LIVING TESTAMENT is the final album Vaughn Benjamin recorded before he transitioned in November of 2019. In late October of 2019, he travelled to Grass Valley, California, recording this 11-track album at Ras Biblical’s studio, Trinity Farm Music, over a period of 2 days. The producers gathered 11 masterful musicians on these tracks, including Manuel “Go A Chant” Guerra, Denfield “Ras Pulse” Potter, Walker Pillow, Scott Lynwood Davis, Befekadu Assefa and Tuff Lion. Together, these musicians weaved together a powerful family of songs that tell a timeless and truly unique story, a masterpiece of roots reggae.

LIVING TESTAMENT includes the single ‘Who Will Go For Us’ which was released on January 6th 2024 with a video filmed on location in Ethiopia. In the coming weeks, we’ll be speaking with Go A Chant and Biblical, who were present for the creation of this album. We’ll learn about these recording sessions and what happened behind the scenes.

LIVING TESTAMENT is a monumental album and an important piece of history. It will be available on LP, CD, and high-quality download on February 16th courtesy of Go A Chant, Trinity Farm Music, Before Zero Records, and I-Roots Records.

The music is exquisite and the CD has more music than the LP’s which have a 44 min limit. So it worth picking up both the CD and the LP to be able to get the most from this powerful spiritual roots ensemble. The CD also has a poster on it, featuring the album cover and an image created by artist, Eloy Guerra, which is of Akae Beka as Michael the Arc Angel slewing satan.  We will reason on the art in a little bit… !

Here is how you can support and get the single which just came out and also has its own art made special for the song. The Single, ” Who will go for Us ” was released Jan.5th with an amazing music video. Here is the link to the music video, filmed in Ethiopia : Akae Beka “Who will go for Us” Music Video

You can get the single, “Who will go for Us” here: Akae Beka “Who will go for Us” Single

Into the Art:

 

Lets get into the Joy-tings, aka paintings! When I was asked to do the art for the album cover this piece by Eloy Guerra was already present as a meditation. I was asked what I thought, and I said it was brilliant and I wanted to make the polar opposite in harmony with this piece for the cover. Akae Beka, is an oath given from Jah to Michael the ArcAngel, no one else, just Michael, which means that Akae Beka is interlinked and connected to, we can say IS the personality of Michael the Arc Angel. The importance of this would reflect the manner of how we approach the project, which wasn’t as a project, but as a Living Testament. The title of album was revealed through the Rastafari Elder Jah Rubal, who was present during the recordings, and said when he heard the tunes, that this is the name of the album. Go A Chant and Trinity Farms Music worked on the album like you raise a child, carefully considering how to the present something that means so much to us all, and relay that in the presentation and final release. The artwork for the album cover InI did is a continuation and expansion of the piece that I was shown done by Eloy. In that I saw and heard what was said and what had already been expressed, in that the art for the cover would present a balance opposite and polar balance expressed through elements and symbols. That can be seen in various ways, First, the number element of the piece is from Eloy Guerra’s piece, Fire, Night and Vaughn, for the InI, the focus was Water, Day, and the King and Queen of Creation. In the piece of Michael the Arc Angel, you can see he is clearly the Arc Angel, while on the cover you will not even know he is, unless you count the number of angels in the clouds and have read the book of Enoch. There are six angels instead of seven, which are the number of Arc Angels, which Michael leads. Akae Beka is discreetly at the bottom with a special three personalities. Expanding on the Melchizadok order, with the Almighty is revealed in Three Trinitys, all which also encompass Akae Beka. The First being, Priest, Prophet, Warrior, with Vaughn representing the all three and the King in the Warrior, the other is Priest, Prophet and King, and Akae Beka being the Bridge of where these Three in One meet. The Last is the The Father of Fathers, The Mother of Mothers and Sons and Daughters of God, which is what we all are and everyone in the piece is. This is all in the Power of the Trinity, Haile Selassie who is Crown of Akae Beka.

