Quannum and Solesides co-founder, and Grammy nominated MC, Lateef the Truth Speaker has joined forces with acclaimed Bay Area DJ and producer Jah Yzer and the multi-talented musician and reggae artist Winstrong, to showcase the cross roads of reggae and hip-hop on their newest project “Roots & Tings”. The new music draws deeply and respectfully from the history of both genres while pushing a new vibe to create powerful and provocative tracks. Roots & Tings will roll out singles monthly throughout 2019 with Quannum Records. Each release will be accompanied by original artwork, limited edition t-shirts from aspiring designers and will be available on both vinyl 45’s and digitally, everywhere you can stream. Until embarking on the “Roots & Tings” project, the Bay Area based artists, Lateef, Jah Yzer and Winstrong have known each other separately for more than ten years. Coming together for this project a collaboration was immediately born as they clicked effortlessly over a relatively unstructured creative process on the new project.
I had the opportunity to take a conference call with all three artists about this latest sonic blend and we get into the process of how this collaboration came toGether, how each artists found their place to add their own skillz to the project and how social justice is a big part of the give back that this AND all music can provide. The way they are rolling this project out gives each chunk of the album it’s own personality and visual effects to provide every note an opportunity to reach each listener. Featuring artwork from incarcerated artists and youth apprentices making the clothing, this music provides a chance for each, every and all. They have taken the stories of the past, mixed them with the voice of today and taken what was back to what it is.
