Flashback to Jamaica, circa the early 1990s. Rastafari is making a comeback among Jamaican youth and in reggae music. One of the artists responsible for that revival was self-proclaimed chanter Prezident Brown.

Now an elder statesman of roots-reggae, he lives in California, ground zero for that genre in the United States. Prezident Brown (Born Fitz Albert Cotterell) is currently on his Giant Steppin Tour of the US West Coast and adjacent Pacific Northwest, which for many years has been his happy stomping ground.

This latest trek is in support of Roots Hop Reggae (In Your Box), his first album since I Sound is From Creation which was released in 2012. Prezident Brown co-produced the set with Mony Lujan and Tuff Lion, bassist, and guitarist, respectively, in his band. He describes it as a blend of dancehall, hip hop and jazz. 

“The difference between this album and the previous is the production. This the first full-length album I’ve made outside of Jamaica,” Prezident Brown disclosed.

The Sleeping Giant (Wake Up) is the lead single from the 13-song Roots Hop Reggae (In Your Box), the new album that will be released on July 28th. Meditation of The Heart, Mr. Morgan and Queen Mama are other songs from the album which is distributed by Yard Stylee Records.

Prezident Brown was born in Clarendon, a rural parish in Jamaica’s sugar belt. He spent many of his years in St. Mary parish, another area that is also a big producer of sugar.

While he never attained the mainstream success of Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel or Everton Blender, he released well-received albums like Big, Bad And Talented and Prezident Selection through Dutch company, Runn Records.

Those albums heard him collaborating with Barry O’Hare, one of the leading engineer/producers in Jamaica during the 1990s. They helped introduce Prezident Brown to US West Coast and European audiences.

He has fond memories of that decade, a fruitful period for dancehall-reggae.
“The roots reggae scene during the 1990s was special because of the rise of several Rastafari/conscious artistes, producers, and musicians and the first reggae radio station, Irie FM,” he said.

The California leg of Prezident Brown’s Giant Steppin Tour is scheduled to close September 20 at Swabbies On The River in Sacramento.

Tracklist
Roots Hop Reggae (In Your Box)

01. I Music 
02. Working (Up And Running 2.0) 
03. The Sleeping Giant (Wake Up) 
04. Meditation Of The Heart 
05. Tall & Towerful 
06. Jah Bless 
07. Queen Mama 
08. Mr Morgan 
09. Time / Mind 
10. I Conciousness 
11. Meditate / Elevate feat. Lujan & Tuff Lion 
12. Abstract Rock 
13. Bend The Bow (Roots Hop Reggae In Your Box) 

By Howard Campbell