Nyabinghi drumming has never been associated with romance. Its pulsating rhythms usually resonates with the Afrocentric and pay homage to the Motherland.
Chanter/drummer Prof I wanted to change that perception with his new album, Rastafari Spread His Love. The eight-song set was released by Iyador I Records in February.
“Dis is a love album, is pure love song. Di Muslim an’ Christian put woman a di back an’ Rasta come follow dem. Well, mi nuh inna dat,” he declared.
Prof I, who lives in his native St Ann, said themes of passion was not what he had in mind when he began writing songs for his second album. However, it became a common thread and the Rastafarian artiste went with the flow.
“Love is universal yuh nuh. Is not jus’ about loving a woman; yuh can sing about love of land an’ love of Rastafari,” he said.
Rastafari Spread His Love is out five years after Iyabinghi Redemption, Prof I’s first album which was released by Runn Records from The Netherlands. He described the production process as tedious and difficult, as he clashed over the project’s direction and sound with engineers.
After four years, the album was complete, but this time around Prof I decided to stick closer to home in terms of distribution. Iyador I Records is owned by his son.
Born Barrington Reynolds, Prof I is from a middle-class Christian family with roots in Ocho Rios. Moving to west Kingston as a boy, he became a disciple of Rastafari and became inspired by the traditional drumming of groups like The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari and Ras Michael And The Sons of Negus.
For several years, he was in the camp of Lawrence “Jack Ruby” Lindo, the colorful music producer behind Burning Spear’s classic Marcus Garvey and Man in The Hills albums. At one stage, Prof I was manager of Foundation, a roots group from St Mary once affiliated to Lindo and signed to Island Jamaica Records.
He played all drums on Rastafari Spread His Love which he says carries a mellow message, a big contrast to the music that dominates Jamaica’s airwaves and sound systems.
“Love is an addiction to me. Dem youth ya nowadays, something wrong wid dem, ’cause dem a call people dog an’ dem ting dey. Di word is still love from me,” he said.
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