Hip-Hop News

Did you know that if we go back 10 generations, we could count for each of us some 2,046 ancestors, going back 20 generations there would be 2.097.150 ancestors and going back 40 generations each of us would have more than a trillion ancestors, which is more than all the people who have ever lived on earth?

This complicated paradox, known as the Pedigree Collapse, however, leads to the simple conclusion that we all share at least one ancestor with each other.

Inspired by this reflection, "How many ancestors do we have?" is the latest EP by Woxow, sound mixologist and mastermind of Little Beat More, translating the concept into a profound journey in search of the roots of music, to find that ancestral vibration that has resonated in every human being since the dawn of time.

Jazz atmospheres, refined hip hop beats, world music overtones, dub rhythms and reggae reminiscences, all enriched by the dense and meaningful voices of London's Reggae RoastMC Natty Campbell, the eclectic and electric Raashan Ahmad and the legendary rapper and
performance poet Azeem, bringing to light the infinite connections that unite all humanity.

The album is further enriched by the precious remixes of underground legend Koralle, electronic shaman Deela, dub master Paolo Baldini Dubfiles, and gifted hip-hop head Luke Beats, who hybridise Woxow's ancestral vision with their skillful artistry, giving a new dimension to the tracks.

The artwork by visual artist and filmmaker Simone Brillarelli captures the essence of the album in a vibrant bloom of colourful flowers sharing the same soil, and ultimately the same planet, reiterating the message of shared family and unity that is celebrated in the music.

The EP is available both as a gatefold with two 7-inch vinyls and as a single 12-inch vinyl, as well as digital. Join the family now.

Roots Garden records third release from veteran Jamaican singer Robert Dallas in combination with producer Manasseh.

Robert's accomplished vocal style and sophisticated lyrics go straight to the heart of the matter as he addresses the misgivings of jealousy and envy, reminding us to take heed as "bad mind is the root of evil.."

Manasseh delivers an original and authentic rhythm track designed to rock any sound system session. Recorded live at his Yard Studio's in West London and equipped with his signature contemporary and high quality production sound.
Renowned UK reggae musician Adrian McKenezie on Drums joins Manasseh himself on bass, and Charlie Night Doctor on Rhythm guitar providing a deadly and heavyweight rhythm track.
Leroy Horns (sax) & Tommy Peach's (trumpet) driving horn lines take the song to higher levels.

Repress!

A blistering collection of ska tunes from Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd's legendary Studio One Records, Jamaica's foundation label of reggae music. Featuring classic cuts from the originators of Ska - The Skatalites, The Wailers, Lee Perry - alongside a heavy dose of superb rarities from the might vaults of 13 Brentford Road - pure Ska Fever !

Soul Jazz Records new Studio One Ska Fever returns back to the early 1960s when Ska was the soundtrack to Jamaica's Independence and Sir Coxsone ruled the land and The Skatalites and Studio One were creating history on a daily basis with an endless stream of blistering, scorching classic tunes.

This album includes an incredible line-up of only the finest artists in reggae music, including Roland Alphonso, The Gaylads, The Ethiopians, Don Drummond, Jackie Opel and many more. An all-star cast from Studio One, as Chris Blackwell famously noted, the 'University of Reggae'.

The accompanying booklet contains extensive sleeve-notes from Studio One historian Rob Chapman (author of Never Grow Old and Downbeat Special), with information on musicians, tracks, label scans and more. Soul Jazz Records' Studio One Ska Fever is released in
CD- jewel case, 24-page booklet with card slipcase, as well as a heavyweight double-vinyl edition in deluxe strong gatefold sleeve (with full sleeve notes).

As we know, reggae music was created in the Ghettos and has helped many people in their struggle & creating many opportunities for those who worked hard for it. Reggae developed its own alternative industry with the support of sound systems and gave opportunities to so many deejays, toaster and singers. In Brasil, with the rise of sound systems inspired by the UK and JA scene, Monkey Jhayam was one of the first artists to express his art and also build a solid and prominent career alongside many sound systems in his country and has been collaborating with producers from all over the World.

Syl Johnson’s 1970’s ever contemporary observational Soul song, lends itself to a new version by the major Brasillian Reggae artist, Monkey Jhayam. Rhythm by Alien Dread, the 7 single features, Alvin Davis (Hornz), Asha B (Congos & Percussion) and Rhythm/Lead Guitar by Steven ‘Marley’ Wright.

Founded in 1971, Matumbi was among the earliest and best British reggae bands. They did, however, also record under different guises, including 4th Street Orchestra. In their acclaimed Rough Guide to Reggae, Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton rate this album (and its counterpart Ah Who She? Go Deh!) as 'the best showcases for Matumbi's talents'. This release marks the first LP reissue of this genuine UK roots monument since 1976.

