Jah Shaka has died and I find it hard to not feel resentment to the way that his life and legacy has barely warranted a mention in the UK mainstream media. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but what with there being a current mood of recognising the importance of black history and culture amongst institutions who previously didn't, at least on that level I'd expect more interest. For Shaka is a huge figure in not just roots reggae, not just soundsystem culture, not just British music, but music and culture globally. The extent of his influence is perhaps not fully recognised.
1980s Jamaica gradually saw a shift in the dominant musical message, moving on from a sacred Rasta driven message to the more profane dancehall sound. But here in the grey and politically tense London streets of the 1980s Shaka not only kept alive that message but reinvented it into a more militant sound, creating a template which would lead to a wave of new UK dub producers in the 1990s, and in turn inspire producers around the world from 2000s onwards.
There were many other soundsystems in the UK at the time but through his works I would say Shaka more than any other solidified a pure, forward stepping, uncorruptible musical attitude, a bedrock of so much music that followed. Shaka elevated soundsystem culture to the highest of heights. He is a shining example of how a great DJ isn't just blankly playing other peoples records but can make those tunes their own, and can make the playing of records equal to playing an instrument.
He schooled and inspired a generation. He united a multi-ethnic audience under an uncompromising universal Rasta message. He walked the narrow path without ever faltering, with no commercial compromise, guided purely by an unshakeable spiritual sense of justice and righteousness.
Shaka's selection is a genre of its own, many an obscure tune can be filed as a 'Shaka Killer'. But Shaka was also a producer, and his label Jah Shaka Music a crucial home for his unique UK roots sound. For this tribute mix I'm playing some favourites released on the Jah Shaka Music label, 80s, 90s, and 00s. The majority feature Shaka as producer and sometimes vocalist, though there are also some tunes here produced by Shaka's son Young Warrior, Mad Professor, and others. Am playing these tunes live here in a soundsystem style... Love to all Shakaites.... Jah Shaka never to be forgotten, message will live forever...Journey on...
Still Cool - To Be Poor Is A Crime
Jah Shaka - My God Version
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