Australia-based hip-hop and dancehall producer Monkey Marc has teamed up with one of Bristol’s most revered beat makers and bass music proponents Pinch for a new dancehall instrumental called ‘Graveyard Riddim’.
They’ll be releasing the deadly cut as part of a new EP which will take in the instrumental alongside three takes on the track featuring a strong cast of guest MCs. Premiering above is one of those, ‘King Street’, which features guest verses from Ninjaman, Riko Dan, Killa P, Rider Shafique, Irah and Soom T.
"Ninjaman’s lyrics were laid down in Kingston before he was sentenced to life behind bars for murder," Monkey Marc says. "With a trial impending, it must have been heavy on his mind. So the Graveyard Riddim EP is Ninjaman at his most political, denouncing guns and crime possibly for the first time in his career.
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"After this big statement from Ninjaman, a whole lot of artists from Jamaica and UK – 20 in total – were
inspired to record their take on his message, on a new riddim by Pinch and myself. "I guess it’s not a topic that people sing about that often, so the artists were pretty keen to jump on it. Our idea was to inspire youth with a strong anti-crime and anti-violence message, through the voices of iconic artists who young people would look up to, and exciting up-and-comers – all of whom got fully behind the concept."
‘King Street’ will also feature on Monkey Marc’s upcoming album, Vital Sound, which will be released on November 22. The Graveyard Riddim EP will be released through Digikillaz on October 4.
