For years the VI dancehall scene was run by the foundation sounds like Westline, Calabash, and Dogheart International. In the late-nineties a new sound emerged named “Corn Dog,” coming out of the Smith Bay Area of St. Thomas, a group of young kids in Bertha B. Boschulte Junior High. The members of this sound system were JAH Echo, Culture, Rasheed, and JAH Youth. “Carn Dog” created the frame work and grounds for their evolution into the multifaceted Red Lion Sound System. In an interview with Rasheed, he discusses that evolution and where they are today. P.S. Big Respect to JAH Echo and OJAH not shown in picture below

CORE: How did the change to Red Lion come about?

RL: After a couple of years of playing around 1997, Culture went to New York and was experiencing the dancehall culture in its fullness. When he came back he was explaining that we can’t be calling ourselves “dogs” anymore and as much as there is a music side there is a business side to this industry and we needed to step it up. That night JAH Echo meditated on the situation and the next morning had the idea. He said that we just change the word “Corn” to “Red” (for obvious reasons) and the “Dog” to “Lion;” because we were all heavily involved in the Ras Tafari faith.

CORE: How did you become the first syndicated VI Sound?

RL: My cousin OJAH, was living in Orlando at the time and doing his own thing in the industry with his sound, Ambassador. Culture and JAH Youth moved up to the states and were doing their own thing as well, leaving JAH Echo and I. So we linked up with OJAH and made it official; a singular syndicated Red Lion.

CORE: How did Terror C get involved and what did he bring to the sound?

RL: JAH Echo went up to Orlando and dealt with things on the ground there with OJAH. I was still here working at International Records and Tapes owned by my uncle Otis “Big-O” Martin. I needed help on my ends so I linked up with Terry. He was doing his thing for a while playing parties here and Tortola, also he was from Smith Bay so I knew him for a while. Representing Florida at the time was OJAH and JAH Echo and here at home Terror C and I. At that time we were still playing on turntables and doing cassettes. Terror C brought Red Lion up-to-the-time in regards to technology. Using laptops and compact discs, was starting to become industry standard, he turned us on to that aspect of it. It improved the hustle all around, moving our product on the street and selling it in stores became a lot easier. Plus JAH Echo is back home and is the MC, while Terror C is the Selector.

CORE: Getting on the radio was a big step…

RL: Yea, Terry and I felt we needed to take it to another level; of course, here in the VI radio is still the main source of media presence. So we got on an hour slot on CeeCee’s show around ’99 to ‘00, where we juggled tunes. That allowed me to build a relationship with the Program Manager at the time there at 105 JAMZ. They had an available slot 10pm to 12pm on Saturday nights, so we all agreed. What was playing at the time was the same music that is coming out everyday. So we saw being on the radio as a way not only to give the people the latest, greatest, but also to have the massive know the music and be current, so when they here it in a dance they know “Daz a Big Tune.”

CORE: What’s your clash record?

RL: The only clash we had was in St. Kitts, against Black Star which we won. Plus an unofficial clash on Anna’s Court with Avalanche; but he was known by another name, R.I.P. Sounds, After Dark, and Threshold now known as Infinity. But a real sound clash, none yet, you done know, we stay cutting tunes; local and foreign, cause you have to be ready.