The piece of Michael the Arc Angel by Eloy Guerra, we see a Judge, Jury and Executioner, where there are no children of Jah, just the devil and the Arc Angel. In order that we keep it to the Garden, aka Ethiopia, also the Cradle, we express that on both pieces, that Our God, Our Original Ancestors and the devil are all African or Black.  This is why everyone is also in African Attire on both images, with the exception of Akae Beka on the  album cover. On the Cover the clothing is East African, on the piece of Micheal, it is West African, which is another complimentary opposite. Likewise the hands of Akae Beka, on one they are holding scales and a sword, the other a in-scents  filled with smoke and his Left hand on The Rock of Jah, opposite and true. Same one in a different time and space. Same mission for the King and for the man, and for the Angels, prophets, priests and warriors, mothers, and Empresses from then till now.

There is a moon and city on the Michael the Arc Angel Piece, the opposite is happening on the album cover. On the album cover, there is only the Garden, so that we have a Genesis feeling, the Michael the Arc Angel piece feeling like Revelations. Also though it day and night, the light and sun is blocked by HIM, and that He is greater than the sun, in that the sun will not be seen in awareness of not using the Sun above Jah. On the piece of Michael the Arc Angel, Akae Beka has his hair out, on the Cover, Akae Beka is wearing the hat he wore for years, a simple Fishermans cap, complimenting the white skully or turban and garments that we would see as Akae Beka on his last years of witnessing and testimony.       “Living Testament ” from start to finish in and out, reflects a fullness that embraces the polarities and shares the unity like the lightening bolts in both pieces. There is also a Heavenly Trinity of Yashua The Christ, Enoch ascending in the whirl wind and Elijah on the Chariot of Fire.

The ideas in the cover, will be understood more once the album is heard. All of the tunes are reflected in the cover. The depth and vision that are sharpened by Vaughn’s words cannot be really expressed, and artistically, they are more than anyone can ask. There is a reason Akae Beka is in the Shadow of His Majesty.  I will let you figure out some of the other codes in names of the songs… ” S ” on the Chest” in Fire as the flames of the Chariot with The Prophet Elijah  and there is a whole piece just for  ”Who will go for Us” plus the first painting that was too busy that has never been shared.

Who will go for Us, Here I am, send me.

The Single and the Painting.

There is a lot to get from this tune, and I thought it was very mystic that it was the single and video to announce the album. It interweaves 3 Bible stories, One of Eli and Samuel, the awakening of Samuel to the lords voice. Next of Jehoash being hidden so that the Queen of the Hebrews who was the daughter of Jezebel could not kill the remnant of the true line of Kings, and the chorus is Isaiah chapter 6:8 speaking about how Isaiah had to be purified in order to offer himself fully to Jah. The Purification is a theme in this tune, which is why it also mentions “bring down the oil to David send the anointed Cherub” A Cherub is an high angel represented in ancient times as a winged lion. The oil is the anointing from Jah, with man bowing to Jah’s elect high priest. Samuel did not know it was David he was to anoint, nor did Samuel know it would be Saul before him. He did as the Lord commanded, and likewise in the purification process, to reach the throne, our Kings have been children who had to be hidden, in battle and also chosen. What it means to be chosen is a long reasoning, however in short, it is to navigate thru in the Grace of Jah, the problems and crisis that arise. Always against massive odds, the overcoming can only be seen as a miracle, and an act of Jah. Glory to Jah and Blessed are those surrender to His Will in the face of persecution.

Here is the original Joy-ting piece for the song, ” Who Will Go For Us “, inside of it you can see each story and how it interplays visually.

After completing the piece I could feel Jah telling I that it wasn’t it. That I put in too much and missed the point that Akae Beka was clearly singing, which was the hook. Once I went and looked up the history of art and paintings that reference Isaiah 6:8 I was amazed how many pieces have been made over hundreds of years about this chapter and verse. After seeing all the ideas, I wanted to create a piece that had never been done, or anything like it. All the other pieces where dark and the Isaiah portrayed as light skinned, which I immediately said isn’t right. Isaiah spend 3 years naked in Ethiopia, he definitely wasn’t light skinned.

