BLACK UHURU - TAXI TRAX
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Information
- Artist : BLACK UHURU
- Label : TAXI TABOU1
- Format : 2 x 12" (140g)
- Sleeve : Gatefold
- Genres : Reggae
- Estimated shipping date : Delivery within 2 to 7 days
Description
Black Uhuru and Sly & Robbie took the Reggae scene by storm in 1977, at a time when Reggae was running out of steam and was on the verge of becoming a caricature of itself. That same year, Punks blew up the established codes in the music industry and Black Uhuru is in many ways Jamaica's answer to that movement: following years of positive vibrations and hope, Black Uhuru represents the disillusioned youths of Kingston's ghettos. Leather clad, in your face, with an attitude, they departed from the lovey dovey image so far bestowed upon Rastafarian Reggae…
Backed and produced by Sly & Robbie, the heaviest rhythm section the universe has ever seen or heard, Black Uhuru screamed and lobbed dynamite sticks in lieu of lyrics. Their concerts were a deluge of fire and brimstone that took no prisoners. Once Sly & Robbie took them under their wing, they sounded hard onstage and in the studio.
For several years, Sly & Robbie worked tirelessly with Black Uhuru, producing singles and albums on their TAXI label. They had firmly established themselves at the forefront of the Reggae industry and after several years backing Peter Tosh, they were ready for new musical adventures where they could experiment at will.
TABOU1, in association with TAXI and Diggers Factory, is proud to release TAXI TRAX, a double album compiling singles released on Sly & Robbie's magnificent TAXI label during that 1977-80 period. Along with Reggae anthems like "Abortion" or "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", TAXI TRAX contains several rarities and singles previously unreleased outside Jamaica: covers of Bob Marley's "Sun Is Shining", Dawn Penn's "No No No" or the unexpected "Aquarius", fully appropriated by Black Uhuru from the 5th Dimension's
original.
All in all, TAXI TRAX is filled with sides A and dubs, as well as super rare "Dubplate" mixes, which were miraculously salvaged and restored for this collection. Superstar graphic artist Bruno Tilley designed a cover that mirrors the group's harsh intensity, using Adrian Boot's photographs and liners written by Reggae authority Noel Hawkes, who interviewed Sly and the group.
TAXI TRAX showcases a long gone sound that mashed up everything in sight at the time. This time capsule is a perfect introduction to the crucial formation that revolutionized Jamaican music in just a few years.
Note: TABOU1.com will release the digital version of this album as an NFT on its soon-to-be-launched NFT platform.
Black Uhuru est l'un des groupes les plus emblématiques et influents de l'histoire du reggae jamaïcain. Fondé en 1972 à Kingston, le groupe a joué un rôle majeur dans la diffusion du reggae à l'international, notamment grâce à des sons révolutionnaires mêlant rythmes roots traditionnels et touches de dub et de rock. Avec des voix puissantes et des textes engagés, Black Uhuru a marqué les esprits en abordant des thèmes comme la justice sociale, l'unité africaine et la spiritualité rasta. Au fil des décennies, le groupe a traversé plusieurs évolutions, mais il reste une figure de proue du reggae, ayant remporté le tout premier Grammy Award pour le meilleur album de reggae en 1985.
Black Uhuru is one of the most iconic and influential groups in the history of Jamaican reggae. Founded in 1972 in Kingston, the band played a key role in spreading reggae internationally, thanks to their revolutionary sound that fused traditional roots rhythms with elements of dub and rock. With powerful vocals and socially conscious lyrics, Black Uhuru made a lasting impact by addressing themes such as social justice, African unity, and Rastafarian spirituality. Over the decades, the group has undergone various changes, yet they remain a cornerstone of reggae, notably winning the very first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985.