I Grade Records proudly presents Joyful Noise - a massive compilation featuring some of the brightest lights in conscious roots reggae from lands that may be considered the nerve centers of cutting edge roots in this time.  From the VI are Midnite, Pressure, NiyoRah, Batch, Danny I, Sabbattical Ahdah and Junior P.  From JA are Lutan Fyah, Duane Stephenson, Norris Man and Messenjah Selah.  From TnT are Queen Omega and I Sasha, From Guyana are Jahdan Blakkamoore & Arkaingelle.  Finally, from Sweden by way of Ethiopia are the Nazarenes.  Top notch roots production on this one provided by the production collective: Zion I Kings - comprised of the producers of Zion High Productions, I Grade & Lustre Kings. There are 4 riddims on the album, each with 5 songs on them.  For the next month, each week we will post a different megamix that features three of the songs off of each riddim - expertly mixed by DJ Child of Project Groundation.  Check it!  Bless

MEDIA ADVISORY

On Friday, August 8th, at 10:00AM a group representing a new and exciting development in the Virgin Islands Reparations Movement will host a press conference and present the release of its new anthem for repair. Representatives of the media and the general community are invited to Riddims music store this Friday morning to hear the release of the new song and to listen to artists and advocates speak on the issues.

The group has produced a song entitled "We Want Reparations". The song is a unique merging of culture, information, and consciousness purposed to result international awareness, community education, and activism in the territory. It is the new anthem of the Virgin Islands Reparations Movement and the renewed theme of the St. Croix based African-Caribbean Reparations and Resettlement Alliance (ACRRA).

"This song represents an endorsement we have long sought" says ACRRA's president Shelley Moorhead. Adding that "reggae music has forever been an international force recognized for its humanitarian ideals and themes of redemption," Moorhead explained that "what is happening with roots music in the Virgin Islands is no exception to that expectation; in fact the Virgin Islands has raised the world standard!" No departure from the deep, penetrating rhythms which have characterized the homegrown brand of roots reggae, the latest release is a well thought, well expressed delivery of the issues by some of the Virgin Islands most talented lyricists and musicians and some of the industry's top producers.

"We showed you how to build a nation; you showed us how to destroy one. We showed you how to feed a nation; you showed us how to starve one. We gave you all your basic knowledge, you never teach that in your college. We gave you generations of the royal blood. We want reparations for the royal blood." These very simple yet profound words, softly uttered in the humble voice of Danny I, are lines from the soon to be released V.I. Roots Reggae collaboration.

"Look how dem profit from free African labor," are the words melodically contributed by V.I. veteran singer/song writer/producer Batch. Intelligently woven into the song's introduction is the rhetorical question, "Who built up dem cities and dem towns, lay down foundation without compensation?" He then cries, "Never giving nothing for the offspring or the younger generation, while masquerading under false titles of humanitarian." Although it does not demand an apology from any of the former slave trading nations, it represents a big sound which also gives no apology for its thought-provoking content and firm positions on slavery-era sufferings and the present day need for repair.

The musical message of repair is not complete without the presence of native St. Thomas recording artist Niyorah. "Manpower for the gun was the trade off. Legacy of bloodshed, Columbus was paid off. Infiltrating a peaceful collective, in Jesus name they were so deceptive." Niyorah's cleverly crafted concepts add dimension to the reparations discussion and address topics often overlooked by advocates.

History records that from 1666 to 1917, the Kingdom of Denmark owned and occupied the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix - the now U.S. Virgin Islands. For 175 years Denmark enslaved over 200,000 African men, women, and children, transporting them to the Danish West Indies through the horror of the middle passage, causing generations to experience life as chattel, bound to the brutality of forced plantation labor on the islands' estates – with no accompanying wages. However, half those displaced by Denmark and destined for the shores of the Danish West Indies were less fortunate. More than 100,000 Africans perished during the dreadful journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Speaking to the principle behind the song's production and the partnership that it has engendered, Laurent "Tippy I" Alfred explained that "songs of redemption and movements for social change have long enjoyed a partnership since the days of the chanting down of Jericho Walls. During the Marcus Garvey era, music was present at every forum and gathering and played a very significant role in creating awareness and rallying the people to achieve common goals." In addition to having co-produced "We Want Reparations", Alfred is the owner of I Grade Records, a member of ACRRA's Board of Directors, head of the Red I Band, and the owner of Riddims Music store on St. Croix. From 2003-2005, Alfred served as a professor at Columbia University in New York and taught a course entitled Cultural Resistance: The Role of the Arts in Social Justice Movements.

