Ma1co1m, a young member of the RasTafari faith, is an artist difficult to categorise. His maternal heritage is Ugandan, his paternal Norwegian, and he himself currently residing in Stockholm, Sweden.
Ma1co1m hails from a new generation of RasTafari musicians, who, although rooted in the ancient foundation of RasTafari reggae and inspired by the greats from Bob to Bunny to Prince Fari, his principal musical inspiration comes from the works of Vaughn Benjamin, aka Akae Beka / the voice of Midnite. It, therefore, goes without saying that Ma1co1m’s lyrical content is heavily steeped in mysticism, with an often ethereal quality, somewhere between prayer and poetry. 90’s born and raised against the backdrop of millennial culture, Ma1co1m has long followed a calling away from the virtues of the modern world and rooted himself in permaculture projects in Uganda, plant medicine, and a keen advocate of sports, athleticism, and fitness. Ma1co1m is an artist with a mission and a vision, in the divine inspiration of Haile Selassie I, ‘to become a member of a new race’.
“UK Fire! Deep and Heavy… Advanced. I like it. I like it a lot… Reminds me a lot of the late great Akae Beka. Real heavy spiritual roots music”
Ras Kwame – Reggae Recipe, Capital Xtra, UK
It’s such a finely wrought track – so melodic and meditational within the contemporary Reggae/Nyabinghi framework and I love the Mbira giving it true roots in Africa. The lyrics are so carefully written and magically delivered with an uplifting progression and I easily played it again for myself at least twice after making my show. Both the artists are new to me and I am very pleased to have found them. I love the development in the dub and the instrumental is a bonus treat. It was interesting deciding what to play after the track – it gave a great dignity to proceedings.
Debbie Golt – Resonance FM / Threads Radio, UK
Fi Di Kingdom, is the first of many collaborations between Ma1co1m and London-based producer and sound system, Kibir La Amlak. A track that was allowed to become exactly what ‘it’ wanted to be, the riddim was built on a Friday, vocals recorded on Saturday, and video shot on Sunday. Just as with Ma1co1m as an artist, one will struggle to accurately confine this track to a specific genre, it’s definitely dub, but also hip-hop and trap, its slow in tempo but in places feels fast-paced, its electronic and acoustic, yet one thing which is undeniable is its heavy and deep. An enchanting mbira line summons ancestral forces, the nyahbingi drum sanctifies the ceremonial proceedings and the drum and bass roots the track like a tree well planted by a river of water, providing the perfect tapestry for Ma1co1m to deliver a combination of poetic, prayerful, chanting, rapping, singing, militant yet gentle word sound and power.
Link with Kibir La Amlak
Link with Before Zero Records
Fi Di Kingdom Lyrics
(Chorus)
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
—
Wadada confession,
Livin wid passion,
Not for no fashion,
Not for no nation,
But fi JAH Kingdom,
It’s for redemption,
It’s for construction,
Fi JAH elevation,
Blessed instruction,
Out a JAH Kingdom,
Not an opinion,
Just JAH direction,
Fi concentration,
Holy correction,
Yuh contemplation,
Fo man completion,
Fi JAH dominion,
To heal pollution,
Sudden transition,
Like a combustion,
Rasta nuh frighten,
Strong as a diamond
Yes di robust one,
Is fi the Kingdom,
Closer attention,
Cut the illusion,
Sight revelation,
Daily routine strong,
Fi JAH vibration,
Inna JAH Kingdom,
Chant Liberation,
Liberation,
———————-
(Chorus)
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal teachin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal teachin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
—
King I Genesis,
This ah no thesis,
Gene of Isis,
Do not part this,
Two strand helix,
Rise like a phoenix,
Decode deh matrix,
From HIM get crown,
Ah So Deh ting go,
Small in physical,
Aura mandingo,
Prescence of macro mirrored in micro,
To make people know,
7 And 2 Nation witness Iration,
9 Is creation when combined,
Evaliving King balancin swing,
Joy He bring AAAHhh,
GOD, KING & Priest now so di ting go,
Selassie balance gentle and macho,
Fi Mek people know,
Fi Mek people know ,
(David Will still beat Goliath)
—————-
(Chorus)
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal teachin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal teachin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
———————
Wadada confession,
Livin wid passion,
Not for no fashion,
Not for no nation,
But fi JAH Kingdom,
It’s for redemption,
It’s for construction,
Fi JAH elevation,
Blessed instruction,
Out a JAH Kingdom,
Not an opinion,
Just JAH direction,
Fi concentration,
Holy correction,
Yuh contemplation,
Fo man completion,
Fi JAH dominion,
To heal pollution,
Sudden transition,
Like a combustion,
Rasta nuh frighten,
Strong as a diamond
Yes di robust one,
Is fi the Kingdom,
Closer attention,
Cut the illusion,
Sight revelation,
Daily routine strong,
Fi JAH vibration,
Inna JAH Kingdom,
Chant Liberation,
Liberation,
———
(Chorus)
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal healin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal teachin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
Rastafari universal teachin,
Chantin and dancin from di beginning to di ending,
