Kenyatta Hill’s career as a singer began the day his father’s ended. Joseph Hill, singer and songwriter from the iconic Jamaican vocal trio Culture, passed away in 2006 while on tour in Europe. Left without a lead singer, Kenyatta – then the band’s sound engineer – stepped from behind the mixing board and onstage to deliver 19 electrifying performances until the completion of the tour. Fans, promoters, and critics all agreed: the legacy of Culture would live on.
Influenced by elements of dancehall, grounded in the roots tradition, and motivated to carry on his father’s work, Kenyatta set out to finish songs that Joseph had started and create new music of his own. On his poignant debut album “Pass The Torch” (Tafari Records), he was backed by a masterful roster of musicians including Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. His first single, “Daddy,” explored the emotional pain and uncertainty that he felt after the loss of his father. The album received critical acclaim and remains a fan favorite. Following his debut, Kenyatta embarked on a successful U.S. tour with Beres Hammond and released a celebrated tribute album in 2011, “Live On: A Tribute To Culture” (Rymshot Productions). He continued to tour extensively across the globe, honing his craft as a solo artist and keeping the legacy of Culture alive for reggae lovers everywhere.
He has now returned from the studio older and wiser, ready to share a more complete picture of Kenyatta Hill: the artist, the man. His upcoming album, Riddim Of Life (Honest Music), features members of the famed Roots Radics band, Culture backing band, and Thievery Corporation’s reggae outfit The Archives. The anthemic first single & video “Afrikan” highlights the voice “commented on in countless articles and reviews as being a carbon copy of his father’s [which] melts on the instrumentals like bittersweet chocolate,” writes Gardy Stein-Kanjora of Reggaeville. “The lyrics stretch beyond purely philosophical matters to very private affairs [without] leaving Rasta-Grounds.” As Kenyatta instructs, “Lend not only your ear, but your heart and mind.”
Tune in to the Riddim Of Life. Available Worldwide September 30, 2014.
