Ras Kush is a reggae DJ, sound system operator, selecter, musician, and record producer based in Brooklyn. He is a leading exponent of the 'warrior style' of roots reggae. He operates the Black Redemption Sounds of Praises sound system, and founded an associated record label. He has toured internationally in Europe and Japan.
Background edit
Born in New York City, Kush grew up in Haiti, emigrating to the States at age 11. Growing up in Brooklyn Kush began dj-ing in 1986 at the age of 16. He became a protegé of Roland Alphonso of The Skatalites and a regular customer of Coxsone Dodd at his Musik City store. After attending college he began operating a sound system in a basement in East New York but, disenchanted by the general trend away from roots reggae to the less sophisticated dancehall riddims, he stopped playing publically around 1989. [1]
Black Redemption Sound edit
In the mid 1990's Kush started playing out again, playing roots selections at NYC venues like SOB's. He joined, and became the selector for, a sound system called Roots Potential, formerly based in St. Vincent where it was known as Dread at the Control, eventually taking over the reins from the elder founder Sano Judah. Judah, an active member of the Rastafarian group Twelve Tribes, infused the sound with a strong spiritual influence. [1]
Alphonso had introduced Kush to Lloyd Barnes, proprietor of the Wackies label, and Kush had been apprenticed as a percussionist. In 1998 he collaborated on a digital album with a melodica player from Japan named Takashi. Takashi joined the sound system and the name was changed to Black Redemption. The sound subsequently spent six months, September 1998 until March 1999, playing in Japan. [1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Hecker, Judy (1999-07-29). "If Selecta Was Your Trade: An Interview with Ras Kush of the Black Redemption Sound System". Easy Star Records. Retrieved 2008-02-24.