Original member Dennis “Blackbeard” Bovell (of LKJ and Dub Band fame) knew the local sound system scene like the back of his hand, and most tracks on Leggo! Ah-Fi-We-Dis were initially cut as exclusive 'specials' for his own Jah Sufferer sound system and for fellow soundmen. Hardly anyone hearing these tunes at reggae parties would have guessed they didn't originate in Kingston but were recorded in London. And neither did many who bought the records when they were released a few years later. That's hardly surprising, as the material Bovell & Co churned out could easily compete with the toughest output of their Jamaican counterparts. The solid interpretation of Junior Delgado's "Tichion" and a scorching, melodica-led version of Ras Michael's "None-Ah-Jah-Children" are the most familiar tunes here. And a militant update of Max Steiner's "Theme From A Summer Place" displays good fun as well as guts. But the band's outstanding originals will give many '70s Jamaican classics a good run for their money.

2022 Repress

We are very proud to present this previously unreleased Sangie Davis song and recording from 1979 recorded at Tuff Gong.

Here is an excerpt from the biography which will be included with the full release due out in May, giving some of the history of the song. Written by Glen Lockley:

....One day Bob Marley visited and heard Sangie rehearsing in the back. He was shocked to learn that the songs were Sangie’s own compositions, and wondered why he had not shared them with him before. He was invited to quit the cooking and juice-making and begin working with Bob at Tuff Gong. However, shortly afterwards there followed the assassination attempt on Bob’s life, an event witnessed first-hand by Sangie. Bob and The Wailers subsequently relocated to London for around 16 months. Meanwhile, back in Kingston, Sangie continued to record and perform, primarily with the Twelve Tribes Of Israel Band with artists such as Fred Locks, contributing to his album Black Star Liner, Dan Hutson & The Seers (Baptism) and George
Beaufort (Reaching To Our Goal).

After returning to Jamaica to headline the One Love Peace Concert, in
April 1978, Bob instantly sought out Sangie. Shortly afterwards the pair
composed Wake Up And Live, inspired by the roadworks they have encountered on a car journey from Kingston to Nine Mile which was used as a metaphor for the trials of life. The track would, of course, appear on the 1979 album Survival.

Sangie states that their collaboration She Used To Call Me Dada, plus Babylon Feel This One and Jingling Keys, both written by him, were recorded as demos by The Twelve Tribes Of Israel Band. Bob added overdubbed vocals to the former pair but not the latter. Though none
of these tracks were ever officially released, they have become well known within collector circles and, indeed, to the wider reggae fraternity.

DE-TÜ return to Infernal Sounds for their 5th outing and this time lay siege to the bootleg/white label XXX series. The follow up to their sold out 'Tried By Tu / Waiting For Jah' which featured as XXX002 back in 2019 features two heavy hitters.

Gatekeeping' kicks off the A side with a familiar intro, before thrusting you into a frenzy of sample slices, mid-range melodies and a real face-scrunching low-end fusion. It's a classic dance floor destroyer and one that'll be doing the rounds for years to come. 'Mojigao' on the B side takes things in a completely different direction and is more reminiscent to the DE-TÜ sound we all know and love. Textural dubbed out tones and building vocals lead into the drop, before you're plunged into an ocean of reverberating bass, and a progressive synth pattern. You're completely submerged and washed with smooth and soothing bass, while the track takes an even more progressive step to really switch things up. It's trademark DE-TÜ at it's finest.

As with the previous XXX series, the release is vinyl-only (never to be released digitally) and will not be repressed.

Kicking off 2023, Egregore Collective is back with a second vinyl release on the main label. This time, we’re diving deep, spiraling down in a sea of reverberated chords and soothing noises. For this new foray in the physical realm, appropriately titled “Tones & Echoes”, we called upon 5 specialists of the deepest forms of dub music.

Opening the record is Germany’s very own Another Channel. With regular appearances on respected labels of the genre such as Moonshine Recordings or Modern Hypnosis, he delivers a laid back dub ballad to kick things off smoothly.
Following up is Vienna based Mantsche, tagging along his mate Bishop with a deeper, stomping and more melancholic sounding riddim, that slowly builds up to a powerful stepper second drop that’s guaranteed to make you skank.

Closing the A side of the record is Masis, a previous collaborator of Another Channel on Moonshine Recordings. He takes us on a deeper tip with a dusty, minimalistic and lo-fi sounding dub punctuated by vocals chanting the name of the track as well as the final destination of this journey : “Mount Zion”.

On the other side, we have an all-Toulouse roster, starting with the enigmatic Stefan Dubs. Essential component of the illegal and underground scene here in Toulouse with the collective Folklore, he once again showcases his trademark meditative, saturated, and sometimes hypnotic aesthetic with another ode to forest raves in the maquis.

