1. A roots regg… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists that have used this name:
1. A roots reggae band from Jamaica
2. A straight edge metalcore band from Florida, US
1. Culture was a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples.
The members of the trio were Joseph Hill (lead vocals), Albert Walker (backing vocals) and Kenneth Dayes (backing vocals).
Shortly after Culture came together, they began working with the "Mighty Two" – producer Joe Gibbs and engineer Errol Thompson. While at Gibbs’ studio, they recorded a series of powerful singles, many of which ended up on their debut album ‘Two Sevens Clash’. After their success with Gibbs, the group went on to make a string of albums for producer Sonia Pottinger. Culture began working with some of the premier musicians of the day including Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Ansel Collins, Cedric Brooks and the ever-present percussionist Sticky. Virgin Records picked up the albums, and that added distribution enabled Culture to gain an even larger following outside of Jamaica.
Critically considered one of the most authentic traditional reggae acts, at the time of the first Rolling Stone Record Guide publication, they were the only band of any genre whose every recording received a five-star review (of bands with more than one recording in the guide).
In 1982 the three singers went their own ways. Hill carried on using the Culture name, and recorded the Lion Rock album, which was released in the United States by Heartbeat Records. For their part, Walker and Dayes recorded a handful of songs on their own – a few of which turned up on an album titled Roots & Culture. In 1986 the original line-up reformed to record two highly regarded albums – Culture in Culture and Culture at Work. These releases marked the beginning of a very busy period for the group, including annual albums and countless tours. The U.S. label Shanachie released a steady stream of new and old Culture albums up to Wings Of A Dove in 1992.
Joseph Hill, who came to symbolize the face of Culture, died in Germany on 19 August 2006 while the group was on tour. His son, Kenyatta Hill, now is the lead singer.
2) Classic mid/late 90s hardcore from Florida, celebrated for, among a handful of others, helping to cultivate the burgeoning metallic hardcore sound that became synonymous with the era.
CULTURE was known for aggressive social/political/ecological commentary, cautionary tales of reckless consumerism and industrial sprawl, and advocacy of the straightedge lifestyle.
Former members went on to Morning Again, Terror, As Friends Rust, Shai Hulud, Throwdown, Blood Has Been Shed and (most recently) ON BODIES.
In 2012, CULTURE played its first show since disbanding in 1998 (The Reel & Restless Fest in Miami, Florida). This fall, in August of 2013, the band will revisit Europe for Belgium's famed Ieper Hardcore Festival, and will then play three dates in Japan, including Tokyo's Bloodaxe Fest.
Members included:
Rich Thurston (Guitar: 1993-1997, Bass: 1993, Vocals: 1993, Drums: 1996)
Josh Williams (Drums: 1993-1997)
Stan Obal (Bass: 1993)
Mark Mitchell (Vocals: 1993, Vocals: 1996)
Pete Carreno (Bass: 1994)
John Wylie (Guitar: 1994-1995)
Damien Moyal (Vocals: 1994-1995, Vocals: 1997-1998)
Gordon Tarpley (Bass: 1995-1997, Guitar: 1998)
Louie Long (Vocals: 1995)
Anthony Conte (Vocals: 1995)
Steve Looker (Guitar: 1996-1997)
Jason Dooley (Drums: 1997)
Timothy Kirkpatrick (Drums: 1997-1998)
Joe Simmons (Guitar:1997-1998)
Floyd Beckham (Bass: 1998)
Kenneth Brian (Guitar: 1998)
Why Am I a Rastaman?
Culture Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- many want to know the reason why?
I am a rastaman
many people see I many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
many people see I many people ask?
cause, it´s because of the babyloon and the siituation?
it´s because of the babyloon and the siituation
when I was a boy about eight years old
there was a surtain rastaman
and he love all the children
and he treated us like a man
even the little children than no one cared
he called up on everyone
and he gave us food and treated everyone
with a special love
many people see I, many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(but he tought I the LOVE to give to everyone)
many people see I many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(there is no better way to express my love, to each and everyone)
one satuarday morning
a special thing happend to this man
he moved out of babyloon
HIM take away the rastaman
to the root of HIM herb and the meat of HIM fruit
and throw it in a van
(and staight up brother for ten years)
I never see the rastaman
they took him to general penetentry and
send him back as a valid man
but GOD could not change him his mind
cause in that prison was just his body, man, oh
many people see I, many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(no matter how hard the battle be - I still have JAH in my hand)
many people see I many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(how sweet the name of JAH JAH song - to every rightous rastaman)
am the same old rastaman
taught you paushing and ting
would come out and have cyculation
and we would use a true bird, man
now I have seen telling me u
got no dark and it got no use, man
donkey, horses and cross keeper
trooding on I being am a man
everyone see, I everyone ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(am here to prove and testify- about our prophecy)
everyone who see I, everyone ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(they baptaised marcus garvey and christ - they was a rastaman)
everyone see I, everyone ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(I vote and fight for another right and it can´t be no other wise man)
everyone see I, everyone ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(I love my brothers and I sisters and I can not give up a tall man)
Brother Brown, brother Duke, brother John, brothers stand up Man
I use to hear them beat the drums and sing
there in the forest land
many people see I many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
I love the beat of the nayabing that call the creation
many people see I, many people ask I?
why am I a rastaman
(the truth is my friend there is no other rightous man...)
