Dutch Reggae singer Rapha Pico released his 6 track debut album “Continue the Glory”. The album is recorded at Earth Works Studio (Amsterdam, NL), Masterdam Studio (Amsterdam, NL) and produced by Noble Chanters Productions. Executive Producer: Raphael Pocorni.
Mixed & Mastered by Djeynah Delbety at Masterdam Studio (Amsterdam, NL) & Uta Maruanaya at RootsUnity studio (Tiel, NL). Engineer: Ben King. The artwork is created by Ras Elijah.
The first track of the album, with video, Stand for Something was premiered on Worldareggae.com.
“Until the lion tells his story, the hunter will always get the glory. Official history silenced the voices of those that were conquered and yet, despite all of their efforts to wipe them from the earth, rebels with a cause continue to emerge to such a level that they have to be considered a force to be reckoned with.”
Rapha Pico is someone who is always pushing his boundaries, seeking to provide the best of the best, and continuously moving forward to upgrade his work. Using his own ambition and determination to tell a story through his spiritual and conscious lyrics and roots reggae music, Rapha is truly ‘a lion telling a story’. This new chapter of Rapha’s story explores the concept of the glory of the ancestors, as well as the African continent.
Along with this, Rapha is also telling a story about the production of original roots music in the Netherlands. His new project, and the man himself, is the living proof that the production of Reggae music is increasingly mature in this current climate. All songs are produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered in the Netherlands by Rapha and his talented crew. Rapha surrounded himself with the best musicians of the Dutch Reggae scene to manifest this work of art.
Rapha Pico is not new to the music industry. In 2013, he recorded his first EP “Roots” at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong studio in Kingston, Jamaica. Upon returning to Europe he entered the BeneluxXXL Reggae contest in 2014 and won. The rewards were extensive touring throughout Europe, the opportunity to work with several established producers in the scene, and sharing stages with the biggest international artists. After the release of his 2nd EP “Get Ready” in 2016, a project consisting of several instrumentals provided by numerous producers, Rapha became convinced that he was trapped in “a fast food production way of making music”. As the musician
did not want to betray his heart, he then went to Costa Rica, where he resided in the jungle in the mountains, with his family. Those surroundings inspired him to write the spiritual roots tracks of the album. Back in the Netherlands he booked only 10 hours in the Earth Works studio. His latest
masterpiece is the astounding result. Throughout the album there is an emphasis on conscious lyrics firmly imbedded in top quality musical arrangements and craftsmanship, provided by the best musicians of the Netherlands. The collaboration with Earth Works Studio was only natural
after the success of “Lead the way”, a single that the famous Jah Shaka picked up on his Legendary sound system in the summer of 2019.
May this introduction inspire you to lend your ears and let the music speak. Allow yourself to be taken away on a musical journey, in which the lion tells the story. – By Roland van Reenen
