Yes King

Yes King

Yes King is a London-based project led by Rhys Adams and Mark Rae. The act develops out of their earlier work together on Grand Central Records releases and their guest production role on the Two Culture Clash release on Wall of Sound in 2004. While working on that project, they travel to Jamaica and record with local vocalists, and the collaboration grows into a full-time act.

Background

Rhys Adams first enters the Grand Central circle under the name Frankie Valley, when he remixes Mark Rae’s Candystripe for the third 12-inch from Rae’s debut album, Rae Road. He later contributes production and writing to Rae’s follow-up album, Into The Depths, and the two build an ongoing working relationship. The project name also appears as A.R.P: Adams.Rae.Productions.

Style and collaborators

Yes King combines hip hop, dancehall, ragga-tinged vocals and ska-influenced rhythms. Its recordings feature a range of guest vocalists, including Ayak, Dawn Penn, Prezident Brown, Veba, Pete Simpson, Sweetie Irie, Kenny Knotts, Tor, Baby Chan of Suncycle, and Mystro. Ayak is noted as a winner of the 2004 Prince’s Trust Urban Music Awards.

Context

Mark Rae is already established in the UK music scene through Rae & Christian, Grand Central Records and the Fat City record shop in Manchester, as well as two solo albums that follow the Rae & Christian releases. Yes King continues that line of work as a multi-style dancefloor project built from Adams and Rae’s earlier collaborations.