Photo of Ras Kassa the Guru

Ras Kassa the Guru

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  • ANDREIA DACAL

    Mad Respecta !

    2 years ago
  • Queen Iva

    Yes I Ras Kassa the Guru
    Jah bless fi promospace
    Jah Army is at JUNO now:

    http://www.junodownload.com/labels/Jah+Army/releases/?ref=jah

    2 years ago
  • Qwasian Phillips

    Thanks For The Add
    If U Need Graphic Design Hit Me Up

    Thanks,
    Q
    Team Brinkz
    http://www.teambrinkz.com/

    2 years ago
  • Jah Army

    Yes Iyah,
    check da limited ROCKERS edition 2010 now!!!
    For more infos plz subscribe to I&I blog: http://lnk.ms/0NXCt or become a fan on facebook at http://lnk.ms/1w2wl
    1love
    J.A.H.

    2 years ago
  • Crystina Maez

    Hi, I've got a new song "Release your mind", you will find it on my new blog. Enjoy it!

    2 years ago
  • RAS SEVEN

    ***BRAND NEW RELEASE - EQUAL BROTHERS LABEL***

    including MASTER OF WORKS by MUZIKAL BEN

    and di Hit-tune MUS A LION by RAS SEVEN

    Long demanded and finally pon Vinyl !
    Give Thanks to RASTAFAR I !

    ***10" INCH VINYL COLLECTORS EDITION***

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    2 years ago
  • Jah Army

    Yes Iyah,
    check da WORLDCUP & FESTIVAL Special 2010 now!!!
    For more infos plz subscribe to I&I blog: http://lnk.ms/0NXCt or become a fan on facebook at http://lnk.ms/1w2wl
    1love
    J.A.H.

    2 years ago
  • Jah Doctrine

    bless

    2 years ago
  • Jah Army

    Yes Iyah,
    check da exclusive limited JAH ARMY FOOTBALL SHIRTS
    for WORLDCUP 2010. Out now!!!
    For more infos plz subscribe to I&I blog: http://lnk.ms/0NXCt or become a fan on facebook at http://lnk.ms/1w2wl
    1love
    J.A.H.

    3 years ago
  • Stypracom, Inc.

    Greetings
    I Hope everything is well with you.i am an artist who's very much into designing things/products that i think would do very well on the market at large(excuse me for adding myself on what i can only imagine a long lists of solicitors) but with my ideas i'm lacking investor/s and/or partner/s and i think if you decide that you are willing to take a chance on me we would work well together.when you get the chance pay a visit to my page so you can get a feel of what i'm trying to explain to you. Thanks either way for your time and i hope we'll be working together soon.

    Sincerly,
    J's EroticExotic Art&Design,Inc.

    3 years ago
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About me:

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Ras Kassa is...


As a young boy growing up on the gritty streets of Kingston, director, Ras Kassa admired the many talents his country spawned; in particularly, Bob Marley and Perry Henzell. In perhaps one of those kismet moments Ras Kassa a.k.a. The Guru is now one of the talents many Jamaican kids are looking up to. As The Guru Films Chairman and Senior Director who is ironically based in Perry's old office and responsible for most of the Marley families most successful videos to date!

His 2005 Directorial of Damian Marley's track "Welcome to Jamrock" was an international success with global airplay and scores of music video award nominations. The video, which Ras Kassa conceived, directed, edited and hand-coloured, sparked a storm of controversy and discussion. The Jamaica Tourist Board saws it as a subversive and a negative image of the island – and a juxtaposition to the beautiful beach and sun image of their media campaign. The influence of this gritty docu-style genre opened the flood gates for a tidal wave of music videos depicting the garrison life. Three years on, and the video is still studied in universities, and has over one million plays on YouTube.

These heady heights are far from his humble poverty riddled beginnings; He was a precocious, curious child who rebelled from standard teaching. After teen years playing in bands, dabbling with art and assisting in fashion photography (with William Richards), his fascination with his fellow man lead him down the path as a documentarian. At 26yrs old , he was writing an hosting the documentary, The Trod; His personal dive into the secrets and the stories of his beloved Jamaica. His investagative reports and exclusive interviews brought him much media attention. Much to the chagrin of his single parent mother and his five sisters, he turned his back on going to college but surprised them all with his fast tracked media career. At 27 he co-founding of the first Jamaican cable station, Music Plus and by 29 he was already in demand to work as consultant an creative director for stations such as JNN and RE-TV.

To date, Kassa has directed over 100 music videos, many of which were Marley family projects– Damian Marley's "All Night"; "Move" "Gang War Medley" and "Traffic Jam" (Stephen Marley featuring Damian Marley), Gang War Medley, The Mission. And is currently working with Stephen on Damian on a few private docu-projects.

His belief as a Rastafarian seap into his cinematic vision. He has continued to steer away from the popular belief that "greed is good" and imagery of "babes,guns and bling" are the video pre-requisite. Yet, he has continued to attract the attention of mainstream artists. In 2007 he had directed over half of the artists from the Reggae-Grammy list. For a Jamaican based director this is a a first and still pioneering role. Ras Kassa has been responsible for creating music videos for international artistes such as Willie Nelson (Harder they Come, Worried Man), Gentleman (Superior, Intoxication, Why Cry - Afu Ra ft Gentleman, Caan Hold Us Down, Different Places), Beenie Man (Dude Remix), and Sean Paul (Never Gonna be The Same, Hot Gal Today), Michael Franti ("All I Want Is You", "Say Hey" and "Little Bit of Riddim") and the Billboard top reggae artist, Collie Buddz . Ras Kassa can be noted for achieving two very presigious world premieres - both first for a Jamaican director. His Beenie Man "Dude -Remix" music video premiered on MTV's popular mainstream request TV programme Total Request Live (TRL) and along with Damian Marley;'s "Welcome To Jamrock" placed on the TRL charts for a number of weeks. Willie Nelson's "Worried Man" premiered on CNN. Both were landmark events for the Rastafarian director who adopted his name from the Ethiopian general Ras Kassa (cousin to Haile Selassie I).

April 2008 saw the opening of his installation,"The Seen & The Unseen" at the prestigious National Gallery of Jamaica – as part of " Curator's Eye III" exhibition. An audio-visual presentation of traditional and contemporary life and performance in urban Jamaica. The piece captures on film pedestrians, traffic and accompanying sounds in teaming Kingston. Imagery of Kumina, Jonkunnu, Rastafari, Carnival, Dancehall, Obeah, marijuana, and a variety of other social rituals are wielded together into a personal vision.

He is currently on the board of both the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica

and CPTC (Creative Production & Training Centre). And, is a guest lecturer in the Kingston school district as part of an inner city creative awareness project. Kassa recently received an award for Innovation from Caribbean Tales Film Festival in Toronto.
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Details

  • Status: Single
  • Hometown: Kingston
  • Orientation: Straight
  • Ethnicity: Black / African descent
  • Religion: Other
  • Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
  • Children: Proud parent
  • Occupation: Director

Companies

  • The Guru Films

    • 10A, Kingston 10 JM

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