The song “Why am I a Rastaman?” by Culture highlights the pervasive questioning and societal pressure that Rastafarians experience. The artist, Joseph Hill, describes the constant questioning he faces regarding his affiliation with the Rastafarian movement. He attributes his decision to become a Rastafarian to the poor social conditions that he grew up under. The song recounts the kindness of a Rastafarian man who provided food and love to Hill as a child, including the other young children no one else cared for. This experience left a profound impact on Hill, molding his views on love and community.
Furthermore, the song communicates the intolerance that Rastafarians often face from many Jamaicans, including their incarceration without evidence, and the continued societal stigma surrounding their religious practices. Hill points out that Rastafarians are often labeled as “paupers and thieves” and suffer in a deeply classist society, making it difficult for them to integrate into mainstream Jamaica. Despite these challenges, Hill reaffirms his love and loyalty for Rastafarianism, and his steadfast commitment towards the values it embodies – social equality, community, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
I´ve being questioned to meet early on the street
Many people see me on the street and question why I am a Rastaman
why am I a rastaman
Many people see me and ask why I am a Rastaman
cause, it´s because of the babyloon and the siituation?
It is because of the Babylon system and the current situation
when I was a boy about eight years old
When I was a young boy around eight years old
there was a surtain rastaman
There was a certain Rastaman
and he love all the children
He loved all of the children
and he treated us like a man
He treated us with respect and like men, regardless of our age
even the little children than no one cared
Even the children that were neglected by others
he called up on everyone
He called on everyone
and he gave us food and treated everyone
He provided us with food and treated everyone compassionately
with a special love
With a unique, caring love
but he tought I the LOVE to give to everyone
He taught me how to love and give to everyone
there is no better way to express my love, to each and everyone
There is no better way for me to express my love to everyone
one satuarday morning
On one Saturday morning
a special thing happend to this man
A special thing that happened to this man
he moved out of babyloon
He left Babylon
HIM take away the rastaman
The authorities took away the Rastaman
to the root of HIM herb and the meat of HIM fruit
To the essence of his herb and the purity of his food
and throw it in a van
And they threw it all in a van
I never see the rastaman
I never saw the Rastaman again
they took him to general penetentry and
They took him to a general penitentiary and
send him back as a valid man
He was released from prison but still imprisoned psychologically
but GOD could not change him his mind
But God could not change his mind
cause in that prison was just his body, man, oh
Because in that prison, only his body was present
no matter how hard the battle be - I still have JAH in my hand
No matter how difficult the battle may be, I still have Jah in my hand
how sweet the name of JAH JAH song - to every rightous rastaman
The name of Jah Jah’s song is sweet to each and every righteous Rastaman
am the same old rastaman
I am the same old Rastaman
taught you paushing and ting
Taught you about cannabis and other things
would come out and have cyculation
Would come out and dance
and we would use a true bird, man
And we would consume cannabis
now I have seen telling me u
Now I see people telling me
got no dark and it got no use, man
It has no darkness, and it has no use.
donkey, horses and cross keeper
Assuming the reference is to Babylonian symbols, it must mean that they represent negativity and are not adhered to.
trooding on I being am a man
The negativity sticks to me being a man
I love my brothers and I sisters and I can not give up a tall man
I love my brothers and sisters, so I cannot give them up for anyone
I´ve being questioned to meet early on the street
Many people see me on the street and question why I am a Rastaman
the truth is my friend there is no other rightous man...
The truth is, my friend, there is no other righteous man.
Writer(s): Joseph Constantine Hill, Lynford Agustus Marshall, Collin W. York
Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@therealicecold
2024 we still here 🦁Rasta forever
@kamog2737
Ain't no rasta, but totally support, and lovin reggae music! ❤
@alank676
Stoned that much he send this from 2024 to 2023😂😂😂low ja
@AlexThyGreek
BIG UP!
@paracleteconsult8677
Believe.
@richardmudie7158
R is the code
@saloniewanyoike4014
Why am I Rastalady.
Blessed Kings and Queens.
This is a healing song
@kwabenapassah4906
Respect
@mukabalisakilima0737
Salonie Wanyoike Respect
@paulsellomoloi5076
Bless i&i