Midnite was a roots reggae band from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which started playing in 1989.The British Virgin Islands: Frommer's ShortCuts 2011 "Reggae bands, such as Midnite and Inner Visions have found renewed popularity, although they've been around since the 1980s. Midnite Intense Pressure, Midnite's debut album, firmly established them as a force in roots music; the group .."

The band's music follows in tradition with the roots reggae bands of 1970s Jamaica. The lyrical portions of Midnite's compositions are characterized as the "chant and call" style which gives their music a spiritually intense and an overtly Rastafari movement feel. The lyrics are centrally focused on the plights of the oppressed, the inherent faults of the current political, economic and social settings on a global scale, and the redemption available to mankind through a life dedicated to Jah.

In 2015, the band reformed around co-founder Vaughn Benjamin as Akae Beka without bassist Ron Benjamin. Ras Elyments took Ron Benjamin's position on Bass. Suren “SoulJah” Fenton replaced Ras L on keys. The reasons for the reformation have been stated as due to "life changes, convictions and revelations". Stated on the band website was "due to a medical emergency the tour is postponed". Members of the band themselves won't even say during the recent Akae Beka Coronation Tour in November 2015. '. http://www.envisionfestival.com/ Akae Beka's first performance took place in Denver, Colorado on July 17, 2015, in honor of Nelson Mandela Day.

History The band was started by Benjamin brothers Vaughn (vocals) and Ron (keyboard, but later switched to bass) circa 1989 according to an interview with one of the former Midnite drummer Ambrose "Amby" Connor by Midnight Raver. Vaughn and Ron invited Joseph Straws Jr. to be their bassist and Dion "Bosie" Hopkins was the original drummer. The rhythm section was original as was all of Midnite's music—no covers or already created rhythms. The brothers were raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the sons of Antiguan musician Ronnie Benjamin Sr. Vaughn Benjamin cites Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, The Abyssinians, and bassist Flabba Holt as his earliest influences. http://midnightraverblog.com/

"Bob Marley has had a big impact. And the drum and the bass from like Flabba Holt. Sometimes I listen to the bass man alone or the drummer alone."

The group's debut album Unpolished was released exclusively in Namibia in December 1997. The album would not see a proper U.S. release until the Rastafaria label released it wide in 2001. They recorded Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) while living in Washington, D.C. during the mid-90s, and it was released in November 1999."Midnite Ras Mek peace", CMJ New Music Report, December 20, 1999, p. 29. Retrieved December 26, 2014 The album was named so, because it was reportedly recorded live in one room, straight to two-track analog tape. It was mastered without the use of compression or corrective equalization. Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) is recorded using no mixing board, no filtering, no compression, no equalization, no noise reduction, multitracking or overdubbing, giving it a raw sound. The album was recorded using only two-tracks at Mapleshade in Upper Marlboro, MD with studio engineer and owner Pierre Sprey whose recording style is summed up in the phrase he had printed to green Mapleshade T-shirts to promote the studio: NO Mixing Board, NO Overdubs, NO Noise Reduction, NO Compression, NO Multitracks, NO Reverb, NO EQ, Nothing BUT The Excitement of Live Music, MUSIC WITHOUT COMPROMISE.

Later, they returned home to St. Croix in the late '90s to play with local musicians and record at their music studio, Afrikan Roots Lab.

Midnite frequently collaborates with new artists and has played as the back-up band on a number of Afrikan Roots Lab artists' releases, such as Dezarie's Fya and Gracious Mama Africa and Ikahba's Trodding to Zion.

In September 2011, Midnite released their first professionally produced music video for their song "Mongst I&I".Press Release , Jamaicans.com The video features members of the band in casual settings and depicts the Rastafarian culture in Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands (referred to as "Freedom City," St. Croix), and Kingston, Jamaica.

Singer Vaughn Benjamin featured on Tribal Seeds' 2014 album Representing."Best Bets: Reggae group 'Tribal Seeds' at Wild Buffalo ", Bellingham Herald, April 11, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014

The band was featured in the 2014 documentary film Escape To St Croix.Campbell, Howard (2014) "Docu-flick on St Croix's reggae scene", Jamaica Observer, September 5, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014

Vaughn Benjamin died in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on November 4, 2019, at the age of 50.Singer Vaughn Benjamin is dead: Jamaica Observer. Retrieved November 12, 2019.

Critical acclaim

In its Top 50 Reggae Albums of the 2K list, reggae news and information website Midnight Raver ranked Midnite's Jubilees of Zion as the best album of the new millennium and Beauty for Ashes as the third best. In its review of Akae Beka's Homage to the Land, Midnight Raver referred to Midnite as "the most revered, influential and prolific reggae act in two decades."

Discography 1997 - Unpolished 1999 - Ras Mek Peace 2000 - Jubilees Of Zion 2002 - Seek Knowledge Before Vengeance 2003 - Intense Pressure (dub) 2004 - Scheme A Things 2004 - Ainshant Maps 2008 - Live 94117 2010 - What Makes A King ? 2011 - Anthology 2013 - Lion Out Of Zion

Midnite & I Grade collaboration 2001 - Nemozian Rasta 2002 - Assini 2003 - Vijan 2005 - Let Live 2006 - Jah Grid 2007 - Rule The Time 2011 - Kings Bell 2014 - Beauty For Ashes 2014 - Ride Tru

Midnite & Branch I collaboration 2003 - Cipheraw 2003 - Geoman 2003 - He Is Jah 2004 - Project III

Midnite & Mystic Vision collaboration 2006 - Current 2006 - New 1000

Midnite & Ras L collaboration 2004 - Full Cup 2006 - Thru & True

Midnite & Groundbreaking collaboration 2007 - Aneed

Midnite & Lion Tribe/Fifthson collaboration 2007 - Suns Of Atom 2008 - Standing Ground 2010 - Momentum 2011 - Standing Ground Dub 2012 - In Awe 2013 - Be Strong

Midnite & Desmond Williams collaboration 2008 - Kayamagan

Midnite & Rastar collaboration 2007 - Better World Rasta 2008 - Supplication To H.I.M. 2009 - To Mene 2009 - Ina Now 2011 - Treasure 2011 - The Way 2012 - Children Of Jah 2013 - Children Of Jah Dubs 2014 - Better World Rasta Live Dubs

Midnite & Higher Bound Prod collaboration 2007 - Bless Go Roun 2010 - Ark A Law (Lion I) 2013 - Free Indeed,

Midnite & Iaahden Sounds collaboration 2014 - Stand The Test

Midnite & Lustre Kings collaboration 2007 - Infinite Quality 2008 - Infinite Dub

Midnite & Natural Vibes collaboration 2008 - Maschaana

Midnite & Youssoupha Sidibe collaboration 2008 - For All

Midnite & Various artists collaboration 2002 - Weep Not 2008 - New Name 2008 - Gather The Remnant 2009 - Defender Of The Faith 2009 - Kings Of Kush 2009 - Frontline Souljah

References

External links

Midnite Lyrics at vireggae.com