Hold The Faith with
Warrior King
Article
and Photographs by Diane “Livonn” Adam © 2006
Warrior
King came
into the light with his 2000 debut single release
"Virtuous Woman". This song of the
virtues and love for an upright woman was a refreshing departure
from the more sexually explicit love songs about woman coming out of
the dancehall at the time. On first hearing this song, I was drawn
to the melodious sing-jay style of this artist on other songs from
his 2002 Virtuous Woman CD release on VP Records like
“Power To Chant”, “Breath Of Fresh Air”, “Never Go Where Pagans Go”
and “Rough Road”. These songs all revealed Warrior King’s
extraordinary ability to harness the spiritual message of Rastafari
with a hardcore yard style that is gently mellowed by the radiant
tenderness and soulful beauty of his voice.
Born Mark Dyer in 1979 in
Kingston, Jamaica, the young Rasta Warrior King settled with his
family in Clarendon at the age of 11. His mother, a devout Jehovah
Witness exposed him to this religion that he followed until the age
of 13-14 when he sighted the truth of Mother Africa, Ethiopia,
Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and Haile Selassie I. Through exposure on
the history of slavery and an appetite for reading and reasoning
with brethren and
sistren about Africa and Rastafari, Warrior King has found a way to
use his gift of music to become a spiritual advocate and living
champion of true Rastafari livity. Most notably is the ‘Raspect’
and reverence Warrior King showers on the woman, many times singing
of his love and desire to see woman live up to their royal standing
as life givers. During previous discussions I have witnessed with
Warrior King, he always hails up his mother as one of the main
reason that he upholds this desire to uplift the woman dem in his
music and life. His earlier songs like “Empress So Divine” and
“Virtuous Woman” definitely shows this artist determination to
promote love and Raspect for woman.
During his early exposure to Reggae
music Warrior King became a kind of protégé to Bounty Killer
who he fashioned his early style before developing his own unique
technique by performing at school concerts and talent shows like
Tastee’s where many well-know Jamaican artist first cut their Reggae
musical teeth. Dancehall music now moves into another phase with
new comers like I Wayne who have a similar desire to mold
their musical sensibilities to a more Roots and Culture approach
that bring to light current human crisis that plague the people of
Jamaica like oppressive poverty, disease, lack of education (as
Warrior King sings, “education is the key”) and the disintegrations
of moral character these conditions bring forth. With words of
encouragement and faith in the Almighty Father, Warrior King is a
beacon of hope and change through music in the new millennium.
Warrior King’s new CD release
Hold The Faith released by VP Records (2005) is an outstanding
addition to any Reggae music collection and a joy to listen.
Warrior King’s message of reverence to the Most High is clearly
revealed on the opening track “Reverence” where Warrior King
candidly chants out his faith based motivation. Then the song “Hold
The Faith” immediately grabs your attention as the sing-jay vocals
of Warrior King chants out “Got to Hold The Faith” as he sings,
“Although times hard and things seem
rough, hold the faith because Jah is great. My people in Jamaica
suffering day by day dem can’t get no work that’s why the youth dem
a stray. Everyday work ‘cause a strife because dem want a better
pay. Situation in my country is just one big rainy day. No plans
or policy these all gone away. There’s a love for poor people how we
bank account stay. The leaders corrupt the nations wonder what dey
gonna say. But the Rastaman burn dem everyday”
The sufferation of the people of
Jamaica remains a constant chorus of Warrior King who remains
focused on revealing the appalling conditions felt by the poorest in
Jamaica and the need to not only “Hold The Faith” but find solutions
to political corruption that will bring hope of a better life for
the people of his country.
The success of Hold The Faith
can also be attributed to some outstanding writing by Warrior King
and collaboration with well
 known producers Bobby Dixon for
Digital B Productions and Sheldon “Calibud” Stewart
for Calibud Productions (who produced Sizzla Kalonji’s
Black Woman and Child, VP Records 2002). An illustrious cast
of players of instruments add an additional element of class to the
album. Dean Fraser plays horns on the tracks “Judgment Day”,
“My Life”, “They Don’t Know” and on the track “Meditation” which
also includes Squidley Cole on percussions. While Benji
Myaz licks the bass on the tracks “Hold The Faith”, “Freedom”
and “Motherland Awaits”.
Hold The Faith
is replete with songs of faith, meditation, cries
for
freedom and love songs evident not only on the title track but also
on other songs including “Meditation:, “Freedom”, “Another Love
Song” and “Baby Girl”. The youthful voices of children decorate
the beginning of Warrior King’s song “Education” where he sings
directly to the youth instructing them on the importance of learning
and getting a good education. African tribal sounds and drums adorn
the beautiful “Motherland Awaits” and usher the soul to fly to our
spiritual home for healing and spiritual rejuvenation and lends a
fiery potency to the album’s final track.
To the delight of the family of Bay
Area Reggae music lovers, Warrior King will be performing on May 10,
2006 at Slim's
at 333 11th Street, San Francisco and on May 11 at Santa Cruz
Veterans Hall at 846 Front
Street, Santa Cruz. Warrior King is also scheduled to
perform at the 23rd Annual
Reggae On The River to be held this year at the new Dimmick
Ranch site on August 4, 5 & 6, 2006.
Blessed
Love |
