Rebellion The Recaller: "Success and achievements thru a long way of struggle brings progress"

What was your experience of your time in foreign land?
 
Travelling is important in terms of increasing your overstanding of the world.  Travelling is actually an act of worship. Obviously I have been thru a lot of places and conditions in order to make this dream possible.  This is a way of blessing from the Most High to me.
The journey was quite fruitful, from Gambia to London, and from London to Germany and to lots of other places, including Jamaica Kingston.  It was well productive and fruitful.
 
What is the difference between Rebellion today and the one who travelled away some years back?
 
Success and achievements thru a long way of struggle brings progress.  As we all know struggle is the price of it!
 
The difference that I would paint out is the state of development in many aspects.  I am definitely very grateful of this, rendering gratitude unto the Most High and to all the people who've been supporting me since from the start, all Gambian people and Gambian community abroad, who've been trustfully at my side.
 
What is the meaning of your name "Rebellion"?
 
When one hears my name you have to take the word in its absolute sense and meaning.  It's not in the sense of "rebel".  No one calls me "Rebel da Recaller".  They call me "Rebellion da Recaller", just as in "Army da Recaller", "Group da Recaller" or "Family da Recaller".  
 
I have made myself clear unto the world that I am dedicated to some profound purpose that are divine to me.  It is so crucial that it will never be seen as a one man thing.  God affairs has never been a one man thing, never !
 
Who've been the people who've supported you thru your struggle in Europe?
 
Well first in London, I got to thank Incredible Studio with Junior Delgado, Stingray, Jet Star… But in London I was much more under Babylon routine.  Working, making shows, getting bills paid and all this stuff.  So I didn't have much time to stay focused on the thing and pursue my career as I wanted.
 
And in London, I was feeling much more congested. You know how is the music scene in London, it's an underground thing. There's a long queue to get a record done and when a producer wants to bring you up, still there's a lot of competition.  In terms of skills and talent there's competition of course, but it's also about who first come and when you're new in the place it's not easy.
 
In the studios, you find very skilful artists, Yardies and such... But the first guy who came out with my tune was called Father Level. (This tune is "We Must Rebel" recorded in Gambia around 1999 alongside the Suns of Light on their own riddim).  He pressed it onto record for the first time.  He was impressed by the vibe and pass the 7inch to all the sound systems in London.
 
Things picked up a bit in London but it was slow so I took ten press of the tune and went to Germany.

I gave the tune to some big sounds : Pow Pow, Silly Walks, and Barney Millah in Berlin.  He used to have a records shop called Downbeat Records in Berlin and was running Concrete Jungle Sound, some foundation sound in Germany.  Some soundboys then passed thru the his requiring the tune.  And he received request from various places in Germany for the track.
 
So I had the idea to repress it and it got dispatch throughout Europe, and even Japan or Canada.  Then "We Must Rebel" reached the Top Ten in Germany.  It really put me under the light.  It's one of the main blessings provided unto me.
 
Some good friends of mine then convinced me to come and settle in Germany and get based in a place and work unto my dream, to establish Rebellion da Recaller as an artist.
 
What have been the next steps to put this album together?
 
When I was in Hamburg, I met Ingmar from Roots Commandment.  He was the one who helped me to release the "We Must Rebel" 7inch.  He gave me great support., he put up the website, interacting with people, communicating with the German media… He had a huge experience about this.
 
So he was the right guy to work with as a management.

Then when I was in Berlin I met up IM Music, they already worked with another African artist: Black Dillinger from South Africa.  They wanted to do a series of albums called The Ultimate.  Volume One would be Rebellion, Volume Two would be Black Dillinger…  We recorded the album in their studios in Berlin.
 
You have a combination with Chuck Fenda on the album.  And another one with Ken Boothe…
 
When Chuck Fenda was in Germany we met and the vibe was right.  Then later on we spoke on the phone and we decided to do a tune together.  He did his part in America where he was by then and sent it over.  I did my part in Germany.
I wanted to do a tune with a veteran artist.  And Ken Boothe was within my reach.  When we showed him my vibes and asked him, he was happy to accept!  We exchanged minds, it's good to have some spiritual link with the artist you're gonna have a combination with.
 
The album also feature two tracks produced by Bobby Digital.
 
You're having a short two weeks tour in Gambia…
 
The album Moving On has to be released later this month (February 2008) in Europe.
I suggested for this album to be released here first and foremost.  The access has to be given to the Gambian people first as a gesture of respect and honour and gratitude towards their affection.
 
People here have put their hopes and trust on me, they had a lot of expectations on me… so it is for me a kind of duty to do this tour even though there are many dates and other difficulties as the climate which I'm not used to any more.  I want to give a full satisfaction to as many people as possible.
 
I came along with Supersonic Massive, Berlin Sound : Panza and Spida.  They were willing to come over to Gambia for a long time and now the fruit's ripe so we came together.  Alongside Timeless Sound, Gambian sound based in Berlin too.
 
How do you see your future in the music?
 
Considering my objectives dealing with the music, being a mike holder or an advocator to the public… Well, destiny will tell, because time is still going on.  Whatever destiny has kept for me, it will be granted to me as a matter of fact.  
 
Salvation is one of my main priority as vibes is concerned, and to defend what is right, protect what is valuable for myself : my integrity, my family, my children and human beings in general.  Human beings, you know… It is much more a mission I am proceeding to.
 
Resources :
www.rebelliontherecaller.com
http://www.myspace.com/rebelliontherecaller
http://www.myspace.com/imreggae
http://www.rootsmessenger.de/