As the July 4th U.S. national holiday took on a very different tone this year, due to the global coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest sparked by the current spate of police brutality against Black people.
Legendary NY-based dancehall DJ/producer Bobby Konders and his Massive B label have dropped a string of singles that echo the sound and sentiment of the streets, with his latest riddim, “About Us”.
The riddim (Jamaican patois for “rhythm” — a shared underlying musical track in dancehall or reggae music, upon which multiple artists may record their vocals), reminiscent of classic 90’s-era dancehall, features the ever-lyrical Vybz Kartel on the title track, as well as emerging sensation Xyclone, and NY-based (by way of Portmore, Jamaica) deejays Chedda Boss and Dimon Treajah.
Vybz Kartel, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder, is featured on the riddim’s lead track “About Us,” which dropped at the end of May, just days before George Floyd would be brutally killed at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department, setting off a series of worldwide protests to address police brutality, systemic racism, and social change.
Not knowing the historic events about to unfold, the prolific lyricist warned:
Watch yourself when the boys roll up
Memba seh dem nuh give a **** about us
Vybz Kartel & Massive B “About Us” (Official Music Video)
The Vybz song, which has been referred to as a “breath of fresh air,” has since become an underground anthem, getting play from sound systems (reggae/dancehall DJ crews) around the world, and working its way onto American airwaves from coast to coast.
Already receiving early support on dancehall specialty shows at key stations like WZMX in Hartford, WKYS in D.C., KMEL in San Francisco, and WEDR in Miami, “About Us” was recently added into mix show rotation at Bobby Konders NYC-based radio station HOT 97, where he hosts the weekly “Fire Sundays” program with partner Jabba.
The tune could be heard playing steadily throughout the holiday weekend.
Konders joins another HOT 97 station-mate, Ebro Darden (host of the “Ebro In The Morning” program), today on Ebro’s Beats 1 radio program as a guest DJ for the weekly Monday Motivation Mix segment.
Ebro is known for speaking out on issues of the day, and he regularly features leading figures in the dancehall and reggae community on the program.
Xyclone’s “Never,” with its equally catchy intro and hook, has also become a mainstay in dancehall sets around the globe and continues to build momentum.
