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March 16, 2008
Rootz Underground blazing raw consciousness
By: Joseph Cunningham
Revolution reggae music - edgy, raw, natural, roots...they are Rootz Underground.
They say they have many influences, including their homeland Jamaica,
Rastafari, JAH, the revolutionary Reggae music of the 1970s and Roots
Reggae music.
The revolution that is Rootz Underground began in 2000 when the band members, linked their musical talents to form one solid unit. The group emerged on the scene in a blaze of high-energy performances, conscious lyrics and a harmonic alternative reggae sound that marries their intellectual, spiritual and creative energies.
This marriage has birthed music that is inspiring, energizing and real. Progressive, unique and 'with edge,' their reggae has a modern hip hop feel infused with slivers of jazz, rock and revolutionary dub.
"How much Longer," and "In the Jungle," are some of the songs that have made Rootz Underground, one of Jamaica's younger bands, widely sought out. Their shows are almost always filled to capacity and fans often cross the island to take in the positive vibrations.
The group members, Stephen Newland (lead vocals), Jeffrey Moss-Solomon (vocals, rhythm guitar), Leon Campbell (drums) and Paul "Scoobie" Smith (keyboards) are all deeply spiritual. They say, "We envisage the future free from the shackles of Babylon - liberated from the 9-5, taking the Rootz Underground message far and wide."
Their first single: "Victims of The System" peaked at number two on both Hype TV's video charts and RETV's video countdown. It remained at number one on MTV Tempo's Cross Caribbean countdown for five weeks. Most recently released is the song, "Hammer." It is now an anthem to lovers of Roots Reggae.