Specifics. Given the nature of the type of music that we cover more times than not around these parts -- Roots Reggae -- you'd like to think that most of the makers of this wonderful sound would, in some way, be involved with its production outside of doing it as a profession. Of course, it is important that they be paid and supported for their works because EVERYTHING costs money and we want them to continue to give us more and more (and they have to make a living, after all) but you get the feeling, in dealing with a few of these people that... even if it cost them DAMN NEAR ALL OF THEIR MONEY to do, they'd still be making music for us. They just couldn't help themselves. There is a crowned king of such dedicated lot whose name I mention constantly and will get not very far at all in this review before I mention it again and I think that this man created a kingdom which will reverberate throughout Reggae music (and maybe even beyond) for a VERY long time. Though the type of music he made isn't at all intended for children (trust me, I know. However, should you meet a child that has a genuine ear for what he did, that kid may be special), I think we'll soon end up listening to musicians who were raised in households with parents who played his music non-stop. Apart from that coming class, we also have a handful of his peers who fit into a very similar category and one of my absolute favourites, both in terms of this hyper-devoted group as well as just writing about, in general (his music is a very welcomed challenge for me) is definitely Ancient King. I put the chanter (and I mean CHANTER. The man CHANTS!) into a very small group of artists from out of his native St. Croix who demonstrate a level of passion in their music that suggests that they'd go through all hell if they had to in order to spread their message. Another name who would fit in there perfectly would be Jah Rubal. I don't know how old Jah Rubal is, but if he is around in his 80's, I FULLY expect him to still be active in someway, making music. He's someone that will almost surely get much of the star shining in his direction but seems fine with that, so long as those who have ears for what he creates are able to receive it (and I really should review a Jah Rubal album one of these days). In terms of their styles, you could definitely find several similarities between Rubal and Ancient King (and I'm now wondering if they've ever actually done a song together) and they also have something else in common besides that and their origins.
Over the past few years or so, Trinity Farm Music (most [if not all] times with Go A Chant Productions, including this time) has been in a MIGHTY form. Releasing works from such names as Ras Abja, Ras Army, DANNY I (WHAT!), Rob Symeonn, Biblical, Bobo David and others, TFM has become a very familiar and frequent stop for us lately. In 2024, the label leveled up in delivering "Living Testament". Billed as the final album recorded by the legendary Akae Beka (and just in case you're COMPLETELY new and did not figure it out, Akae Beka is who I've been alluding to from the beginning of this review without actually naming him), the set would take out top honours as the finest Reggae album of the entire year, altogether; later, they launched a FINE dubbed out version of it as well. Coincidentally (for my sake) (and you'll now see how this ridiculous tangent I just went on wraps up), just a couple of months after "Living Testament" reached, Trinity Farm would also bring "Long Live The King", a full studio set from none other than the also aforementioned Jah Rubal... and I guess I should have guessed what was coming up next.
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| 2022 |
Late in 2024 (the second day of November, to be exact), Trinity Farm would begin with a stream of singles via Ancient King and would continue to do so through the first quarter or so of 2025 (there's a song called 'Word Sound and Consequence Power' which is (excellent) not on what I'm going to tell you about today and it's only credited to Go A Chant... just thought you should know) in CLEAR anticipation of a forthcoming full project which is now WONDERFULLY available, the most curiously titled "Oath Of Akae". Most recently, Ancient King would work alongside Ras Elyment Records for 2022's (...does not seem like it was that long ago, AT ALL. If you told me that album came out early last year or late 2023, it would have been more believable) "Seh Selassie I" and while I wasn't surprised at all, given their history, that he would catch the attention of Trinity Farm, I was damn happy to see this album pop up and even more pleased with who was working on it. The aforementioned "Seh Selassie I" came through Ras Elyment Records and the Ancient King has also worked on albums with the likes of Adios Babylon (great name), Higher Bound Productions, Full Grown Records and, of course, I Grade Records on his well received debut, the now twenty years old "Conquering Sound". Of course, one could well make the case that, like Jah Rubal and Vaughn Benjamin, Ancient King is less dependent upon the work of production (at least as far as riddims go) due to his style to somewhat overwhelm or just talk over the track (Benjamin would not do such a thing, he just had the tendency to entirely ignore the riddim at times) (although he did improve upon that later in his career, becoming more melodically aware in my opinion), which is another trait that probably doesn't endure him to many fans, but I have to admit that it is another thing about him/them that I've come to enjoy to a degree. I've made the point in the past about Ancient King, in particular, being the type of artist whose music is going to have a very limited appeal. Fans of all levels of experience of Roots Reggae music are not automatically going to gravitate towards his sound. He'll never have be 'accused' of making the most entertaining brand of the music. HOWEVER, should you fall into the category, like me, as someone who LOVES lyrics and appreciates passion in the extreme sense of the word - Ancient King makes music for you. As a matter of fact, he's made a new album and, if you aren't doing anything, I'd LOVE to tell you all about it.