Rounding off the record is our own Stacktrace, taking a break from his dancehall bangers to go back to his roots and sign off on a highly progressive tune, sparkled with clicking shakers and drum rolls, and as always building into a very different second drop with a bassline melody that will stick to your head.

"Riddims Supplies" is a side project of the Label "Egregore Collective"
This new serie is dedicated to release some club/soundsystem killer tunes on wax !

For this third release we introduce some of the finest lazers clubby grimey wavey dancehall hybriders Knurx and SIM from Brussels, BE and Montreal, CA.

Dubartis compilation is a double LP of previously digitally released tunes.

First LP is dedicated to Lithuanian dub reggae band Ministry of Echology remixed by local artists and producers. Deep spaced-out dub and cinematic electronics.

Second LP - boom bap and experimental beats collection from KASETA and Genn Bo. All about sampling, looping, slicing, cutting, blending old dusty records.

The eleven-man roots reggae ensemble from Copenhagen - Guiding Star Orchestra is set to release their second LP "Communion" on May 5th, a follow up to their super strong debut double LP, “Natural Heights” an album that was sitting on the shelf for 6 years and then finally saw the light of day in November of 2022.


Since the band took shape in 2016, the musical collective's tunes have been played all over the world by fans, sound systems and DJ’s alike. The overarching, wordless theme of the hard-hitting, horn driven, organic music is a longing for a better, more fair world and the music is designed to aid this development.


Guiding Star Orchestra is an instrumental roots reggae band with a full horn section and clear dub elements. Here, the hard and meditative beats of the bass and drum section are blended with the melodic phrases of the horns, which are in turn supported by the pulsating expressions of the guitar and keys, which are finally taken to cosmic heights with the effects of the live engineering.

Together, this constitutes Guiding Star Orchestra's distinctive sound, a sound that is strongly inspired by the roots of the 70s and early 80s, but which the band has also taken towards the future, forming the 8 track LP “Communion”.

Reissue of this 1985 album from classic UK reggae band Black Slate.

Repress!

Classic set of Lloyd Coxsone produced tracks by Fred Locks & The Creation Stepper. Heavy late 70s roots hammered by the likes of Coxsone and Shaka in their heyday.

Barry White classic put through the beautiful production lenses of reggae master Willie Lindo, now in 12” single version, remastered and restored.

No introduction needed here. An early Reggae/Soul holy grail that has long been on the radar of many diggers and collectors. Originally written by Barry white and released in 1974, “Midnight and You” was then covered by Reggae Maestro producer and multi instrumentalist Willie Lindo in Jamaica the year after. Willie Lindo's floating guitar melodies throughout both sides are undoubtedly a dreamy dedication to romance - essential to any record collector. Originally released in 7” single format, brought back now after painstakingly surgical restoration work and remastered for 12” format. With new full color artwork.

The Brothers From Different Mothers (BFDM) boss man Judaah next in line on the AMX series. He goes full sludge mode on Side A, starting with strictly low slung beats, tinged with dub/experimental influences before finishing up with some vocal percys. Side B starts with some electro / bailefunk crossovers, moving into a Jersey and Balt influenced section and then taken down a notch to finish.

Full AW by Ciaran Birch with double sided J-card & on body cassette printing.

No digital.

It's been a long time coming, THE 18TH PARALLEL are back with a new showcase album, this time starring Jamaican singer extraordinaire DERAJAH. ‘BABYLON A QUAKE' is the first single from the new album, due out in October 2023. This groundbreaking single is a collaboration like no other, bringing together the remarkable vocals of Derajah, renowned for his distinctive style and powerful delivery, and the production prowess of The 18th Parallel, a trailblazing force in the reggae scene. With the expert touch of mixing maestro Westfinga, this track is a sonic masterpiece. ‘Babylon A Quake’ stands as a powerful anthem, carrying a profound message of social consciousness and resistance against oppressive forces. Derajah's raw and emotive vocals paint vivid pictures of struggle and resilience, while The 18th Parallel's ultra-solid riddim creates a rich tapestry of sound that will transport you to the heart of roots reggae. With its impeccable production quality, ‘Babylon A Quake’ captures the essence of reggae's golden era while infusing it with a fresh and contemporary sound. It seamlessly blends tradition with innovation, ensuring that both loyal reggae enthusiasts and new listeners alike will be left in awe of this musical gem.