One of the emotions I wanted to capture on Isaiah’s face was fear, which is where he was before and during the encounter with the angels who were singing to Jah. In chapter 5 “ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

The terror of seeing Jah, and the angels made him say Woe is me!.. realize the humility of this one, Isaiah is incredible. While most think they are pure and ready, this holy prophet admits quickly that his lips are unclean! That he and his people are dirty, and that he doesn’t feel worthy to see Jah. This inner standing, that he had, was seen by Jah, and in so many ways in reassurance that Jah see’s our hearts and that those who repent and surrender can be absolved and purified. The extreme purification of fire, and coals, are also very important in understanding that this isn’t some easy thing, and that Akae Beka was clear about that. That it is also ok to fear Jah, and do not let the fear hold you back. The chapter speaks that if you want to be all you can be, then you need to know that acknowledging where you are wrong is where you start to go right… you may need to read that again.. That by confronting our evils and faults, we give room for the Most High to heal us and correct us. This book is also here for us so it is known, even a man as great as the Prophet Isaiah had unclean lips and “his” people where also rudeboys, that redemption is still there through purification, those who are  asked, who will go for us?.. who like these men would say, ” Here am I, send me.” ?

In closing, this album is an act of love in the spirit of unity that allowed us to listen. Listen to Jah first, and remember what Jah has said and done through out mankind’s existence. To listen to Akae Beka, conscious and mindful this is his finale album recorded. Listen to the all the band members who poured their essence into each rift to make the instrumentation of the album compliment the complexity of the topics covered by Akae Beka. I personally would like to thank the distributors and companies that personally took time to make this album glow with love. They include, Mike with I-Roots Records, James Lord with Zojak Worldwide , and Jamie with Before Zero Records.  Every one in the production team in Ethiopia, especially the youth, thank you for bringing Zion closer to us all. Go A Chant Productions and Trinity Farms, this album will enrich humanity for as long as we live, give thanks for the hard work and diligence. Rastafari.

The Album is now out and you can get it here: I-Roots Records or I-Roots Records Bandcamp  Prints of the cover and original for ” Who Will Go For Us”, “Isaiah’s Coals” are available here:http://blog.raselijah.com/shop/products/who-will-go-for-us-akae-beka-living-testament-art-prints/

Thank you everyone who came out to the LP and CD release gatherings in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Miami, Florida. We will have some footage of that soon.

In Reverence, Give thanks for the Life Giver, Most High Egziabeher, The Almighty King of Creation, Father of All, the Power of the Trinity, Qedamawi Haile Selassie. Give Thanks for the Life Carriers and the Powers of Regeneration, the Gestator Manifestor, Queen of Kings, The team everlasting, Empress Menen as the Head Lioness. Give thanks for the blessing of a prophet, teacher, Idren, that stood in righteousness and spread the Word of Jah to all corners of the Earth, Hon Vaughn Benjamin, who reminded us through the Oath of Akae Beka, that Your Love is Eternal, and Our being is to be given in full to Jah that we may be guided by His Will alone. That This Ultimate Truth that Jah is the Keeper, suspends the heavens and earth, and quakes the wicked, for no one can remove or change the omipresent Jah who’s handiwork is marvelous. That no one can escape the judgement, and all will have to climb and meet their Creator. We pray for the World and those who no longer walk on it, that Iternally we find the joy and peace, that the Most High Intended Us to be. For Jah is Salvation, as above so below. Give thanks for Jah allowing us to complete this mission that this music may help bring forth attention to Jah work and orders.  Give thanks for the Most High who dwells in the Heart of All Flesh, that We may know and dwell with Jah all Our Days. Thru the Name  and Power of the Trinity,  Of Jah the Father Abba, Of Jah the Son, Yahoshua, and Jah the Holy Spirit, Menfes Kedus. One Jah, Amen.