The band was started by brothers Vaughn Benjamin (August 13, 1969 - November 4, 2019)
(vocals) and Ron Benjamin (keyboard, but later switched to bass) circa 1989 according to an interview with former Midnite drummer Ambrose "Amby" Connor by Midnight Raver. The band's music follows in tradition with the roots reggae bands of 1970s Jamaica. The lyrical portions of Midnite's compositions are characterized as the "chant and call" style which gives their music a spiritually intense and an overtly Rastafari movement feel. The lyrics are centrally focused on the plights of the oppressed, the inherent faults of the current political, economic and social settings on a global scale, and the redemption available to mankind through a life dedicated to Jah.
The Benjamin brothers were raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the sons of Antiguan musician Ronnie Benjamin, Sr. Vaughn Benjamin cites Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, The Abyssinians, and bassist Flabba Holt as his earliest influences.
"Bob Marley has had a big impact. And the drum and the bass from like Flabba Holt. Sometimes I listen to the bass man alone or the drummer alone."
The group's debut album Unpolished was released exclusively in Namibia in December 1997. The album would not see a proper U.S. release until the Rastafaria label released it wide in 2001. They recorded Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) while living in Washington, D.C. during the mid-90s, and it was released in November 1999. The album was named so, because it was reportedly recorded live in one room, straight to two-track analog tape. It was mastered without the use of compression or corrective equalization. Like Unpolished, Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) is recorded using no mixing board, no filtering, no compression, no equalization, no noise reduction, multitracking or overdubbing, giving it a similar raw sound. The album was recorded using only two-tracks at Mapleshade in Upper Marlboro, MD with studio engineer and owner Pierre Sprey whose recording style is summed up in the phrase he had printed to green Mapleshade T-shirts to promote the studio: NO Mixing Board, NO Overdubs, NO Noise Reduction, NO Compression, NO Multitracks, NO Reverb, NO EQ, Nothing BUT The Excitement of Live Music, MUSIC WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
Later, they returned home to St. Croix in the late '90s to play with local musicians and record at their music studio, Afrikan Roots Lab.
Midnite frequently collaborates with new artists and has played as the back-up band on a number of Afrikan Roots Lab artists' releases, such as Dezarie's Fya and Gracious Mama Africa and Ikahba's Trodding to Zion.
In September 2011, Midnite released their first professionally produced music video for their song "Mongst I&I". The video features members of the band in casual settings and depicts the Rastafarian culture in Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands (referred to as "Freedom City," St. Croix), and Kingston, Jamaica.
Singer Vaughn Benjamin featured on Tribal Seeds' 2014 album Representing.
The band was featured in the 2014 documentary film Escape To St Croix.
In 2015, the band reformed around co-founder Vaughn Benjamin as Akae Beka without bassist Ron Benjamin. Ras Elyments Took Ron Benjamins Position on Bass. Suren Felton Replaced Ras L on Keys. The reasons for the reformation have been stated as due to "Life changes, convictions and revelations. Stated on the band website was "Due to a medical emergency the tour is postponed" Members of the band themselves won't even say during the recent Akae Beka Coronation Tour in November 2015. '. Akae Beka's first performance took place in Denver, Colorado on July 17, 2015 in honor of Nelson Mandela Day.
Vaughn Benjamin died in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on November 4, 2019, at the age of 50.
In its Top 50 Reggae Albums of the 2K list, reggae news and information website Midnight Raver ranked Midnite's Jubilees of Zion as the best album of the new millennium and 'Beauty for Ashes' as the third best. In its review of Akae Beka's Homage To The Land, Midnight Raver referred to Midnite as "the most revered, influential and prolific reggae act in two decades."
Don't Move
Midnite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rasta man don't move
Show them
Like how the system dread
We coming dreader
We flashing dreader than dread Rasta
Don't move binghi man
Rasta man don't move
Like how the system dread
We coming dreader
We flashing dreader than dread Rasta
We are the lions
We coming dread
Dread in our walk
Natty dread ina we head
Dread out of Judah
Straight down to zed
Addis Ababa
Crown the king
We are the lions
We coming dread
Dread in our walk
Natty dread ina we head
Dread out of Judah
Straight down to zed
Addis Ababa
Crown the king
Gather my flock
Send I the rude boys
We will educate their time
Black am I
Rasta neva call you fe linger
Teach tem to read the road sign
Rasta
We are the lions
We coming dread
Dread in our walk
Natty dread ina we head
Dread out of Judah
Straight down to zed
Addis Ababa
Crown the king
It is inter national material competition
The eagle have the bomb
And the lion must have none
In their international material competition
Who should have the lion's share now
Is the lion's son
CIA, KBG, The Mousad, the IRA and the Scotland Yard
The PLO, Tonton, Makout, Israel and NATO
Tell me oh God
Why are they all fighting so
Everybody wanna' be the leader
In the house where the diamonds come from
Everybody wants to be the leader
Where all the natural resources come from
We are the lions
We coming dread
Dread in our walk
Natty dread ina we head
Dread out of Judah
Straight down to zed
Addis Ababa
Crown the king
Anguish of the soul
Come implement world wide gun control
Millions need not die
Unto the east Rasta whoo yeah yeah
Whoo yeah whoo oo yeah whoo yeah
Don't move from your position
Rasta man don't move
You don't move off your position
Rasta man don't move
We are the lions
We coming dread
Dread in our walk
Natty dread ina we head
Dread out of Judah
Straight down to zed
Addis Ababa
Crown the king
We are the lions
We coming dread
Dread in our walk
Natty dread ina we head
Dread out of Judah
Straight down to zed
Addis Ababa
Crown the king
Gather my flocks
Send I the rude boys
Gather my flocks
Send I the bad boys
Gather my flocks
We have love for the bad boys
We will educate their time awhoa
Rasta neva call you fe linger
Teach tem to read the road sign
Rasta
We are the man lion
Dread, dread, dread
We are the man lion
Dread, dread, dread
The song "Don't Move" by Midnite is a reggae song that is focused on power and rebellion. The lyrics speak to the concept of staying firm in one's beliefs and not wavering, especially in the face of challenges or opposition. The first verse serves as a call to arms for the Rastafarian community, urging them to remain steadfast and show their power against the oppressive system. The following verses address various topics such as the fight for resources, the existence of international conflicts, and the need for gun control. The chorus repeats the message of being fierce and unwavering, emphasizing the strength of the lion as a symbol of resistance.
