Macka B is the lyrical chef

UK’s smooth chatting lyricist Macka B is back with a new album following the excellent Never Played A 45, which was produced by vintage revivalist Chris Peckings. This new album – Health Is Wealth – has a more contemporary sonic landscape and was recorded in Jamaica, Japan, Germany and the UK.

The album is heavily influenced by Macka B’s ital lifestyle and on several cuts he offers food for thought celebrating his vegan diet. Check for example the anthemic Wha Me Eat (remix), the title track and the viral video hit Cucumba, which has over 43 million views on Facebook.

But Macka B is as usual brimful of lyrics and offers thoughts on ganja on Natural Herb, voiced over a version of the classic Sleng Teng riddim, and refuses the gang lifestyle on the heartfelt Gangster. He also celebrates reggae veterans on not one, but two, cuts – Legendary Reggae Icons and 70’s Legendary Reggae Icons – and together with hitmaker Maxi Priest he revitalizes Ras Michael’s None A Jah Jah Children.

With his persuasive and thoughtful lyrics Macka B could probably turn any hardcore carnivore into a vegan or vegetarian.

Vintage vibes on Macka B’s Never Played a 45

UK’s number one cultural and humorous lyricist Macka B returns with a seriously solid effort produced by the Peckings Brothers – Chris and Duke. They’re sons of George “Daddy Peckings” Price who pioneered reggae music in the UK.

Never Played a 45 – with its title taken from Macka B’s popular single released in 2012 – showcases a witty and conscious wordsmith and all cuts are voiced over a deadly selection of classic early reggae and rocksteady riddims from the vaults of Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid and Bunny Lee.

Macka B has a deep voice and a slick flow and educates and uplifts when tackling social issues in the UK and abroad. But this set is not all about cultural numbers. The title track is – just as the title suggests – and ode to vinyl lovers.

But Macka B doesn’t judge anyone for using CD’s or a computer set-up – “well I’m not saying, that you should be playing the 45 7” only, but if you are able to go buy a turntable, you can also get them with a USB, it’s alright to play laptops, alright to play CD’s, it’s alright to play a MP3’s, but don’t leave out the vinyl, cause you can use them side by side with the modern technology, lawd…”.

Other stand-out tunes includes the beautiful and devout Phyllis Dillon combination One Life and the striking and spiritual Iternal Love with its seriously catchy chorus. The list of killer cuts could go on and on and when Their God fades out you immediately cry out – rewind!

Vibronics return with another earth-shaking set

UK roots outfit Vibronics return with another no-nonsense roots and dub album collecting twelve brand new tracks – six vocal cuts and six dub versions. This time they have teamed up with legendary vocalists Michael Prophet and Macka B alongside more contemporary talents like Soom T, Danman, Madu Messenger and I-Mitri.

The Return of Vibronics is militant with intense energy. As usual with Vibronics one might add. The vocal cuts are haunting, dark and dread and the dub versions are crammed to capacity with bass heavy sound system flavour.

This is UK bass music culture of the highest order. Sometimes almost diabolical, like North & South, and sometimes a bit brighter, like Heartbeat, even though it has an apocalyptic bass line.

Macka B is an investigative reporter

Macka B is one of the most influential UK reggae artists and is a veteran with a career spanning over three decades. But he hasn’t slowed down. Far from it. In 2012 he has put out two albums, and I had the opportunity to speak to him about his latest one – Rasta Soldier.

It was produced by Curtis Lynch and features Macka B’s clever and humorous takes on reality set to grim beats with ground shaking bass lines.

Good humor has always been a key ingredient for Macka B, but he also wants to reveal the harsh realities many people face. Like an investigative reporter he’s taking the viewpoint from the ordinary man in the streets and will continue his quest to tell the truth until we live in a perfect world.

Check the full story over at United Reggae.

A fruitful musical relationship between Macka B and Curtis Lynch

An encounter at Peckings record shop in London last year between Necessary Mayhem’s Curtis Lynch and veteran deejay Macka B was the starting point for a fruitful musical relationship.

It started with the release of Our Music on the Gorilla riddim, a tune now included on Macka B’s brand new six track showcase album Rasta Soldier for Necessary Mayhem.

Rasta Soldier includes four previously unreleased tracks and is Macka B’s second album this year, and he once again shows his witty and striking social commentaries, taking on subjects such as racism, modern technology, violence and Rastafari.

The mood is classic Lynch with beats that are grim, introspective and dark, clearly manifested by the dub versions following each vocal.

Macka B and Curtis Lynch have managed to create a musical backing very well-suited to the harsh reality many people face everyday.

Rasta Soldier is now available on vinyl and will hit the download stores on August 21.

Macka B aims to change the world

UK veteran artist Macka B is back with his first album in four years. His brand new set Change the World is released via his own imprint Chileno Records and produced in tandem with reggae revivalist Chris Peckings and the more contemporary flavored Iron Fist Productions. Invited are also notable guest artists Luciano, Earl 16, David Hinds from Steel Pulse and Lloyd Brown.

Macka B has as usual put together accessible, thoughtful and meaningful lyrics to the 16 cuts. He deals with equality in the acoustic punk-influenced Postcode War, sustainability in No Nuclear Energy “we don’t want no nuclear energy, nuclear power is the enemy”, medical marijuana in the clearly titled Medical Marijuana and Make a Claim, a clever take on slavery.

But Macka B also takes on lighter subjects. Never Played a 45 is an acclaimed vinyl love story on the 54-46 aka Boops riddim and in Reggae Daddy Macka B makes it perfectly clear that reggae is the cornerstone in several music genres developed in the UK – jungle, funky house, grime, dubstep and garage.

Even though Macka B usually described as an MC or singjay, on this set his delivery often leans more toward straight singing. And on contrary to many other singjays he sings with a nice pitch control.

Change the World may affect politicians, CEO’s and powerful decisions makers around the world, but it will most definitely change your record collection to the better.