"Wa Do Dem" gilt als bestes Album des Künstler und wurde seinerzeit im Channel One Studio aufgenommen und von Overton "Scientist" Brown, Prince Jammy und Stanley "Barnabas" Bryan in King Tubby's Studio abgemischt. Eine erstklassige Produktion mit dem Gütesiegel Henry "Junjo" Lawes und den Roots Radics als Backing Band, inklusive zeitlosen Stücken wie "Ganja Smuggling", "Noah's Ark" und dem Album-Titelsong "Wa-Do-Dem". Als Riddims konnten der "Shank I Sheck" (B1), "Hot Milk" (B5), "Going Back To School" (A3), "Slowly But Surely" (A5) und "Hunter Man" (B2) identifiziert werden.

Originally released in 1988 ‘Hot Rock’ was the final single from Pennsylvanian based roots reggae band House Of Assembly. The band, comprising main songwriter Norman Bailey, Marc Campbell, Claver Campbell and Louis Putman, grew up in the Water House area of Kingston, Jamaica bonding over their shared love of Dub & Reggae. The 4 members moved to Pennsylvania in the US in the early 80’s and released one album ‘Confusion’ on the local Meadowlark label, touring throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and becoming stalwarts of the Pennsylvanian roots scene.

The band started their own Concrete label in 1988 releasing ‘Hot Rock’ complete with a Dub Version possessing a potent combination of punchy 707 drum programming, killer rolling bassline, stripped back lead guitar and a rising synth line. For the official reissue there’s an added ‘Rockapella’ version not found on the original 12” and a new full sleeve jacket designed by Bradley Pinkerto

Two of the most prominent activists on the current European reggae scene join forces on this brand new song. ‘END OF THE DAY’ is a combination between Bristol singer JOE YORKE and Swiss reggae band THE 18TH PARALLEL.

Written by master storyteller Eeyun Delroy Purkins from The Co-Operators who recently released a highly acclaimed album with Joe Yorke titled ‘A Distant Beat’, ‘End of The Day’ showcases the remarkable talent of both crews: on the one hand enchanting melodies and thought-provoking lyrics provided by Joe’s soulful voice and Eeyun’s brilliant pen, on the other infectious grooves and impeccable musicianship by The 18th Parallel.

This mesmerizing collaboration is highlighted by Westfinga’s perfect early 80’s rub a dub mixing. When these extraordinary forces collide, magic happens. Step into the rhythm and embrace a state of pure musical bliss!

2nd chapter of ultra-heavyweight dub and UK steppers from the mighty King Earthquake.

Repress!

Rawbone Reggae On Top dubs mixed by Barry Issac and Dougie Wardrop at Conscious Sounds.

* Classic roots / dub from 1992 produced by Nick `Manasseh’ and Jeremy `The Equalizer’ Armstrong, with vocals from reggae legend Earl Sixteen known for his work with the likes of Lee Perry, Augustus Pablo, Mikey Dread and Leftfield.
* Originally released on the Riz label, `Natural Roots’ gained popularity in sound system circles, with play from the likes of Jah Shaka. The original 12” cause distress on the collectors market
* Features one previously unreleased mix: `Natural Dub’.

Fresh vinyl slice of UK Dub Roots Reggae sees veteran producer Vibronics hook up once again with rising star Ashanti Selah for a 4 track outing featuring 3 vocals and one deep dub mix.
Vocals are provided by Nia Songbird, Echo Ranks & Ashanti Selah. Nia is the the young singer from Leicester creating waves right now in the sound system scene, Echo provides the listener with a rare opportunity to hear his legendary tones after a long break from releases and finally Ashanti Selah shows his versatility by dropping a vibrant 70’s style DJ cut - crucial combinations on this 10” vinyl that signed of with a furious Vibronics all-analogue dub mix from the Dub Cupboard Studio.

This release is beautifully presented in a specially printed SCOOPS Records purple label sleeve

Vibronics is one of the most established names in UK Dub/Reggae music. From their base, in the Dub Cupboard Studio in Leicester, their music has achieved millions of views on YouTube, millions of Spotify streams and many tens of thousands of vinyl record sales. Vibronics have collaborated with reggae legends Michael prophet, Macka B, Iration Steppas, Soom T, Aba-Shanti and so many more.

Ashanti Selah is a musician / Dub Producer hailing from the UK, is the eldest son of the world-renowned soundman, Aba Shanti-I. As well as working on his own productions Ashanti makes use of his musical abilities as a performer in various bands as keyboardist and has had the pleasure of working and collaborating with a number of great singers, musicians & producers in the scene- such as; Vivian Jones, Mad Professor & Alpha Steppa, to name but a few.

* Rare cuts from the vaults of Nick Manasseh and Jeremy The Equalizer in the shape of `The Next Step’ and `Next Dub’, dating from 1998, backed with `The Ark’ and `Conspiracy Dub’, alongside The Equalizer on production duties, with two tracks dating from the early 90’s.
* All these tunes are tried and tested sound system classics and appear on vinyl for the first time.