RiddimUP – Reggae Music and Rastafari Culture 2024
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11 October, 2024
A ViTAL Project
RiddimUP is a cultural exchange project between Jamaica and the UK that falls under BANG’s Communities, Culture, and Heritage offering. RiddimUP focu es on Rastafari arts and culture to foster values of love, unity, cultural understanding, and connection.
OUR Mission:
To provide a platform for Rastafari music and culture reaching audiences within and outside of the UK.
OUR AIMS:
We aim to develop emerging talent in the reggae music industry through a creative blend of artistic collaboration, digital content curation, social media and online promotion, and live events.
OUR ORIGIN:
RiddimUP is an evolution of the previously successful cultural exchange initiative ‘RiddimUP Live’, a project supported by the Arts Council in 2014.
OUR OUTCOMES:
RiddimUP facilitates collaboration between emerging UK artists with established and recognised artists and musicians through an internal exchange between the UK and Jamaica.
LATEST VIDEOS:
ASKALA SELASSIE
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Warrior Empress Askala Selassie, one of the UK's foremost reggae artists, captivates audiences with her pure vocals and heartfelt songwriting. At 21, she became the youngest ever backing singer for The Wailers Band, touring the UK and Europe in 2005. Since then, Askala has performed worldwide, sharing stages with reggae legends like Rita Marley, Beres Hammond, and Chronixx, and singing on renowned sound systems like Channel One and JAH Tubby’s. Her 2011 EP "Put JAH First" and 2016 debut album "Warrior Empress" highlight her positive messages and solid fan base. Askala's recent releases include "Survivor" and "GOD OUT," both accompanied by well-received music videos. She is currently collaborating with Ariwa Studios on new music.
Bongo Kanny
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Highly rated in the Roots Reggae scene, Bongo Kanny has collaborated with Ruff Cutt, The Sun Cycle, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Now breaking out as a solo artist, the North-London based Rastafarian singer combines shrewd social commentary with powerful vocal melodies. His lyrics tackle topics like the fate of Africa and UK politics alongside party vibe songs, aiming to make people feel good while giving them something to think about. Bongo Kanny has performed extensively across Europe, Jamaica, Grenada, and the US, with notable airplay on RJR, Jamrock Radio, and BBC 1Xtra, where Sir David Rodigan praised his track "Joyful" as a scorcher.
Subajah
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Subajah, an artist influenced by African and Caribbean rhythms, began in the French underground rap scene and later embraced reggae in Paris. After moving to London in 2007, he formed The Architects Band. His releases, including the 2014 EP "Voice of Freedom" and the 2017 album "Architect," showcase his versatile sound. In 2020, he released the futuristic track "Back 2 Da Future," followed by the love ballad "Happiness Remembers" in 2022. His latest album, "Lion," continues his commitment to spreading positive messages through music.
Judah Dareign
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Judah Dareign, an 11-year-old artist, musician, and producer, writes and performs his own songs while playing multiple instruments, including guitar, piano, nyabinghi drums, and melodica. Self-taught from age 7, Judah's music pays homage to Emperor Haile Selassie and legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Known for his pitch, he creates roots reggae and explores dub, blues, rock, and hip-hop. Using Logic Pro, Judah produced his first album and has promising collaborations on the horizon.