Let's talk about that title! If this review/album is not your introduction to him, then perhaps the first time that you became aware of Ancient King and his music came via his now twenty year old debut, "Conquering Sound". That set featured a tune by the name of 'Faith, Courage and A Just Cause' which featured the aforementioned Vaughn Benjamin. If you had heard AK's music prior to "Conquering Sound", maybe you heard one of his three contributions to the "Weep Not" compilation (both "Conquering Sound" & "Weep Not" were on I Grade Records, if you're interested), when he recorded under the name Willow. That same release featured several tunes from Benjamin under his own former band name, Midnite (the finest of which was probably the WICKED opener, 'Jah Umbrella', with 'Chant A Psalm' chasing it closely). Chances are decent that Benjamin and the Ancient King were AT LEAST on good terms and I, like many others, I'm sure, presumed the title to be some type of tribute to Vaughn Benjamin, who would later take on the name, Akae Beka. I still believe that to be the case, HOWEVER, subsequent research has revealed that the producer of "Oath Of Akae" is actually credited as Akae Beka, so the ties between the two CLEARLY run deep. The biblical 'Oath Of Akae' gets us started on the album named for it and the very first voice that you hear on the album just might be that of Benjamin's, reading from The Book of Enoch. The heart of "Oath Of Akae" is clear and you can head right to scripture and 'sing' along at certain points but I cannot help (because I'm an overthinker and that's just what I do) but begin to apply certain aspects of THE SONG to Benjamin as well. Regardless of how you take it in full, the title track is a solid start and entirely emblematic of what I mean about AK's style. It has a nice riddim, but he isn't too concerned with it. He's come to make his point in his chant and that is precisely what he does. The attraction for me is there: There's a passion which almost gives it a kind of a Spoken Word type of appeal. Had this one been completely sans music altogether, it would not lose any bit of its quality in my opinion. Next in is a song which helps to kick the album into a higher gear, the heavy 'Kiddus Kiddus Kiddus'. While you'll definitely get a similar vibes as the opener, here, we get a bit more of a sonic appeal as well and it is a stronger and more accurate demonstration of Ancient King's talent. That being said, however, "Oath Of Akae" reaches its highest of heights courtesy of 'The Earth is Egziabheer'.
"Seh only Selassie I love can break di barrier weh dem set up
It in Selassie I speech: The living spring it a precept
Ordinance, ethics, principle that man must his will be obedient to
MEANING YOU WILL BE OBEDIENT TO GOOD INFLUENCE
Get off yuh false pretense!
So Jah power can flow through you freely-
Like the river that move through the rock without stagnation and hesitation
The teachings deh deh inna nature, right before your eyes!
So high!
Rastaman still ah chant again
Hey, the earth is the Lord!
And the fullness that dwell therein
NOTHING NO HARD FI RECOGNIZE, PEOPLE
Tear off the veil off your eyes
Jah teach I everything, King Selassie I
His moon show HIM face in the night
Written long ago, by Enoch the immortal, it was prophesized
It's happening, whether or not you deny
Impeccable is Haile Selassie
I vow The King of Kings, which I cannot fathom
So I tread
THE HANDWRITING OF THE KING OF KINGS IS IN EVERYONE HEAD
Reticular Activating System
THE DOCTOR CALL IT RAS!"
