Who is Ras Rebel?
Earl Paton III (aka, Ras Rebel) is an internationally renowned Reggae & Dancehall artist from Port Hueneme, a small town on the Channel Islands region of the Gold Coast in Southern California. Rebel has undeniably become a staple artist of the West Coast Reggae scene, having been recording and perfoming live for over 20 years. He is known for his multi-genre style, as his sound incorporates elements of Dancehall, Reggae and urban Hip Hop. Ras Rebel’s music can currently be heard on the radio and streamed on all major digital streaming platforms all over the globe.
Ras Rebel has been performing since the young age of 9, playing in his first band at 19.
Rebel immediately felt at home on the stage and knew that his future was meant to be a professional performer. Over time, Rebel performed in several acts, to include Small Axe and the Crucial Yard Crew (CYC). After several years of performing in various groups, Rebel rebranded himself offically as RAS REBEL – a solo artist with a conscious message and a big sound. He then moved from Oxnard to Los Angeles, where he began to play notable venues such as The Century Club and Jamaican Gold Events – the longest running Dancehall club in the region. It was during this time that Ras Rebel was able to build and discover his own sound and style that would set the precedent for the rest of his career.
Rebel released his first solo album in 1998 titled Rebelution and his second album Crossroads in 2006, which was met with national acclaim and success. Ras Rebel has engaged crowds throughout California, Jamaica, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New York, Atlanta, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico, and has also made fans in Japan, Korea, Sweden and Australia. Garnering fans from all over the globe, Ras Rebel has set himself apart amongst the musical community for his conscious message mixed with an authentic West Coast rude boy style and an interactive stage performance. Ras Rebel’s music continues to bring to the forefront messages of Truth and Love, telling of real-life experiences. His subject matter, paired with heavy-hitting rhythms and a modern Rub-A-Dub style, displays his unique talent of bringing fans together from all backgrounds.
In 2014, Ras Rebel released his single “Stronger“ before taking a short hiatus from music for reflection and personal growth, relocating to Sacramento in 2015. Two years later, Rebel made a strong comeback, releasing his 4th full-length studio album The Rebirth, featuring “Come Over & Love“ which received airplay in over 10 countries! The album was indeed a special for Rebel, as he musically paired with notable Sacramento producer, JIntel at Omina Labs, best known for his work with iconic rappers like E-40, Mos Def and Baby Bash. Rebel’s return to music was welcomed by artists and fans alike, and has since shared the stage with globally-renowned Reggae, Dancehall and Hip Hop acts, like:
Damian Marley, Stevie Wonder, Mykal Rose (of Black Uhuru), The Wailers, Cypress Hill, Steel Pulse, Gregory Isaacs, Third World, Yellowman, Jesse Royal, Collie Buddz, J Boog, Anthony B, Kabaka Pyramid and Julian Marley.
In 2016, Rebel was given the opportunity to perform the main stage on the Iconic Welcome to Jamrock Cruise, with musical accompaniment of The Black Soil Band (featuring Dean Fraser) – the backing band for Tarrus Riley! It was also there that Rebel was invited onstage to perform with the legendary Shinehead. In 2020, Ras Rebel released his single titled “Boss Lion”, featuring the iconic GRAMMY-Award winning Reggae artist, Mykal Rose, as well as production talents of E.N Young (formerly of the San Diego-based Roots Rock Reggae band, Tribal Seeds).