The genres of reggae and hip-hop are two branches from the same tree. So when the styles of music converge, it's typically a magical sound clash. Looking to capture that magic with their new group Roots And Tings are MC Lateef the Truthspeaker, DJ/producer Jah Yzer and reggae artist Winstrong. The Bay Area-based collab is described as "an ode to the love affair between hip-hop and reggae music," and their sounds reflect that union. The group debuted at the top of the year with biting social commentary on the track "Class War" and switched gears for February with the release of the love song "All Of This." Before they roll out their next song (they'll be releasing singles monthly throughout 2019), Roots And Tings are premiering the music video for "All Of This" in a SoulBounce exclusive world premiere.
A song about wanting to give someone your whole self, "All Of This" features vocals from Vursatyl of the Lifesavas crew and is produced by Racayan. Vursatyl is a man who is deep in love. "All of this love, finally it's been found / Feel it lifting me up, won't ever let me down," he sincerely sings before asking the rhetorical question, "How could I love you more?" on the rhythmic bop.
For the "All Of This" music video, Roots And Tings and Vursatyl actually take a backseat and don't go in the typical lovey-dovey direction that the song lends itself to. The entire visual consists of archival footage of a bustling Jamaican record store, a sound system being set up and revelers in a dancehall. It shows a bygone era and slice of life from 1970s Kingston roots and culture. "The love song lyrics are mirrored in the video by a celebration of the love of sound," Lateef the Truthspeaker explains of the unexpected concept. "With the video we wanted to give the song feelings of nostalgia, as well as juxtapose the feeling of new and old."
Roots And Tings plan to release an album sometime in the future, but in the meantime, their monthly singles and videos will tide us over just fine. Keep up with the group's upcoming drops with follows on Facebook and Instagram.
