Jimmy Cliff Collaborates with Rancid's Tim Armstrong, Covers the Clash

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Aug 12, 2011

The music biz has been all abuzz with high-profile collabs lately, what with Kanye West and Jay-Z dropping Watch the Throne and Lil Wayne and Drake anticipating an album of their own. A tag team that shouldn't be glossed over, however, is that between reggae icon Jimmy Cliff and ska-indebted Rancid leader Tim Armstrong.

The twosome, as well as an assembled backing band called the Engine Room, are currently working on an EP featuring a cover of the Clash's "Guns of Brixton," which you can hear below. The cover is notable, as it was their mutual respect for the band, not to mention their personal ties, that brought them together.

"The cool thing about it was that Tim knew people from the Clash, who I associated with a lot," Cliff told Stereogum. "I worked on a record with Joe Strummer shortly before he passed away. So, we knew people in common and that made it very easy at the beginning. Also, Tim is just very easy to work with. He's a very creative guy and it's just been very good -- and very easy -- working with him."

Cliff added that he and Armstrong also worked on some newer songs that the reggae legend wrote. On top of performing together, Armstrong serves as producer for the sessions.

Neither a tracklisting nor a release date has been revealed for the upcoming project.

Guns Of Brixton by JimmyCliffMusic

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