When Ras Bumpa enters a room, people take notice. When he takes the stage, the audience moves closer. Ras Bumpa has a presence; you want to hear what he has to say. You want to listen to what he sings.
Ras Bumpa hails from St Thomas in the Virgin Islands. As a youth, he listened to all kinds of music but didnt really expect to have a career in music. His father, a local DJ who played for parties and local events, exposed him to Oldies and RnB. His mom was a Country music lover, so he heard Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, etc in his home. In the 7th grade, Ras Bumpa joined The Virgin Islands Territorial Rising Star Youth Steel Band where he played bass pan. He was a natural and this sparked his interest in music. In high school, he wrote a few songs just for himself but a local chanter took on one. As for Reggae, Ras Bumpa was influenced by the foundations, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Culture to name just a few. I didnt even care whose name it was singing, I just wanted to hear it. He credits Bashan, a local VI artist, with having a big influence on him and encouraging him to sing. At the age of 16, he became a vegetarian and began drawing more into the Rasta lifestyle. A car accident at the age of 17 left him with a broken leg and the opportunity to turn more inward and deepen his reasoning within himself as he entered the light of Fari. Another life changing event occurred for Bumpa with the arrival of Hurricane Marilyn in 1996. This major storm destroyed 80% of the homes and businesses in St Thomas and a few of Bumpas bredren moved to the US after the devastation. They encouraged him to follow them. In 1996, Bumpa took their advice and moved to the Atlanta, Ga area. It was here that he met the bredren that ran Unity Sound who Bumpa says really gave him his start on the music scene by encouraging him to record. He eventually produced a song with a bredren who he met at his workplace. This song was Rastafari For Life and it was 1 on the radio in Atlanta for 3 months in 2002. The success of his first song, his very successful first live appearance and the enormous support he was receiving from other artists from the VI in the Atlanta area was too enormous for him to disregard. He speaks glowingly of Volcano, Messenger Selah, Ras Igel and Army. These men never shun me, ya know. They could have turned a cold shoulder on me because they wanted their own thing. These men showed me so much love, strength and support, it wasnt funny man. Since then, he has had songs on compilations from Mt Nebo Records as well as Project Groundation. He has shared the stage and held his own next to more seasoned performers such as Bambu Station, IJAH Menelik, Army, Batch and Ras Attitude, Iba, etc. Hes been approached by other artists who look forward to working with him. He has some tracks laid down for a solo project. He also mentions some other things he has in the works right now which might surprise some. Ras Bumpa strives to heighten peoples awareness through music. His work shows wisdom beyond his years. He would tell all the youth, but especially the youth in the Virgin Islands to look to their own backyard. Dont look further than the Virgin Islands for people to look up to and to aspire to be like. They look everywhere else when they can find greatness in the VI.
Be sure to catch this rising star from the Virgin Islands. You will not be disappointed.
Discography
Rastafari For Life, G.I.F. Unit, 2001
War featured with Natural Dominion, More Time, 2003
Do Good, Talking Roots II, Mt Nebo, 2005
Stop Playin Nothing To Prove, PGM Volume 21, 2005
Talking Roots Tour II Live, PGM/Mt Nebo, 2005
Various dubplates for sound systems: Unity, Trilogy, MurdahOne, etc.
Interviews (Online)
VirginiaReggae.com
VIReggae.com
Iration Vibration Show radio4all.net.
Contact info:
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