In this Reggae Summer episode we dive into Culture’s classic album Two Sevens Clash, one of the most important roots reggae records of the 1970s.
We use the album as a jumping-off point to talk about the Marcus Garvey prophecy behind the title track, the apocalyptic fear around July 7, 1977 (when “the two sevens clash”), and how that shaped life in Jamaica at the time. We get into how Joseph Hill turns prophecy, politics and Rasta teachings into songs that are still catchy and deeply spiritual.
We also zoom out and look at Garvey’s wider influence on reggae – repatriation, Black Star Line, judgment day themes – and how Two Sevens Clash sits alongside other Garvey-inspired records in the roots canon.
In this episode:
– Track and moment highlights from Two Sevens Clash
– The story behind the “two sevens” prophecy and 7/7/77
– Marcus Garvey’s impact on reggae lyrics and Rastafari
– How this album shaped our own approach as reggae musicians in Black Market Dub
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CHAPTERS:
00:00:50 Intro and Punk Rock
00:31:17 Garveyism and The Religiosity of Reggae
01:08:44 The Music and Production of Two Sevens Clash
01:38:29 Standout Songs
02:03:53 Final Thoughts
