The Disciples

The Disciples

The Disciples is a dub group created in London the year 1985 by two brothers: Russel Brown a.k.a Russ D and Lol-Bell Brown a.k.a Lol.

The Disciples style is a mixture of Jamaican's reggae-roots and digital sounds: The result is a powerful dub stepper with a very rumbling low-bass, massive and crude. Sometimes mentioned like “hardcore dub”.

Story of the name

In 1985, the Brown brothers realize a maxi, 4 dubplates inspired by the first vinyl records buy in London. The records seller from the shop “Flash Forward” advises them to show his maxi to mister Jah Shaka: He knows the famous dj and organize a meeting with him and the youngs Londonians.

A little time after, Jah Shaka will spread the music of the two brothers in one dance-hall party. To introduce them, the dj say: “This one is The Disciples”. Meaning, “his own (disciples)”. The duo has now a name.

The duo

The Disciples will publish 4 albums on the Jah Shaka label between 1987 and 1993. Records that Jah shaka himself plays in parties on his sound system. In the year 1991, the duo decide to create his own sound system and will cross the road of other artists such Aba Shanti I, Iration Steppas or Channel One.

In 1993, The Disciples create their first label “Boom-Shaka-Lacka” which help the duo to product and publish some new experimentations or realized some splits with The Rootsman, Dayjah and Sister Rasheda.

For family reasons, in 1996, Lol stop the band. Nevertheless, Russ D decides to continue The Disciples adventure alone. He creates a new label in 1997, “Backyard Movements”.

The goal of this new label is to promote the reggae in England. Russ D produces artists such as Michael Rose, Tony Roots, Lutan Fyah or Ras Mac Bean in the studio of the label: the Backyard Studio. And, nowadays, the work of The disciples is mainly in studio.