Joseph “Culture” Hill is still one of the most prominent and relevant figures in roots reggae culture. As a member of the trio Culture, Joseph Hill wrote, sang and recorded the legendary and historically significant song “Two Sevens Clash.” The song was released in the seventh month of 1977, a time when a religious and superstitious Kingston, Jamaica came to a standstill due to a prophecy by Marcus Garvey. Garvey predicted that there would be chaos when the Two Sevens came together. Hill had a vision about the prophecy, and came up with the lyrics for the apocalyptic song that so captured the imagination of reggae fans in Jamaica that schools and businesses closed for the day and many people stayed indoors on 07/07/77.
Joseph “Culture” Hill’s Career
Hill was a prolific musician, singer, and a songwriter who worked with nearly every big name in the reggae scene including Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Anthony B, and Buju Banton. He was also the Keeper of Zion Gate for the Rastafari community, was inducted into the Jamaican Reggae Walk of Fame, and was awarded the Independence Award presented by the Prime Minister of Jamaica in 2005. He started off as a soundsystem deejay and went on to record 22 albums during his career, which ended suddenly when he took ill during a tour of Europe in 2006 and died in Berlin. His son, who had served as Culture’s sound engineer since he was 15 years old, agreed to step up and fill his father’s shoes for the rest of the tour.
Kenyatta Hill
Kenyatta Carries His Father’s Fire, And His Voice
Filling Joseph Hill’s shoes is a daunting task for even the most experienced veteran of reggae music, and it was nerve-wracking for a man who had never sang before. Kenyatta Hill describes the situation saying, “It was a challenge, because I never knew I could sing. I was a nervous wreck. There was pressure because I had a big role to fill.” Not only can the boy sing, he sounds exactly like his father. But Kenyatta Hill also knew that he was specially prepared to accept the challenge: “Since he is no longer around to do the work himself, I feel it is my duty to carry on the work. I know that he was preparing me for this.” This experience was filled with personal loss, strong emotions, and an inner fire to carry his father’s torch. Kenyatta Hill was able to channel all of these qualities into his own songwriting after his father’s passing and has come up with his first solo effort – a tribute to his father Joseph Hill, a song titled “Daddy.” I bet the boy had little trouble finding musicians to back his vocals, with Sly Dunbar and Dean Frasier filling the powerful role. I haven’t heard this song yet, but from my experience with the artists involved, I have no doubt that it will be powerfully moving, with a bass guitar that thumps your heart and a voice that croons your saddest moments out of memory. But as always, roots reggae music has the power to soothe, to heal those wounds with its uplifting lilt and the breeziness of better days to come. I will definitely be on the lookout for the audio for “Daddy” and will share it when I find it. Kenyatta will be releasing a full-length album on Tafari Records later this year.
Culture and Kenyatta Hill Links
YardFlex report on Kenyatta Hill’s new single
Jamaica Gleaner report on Kenyatta Hill filling his father’s shoes
Joseph “Culture” Hill wiki
Two Sevens Clash Again On 07/07/07
As for the apocalyptic album, the second clashing of the Two Sevens has reanimated the legendary Culture album as a 30th Anniversary Deluxe Re-issue. Two Sevens Clash was re-released on 07/07/07 and you can check it out Amazon if you’d like to listen to it or buy the new edition. Just click on the album to listen/learn more:
What Do You Think? ↓
1 mashonelo londolani mathegu // Sep 28, 2007 at 5:30
i would like to start a conversation with you about everything which include reggae, i born inthe rural area, i always listening to reggae music , to me reggae is everything , when iam down iplay reggae, joseph hill,peter tosh ,bob marlely, burning spear, don carlos and many more ,ibelieve there were always there for me. i love reggae and i would love to know everything which is happening as quick as possible. please lets keep in touch. forever loving jah. more fire
2 Molli Fire // Sep 28, 2007 at 13:09
Wonderful! i will do my best to bring you the reggae news as fast as possible… i too love reggae music and listen to it nearly every day. i recently wrote a few chapters for a book all about reggae, dub, dancehall, raggamuffin etc. that will be published this October. you might like it, it’s called “The Reggae Scrapbook” by Roger Steffens. we will definitely keep in touch, mashonelo!
3 Abby // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:20
I was checking out the online buzz for Kenyatta’s new single and came across your page. We would be happy to send an MP3 for you to share with your readers, or, alternatively, the song is up on Kenyatta’s myspace page.
Check us out on myspace and send a message if you’re interested in getting a copy of the song:
http://www.myspace.com/tafarimusicpublishing
http://www.myspace.com/kenyattahill
thanks!
