Iration Steppas traces its roots to Mark Iration, who established the sound system in Leeds and delivered cutting-edge selections at blues dances, clubs, and parties. Accompanied by a crew of similarly inclined operators, he traveled nationwide to soak up a range of styles. Early on, he and Papa Sam operated as Ital Rockers Hi Fi, drawing particular inspiration from Jah Shaka and Jah Tubby. The first acetates Iration obtained left him astonished by Jah Tubby’s extensive stock of original dub plates. A direct clash against Jah Shaka in Leeds earned the veteran operator’s approval, which spurred Iration to persist in the field. By 1993 he had joined forces with Dennis Rootical, appearing as Kitachi and delivering their distinctive leftfield dope beat sound. The pair’s energetic live sets drew strong crowds at festivals and clubs throughout the UK; they were also the first to capture their own material on DAT at High Rise studio in Leeds and then blend those recordings on stage. Once Jack Rouble entered the fold the outfit’s standing increased further, leading Iration Steppas to issue the classic “Scud Missile” in 1993. Enthusiastic response prompted three separate represses of the discomix before it was finally withdrawn. That success was matched by the equally well-received twelve-inch discomix “Mystical Warrior.” Media outlets hailed the crew as Jah Shaka’s “enlightened offspring,” and the momentum carried into two ten-inch releases, “Reminiscence Dub” and “Killimanjaro,” both later included on the debut album. Under the Kitachi name they also put out three dope beat singles—“Spirit,” “Scratch Remix,” and “Heavyweight.” Additional specials from the period appear across various nineties-era dub collections such as Macro Dub Infection, Dubhead Volumes One and Two, Club Meets Dub, and Dope On Plastic.
