Ras Shiloh Interview German version / English version

Text + Photos: Benjamin Poljak

Berlin 2005
Ras Shiloh's story shows what can happen, if you were born in New York and have Jamaican neighbours which have a soundsystem. Now it is round about 17 years ago as Ras Shiloh goes to his neighbours daily after doing his homework (a New York soundsystem called Ballis International). Ballis International was a big Sound in these days and so Ras Shiloh meets: Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Admiral Bailey, Barrington Levy, Shabba and a lot more. After a short while, Ballis International took the young Ras Shiloh to some soundsystem shows. In this time everyone called Ras Shiloh"Big Belly Youth", who was strictly deejaying. Ras Shiloh become to a singer with a great voice. If you close your eyes while he is singing, you have a feeling the melodic, vibrating voice belongs to the singer Garnett Silk which is passed away. Ras Shiloh heard often about his similar voice to Garnett and he takes the compliment with pleasure. Years later Ras Shiloh visited Jamaica for a few times and met his mentor Tony Rebel. After that Ras Shiloh released the song (title) "Are You Satisfied" on the Lalabella Riddim and a lot more should follow. Without Tony Rebel all the Penthouse tunes would not be possible to released. At least after the combination song with Gentleman (title) "Blessings of jah", even every Reggae-Fan in Germany should know Ras Shiloh's name.

Ras Shiloh album number five is gonna be released soon, in this case produced by Bobby Digital. (while in the interview, the name was still unknown to be set). So this voice of an angel visited Germany the second time and we took the chance and made an Interview after his performance in the flat of the Promoter.

Pullupmp3: Where are you from?

RAS SHILOH: I am born and grown in Brooklyn NY and since three years i am in Jamaica. Do or die - that's how they call it where I'm from.

Pullupmp3: How old are you?

RAS SHILOH: 27 years old.

Pullupmp3: For how long will you be on tour in Europe?

RAS SHILOH: For a hole month with Junior Kelly. I am coming from Rome know, Coming from the Vatican city. Just Burning up the new pope. Ha ha.

Pullupmp3: Do you have any more gigs in Germany?

RAS SHILOH: No. Just in Berlin, but i have some things to take care in Cologne. I will check my brother Gentleman for the combination number two. But no more gigs in Germany on this Tour. We will play some Shows in France.

Pullupmp3: What about your new album. How do you call it?

RAS SHILOH: It has no name yet, I have to be in Jamaica with Bobby Digital to decide about the name. I still have to finish two tracks. It will have fresh, unreleased Tunes on it. Look out for it. This is the number five album.

Pullupmp3: You work with a lot of different producers. Do you have a favourite producer?

RAS SHILOH: Donnavan Germain (penthouse) is a great producer, Bobby Digital is a great producer, I work with Firehouse. I don't work with every producer. I have my selected few producers. Bobby Digital is like a rubberdub king, when it comes to roots-music he is specialised in that. Garnett Silk does most of his work with Bobby Digital, because Bobby is specialised in certain things. The connection is there. Every producer is unique in their own way xterminator, penthouse... have different vibrations than Bobby Digital. If you work with this producer you gonna get this, if you work with that producer, you gonna get that. And when it comes together it is beautiful.

Pullupmp3: I heard you have a soundsystem?

RAS SHILOH: Ja Man, Jah Fingers. We are three people. Jah Fingers have a part in NY / Orlando with Top Cat and we are based in Jamaica with Futuristic Warrior and me.

Pullupmp3: What is your part in the soundsystem? Are you the selector or the dj?

RAS SHILOH: I am a selector and dj too. My style is Hardcore Rubberdub. The soundsystem is there to teach the people. Culture-, Rubberdub-Sound. We give the people what they deserve. Conscious music. It is all about teachings. You know, Ras SHILOH comes from a Soundsystem. And if you have a Soundsystem, you give other upcoming stars chances to be stars. Hopefully next time, when we come to Germany, we can bring the Soundsystem. Let the people feel the vibration of Jah Fingers.

Pullupmp3: What kind of a Soundsystem is it? Do you want to clash sounds or more a Bashment Sound?

RAS SHILOH: We no really have time for the bashment. Bashment is a different thing. We run the sound like how i run my career as an artist. The soundsystem is there to teach the people. It is not just there only being at the party. We put across a message, we feed the people. Good conscious music. If a Soundsystem say they want to clash Jah Fingers or what ever, we prepared for that too. But the selectors who play in a soundsystem are in a good position to teach the people - give the people different music, they never heard before.

Pullupmp3: Some last words for the readers?

RAS SHILOH: Ras Shiloh is no slack thing. We have no time for that. The time is serious and we have to save so much souls as we can save. Love is everlasting. Love is the answer. Without love it is just gonna be chaos and war. Love over guns and love over money. Humanity over money. Life is the most greatest thing that you can have. Long life and prosperity. Have as so much youths as you can have - with the women. We need more children. Youths are the future of today and tomorrow. So stay strong, true and royal. And brings the youths forward to life.

Thnak you Ras Shiloh and big up to the promoter Frank who made this interview possible.

Coming Home & Only King Selassie are sill released in 2007.