ESSENTIAL I
 Essential I is an up(ful) & coming artist from north central Washington state's Okanogan County. As a co-founder of and artist
on Sick Donkey Records, he has been recording and performing in the northwestern United States for nearly a decade and making an impact everywhere as he stomps down babylon with word, sound & power!


Essential I is committed to writing and recording original and unfiltered material with Reggae/Dancehall & Hip-Hop influence, combining styles to voice the blessage of RastafarI and bring positivity to the world.
Essential I has continued to reach the people as a high-energy performer with natural stage presence.  His songs range from traditional roots rock reggae and modern culture to current dancehall and real, conscious hip-hop. Always lyrically equipped to inspire as well as excite. Essential I raises the red, gold and green banner and marches forth as a SoulJah in Jah Army, trodding down wickedness, evil and iniquity around every turn.
Essential I is also a member of North Central Washington Hip-Hop group, Sunz of Sound.

His most recent music video, for the song "Rastafari is King" featuring Turbulence, has been gaining worldwide attention since it premiered in October 2013.  Viewed over 100,000 times on youtube and recently featured on the Reggaelution20 TV show in Jamaica as on of the current 20 top videos.
The tune has been featured on numerous mixtapes from international DJs as well as radio and online magazines around the world. Essential I was recently featured in Custom Music Magazine as an artist to watch for.

Essential I was first featured on Sick Donkey Records(SDR) label-mate Jahson Ites' debut record "Forward Outta Babylon"
and soon followed with his own effort, "FreeDem SoulJah"
.
Both albums were well received and paved the way for the 3rd release from SDR, the HUGE riddim album "Standing Firm",
that featured Essential I's song "More Strength, More Life".
The 4th release from the label was the "World Needs" riddim, and it featured the ganja anthem "Cool & Humble"
by Essential I & The Lambsbread from Hawaii.  
Recently, Essential I has released several singles in addition to a collaborative EP with Germany's Alin Dread & Sebastian Thunder (The Hard Ears) as the Unknown SoulJahs, titled the "Dread Essentials EP", consisting of 4 original roots tunes.

 Working with and performing alongside some great artists such as Anthony B, Promoe, Turbulence,
The Lambsbread, Jah Sun, Ishi Dube, Perfect, Adrian Xavier, Joseph Israel, Mista Chatman, Gavinchi Brown, Dubtonic Kru,
Clinton Fearon, Ras Michael, Rocker T, Winstrong, Blessed Coast Sound, Zions Gate Sound, Krazy Hype, Jah Army Hi-Fi and many more,
Essential I has been laying a solid foundation for the release of his second album, "SoulJah Salute", which is currently in the works.


Stay ready!


 
 Purchase
"Coconut Water" Single by Essential I
"Rastafari is King" Single by Essential I Ft. Turbulence
"Dread Essentials EP" by Unknown SoulJahs (Essential I prod. Alin Dread)
"Crying Out" Single by Essential I Ft. Anthony B

"Crying Out" Remix by Essential I Ft. Anthony B (Bass Science Remix)
"Cool & Humble" Single by Essential I Ft. The Lambsbread
"FreeDem SoulJah" Album by Essential I (Ft. Promoe, Jahson Ites, Huckleberry & DJ Sticky)


Free
"Meta.morphosis" Album by Trans.formation (Wunderflo & Essential I)