Black Judah
Santa Barbara, California, United States | INDIE
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Entertainment
Reggae meets rap... again
Black Judah and Snoop Dogg team up on California Green
By Kevin Jackson Observer Writer
Friday, July 15, 2011
Reggae duo Black Judah recently teamed up with American rapper Snoop Dogg on the single called California Green.
According to Black Judah member Dylan Judah, having the rapper on the track was like a dream come true for the California-based outfit.
BLACK JUDAH... the feedback to California Green has so far been positive, the track is gaining momentum on major stations across the United States
1/1
Said Dylan "I gave the song to Snoop's manager and one night, about three or four months later, I got a call from the manager that Snoop was in the recording studio vibing the song. He invited us to come down to the studio but by the time we got there, Snoop had already left. The following day we were invited to his home studio where we did the track."
California Green was written by Dylan Judah, a California native whose interest in reggae developed from during his teenage years. "Where I come from in California it's where the real authentic reggae culture can be felt. I was involved in a reggae band and we were playing the music that I loved," Dylan explained.
He would later team up with Jamaica reggae artiste Sugar Black a former Flames recording artiste, and they formed Black Judah.
"I met Sugar Black at a reggae festival in California and we just clicked from there," said Dylan.
Black Judah came to prominence in 2008 with the number one single Mercy Please which featured reggae chanter Warrior King.
Said Dylan, "Mercy Please opened a lot of doors for us worldwide from a street level and a grass roots level. It's good to have fans all over the world, but when you meet people individually, it's an even better feeling."
After the success of Mercy Please, the duo followed up with Never Give Up which got a lot of rotation on radio not only in Jamaica but stateside as well.
Dylan says he decided to record message music because of the musical influences he listened to while growing up. "For me it wasn't about the fame or career. It was about the love and beauty of the music. I grew up listening to people like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Johnny Osbourne and they inspired me. The delivery and conviction of the truth in their lyrics inspired me to do message music," he said.
The feedback to California Green has so far been positive according to Dylan. The track is reportedly gaining momentum on major stations across the United States. "The song is receiving mad airplay already even over in Hawaii where it was the second most added song on the College Journal charts. Right now we are getting ready to shoot the video. Snoop is really excited about the song and he wants us to work on another track," said Dylan.
The video for California Green is to be directed by Matt Alonzo. Alonzo's directing credits include the music videos, Fire by B Real and Damian Marley, Like a G6 by Far East Movement, Purp and Yellow by the Game and Snoop Dogg, You're a Jerk by New Boyz, Gossip by Lil Wayne and Turn My Swag On by Soulja Boy.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Reggae-meets-rap----again_9220251#ixzz1XsKlbyL6 - Jamaica Observer
California-based ebony and Ivory Reggae duo, Black Judah, has returned with their long awaited collaboration with hip-hop mogul Snoop Dogg on a single produced by Atomic Record Label, 'California Green'.
According to Dylan Judah, the song "is a real world story. It speaks about California lifestyle, the medicinal uses of the cannabis and its healing powers."
However, explained Dylan, though legalised, "there is somewhat still a risk involved for those who bring the medicine to the people."
Dylan is off the island but Sugar Black, a native and son of Jamaica, is here making some stops at his favourite spots, simply enjoying the sun, sea and sand, but is also focused on promoting the new single. California Green is a hard-core Reggae/hip-hop ballad that almost immediately intoxicates the listener with its viral content and rhythmic overtone. It's the kind of song you keep hearing even when the music stops playing. The cool, smooth flow of Snoop Dogg on the track also compliments the jam.
California Green is receiving a lot of airplay in Hawaii and is a crowd favourite at festivals in California. The song is the most added on the College Music Journal and debuted among the Top 20 Reggae songs on itunes, ranking at a high of number 10. Plans to shoot a video for the single in August are well under way and will definitely feature Snoop.
Black Judah is in dialogue with rap artiste E-40 for an upcoming collaboration. E-40 led a generation of 'Cali Bay' rappers and attracted a large cult following of listeners that spread from the West Coast to the South.
- The Star Jamaica
Discography
EPs:
California Green
LPs:
Radio Airplay:
California Green - CMJ Chart #2
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Black Judah is the synthesis of two minds, voices and musical souls. Sugar Black and Dylan Judah have developed a brand of music, influenced by reggae, hip-hop and R&B, which is timeless.
Sugar Black is a native Jamaican who discovered his passion for music as a child. He combined his talents and motivated spirit to become the youngest apprentice of the Black Star Sound System at age twelve. He began recording for Tony Rebel’s Flames Production and released a series of legendary singles including the 1997 #4 UK Billboard hit, ‘Oh Jah.’ Sugar Black has continued to record and perform over the past decade by being the driving force in the creation of two albums “Black Attack” (2000) and “Souljah Story” (2005).
Los Angeles-bred, Dylan Judah is a prolific singer, songwriter, and producer. He began his musical career as a young drummer in his teenage ska band, Caught in the Act (C.I.A.). Dylan began touring for C.I.A. and was opening shows for multiple national and international acts, such as No Doubt, Bunny Wailer and the Skatalites. Dylan ventured to Jamaica and lived in apartheid stricken South Africa where music is the core foundation of people their communities. Dylan explored the townships outside the cities to play and absorb the vibes directly from the roots of Reggae music. He lived in the mountains above Negril in Jamaica where he was embraced by “the yard culture” with no running water or electricity and far from tourists. The woods and people of Jamaica spoke the One Love heart beat into my soul.
Dylan formed the reggae band The Cannons in 1995. Together they released two independently produced albums, “Thanks & Praise” and “Life-Elements-Vision,” honored as Border’s best independent album of the year. In 2004, Dylan released a self titled, solo dub album which he co-produced with famed Jamaican dub fore-father, Scientist.
Black Judah is currently signed to Atomic Records Incorporated, formerly Teflon Blood Inc.
Links
