What is a reggae artist without a weed song in their catalog? American deejay Last Disciple has been around Jamaican culture long enough to know that.
He teams with veteran singer Linval Thompson and neo-roots artist Meeka Nyota on Smoking Kush, a rocking salute to the ‘good herb’. The Greenville, South Carolina-born Last Disciple wanted a Jamaican flavor to the track and called on artists representing two generations of reggae to help him out.
“I love and I am honored to work with the Jamaica born-and raised-in-the-culture artists and producers. Jamaica’s music can be imitated but not duplicated,” he said.
Smoking Kush is released at a time when there is a ganja (Jamaican slang for cannabis) boom in the Caribbean country. Since legislation to decriminalize the plant began in Jamaica’s Senate in 2015, a number of private companies and the Marley family have launched commercial entities that produce ganja-based products.
Last Disciple had no lofty plans when he wrote and recorded Smoking Kush which is currently number 30 on the Foundation Radio Top 30 Chart. It peaked at No. 26
“Smoking Kush is about the positive effects of herb on the world and people from ancient times until this day. It’s inspiring to artists and knocks over the divides between the nations, even racism and spiritual wickedness in high and low places,” he reasoned.
Like many foreigners, Last Disciple discovered reggae through giants like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Israel Vibration, Thompson and Steel Pulse. Although Greenville did not have a big reggae scene, he consumed enough Jamaican music to consider a career in reggae. In 2014, Last Disciple released Babylon Fall, his first album. Two years ago Rise Up, his second album, came out.
Over the years, he has worked with top Jamaican musicians such as keyboardist Franklin “Bubbler” Waul, guitarist Winston “Bo Pee” Bowen and drummer Kush McAnuff.
You must log in to post a comment.