Leveling the Vybz with Albert Bashmounth – Di Cape Ruler
Reggae Dancehall is slowly garnering the street credibility that cements its stand in the underground live music scene that is on the verge of explosion. From Marcus Garvey Community to the Cape Flats to Long Street, dancehall Reggae is steadily becoming the soundtrack of daily livity. Soon one will be able to get into a taxi and hear Sizzla blasting from the speakers, just like in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Gambia and many other African Countries. If you are part of the scene and based in Cape Town, then the name Bashmouth should sound familiar to your ears.
Zimbabwe born Albert Zanganembo based in Cape Town, is the man behind Bashmouth Sound which was founded in 1998. Born in Mbare Suburb in Harare, Albert grew up in a family of music lovers especially his mother & father. He got inspired musically by his father who is a roots reggae & rock ‘n roll avid listener. At the age of 10 Albert’s father made him clean his vinyls while he be listening to his music, and that is when Albert started experimenting with his father’s collection. He progressed to playing music for his family and developed his skills through learning how to use a turn table from his father until the time he could branch off for himself. He would play music that his family members loved so as to get access to the family home stereo system.
He got inspired by big sound systems like King Stereo One owned by the late Jamaican Jah B & Silverstone owned by Mad Minox & Jackie B. He joined Black Mafia sound system as a junior selector before branching out on his own to form Bashmouth Sound. Bashmouth released his first ever dancehall mix in May 2002 which was recorded on cassette tapes on a home stereo system. Around 2004 his Reggae dancehall mixes saw him garnering a sizable follow up which saw him progressing into a full time club DJ playing different genres. In 2012 he released a compilation of remixes called Refix A Remix which has 20 tracks of remixed R’n’B & Dancehall vocals on different instrumentals.
Leveling the Vybz
Albert Bashmouth, Di Cape Ruler hosts a radio show on Bush Radio, South Africa’s oldest and ground breaking community Radio Station every Thursday night, hosting what is arguably the hottest Dancehall Reggae show in SA, bussing local talent. If you want to hear whats hot and current, then Level the Vybz is the show you want to listen to. He put out a compilation of Cape Town’s baddest and hottest Artists in the playing field right now – Outta Road Vol 1 Cape Vybz . An essential listening that would introduce you to the sounds of Dancehall in Cape town.
Bashmouth Sound participated in many a sound clash and subsequently won big clashes like the HARARE SHOW CUP in 2007 and defended it in 2008. He founded the annual SA/ZIM REGGAE SOUND CUP CLASH which has been running since 2011 right up to 2014.
He holds regular weekly spots pushing the reggae dancehall vybz in many areas. Starting from Thursday with his Radio Show – Level the Vybz, Friday you can catch him at the German Locker Club in Bloubergstrand for Freaky Fridays, Saturdays at Joburg Cafe for the Bubblin Party and Sundays at for the Madd Sunday Vybes, and in between he get to be invited to play at outer and inter national gigs and live events, like the upcoming Luciano Live in Cape Town Concert.
Albert Bashmouth – Di Cape Ruler is surely a force to be reckoned with and his contribution in invaluable, especially in the Cape.