Tell Dem by Raga

From the East to the West, from the North to the South, Uhuru! Uhuru! From the Congo to Jamaica, from Trinidad to Turtle Island, respect to the ancestors speaking to us through music and ceremony; respect to the freedom fighters and protectors of the lands and waters; forward the youth, the hope for the future of human dignity, to break the shackles of colonial-imperial oppression... A luta continua!

In this time of war, change, and confusion, with attempts to ban, bury, and burn information, we must stand on our knowledge of the power of our ancestral past to defend and affirm the humanity of our people and even that of those who fight against us for doing so.

Tell Dem invokes and reflects long friendships and poetic exchanges, mystical alignments and profound ruminations over home cooked meals of stew fish and provisions, pepper sauce, zaboca, and cassava pone… This work brings together many forces in the NYC reggae scene and beyond, from Easy Star All Stars' alumni and Larry McDonald to members of the Riverside Church Choir, to tell We Story...

From the ashes of lost brothers and sisters, new life is fertilized, new fellowships are nurtured, and new visions are born…

Tell dem!

With acknowledgement and recognition of the pioneers, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Joe Higgs, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Mutabaraka, Oku Onuora, Judy Mowatt, King Tubby, Scientist, and many more...

Tracklist

1.	World Disorder	4:12

2.	Tell Dem	4:39

3.	Love Lost	4:30

4.	This Thing	4:48

5.	Mama	5:34

6.	Obeah Man Come Again	6:50

7.	Dub Disorder	3:51

8.	Tell Dem about Dub	3:15

9.	Leaving You for Dub	3:36

10.	Another Bloodsucker Dub	3:37

11.	George Floyd's Dub	4:27

Credits

released August 1, 2024

Lyrics and vocals by Raga
Music written by Chris St. Hilaire and Raga
Arranged, produced, recorded, and mixed by Chris St. Hilaire

Chris St. Hilaire - drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, percussion, vocals
Elenna Canlas - vocals on tracks 1, 4, 7, 10, organ bubble on tracks 2 and 8
Domenica Fossati - vocals on tracks 1, 4, 7, 10
Anjali Rose - vocals on tracks 1, 4, 7, 10
Mayteana Morales - vocals on tracks 1, 4, 7, 10
Shelton Garner - lead guitar on tracks 3 and 9
Larry McDonald - percussion on track 6
Jeremiah McFarlane - percussion on track 6
Anant Pradhan - tenor saxophone, bamboo flute
Geoff Burke - tenor saxophone
Billy Aukstik - trumpet
Alex Asher - trombone
Rob Jost - French horn

"Mama" Choir:

Shari Gill
Andrew Darling
Erika N. Johnson
Rob Morrero
Additional choral arrangement by Shari Gill

Additional engineers:

Billy Aukstik
Josh Hahn
Brett Tubin

Mastered by Alex DeTurk at The Bunker Studio

Artwork by Kingsley Nebechi

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