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Portals

by Akae Beka

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Please note, the vinyl contains only 10 of the 13 tracks due to runtime limitations of the format.
    Orderly, Be Kindly and Well Said are not on the vinyl. (See images for track list)

    Includes unlimited streaming of Portals via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £22 GBP or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 12 I Grade releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Black Carbon feat. Chronixx, Everything Bless feat. Tiken Jah Fakoly, Sow and the Reap, Let Live, JAH Grid, Rule The Time, Kings Bell, Beauty for Ashes, and 4 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      £82.40 GBP or more (20% OFF)

     

1.
Heavy Low 05:18
2.
3.
Like Rhyme 04:16
4.
5.
Orderly 03:26
6.
Portals 04:17
7.
8.
Be Kindly 04:20
9.
10.
Well Said 04:40
11.
Changes 04:23
12.
13.

about

Akae Beka's inimitable style, developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP's. His prolific output coupled with his uniquely rich, deep, multilayered songwriting and uncompromising devotion to RasTafari has earned him a place amongst the reggae legends.

The stellar production trinity that is Zion I Kings have been involved collectively and individually in co-creating some of the most highly regarded contributions to the vast Akae Beka catalogue and this LP is a shining example of just that.

Portals, originally released on CD and Digital in 2016, garnered critical acclaim and held position in the billboard charts top 10 for 2 weeks. Produced collaboratively between Zion I Kings and Vaughn Benjamin (Akae Beka), who co-produced & arranged 5 of the 13 songs himself, alongside the ZIK players in St. Croix's Aqua Sounds Studio. The album's sound continues a trajectory of textural, guitar-driven roots reggae that Zion I Kings and Padraic Coursey first explored on the track "Weather the Storm" on 2014's Beauty for Ashes.

Following 8 years of anxious anticipation, for the countless Akae Beka fans that are also vinyl connoisseurs, this LP is now being released on as a 12" vinyl LP courtesy of Before Zero Records. This offers the listener not only the chance to enjoy this LP in an analogue form, but also the chance to hold the artwork as a 12" square masterpiece, created by the hands of Ras Marcus, the artist who gave the powerful visual presence that became synonymous to much of the I Grade / Akae Beka works over the years.

credits

released June 3, 2022

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I Grade St Croix, Virgin Islands

Founded in St. Croix, USVI during in 2001 by Laurent "Tippy I" Alfred along with partner Kenyatta Itola. The label's mission is to produce the highest quality reggae music. Over several highly acclaimed releases, a unique musical identity developed that is undeniably roots, but freely influenced by hip hop, jazz and soul forming a sound that is both ancient and modern. ... more

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