead singer Vaughn Benjamin's electrifying voice seems an amalgamation of many great voices in reggae--soulful, chanting, edgy. Vaughn's potent lyrical style and his brother Ron's exquisite keyboards and musical directorship form the nucleus of this musical quintet. Midnite weaves the cultural lyrics of "old school" roots music with modern day experiences to create a unique listening encounter. Reggae - naked and raw is an apt description for Midnite's musical style, in which they forgo the frills of extensive remixes, overdubbing and other musical refinements. "Unpolished" is the suitably named title of their debut album which includes such classics as "Don't Move", "Mama Africa", and "Love the Life You Live". Originally released in 1997, while the band was located in Washington, D.C., this crucial album has recently been made widely available on Rastafaria Recordings. In 1999, Midnite linked up with Wildchild! Records for their second release "Ras Mek Peace". Incredibly, this album was recorded using only two channels and was mastered without any reverb, filtering, compression or equalization. Songs like "Hieroglyphics", in which graffiti is likened to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, showcase the intelligent songwriting that pervades all of Midnite's works. Following the release of Ras Mek Peace, Midnite returned to live in St. Croix so that they could work with the local musicians and make recordings at their African Roots Lab without any outside interference. The fruits of these labours can be found on their third album "Jubilees of Zion", which was released on their own independent Afrikan Roots Lab record label. The expansive, hypnotic rhythms continue, alongside the messages of peace, universal brotherhood, and cultural resistance to Babylon. In 2002, Midnite made their Northern California debut at the 9th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. The combination of Vaughn’s searing lyrics, raw roots music and the warmth of the sun beating onto the masses at the village stage made for a potent and memorable experience for all who were present. That same month saw the release of Midnite’s fourth album "Seek Knowledge Before Vengeance". Released on the Afrikan Roots Lab record label, this album raises the bar of cultural roots reggae, as we know it today. Midnite explodes in live performances with sets that often exceed 3 hours. Their vigorous, weighty sound, driven by the punchy bass lines creates a vibe that penetrates straight to the heart. These epic musical communions have earned Midnite an enormous following throughout the roots community. This is especially true in St. Croix, Puerto Rico, Brazil, St. Louis and here on the West Coast where they have toured extensively including another rousing appearance at the 10th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. In the fall of 2003, Midnite released their first dub album "Intense Pressure", which includes some tracks from their prior releases along with some dubs of forthcoming albums. In 2004, Midnite released 2 brand new studio albums "Ainshant Maps" on their Afrikan Roots Lab record label and "Scheme A Things" on the Rastafaria label. Midnite has also collaborated with I-Grade Records for four releases: "Nemozian Rasta", "Assini", "Vijan" and the recently released "Let Live". Several members of the band have also released a quintet of albums under the name Midnite Branch I: "Cipheraw", "Geoman", "He Is Jah" "Project III" and "Full Cup". By breaking all the rules, Midnite is setting a new standard. Armed with a firm foundation in Jah Rastafari, their natural talents, and a strong and uncompromising musical vision, Midnite champions a unique sound that is on the cutting edge of modern roots music.
Donny Dread growing up in the middle of two of st croix's roughest housing developments D Halmiton and Ralph D Chabert housing projects marijuana and music was the movement Every morning his neihbor and bredren trent aka dreadlocks would blast roots music acompanied by the sweet smell of cannabis this highly affected Donny Dread and his brother Dale Melody along with the the Recreation center which was a old jail right in the middle of a housing projects in the Center there were pictures of bob marley marcus garvey malcolm x king tut queen nfertiti the pictures also had a brief history which he would read and learn about african heroes all of which provided him with solid base and understanding of who he was by age ten he was writing his own songs and by 13 he was already formed his own band. Donny Dread has always projected a "reality dont holdback" style in his music dropping his concious ambush like attack lyricsover anything from roots to dancehall to hip hop Forming Groundbreaking Records in 2000 was a Natural being that he is a artist/producer Although his voice was first heard on the Weep Not compilation, Donny Dread's musical contributions surfaced long before that time as he plays on numerous STX recordings including Heed Jah Call, and Nemozian Rasta. Set De Pace is the name of Donny Dread's debut album, which appears on his own label, Groundbreaking Records.
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