Vaughn Benjamin, the ultra-prolific singer of Midnite and Akae Bekabands who transcended in November 2019, has had many posthumous singles and album releases. One of the most anticipated of these releases was the song “Black Carbon,” featuring reggae leading light Chronixx on guest vocals. The song was released in October 2020 and features Vaughn Benjamin’s trademark deep roots sound alongside the smooth vocals and cutting lyrics from Chronixx. The single is on the new album POLARITIES releasing from I Grade Records.
“Black Carbon” is a relevant and timely look at the topic of race, with Vaughn Benjamin singing about the underlying reality that, regardless of race or color, we are all carbon-based beings emanating from the same black source. Its message is scientific, metaphysical, sociological, historical and spiritual all-in-one. Chronixx’s guest vocals shine and showcase the lyrical and vocal mastery that has made him beloved in
Jamaica and around the world.
Chronixx met Vaughn Benjamin in 2012 on tour in Costa Rica, and both had great mutual respect for one another, according to I Grade Records producer, Laurent “Tippy” Alfred. “When Vaughn returned from tour, he spoke a lot about the time he spent with Chronixx, Protoje, Jah9 and other young artists from Jamaica, reasoning together with them for hours at the hotel. He and Chronixx would link on the road again over the years and there was always love and respect between them.”
Tippy recalls, “Before he passed, Vaughn and I had talked about including Chronixx as a guest artist on the upcoming album, so it was a joy to see it manifest in 2020.”
The Black Carbon music video is set for release on May 5, 2021 – Patriot’s Victory Day in Ethiopia. The music video was created by Director Sameel “SAMO” Johnson and director of photography Fernando Hevia. The viewer goes on a journey with a young man, traveling on foot and alone through the beautiful Jamaican landscape. It is a journey that culminates with the power of family and lineage, and with the guest verses by Chronixx, whose intensity matches both the song and the visuals. The video is a thematic continuation of the previous video Johnson and Hevia did for Akae Beka’s “Everything Bless.”
“Black Carbon” is the second single off of Akae Beka’s upcoming album, Polarities, on I Grade Records.
Polarities is available for pre-save now and
will be released on May 21, 2021.