Since 2004, ACRRA has been leading the way towards constructive Virgin Islands reparations discussions with the Danes; in April 2005, Moorhead and Virgin Islands elected officials traveled to Denmark to discuss reparations with government officials and the Danish Institute of Human Rights. The talks resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding that established a Joint Reparations Task Force. Resolution No. 1680, passed unanimously on May 4, 2005 in the 26th Legislature of the USVI expresses support for the group's work, condemns the historical institution of slavery in the Danish West Indies, and positions the Virgin Islands to pursue a course of reparations with the former colonial master.

Initiatives and dialogue toward repair have been ongoing; However, a planned visit to Denmark in January 2008, by an ACRRA led USVI delegation has been officially been cancelled due to the continued withholding of the organization's funding by Government House. While ACRRA cannot identify exactly what the delay has been with its legislated funding, the organization and its supporters have noticed a posture in government that has had an attenuating effect on Virgin Islands efforts to address the issue of repair, openly demonstrating a lack of support, interest, and concern on the part of the current administration.

"The goal of the song is to incite mass interest internationally on the matter of reparations in the USVI," says ACRRA's president. Speaking on the audience the group is targeting, Moorhead says, "I am uncertain how many people in the world will pay a fee to come and hear me or any other leaders in the territory speak on a given subject. These young, talented local artists and musicians have crafted a word+sound=power equation that regularly commands crowds of 10, 20, and 30,000 people in Europe, the United States, South America and the Caribbean who gather and pay upwards of $20USD each to hear what Virgin Islanders are saying about the world's issues. We are happy to now have them as ambassadors of the Virgin Islands Reparations Movement."

"We Want Reparations" is a collaborative production by Zion I Kings, comprised of Tippy Alfred (I Grade), David Goldfine (Zion High) and Andrew Bain (Lustre Kings). The song is 4 minutes and 42 seconds in length. Performing on drums is T Rock, on bass Jah David, on guitar Moon, and on the keyboard Tippy I. The horn ensemble is contributed by Celebrity Horns. The song is being pressed to CD and distributed as an ACRRA give-away with written historical and educational information. To request "We Want Reparations" on your local reggae radio station, readers should call WSTX FM 100.3 at 340.715.7979, or email WSTX at troy@reggae.vi. To listen to the track, readers may log onto www.myspace.com/igraderecords.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: I Grade Records
info@igraderecords.com
646.226.1738

Stolen Scrolls Mixtape CD is Now Available World-wide

Christiansted, St. Croix – September 1, 2007 – The newest release from I Grade Records, Stolen Scrolls Mixtape, is a collaborative project joining the forces of NiyoRah, I Grade Records & DJ Child of Project Groundation Massive (PGM). Stolen Scrolls spans NiyoRah's dense catalogue of music recorded for I Grade, while flipping the format into a groundbreaking concept: an official mixtape as a legitimate album.

Since arriving on the scene in 2002, NiyoRah has been bringing his musical messages to the world. He was originally co-founder and member of the innovative Star Lion Family. His debut CD, A Different Age, was released in 2005; followed by Purification Session in 2006. His pleasant, harmonious vocals span a complete range from deejaying, rapping, and chanting to pure singing. His lyrics reflect his life experiences, his appreciation of African womanhood, respect for nature and his Rastafari way of life.

NiyoRah's releases are produced for the I Grade Record label, one of the leading studios in St. Croix. I Grade is well-known and respected for the way they blend old school reggae with fresh, jazzy and Hip Hop overtones while maintaining the foundation of roots and culture music. DJ Child, founder of PGM, is based out of Oakland, California. His award winning mixtapes have included the voices of all the big name reggae artists from Sizzla Kalonji to the whole Virgin Island crew. His innovative efforts have won him best mixtape in 2006 from Riddim Magazine with PGM Vol. 21. Stolen Scrolls is a special amalgamation of talents!

