The reggae music genre is at a disadvantage when it comes to artistes and exposure which is not always positive.
There just aren?t enough reggae artistes in the country today maybe because they have not been portrayed in a serious light.
Those who have tried to make an impact have fallen by the wayside, leaving just a few strong willed ones to push on.
It is therefore heart-warming to know that there are still people who want to direct their energies towards portraying reggae in a more positive light.
Zion Brother Kin-Tona is such person. He went professional in 1995 and recorded his debut album that same year. Unfortunately he had problems with his brother who was his benefactor and he halted the production, so that album never came out.
?This album is a message for the whole universe. These are serious times we live in, there are a lot of prophets around trying to mislead the people? he answered when asked what his motivation for doing this album was.
?I want people to know about these false prophets so they will not go astray. The scriptures have talked about them and I believe we are experience it now, so I want people to just be careful. That is why I have titled this album Armageddon Time? he ended.
Kin-Tona?s reggae rock and roots is a revolution against musical and social deceit that prevails in the African musical society.
According to him he refuses to follow the band wagon line and has therefore fused divinely inspired African rhythms with the Caribbean types.
?This album is for everybody. It has gospel, highlife and reggae, it is not strictly reggae, it is not strictly reggae. I want everybody to enjoy it even though my style is strictly reggae? he says.
Kin-Tona was born as Akpably Kwabla Derrick Kintona in Akatsi in the Volta Region and is the sole child of his parents. He was born naturally dreadlocked but his parents shaved it all off.
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He eventually grew it back when he realised his true calling and now he has his seven star locks. Currently residing at Madina-Old Road, he has performed at many events alongside a lot of reggae artistes.
Armageddon Time is a twelve track album and begins with Everyday Minus. It opens with an admonishment for people who claim to love their neighbours and yet turn around to penalise them and tells them to beware.
With a Twi chorus and in the mainstream reggae rhythm, it is an advisory song as he talks about the fact forgiveness is part of human nature.
Rock Me is a bit fast paced and is a love song. He sings about loving a lady and asks her to come rock with his heart and soul if she loves him as much as she says she does. He makes a lot of promises to her saying that he will never let her down.
On Shepherd, he uses the lyrics of Psalm 23, one of the most used of the Bible?s scriptures. His addition of good chorus and good sound arrangement makes it an impressive song which is short and to the point.
Judgment Day is a mixture of Ewe, Twi and English as he asks what people will do on the judgment day.
He sings about the fact that Jah (God) will not give any one consideration on judgment day and asks that people meditate and listen to him as he is not lying.
On Hear Me, he beseeches the Lord to hear him and give him an ear and listen to his problems.
Other songs include Let Them Hear, and remixes of Everyday, Rock Me, Shepherd and Judgment Day.
Kin-Tona has a very bright future even though the songs seem to go on too long and also do not have much by the way of lyrical content with just about two or three lines.
All songs were written, composed, arranged, produced and sung by Kin-tona and were recorded at African Vibes Studio.