Abby
tafari records
4 nudzor sabbah emmanuel // Mar 19, 2008 at 11:28
i was listening for reggae now is about 20 years now, and my best reggae musician is culture. and like all his music
esapecially this album wing of dove.
may his soul rest in perfect peace.
5 solomon wajekeche // Jul 8, 2008 at 2:47
When i think of Jose tears fall down my chicks, i begun knowing him when i was 6, i mean he is my favourable Raggae artst up to now, his song ‘ around Banylon wall’ makes me fee ire. Jose my you rest in peace, i loved you but Jah loved you most amen.
6 MGCINI DUBE. // Jul 24, 2008 at 20:09
THE ALBUM HARDER THAN THE REST FOR ME WAS A BOMB ITS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MAN BEHIND ALL THE MUSIC OF CULTURE IS NO MORE. WE WILL SUPPORT KENYATTA ALL THE WAY, LETS HOPE THE FRASE LIKE FATHER LIKE SON WILL BE FULFILLED . MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.IAM A FAN OF CULTURE SO I`HOPING TO HEAR FROM THEM SOON. KEEP THE MUSIC ROLLING.
7 chabaku // Nov 4, 2008 at 2:01
sent me the video music of culture “reggae”. from the original album of pay day
8 kingman // Dec 17, 2008 at 1:08
his soul lives in zion
9 TLHABAKI SEKGAPHANE // Jan 21, 2009 at 5:41
YOU HAVE HIT US WITH WITH A NIC E REGGAE MUSIC,ESPECIALLY ‘ONE STONE ALBUM’IT WAS AN EYE OPENER 4 ME.ONE LOVE TO ALL RASTARS
10 rena // May 7, 2009 at 3:29
i love joseph hill songs
11 Rena jkgtc // May 7, 2009 at 3:30
I wont to be a rasterfarian
12 robert blay // Sep 21, 2009 at 10:12
i want hills vedeos
13 Rass "Mbazima Stuma // Oct 5, 2009 at 2:38
what a los? I was not a reggae fan up until I have hered Joseph Hills’ music and now I am so addicted into reggae music
14 samuel wepiah Aloko // Oct 10, 2009 at 2:58
oh ! my prophet your music will live until the end of the world. joe hills was inspirational unifying and religious. the time he came to my country Ghana i try to me my idol but i never met him. joe hill stiil lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. too many ginals around the bargain table…..too many rats ……too many thieves!!!!!!!!!
15 ogou blede patrice // Dec 21, 2009 at 8:08
bonjour
moi je parle francais. que dieu nous pardonne.
16 michael // May 5, 2010 at 2:14
I would like too request the recent exclussive live concerts of joseph hill just before he passed away please.
17 michael // May 5, 2010 at 2:46
When i have to talk about joe, i run out of words.he was a real teacher,not only in music, but life in general.I couldn’t beleive my eyes when i first saw him in flesh and live on stage in south africa.His extraordinary face and moves still bounce in my mind every day.Anyway,to me he is not dead, he is only waiting for the upcoming kingdom of God.love and peace!!!!!
18 Peter muriithi // Aug 19, 2010 at 4:41
Keep up kenyatta
19 fred // Jan 8, 2011 at 11:08
poor jah people pour moi le meilleur de tous
fred lille france
20 mapande Msemo // Sep 28, 2011 at 2:13
I love reggae music
21 etz // Oct 13, 2011 at 12:02
Joseph, the keeper of Zion’s gate, may the most high Jah share with you a slice of mount Zion as you stand in his presence looking at his pretty face, till we meet, one love.
22 joseph chimpini // Oct 27, 2011 at 6:12
Hill. This name and its works will never leave my heart and head. Since i started listening to reggea music, Joseph Hill still distances himself from any Muscian, ofcourse there are so many reggea quarks around the world as well as in Jamaica but Hill is No. 1. May his soul rest in peace. Jah bless.
23 joseph chimpini // Oct 27, 2011 at 6:20
Let me give u 1 of his songs here tittled Behold.
I was travellin up de mountains 1 day
suddenly, i heard de voice from tourlessly yiye
Behold i come to pay to pay every man
According to the works that he does
CHORUS
And i know, yes iknow
that it was the voice
The voice of the most High
Behold, Behold, behold*3
I dont believe it
He said it to u n I
behold—- repeat it again
This world is lyk a mirror
Reflects on what u do
If yo afces smile
Will smile back to u
and do to what to others
as u will hve them do
So that yo days with many many years
Much longer
Chorus again.
24 joseph chimpini // Oct 27, 2011 at 6:23
Do u love music he eeeeee
repeat
do u love music
verse
See up japan
see up australia
Chorus
Free Zimbabwe
repeat*5
chorus