Akae Beka – Sow and the Reap (2024) Single

Label: © 2022 Before Zero Records | ℗ 2021 I Grade Records
Produced by: Zion I Kings
Drums, Programming by: Romaine “Teflon Zincfence” Arnett
Bass by: David “JAH David” Goldfine
Organ, Piano, Guitar, Synths by: Laurent “Tippy I” Alfred
Guitars by: Andrew “Moon” Bain
Trombone, Synths by: Andrew “Drew Keys” Stoch
Acoustic Guitar by: Steve Katz
Mixed and Mastered by: Laurent “Tippy I” Alfred at Holy Mountain Studio, St. Croix, VI
Cut by: Lewis @ Star Delta Mastering, UK
Original artwork by: Marcus Wilson
Collage and Graphic Layout by: Before Zero Records
Release date: 03/29/2024

Sagacious reggae lyricist Vaughn Benjamin’s words are particularly cutting during Sow And The Reap, the final recording of Vaughns immense catalog of works with I Grade Records. Produced by Zion I Kings, and taken from 2021’s album Polarities, Sow And The Reap folds topics of political dominance, mass migration, and injustice into a thought provokingly coherent whole. The song brims with Vaughn’s characteristic dual-meaning word-play, using evocative metaphors of nature and agriculture to illuminate global policy. Sow And The Reap’s timeless lyrical principles are matched by its inexorable reggae rhythm, featuring hefty programmed drums by Romain “Teflon Zincfence” Arnett, and sombre trombone and space age synth, both supplied by much missed multi-instrumentalist Drew Keys. Backed by its correspondingly haunting dub.

This series honours both the vocal and version culture of the reggae sound system and the profound lyricism of Vaughn Benjamin. We have consistently received two requests in relation to releasing the LPs: “Can we have dub versions?” and “Where can we read the lyrics?” Our response is the ‘Akae Beka – vocal, version and word-sound collection.’ Before Zero Records worked with Tippy I Grade to mix a series of dub mixes from a carefully curated selection of his extensive works with Vaughn Benjamin. The vocal and corresponding dub mixes were then cut to wax by Lewis Hopkin of Star Delta and wrapped in a collage made of Ras Marcus’s artworks, which he crafted for various LP covers of Vaughn’s works throughout the years with the lyrics transcribed and printed on the rear of each sleeve.

1. Sow and the Reap
2. Tippy I Grade – Dub and the Reap