I Grade Records announced the release of the Songbird Riddim album – the first installment of the Zion I Kings Riddim Series. The Songbird Riddim includes a lineup of 16 reggae artists from the Virgin Islands, Jamaica and the United States. The Songbird Riddim also provides a sneak peak at Lutan Fyah’s forthcoming album for I Grade Records.
Songbird Riddim features some of brightest acts in the respected Virgin Islands’ roots reggae scene, including Midnite, Pressure, Niyorah, Ras Batch, Danny I and Junior P. Also featured are three of Jamaica’s finest: Lutan Fyah, Glen Washington, and newcomer, Jah9. Brooklyn’s (by way of Guyana), Jahdan Blakkamoore, is also represented, hot off of the heels of his collaborations with Snoop Lion (formerly known as Snoop Dogg) for his Reincarnated album. Guitar maestro Tuff Lion’s emotive playing is on display with an instrumental version that invokes the feel of his seminal album for I Grade Records, Ten Strings (2008).
Zion I Kings is a production collective of three producers/labels: Zion High Productions, I Grade Records, and Lustre Kings Productions. On the Songbird Riddim, Tippy I of I Grade and Jah David of Zion High crafted the soulful and melodic composition with an excellent line up of instrumentalists, including Craig Taylor (drummer for Julian Marley), Tuff Lion, Steve Katz of St. Croix and Jazzique of Nevis. Balboa Becker and Daniel Casares of Celebrity Hornz provide the soulful horn playing. Zion I Kings has several “Riddims Series” releases planned, including the upcoming Jah Warriah Riddim – to be released on Zion High Productions summer 2013.
Track listing:
She’s Got Soul – Lutan Fyah
The Rain – Pressure
So Beautiful – Ras Batch
I Know – Danny I
Bumpy Ride – Glen Washington
War is Not the Answer – NiyoRah
Best in Life – Jahdan Blakkamoore
A New Overstanding – Midnite
Tension – Jah9
Times Ah Get Hard – Junior P
The Power of Love – Misael
Don’t Let Go – Shay
Holding onto Freedom – Dushane
JAH Preserve – Reemah
Call on JAH Name – Duane Stephenson
Birds of Praise – Tuff Lion
More at http://www.igraderecords.com
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
