Guyana has a special place in our hearts and minds here at LargeUp. Jahdan Blakkamoore, too, has an appreciation for the Land of Many Rivers. The Brooklyn singjay grew up in Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, before coming to the States as a youth. For his latest single “Mash Down Georgetown,” Jahdan tackles what has become a hot-button topic down in his hometown: The controversial construction of a luxury hotel on Georgetown’s waterfront. Inspired by a YouTube video he watched highlighting the corruption and environmental issues surrounding the project, he was moved to speak out. At the same time, the track brings Jahdan’s roots in Guyana, a country many outsiders have little familiarity with, to the attention of his international fanbase.
This Zion I Kings-produced track has a modern rockers feel reminiscent of Black Uhuru and UK reggae in the vein of Aswad. Laced with a driving bass line, soulful guitar licks and futuristic synths, this ZIK riddim is sure to mash up any modern roots dance. The single release also includes three additional versions of the song, including a dub mix from modern roots master Laurent “Tippy” Alfred, a.k.a. I Grade Dub.
“Mash Down Georgetown” drops tomorrow. Stream it below, and pre-order it on iTunes here. And, for more on Guyana, see our Many Rivers photo series spotlighting the culture and beauty of GT.
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