YardFlex.com: The rise of Ras Myrdhak - "Nuff producer ah go round me"

September 27, 2006

The rise of Ras Myrdhak - "Nuff producer ah go round me"

When The Alliance, Bounty Killer's powerful circle of artiste and music heavyweights formed in 2001, Ras Myrdhak was one of the youths who was hardest hit by the partnership.

"When Alliance form, it did shake everybody foot, it cramp everything. Yu coulden hear yourself on the radio, or inna the dance. Nuff man run outta the business after that, but ah really Jah govern everything and some man can only rule for a time if is not a positive sound dem ah push through on the earth," he told YardFlex.com.

Myrdhak said he was inspired when a new crop of artistes such as Fantan Mojah, Bascom X, Nanko and I-Wayne rose to the forefront of the music industry

"I was glad, because if ah dem alone (Alliance), no artiste no rise. So mi just heights and pray and waited for my time," he said.

That time is now because the whole of the dancehall universe is buzzing about the rise of Ras Myrdhak and the Blaque Warriaz. Myrdhak's radio hit, 'Blazer', has been getting crazy airplay on local stations, and a video, shot by Nordia Rose, will be released on HYPE TV, RE TV, and local stations this week.

"This year, 2006, has been my most promising to date, the name Ras Myrdhak is known now, it ring a bell all over, and that is satisfying after 15 years in the business," he said.

Born Stephon Moulton on March 3, 1977, Ras Myrdhak grew up in the Linton Park in Brown's Town, St. Ann, and at age eight, began singing bass in his mother's church choir at the local Church of God. While attending Brown's Town High School, Myrdhak began to establish himself as a deejay. Pursuing his dream, he decided to leave St. Ann and move to Kingston where he could get the exposure he break into the Game.

In 1997, Ras Myrdhak linked with producer Phillip Thomas a.k.a Cutty Ranks in Kingston to produce the singles, 'Hot Bwoy' and 'Gal a Say Myrdhak' on the Shark label distributed by Greensleeves Company. The singles generated major buzz and provoked the interest of Annette Brewster-Aitken, who later became his manager. During that ime, he worked with great producers such as King Jammys, Bobby Digital, Kings of Kings, Gemtar Production. Among his many releases are songs such as 'Camille' and 'All I Do', but he failed to generate that first big hit.

Then the Alliance muscled their way into the business, and things looked even bleaker. So when he realized that he was not getting the airplay or recognition for his efforts, he flipped the game and went into producing.

"It was a dream I always had, you know, to set the foundation for my youths. So when I realized that nuff producer ah go round me, say dem riddim full up, I had to start helping myself. The first riddim I got was 'Breath a Fire' which was built by Suku and Wring Move' from Firehouse who played the keyboard," he explained.

The 'Breath a Fire' rhythm is somewhat of a phenomenon in dancehall circles with over 50 artistes and counting who have already recorded songs. It has made Myrdhak's Blaque Warriaz Production a force to reckon with in the music business, especially since it has already spawned two bonafide hits.

Capleton's 'Forty Sup'em' and RasMyrdhak's 'Blazer' are storming the top ten segment of the RE TV dancehall charts, and looking to conquer Richie B's chart as well.

"The 'Blazer' which is a girls tune catch the people dem, but is my other song on the riddim, 'Heights and Pray' which gets up close and personal, that is soaking into the people. Mi know a yute who tell me say him mother work obeah, and him ask her what she think about the tune, and she say, 'da rasta de too drastic', and him just laugh to himself because 'Heights and Pray' is a powerful tune," he said.

The song is inspired by the death of a Rastafarian girl in Montego Bay at the hands of gunmen.

"A friend of mine had called and said it was my empress who was killed by gunmen, but when mi call her, mi get fi realize is her sister dem kill, but the whole ting still hurt me a way. But Jah say leave all vengeance to him, so mi say, mi ah just heights and pray fi dem bwoy de, and the whole ah dem end up dead eventually. You see, Jah govern all things," he said with a smile.

As his career gathers momentum, Myrdhak has performed at stage shows such as Sting, East Fest, and Bob Marley Day 2004 US West Coast tour where he was backed by Grammy winners Sly and Robbie. The show also showcased such heavyweight acts as Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man, Beres Hammond, and T.O.K. He recently performed in Cleveland, Ohio where he graced the stage with reggae greats such as Sizzla and the Fifth Element Family. However, it was at the 'Champions in Action' show at Jamworld, Portmore where he earned his biggest forwards and rave reviews from the press.

He is currently working on his upcoming album, 'Passion of a Blaque Warriah' tyo be released late 2006, and his latest project, 'Double Kick' which features Elephant Man, Monster Shack, Macka Diamond, Mr. Easy, Lady G, Chris Howell and Christopher. There are also plans to shoot a music video for the hit tune, 'Blazer' with well-known director Nordia Rose.

"Everything is just going well, and mi nah ease up, mi just a push forward wid my career," he said.

That's all he can do, for his hit songs are like a runaway train, and there's no turning back now.

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September 27, 2006

The rise of Ras Myrdhak - "Nuff producer ah go round me"

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