Reggae music fans get a blend of the DJ world and the studio cuts with Stolen Scrolls. This release showcases the diverse production of Tippy and the I Grade family (Zion High Productions, Lustre Kings Productions, Downbeat Collective & others), as well as prolific remix talent of DJ Child. Stolen Scrolls Mixtape pushes innovation within the industry to another level. This CD is a journey through the life and mind of NiyoRah -- Raw & Unfiltered. It is filled with reasonments, remixes, interludes & brand new exclusive tracks. It is sure to please the ears of NiyoRah fans, Project Groundation Massive, and I Grade St. Croix aficionados.

Stolen Scrolls is now available at www.viroots.com or www.myspace.com/viroots as well as www.projectgroundation.com, ebreggae.com, iTunes and local stores globally. For a free listen of a track from Stolen Scrolls check out www.myspace.com/igraderecords.

For more information visit: www.IGradeRecords.com
Or contact: info@igraderecords.com or 646.226.1738

Greetings and Love Massive,

I Grade announces their Summer 2007 Showcase Tour featuring Niyorah, Abja, Volcano, Tuff Lion & the Red I Band! It kicks off at the Sierra Nevada Music Festival and continues all over California. If this is your area and you are interested in supporting Jah Works, I Grade is looking for people who want to help with street promotion in exchange for I Grade gifts. Please, submit requests to: Jahnan @ rastafaripresents@earthlink.net for more information. Your efforts will be Haile Blessed!

Rule the Time, the new Midnite - I Grade Collaboration, is now available on or for just $13.50 and free shipping for all orders to the US.

Bless,
Selam

Check out our myspace site (http://www.myspace.com/igraderecords) for an exclusive pre-release single from the new Midnite - I Grade album that will be out Jan. 2, 2007. Keep checking this and our website http://www.igraderecords.com for more exclusive tracks.
Bless.

Greetings Massive,
NiyoRah's booming roots single - "Nothing to Prove" - off of his new album, Purification Session, has been selected as an iTunes "Discovery Download of the Week". Anyone with iTunes can now download this single for FREE. There is a link to it on the iTunes main music page and on the iTunes reggae page. Please spread the word about the availability of this song - one of Niyorah's strongest yet - that features excellent production and musicianship from roots music geniuses like Jah D (Zion High Prod.), Santa Davis, Tuff Lion, Jawge Hughes, Bongo Herman and others.

Additionally, the entire I Grade catalog is now available on iTunes for $0.99 songs and $9.99 albums.

Bless

I Grade Records has released a brand new album by VI reggae artist, NiyoRah entitled Purification Session. This 18-track album is NiyoRahs follow-up album to 2005s critically acclaimed debut, A Different Age.

Just as the concepts of A Different Age were based around the inevitable processes of change, this new album explores the many sides of purification of self, of love, of body, of spirit, of community and of the earth. The lead single off of this new album, I Love the Way, has been generating strong air-play across the VI. NiyoRahs profound yet easily accessible lyrics touch the listener with their clarity and urgency. From the intensity of the opening song, Nothing to Prove, one gets the feeling that this artist is about much more than simply making good music he is on a mission to educate, inspire and share the lessons of purification.

NiyoRah is one the VIs most talented and acclaimed reggae artists. He has recently completed a 6-week national tour along with the Red I Band and label-mates Army and Abja. He will also be headlining the 3rd I Grade national tour starting July 16th, featuring stops at festivals and live music venues all across the West Coast of the U.S. Upon his return from this upcoming tour, NiyoRah will be performing at CD release parties in St. Croix on August 11th, St. Thomas on August 12th, and St. John on August 13th.

As the word of NiyoRahs unique artistry traverse the globe, more and more people are becoming familiar with his infectious energy and intense lyrics. His outstanding recordings, along with recent touring have helped propel NiyoRah to the forefront of the modern roots movement.

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CHECK OUT HTTP://WWW.IGRADERECORDS.COM OR HTTP://WWW.VIROOTS.COM TO GET YOUR COPIES

Greetings,

We have uploaded an exclusive pre-release "Lion Have Mane" feat. Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite. The track is from NiyoRah's upcoming album - "Purification Session". This is the ONLY place to hear this massive new chune. Keep checking our myspace page for other exclusive tracks!

Purification Session will be available on July 3, 2006.

Bless Up,

Selam

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www.igraderecords.com
www.viroots.com