WHAT??! BOOM! Along with being a lyrical powerhouse, 'The Earth is Egziabheer' is also solid sonically. It takes a bit of patience and some digging, but there is one NICE sounding track buried within. I spent a ton of time with this one and it's become one of my favourites from Ancient King, altogether, along with being this album's finest. Of a similar nature is DEFINITELY 'Tender Obedience' which absolutely dazzles, lyrically ["Ship without a rudder. Rudderless ship. Progress without religion, check di videoclip. Inter-woven chip, named selfie"]. This one is a shot at arrogance and anti-humility, wrapped up in a very clever praising tune and, again, a major highlight from "Oath Of Akae". That rolls PERFECTLY right into the next selection, 'Ah Who You'. This one is totally aimed at those who have forgotten and lost their place in the world and think that it is they who are in absolute control. There is a stretch around 2:40 or so in when 'Ah Who You' LEVELS UP! AK warms up and tunes in and, relatively calmly, he goes on a lyrical tirade which is amongst THE most impressive such runs that you will find here. Filling out the first half of the album is recent single, 'Hites'. The song is an adaptation (or an expansion) of a legendary quote, "The heights of great men, reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight....". Like the quote, the song is one dealing with ideas such as perseverance, patience and motivation. You've heard songs like this one (Beenie Man even had a similar one), and what I try to take from thoughts like these is the idea that IT IS OKAY TO FAIL and to screw up and make mistakes and, through doing those things (often over and over and over again), is what lays the foundation for the success you may have. It applies in the grandest of situations as well as the smallest (if you're going somewhere and you get lost, you now know not to go in the direction you just did). It is something that may be very small but no less of a necessity AT ALL.
Try as I might (and you know I did), outside of a very direct tribute to Akae Beka, I couldn't get much out of 'It's The Rain' which begins the second half of "Oath Of Akae". It has a very easy and straight forward vibes to it and it isn't a BAD song (AT ALL), but I don't that it does much for what it is. The track following 'It's The Rain', 'Permit The Child', is one that I've probably spent more time listening to than any other on this release. I do not love it... but I suspect that I may someday. Self explanatory, 'Permit The Child' is about raising children well, setting proper examples and encouraging them to make the best choices for themselves when the time comes and, lyrically, it has its moments and the riddim (which is damn near invisible, you have to REALLY listen to this song to give some attention to the instrumentation), for what it is, is quite strong. There is something about it, however, which has kept me at arm's distance so far but I am still well working on closing that gap.
The balance of "Oath Of Akae" experienced no such 'growing pains' with me, on the other hand and is four extremely well done selections. I was going to tell you that 'Make Someone Smile' was the best of the rest. It isn't but it is still a MIGHTY effort and one featuring an abundance of good, common sense.
"To make someone smile, really make you feel good inside
Release endorphins
HAPPINESS IS A COLLECTIVE PHENOMENON, SHOULDN'T BE INDIVIDUALIZED
Need the relationship of the other side
Man seh him have two car, you no have one
Look. One fi drive
That is true happiness inside
'A man happines is to make his brother happy'-
Words of Selassie I
Away with the selfishness
About that, no badda
Nature reveal everything you can see everyday
WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER
Symbiosis
WATCH HOW THE BIRD CLEAN THE CROCODILE TEETH
People learn that to peacefully coexist"
Sometimes, keeping things as simple as you possibly can is the best route and that's exactly the course taken by Ancient King here. DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE ELSE! Go out of your way to make someone happy! It's something You (and I), unfortunately, need to be reminded of from time to time and 'Make Someone Smile' is a BEAUTIFUL gesture in the right direction. A touch stronger is 'Brake All Chains'. If you seek a bit of flames in the latter stages of "Oath Of Akae", 'Brake All Chains' is precisely what you're looking for as, most fittingly, the Ancient King delivers a history lesson not to be missed ["Mandela say when him shake Haile Selassie hand, him shake his with history!"]. The biggest monster roaming the halls of the second half of "Oath Of Akae" (as well as the second largest in full) is without a doubt the brilliant health conscious 'Convinient Store Tree'.
