At a time when the hammering dancehall beat has all but drowned out the traditional skank, and angry voices shout out, comes a voice with positive messages: modern and distinctive, but steeped in Reggae’s tradition, drawing on R&B roots, soul and world flavors.
Abijah’s international flair is exemplified by the flamenco-tinged title track of his new album, Moving to the Top to be released by Azion Music on April 20, 2008. While revealing his penchant for combining the old and the new, his efforts to "move to the top" are about picking up the torch and continuing the work of the waning generation of Reggae legends (the recent passing of Culture’s Joseph Hill and Lucky Dube come to mind). Abijah’s seen it all, starting in his childhood, tapping out percussion with his father’s renowned group The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari.
The songs on this album were road-tested as Abijah toured over 30 cities, live and with a pre-release. Touring included the Kingston launch party with MC Tony Rebel (artist and founder of the world-famous Rebel Salute festival) and Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, one of Abijah’s producers (behind the rise of Luciano and Sizzla). Abijah also showcases his own production skills with this new album alongside fellow-producer and instrumentalist Gibby, famed as Peter Tosh’s guitarist. The day after the launch, Abijah and his touring band Dub Station performed live on TV from the National Arena for all of Jamaica.
Jamaicans gave Abijah his moniker "Ambassador of Peace" for his work promoting One Love philosophies before thousands of kids in the island school system, as well as abroad, including at Native American reservations, prisons, and by invitation to Harvard and Oxford Universities.
Bringing back the acoustic feel of Bob Marley’s "Redemption Song" with his own #1 hit "Revelation" (on his first, VP Records’ release), Abijah has reinvented his own song with a "Revelation Remix" featuring dancehall’s premier legend Beenie Man. Marvin Gaye’s "Abraham, Martin, and John" (lamenting the loss of Lincoln, King, and Kennedy) is recast in Abijah’s "Tribute," where he reflects on the passing of Reggae roots progenitors Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and Joe Higgs. MLK’s own words "we shall overcome" are echoed in the song "Overcome" (alongside R&B crooner Tevin Campell).
Motown, Marvin Gaye, Jackson Five...
musicians learn from each other no matter where you’re from.
Friends visited Marley and he was listening to Bee-Gees!
When asked why, Bob said ‘they do so well, I’m listening to see why.’
I try to be like a sponge, to learn, absorb, be open...
Other artists are a big influence on me,
music’s not about where you’re from, no limits or boundaries,
not about religion, politics, or the color of your skin,
music is given to each of us. -- Abijah
Moving to the Top and Abijah recently won AirPlayDirect.com’s first "All-Things-Digital World & Reggae Music Contest." Abijah’s built a good buzz on his home island in anticipation of his US release. He (and this new album) has been endorsed by the international telecommunications company, Call the Planet (CTP). Abijah’s name has been plastered on billboards, car-art, and advertising. And his new music video "Moving 2 the Top" has been charting on Hype TV.
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Abijah’s international flair is exemplified by the flamenco-tinged title track of his new album, Moving to the Top to be released by Azion Music on April 20, 2008. While revealing his penchant for combining the old and the new, his efforts to "move to the top" are about picking up the torch and continuing the work of the waning generation of Reggae legends (the recent passing of Culture’s Joseph Hill and Lucky Dube come to mind). Abijah’s seen it all, starting in his childhood, tapping out percussion with his father’s renowned group The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari.
The songs on this album were road-tested as Abijah toured over 30 cities, live and with a pre-release. Touring included the Kingston launch party with MC Tony Rebel (artist and founder of the world-famous Rebel Salute festival) and Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, one of Abijah’s producers (behind the rise of Luciano and Sizzla). Abijah also showcases his own production skills with this new album alongside fellow-producer and instrumentalist Gibby, famed as Peter Tosh’s guitarist. The day after the launch, Abijah and his touring band Dub Station performed live on TV from the National Arena for all of Jamaica.
Jamaicans gave Abijah his moniker "Ambassador of Peace" for his work promoting One Love philosophies before thousands of kids in the island school system, as well as abroad, including at Native American reservations, prisons, and by invitation to Harvard and Oxford Universities.
Bringing back the acoustic feel of Bob Marley’s "Redemption Song" with his own #1 hit "Revelation" (on his first, VP Records’ release), Abijah has reinvented his own song with a "Revelation Remix" featuring dancehall’s premier legend Beenie Man. Marvin Gaye’s "Abraham, Martin, and John" (lamenting the loss of Lincoln, King, and Kennedy) is recast in Abijah’s "Tribute," where he reflects on the passing of Reggae roots progenitors Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and Joe Higgs. MLK’s own words "we shall overcome" are echoed in the song "Overcome" (alongside R&B crooner Tevin Campell).
Motown, Marvin Gaye, Jackson Five...
musicians learn from each other no matter where you’re from.
Friends visited Marley and he was listening to Bee-Gees!
When asked why, Bob said ‘they do so well, I’m listening to see why.’
I try to be like a sponge, to learn, absorb, be open...
Other artists are a big influence on me,
music’s not about where you’re from, no limits or boundaries,
not about religion, politics, or the color of your skin,
music is given to each of us. -- Abijah
Moving to the Top and Abijah recently won AirPlayDirect.com’s first "All-Things-Digital World & Reggae Music Contest." Abijah’s built a good buzz on his home island in anticipation of his US release. He (and this new album) has been endorsed by the international telecommunications company, Call the Planet (CTP). Abijah’s name has been plastered on billboards, car-art, and advertising. And his new music video "Moving 2 the Top" has been charting on Hype TV.
Abijah, moving straight to the top.
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Queen of Clubs