| I Grade Music: | ||||||
| Nemozian Rasta | Fya | Assini | Weep Not | Geoman | Vijan | |
| Midnite-I Grade | Dezarie | Midnite-I Grade | Various Artists | Midnite Branch I | Midnite-I Grade | |
| Inna Red I Hour | One Atonement | Let Live | Conquering Sound | A Different Age | Rasta Awake | |
| Abja | Yahadanai | Midnite-I Grade | Ancient King | NiyoRah | Army | |
| Jah Grid | Mahogany Road | Purification Session | Rule the Time | Stolen Scrolls | Unchangeable | |
| Midnite-I Grade | Abja | NiyoRah | Midnite-I Grade | NiyoRah | Danny I | |
| Ten Strings | ||||||
| Tuff Lion |
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While conscious reggae music has enjoyed a revival in creativity, popularity and appeal since the mid 1990s, many reggae fans lament the small number of female voices. Here to help fill this void comes Dezarie, an emerging talent from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands whose angelic voice and powerful songwriting are quickly gaining notice throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. In the summer of 2001, three of Dezarie's songs were released on the Nemozian Rasta CD, the first collaboration project between the Midnite Band and I Grade Productions. These songs have been receiving significant radio play in the Virgin Islands, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. Dezarie was named Best New Artist at the 2001 Atlanta Reggae Music Awards. Dezarie's long-awaited debut CD, Fya, features thirteen new songs along with two from the Nemozian Rasta disc. The heartical roots riddims on the album were arranged and performed by I Grade Productions (guitarist/producer Laurent "Tippy" Alfred and bassist Kenyatta Itola) and the Midnite Band. The all-live instrumentation on Fya harkens back to the classic Jamaican roots sound of the 1970s, solid roots drum rhythms, heavy bass lines and crisp bubbles and skanks. The musicians on Fya include the I Grade Productions duo alongside the core members of the Midnite Band, songwriter Vaughn Benjamin, keyboardist Ronnie Benjamin, bassist/drummer Phil Merchant and drummer Dion "Bosie" Hopkins. Fya also features the rhythm and lead guitar playing of Tuff Lion, a Virginia-based guitarist/producer who has recorded and performed with some of the top bands in reggae, including the Abyssinians, Junior Marvin and Midnite. With this solid roots foundation, Dezarie's beautiful songs deliver much-needed musical healing to reggae lovers who have long awaited this new voice. |