"I convenient store is a tree
Where I get food freshly
Jah food is 100% naturally
No 10% juice like Minute Maid, Tropicana and dem juice weh inna shop weh unhealthy
I convenient store is a tree
Where I get food freshly
Jah food is 100% naturally
No 10% juice like Minute Maid, Tropicana and dem juice weh inna shop weh nasty
WHERE THE 90% JUICE GONE?
It's artificially
Weh stay inna yuh blood and mek yuh body sickly
When you go to di bush doctor, first thing dem ahgo tell you:
Return to a herb tree
Chlorophyll identical to your hemoglobin weh deh in yuh body
So mi tell di nation dem fi don't pass no tree-
CAUSE YUH MEDICINE IS NOT IN DI PHARMACY
DAT A PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG YOU ONLY CAN GET IT IF YOU HAVE MONEY
NATURE GIVE YOU FREELY, INNA ABUNDANTLY
Proper, essential minerals provided
For the 102 minerals required for the body
You can find it in the earth, even the sea
Sea-moss, it have 92 minerals of the highest set of calcium
Mek yuh bones healthy"
I mean..... I could have kept going. The man absolutely POURS lyrics all over the track and, at least in parts, the riddim holds up well although it is ultimately overwhelmed and largely vanishes beneath the tirade. 'Convinient Store Tree', like 'The Earth is Egziabheer', is SPECIAL! Charged with sending us out is the solid 'Peace is Possible'. Musically speaking, the closer may just be the single most interesting song here with its BRIGHT (and very curious beginnings) sound and Ancient King permits it its time to shine (it also sounds distinctly louder than just about any other composition on the album to my ears. It's like they wanted you to hear it). He also seems to make an actual effort to stay on the melody it provides and, in doing so, likely makes the easiest listen on the entire project. Lyrically, 'Peace is Possible' also does well with AK present His Majesty as THE symbol of peace (almost like a role model) though I suspect that much of the audience that it reaches will stick around for the change in vibes, which is an excellent touch and a very nice way to end things.
I had an idea of something about Ancient King's music, in general, and I arrived there because of a bit of math, actually. There're twelve tracks on "Oath Of Akae", with the album topping out at fifty-seven minutes and eleven seconds. By my (surely incorrect) count, that's a roughly four minutes and forty-five second average per tune. That is HEALTHY. So my idea was to look back at some of his other sets to see if they were at a similar length. A quick look back reveals very robust runtimes for the likes of "Seh Selassie I", "Ethiopie", "Conquering Sound" and 'Swords Of Wisdom" (which actually has five tracks north of SIX MINUTES in length). My point is that, in order for Ancient King to be anywhere near his best; in order for his music to be able to get through what I THINK he would want his listeners to take from it, ANCIENT KING NEEDS TIME. He needs room to cook and to get his point across to emote and to do all of the small wonderful details that go into making his style what it is and perhaps more so (or just as much, at the very least), as anyone else going today.
Overall, while I'm going to attempt to not directly compare "Oath Of Akae" to any of its predecessors, I will say that it is stronger than MOST of them and should some heavy fan of Ancient King want to call it his best work today, I do not think that's unfair or hyperbole. I have often made the point about him that Ancient King's music isn't for everyone, not even ALL seasoned fans of the genre will have ears for it and that remains the case here (you may want to check either "Conquering Sound" or "Swords Of Wisdom" for something more digestible), true and through. What Ancient King has done, however, with "Oath Of Akae", is to put up yet another strong demonstration of exactly who he is not as a 'musician' or as an 'artiste' but as a person. I am well convinced that making this sound is as natural to Ancient King as breathing and with the way he performs it, it becomes more and more apparent each and every time I hear him. While "Oath Of Akae" may or may not be a full tribute to someone else who walked a similar path (...it is), what it is clearly is a strong album from someone who, obviously, is doing EXACTLY what he was meant to be doing.
Rated: 4.25/5
Trinity Farm Music
2025
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