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."
Patience
Midnite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(whistle)
Shed a tear 'cause I'm missin' you
I'm still alright to smile
Girl, I think about you every day now
Was a time when I wasn't sure
But you set my mind at ease
There is no doubt
Said, woman, take it slow
It'll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience
Said, sugar, make it slow
And we come together fine
All we need is just a little patience
(patience)
Mm, yeah
I sit here on the stairs
'Cause I'd rather be alone
If I can't have you right now
I'll wait, dear
Sometimes I get so tense
But I can't speed up the time
But you know, love
There's one more thing to consider
Said, woman, take it slow
And things will be just fine
You and I'll just use a little patience
Said, sugar, take the time
'Cause the lights are shining bright
You and I've got what it takes
To make it, We won't fake it,
I'll never break it
'cause I can't take it
(whistle)
...little patience, mm yeah, mm yeah
need a little patience, yeah
just a little patience, yeah
some more patience, yeah
need some patience, yeah
could use some patience, yeah
gotta have some patience, yeah
all it takes is patience,
just a little patience
is all you need
I BEEN WALKIN' THE STREETS AT NIGHT
JUST TRYIN' TO GET IT RIGHT
HARD TO SEE WITH SO MANY AROUND
YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE
BEING STUCK IN THE CROWD
AND THE STREETS DON'T CHANGE
BUT BABY THE NAME
I AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THE GAME
'CAUSE I NEED YOU
YEAH, YEAH, BUT I NEED YOU
OO, I NEED YOU
WHOA, I NEED YOU
OO, ALL THIS TIME
(ah)
Midnite's song "Patience" is about missing and longing for someone while waiting for them to come back. The lyrics convey a message of hope and resilience, urging the listener to take it slow and to wait for things to work out, even when they seem uncertain. The song's calm melody and soothing tone reflect the idea of patience, as the singer repeats the word throughout the chorus.
The song opens with the singer acknowledging his heartache and sadness over being apart from someone he cares about. Despite this, he is still able to put on a brave face and continue on with a smile. He talks about how he thinks about this person every day now, implying that they were once very close. However, there was a time when he was unsure about his feelings, until she set his mind at ease. The lyrics are full of reassurance and comfort, with the singer singing about how the woman in question has made her way into his heart.
In the chorus, he urges her to take it slow and to have a little patience because things will work out. He wants her to know that they have what it takes to make it through whatever challenges they face. The song ends with him professing his love and need for her, even though they are apart. The whistles throughout the song add an airy and pastoral touch, emphasizing the song's calming and soothing message.
Line by Line Meaning
Shed a tear 'cause I'm missin' you
I'm feeling emotional because I'm thinking about how much I miss you
I'm still alright to smile
Although I'm sad, I can still find reasons to be happy
Girl, I think about you every day now
You're always on my mind and I can't stop thinking about you
Was a time when I wasn't sure
There was a time when I was uncertain about our relationship
But you set my mind at ease
You helped calm my fears and doubts
There is no doubt
I'm certain that you're the one for me
Said, woman, take it slow
I'm advising my partner to be patient
It'll work itself out fine
The situation will resolve itself
All we need is just a little patience
If we're patient, everything will work out okay
Said, sugar, make it slow
I'm asking my partner to be slow and patient
And we come together fine
If we're patient, we will be able to come together and work things out
(patience)
Patience is the key right now
I sit here on the stairs
I'm sitting alone, thinking things through
'Cause I'd rather be alone
I need some time to myself to figure things out
If I can't have you right now
I'm willing to wait for you
I'll wait, dear
I'll be patient and wait for you
Sometimes I get so tense
I get anxious and worried
But I can't speed up the time
I can't make time move any faster than it already does
But you know, love
I know that you understand
There's one more thing to consider
I want to bring up one last point
And things will be just fine
If we're patient, everything will turn out okay
You and I'll just use a little patience
We can get through this by being patient together
Said, sugar, take the time
I'm asking my partner to be patient and take their time
'Cause the lights are shining bright
We have a bright future ahead of us
You and I've got what it takes
We have the strength and love to make it through anything
To make it, We won't fake it, I'll never break it
We will make it through this by being honest and authentic with each other
'cause I can't take it
I don't want to lose you
(whistle)
Instrumental break
...little patience, mm yeah, mm yeah
We just need a little patience to make it through
need a little patience, yeah
Patience is what we need right now
just a little patience, yeah
We only need a small amount of patience to overcome our challenges
some more patience, yeah
We could use a bit more patience to get through this
need some patience, yeah
We need patience to make it through this tough time
could use some patience, yeah
A little more patience would help us
gotta have some patience, yeah
We absolutely need patience to get through this
all it takes is patience,
The only thing we need right now is patience
just a little patience
A small amount of patience will help us to overcome our struggles
is all you need
All you need right now is patience
I BEEN WALKIN' THE STREETS AT NIGHT
I've been walking around, trying to clear my mind
JUST TRYIN' TO GET IT RIGHT
I'm just trying to figure things out
HARD TO SEE WITH SO MANY AROUND
It's difficult for me to focus with so many people around
YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE
You know I'm not a fan of this situation
BEING STUCK IN THE CROWD
Feeling trapped in this crowded place
AND THE STREETS DON'T CHANGE
Even though I walk around, the streets don't look any different
BUT BABY THE NAME
The only thing that's changed is that I can't stop thinking about you
I AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THE GAME
I'm not interested in playing games, I just want to be with you
'CAUSE I NEED YOU
I need you in my life
YEAH, YEAH, BUT I NEED YOU
I really, truly need you
OO, I NEED YOU
I can't imagine my life without you
WHOA, I NEED YOU
I need you more than anything else in the world
OO, ALL THIS TIME
I've been feeling this way for a long time
(ah)
Vocalization to end the song
Contributed by Nathan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@henriquepiresleite
Roots Midnite Reggae! Positive Vibration!
@stephanieespinar4896
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