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"Rough and Rugged sees Toronto Reggae Don Nkrumah pairing up with the analogue production wizards behind the enigmatic Local Dish label for a wild, synthy dub excursion.

Sounding something between 80's Dancehall and a late 70's Cabe Verde grail, Nkrumah's cool baritone rides this deeply funky, synth soaked analogue riddim. Originally released as a lathe cut 7" in miniscule quantities this is an edition of just 500 copies. Just wait until you hear the dub!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: One of two killer Nkrumah 7"s to land this week. A new roots sure shot from Canada of all places! Both vocal and dub riding high here - original copies were lathe cut and now fetch a hefty price tag. Don't sleep on these properly manufactured plates as again, it's a limited run and highly desired by the reggae fraternity!

TRACK LISTING

Rough & Rugged
Rough & Dubbed

"Congo" by Nkrumah is a hypnotic slice of deep roots by Nkrumah aka Toronto's Kwame Salmon. The city that was home to Johnny Osbourne, Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo and countless other reggae legends has produced another artist following this great lineage, a singer with a voice unlike anyone else. Originally released in miniscule quantities as a self produced dubplate/lathe cut, the 45 caused a sensation among DJs and sound system operators world wide.
This official release features a different mix with an extended version and a spare, mesmerizing dub version by Toronto's Heavy Manners crew reminiscent of late 90s/early 2000s Rhythm and Sound releases.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The strongest of two killer Nkrumah 7"s to land this week. Nkrumah is a new reggae posterboy from Toronto. Both vocal and dub display exquisite dexterity. OG copies were lathe cut and now fetch a hefty price tag. Now available as a limited run, dinked black vinyl press - they won't hang around long!

TRACK LISTING

Congo
Congo Dub

Earl Lindo production from 1984... TIP!

Teenage twins Ruffy & Tuffy deliver an apocalyptic slab of synth drenched rub a dub with what could be the first use of vocoder in reggae for 1982’s "If The 3rd World War Is A Must". This release draws from both the original 12” and the master tapes combining the best vocal cut and dub versions. It's painfully poignant lyrical content almost predicting the exact state of the world that we live in today! 

Though not prolific musicians, many may recognize the twins sparring in matching red Pony track suits in Ted Bafaloukos’ iconic 1978 film Rockers. Ahead of its time in almost every way, the lyrics dealing with global war and the nefarious use of technology, sadly seem as relevant now as they did in 1982 though some of the actors may have changed. Surrounded by elite reggae musicians from childhood it was nothing unusual for the brothers to be in the presence of elders like Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, Augustus Pablo, Jacob Miller and especially Bob Marley at recording sessions and in daily life.

"If The 3rd World War" was their first venture into the studio as solo artists in 1982 first at Channel One and then Tuff Gong where Wailers alumni Earl Wire Lindo and Tyrone Downie (keys and Vocoder) laid down their space age additions to the track creating a genre bending reggae / electro / dub concoction that still sounds fresh 41 years later. Wire Lindo & the twins took the mastertapes to Texas based mechanical engineer and producer Stephen 'Iya' James who ran Marcus Garvey Records and the label African Unity Productions in the unlikely reggae hub of Austin Texas. The track was not released until two years later in 1984 as a 12” which had a run of only 500 copies and is no easy find these days, often fetching up to a £100.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Killer 80s Channel One / Tuff Gong rarity which might well lay claim to be the first dub track with a vocoder present. Scarily poignant in today's society; if that vocal is a little too real, then the dub should take away all your world woes in a ganja cloud of digi-dub prowess.

TRACK LISTING

If The 3rd World War Is A Must
If The 3rd World War Is A Must Dub


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