Ras Ash 1st Promotes Peace In August Town With New Riddim Project

Reggae artist Ras Ash 1st is a man with big ideas and high hopes that his latest production, 1 August Town Riddim, will ignite a yearning in the hearts and minds of residents of the August Town area for peace and a cessation of hostilities in the community.

“War is a terrible thing, it disrupts lives, traumatizes children, creates unnecessary financial hardship for families who can’t function, there must be a better way,” a passionate Ras Ash 1st said.

“The violence is getting out of hand, I mainly attack issues which are political and violent. I am not afraid to stand up for the people in no instance.”

That is the major reason that he has engineered a music project that engenders the ideals of hard work, determination and unity in the face of impossible odds.
Ras Ash 1st hails from August Town so he has a vested interest in peace in the area. This is not his first production, but this one holds a special place in his heart.

“This project is different, ah August Town mi born and come from…I am trying to unify August Town, so most of the artistes are from different areas of August Town sometimes who have friction with each other, so you understand the mission I am on: using unity to break the friction. Most artistes on the project are from August Town, except for  Diphrnt1 who is a Jamaican, born and raised in Maxfield Avenue, but she now lives in Florida,” the artiste whose real name is Lyndon Gordon, said.

August Town has been a hotbed of violence for the past year with several persons killed in ongoing gang violence. A few weeks ago, five men were killed and seven firearms seized in a joint police-military operation in Bedward Gardens that made national headlines. A soldier was also reportedly injured during the operation.

“We have to end the violence, too many souls are being lost, this is a generational war and it has to stop somewhere,” Ras Ash 1st said.

The project features a mix of upcoming and established August Town-based acts such as Sizzla Kalonji, Ras Ash 1st himself, as well as new acts Sherdonae, Junga Ras, Sas El Gringo and Reece Gioganii.

The first anthology of songs include Ras Ash 1st teaming up Fantan Mojah and Natural Black, then he teams up again with youngsters, Sherdon Hype and Junga Ras for Hungry Days, Diphrnt1 (pictured above) shows up on Justice for the World, Sherdonae represents with Young Boss and female reggae-dancehall artiste Reece Gioganii cries for Peace Love and Unity. This collection was released on March 26th on the Sceptre Records label.

“I have 14 songs on the rhythm, I split it in two, the first set was just released, then Sizzla will lead out the next set of songs, with Sizzla, Harry Toddler and Wasp, and a youth named Arrisen One from Chisholm Avenue,” he said.

Years ago, he did his first project, the On a Mission/Bankrobber project featuring Sizzla, Norris Man, Lutan Fyah, Steve Machette. The riddim project was released in 2001 and sold well internationally and locally. The project spawned a hit song, Dangerous, for Sizzla.

“I did more projects after that as well over the years but were not quite as successful,” he said.  Ras Ash 1st is also promoting the instrospective well-written ‘Slave Trade’ on the Manatee Records label which promotes forgiveness.

“No matter what happens on earth, the only thing can work is forgiveness without the memory of the scar. Mi ah preach forgiveness with love, understanding and unconditional forgiveness. Only Jah Can Set Us Free,” Ras Ash said.