The song's focus on Rastafarian language and symbolism is a representation of the group's resistance against society's powerful institutions. The lyrics use words such as "dread," "natty," and "Addis Ababa" which are all significant elements of Rastafarian culture. The reference to Judah is a nod to the Rastafarian belief in Ethiopia as the promised land, and the mention of the "Crown the king" refers to the group's belief in Haile Selassie as the messiah.
The song is also deeply rooted in political and social commentary, addressing the nature of power struggles between nations and the devastating consequences for the oppressed. The lyrics reference various world organizations such as the CIA, KBG, and NATO, highlighting their role in conflicts and wars. The call for world-wide gun control and the assertion that "millions need not die" speaks to the desire for peaceful solutions and the importance of prioritizing human life over power struggles.
Overall, the song's message is one of resistance, strength, and resilience. It encourages listeners to stand firm in their beliefs and fight back against oppressive systems, all while advocating for peace and solidarity.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't move off your position
Remain steadfast in your beliefs, Rasta man.
Rasta man don't move
Maintain your position, Rasta man.
Show them
Demonstrate our strength and power to the opposition.
Like how the system dread
Just as the oppressing systems fear us, we should hold our ground.
We coming dreader
We are approaching with increasing strength and ferocity.
We flashing dreader than dread Rasta
Our power is even greater than the perceived power of the oppressors.
Don't move binghi man
Hold steady, binghi man.
We are the lions
We are powerful and bold, symbolized by the lion.
Dread in our walk
We move with purpose, power, and confidence.
Natty dread ina we head
Our natural hair is a symbol of our strength and pride.
Dread out of Judah
Our roots and beliefs come from the tribe of Judah.
Straight down to zed
Our message spans from the beginning to the end of the alphabet.
Addis Ababa
The spiritual capital of the Rastafarian movement.
Crown the king
We recognize the rightful rulers of our movement.
Gather my flock
Bring together our community.
Send I the rude boys
Bring the rebellious young men to me.
We will educate their time
We will teach them and guide them to make responsible decisions.
Black am I
I am proud of my skin color and heritage.
Rasta neva call you fe linger
Rastafarians do not advocate procrastination or laziness.
Teach tem to read the road sign
Teach them to understand the signs of the world and navigate through them.
It is international material competition
The world is in a competition for resources and power.
The eagle have the bomb
The United States has nuclear weapons and wields great power.
And the lion must have none
But we, the lions, have been deprived of power and resources.
Who should have the lion's share now
Who deserves the vast majority of resources now?
Is the lion's son
It is the descendants of the oppressed who should receive the majority of resources.
CIA, KBG, The Mousad, the IRA and the Scotland Yard
Various intelligence and security organizations around the world.
The PLO, Tonton, Makout, Israel and NATO
Various political and military groups involved in conflicts around the world.
Tell me oh God
God, why is there so much strife and conflict in the world?
Why are they all fighting so
What is the root cause of all the conflict in the world?
Everybody wanna' be the leader
Everyone desires to have power and be in control.
In the house where the diamonds come from
In countries where natural resources such as diamonds are found.
Where all the natural resources come from
In countries where all the valuable natural resources are discovered.
Anguish of the soul
Deep suffering and distress of the spirit.
Come implement world wide gun control
Improve laws to regulate the possession and usage of firearms around the world.
Millions need not die
Millions of people should not have to die due to lack of peace and understanding.
Unto the east Rasta whoo yeah yeah
Focus on bringing peace and prosperity to the eastern region of the world.
Don't move from your position
Don't let the opposition upset or distract you from your beliefs.
You don't move off your position
Stay strong on your stance.
We are the man lion
We are powerful, fearless and unyielding.
Dread, dread, dread
Our fearlessness sends signals of terror to the opposition.
Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kingqueendomofafrika9078
Mighty MIGHTY Word Sound & Truth To Power
@Healing_Heiress
I thought I liked the first initial picture but all of this imagery is on point praise God. I'm very glad I was raised Rastafarian because it's a lot of pride in yourself, and a lot of people don't have that
@1ramah
Here in Africa , Kenya . 👊🏾👍🏾 . Don’t move African man don’t move .
@ReggaeMusicisForYou
Affirmative! ❤️💛💚
@zanelemakhanya2336
don't drift away from H.I.M
@anthonycoffield2669
FACTS
@mekreaman4730
❤️💛💚💪🏾🇪🇹
@ushaharrypersad432
One love
@Jay-iu4st
‼️🎶🎶🎶‼️
@jahpowerz
Great vid....