CUT YOU LOOSE (a synopsis)

It all started with meeting a guy by the name of Richard Ormerud in Oslo around august1996. Richard happened to be a producer who had just set up his studio in an old godown which had been turned into a multipurpose centre, bustling with creative activity. Richard wanted to know whether Ras Nas would like to test his studio. The work began the month after.

In the studio, which was at Månefisken(Moonfish) along the Akers river(Akerselva), three tracks were tried out:-A Million Dollar Bill (a laid back, rap-reggae groove), Zakina (soukous) and M16 (roots reggae). The musicians that assembled in the studio working until late at night were, Nasibu Mwanukuzi, Charles Mena(a nicaraguan drummer), Chuck Frazier (a guitarist and singer from Texas), Jan Thure Bolstad (a norwegian bassist) and George Chioko (a tanzanian rhythm guitarist). The work progressed until early winter and two tracks were picked for a promo single, A Million Dollar Bill and Zakina. The song Zakina had been existing for some time prior to ’96 but A Million Dollar Bill was a fresh cut. The original text being written by Nasibu, it was agreed that Chuck and Charles fill up with rap. In the studio, while figuring out which song to record, the rhythm was created starting as a jam.

Early 1997 Ras Nas received support from the norwegian fund for performing artists(fond for utøvende kunstnere) and with this the band set down to add tracks for a whole album. The plans for a single were put o­n shelf. Jan Thure Bolstad had left to pursue his studies in Bergen(norwegian west coast town) and Ishmael de Leon(from Trinidad) was the new bassist. George Chioko was no longer in the band. Kjetil Kielland Lund(from Norway) was now o­n keyboards.

Thus the idea of Cut You Loose album was born. The band worked at Endless Studio, collaborating with the english studio technician,Craig Morris. Five more tracks were laid, Brother Bob (a tribute to Bob Marley), Sina Makosa, Jungle, Revelation Times and M16.

Trouble in a Dub was a track that Nasibu had earlier o­n cut at Sweep Studio, working together with a swedish musician-engineer, Dag Piere, Abel Bogere Kato (Ugandan musician) and Chuck Frazier. The text was written early ’96 as a response to a hostile campaign by the norwegian media against africans, focusing o­n Africa as the origin of the AIDS virus and thus warning folks not to have sex with them. The track was an instant hit and it was reasoned wise to include it in the album.

With nine tracks at hand, the album was released in October 1997 under independent Moondisc Label and Kongoi Productions

Cut You Loose has received massive radio plays due to DIY promotion. Two of the tracks "Trouble in a Dub" and "Jungle" have been included in compilations both in USA and Norway. A video of Trouble in a Dub has also been broadcasted in europe and africa.

It was due to difficulties of getting a deal with record companies and distributors that Kongoi Productions was formed to take care of Ras Nas music.

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