Hip-Hop News

Ras G and Moresounds explore the outer reaches of sound system culture for Dub-Stuy's new collaborative series of EPs. Brooklyn-based label Dub-Stuy kicks off 2018 with the inaugural release of a new EP series dedicated to unearthing and celebrating the outer reaches of sound system culture. Taking its cue from the classic dub releases where two producers would face off with their own versions, Dub-Stuy's Meets series brings together artists who have a clear dub influence but do not operate solely within the sphere of the dub and reggae world. The first such meeting is between Los Angeles beat supremo Ras G (Brainfeeder, Stones Throw) and Paris junglistic dub scientist Moresounds (Cosmic Bridge, Astrophonica).

Ras G Meets Moresounds features two brand new productions from each artist exploring the more experimental side of dub. On his side of the release Ras G freaks traditional dub riddims in a hip-hop style by slowing the bpm down, amping up the bass and smothering the tracks with echo and reverb. Gorilla Glue' adds animal sounds and a hypnotizing flute melody reminiscent of Augustus Pablo, while Global Shit-uation' goes deeper by juxtaposing bright keys with a wall of sirens and computer noises, as if Sun Ra had landed in Kingston for a jam with Tubby.

For his half of the release Moresounds taps into the melting pot of energy he's become best known for, a perfect blend of dance music, hip-hop and dub. We A Tribe' brings together traditional dub melodies with menacing synth lines, a steady kick snare pattern and a rowdy bassline. Deep Base' taps into the steppers vibe with a marching drum beat and floating percussion rubbing against ominous melodies and an ocean of sampled sounds.

A celebration of the timeless impact of dub on modern music, Ras G Meets Moresounds shows how versatile dub music can be today and how far it has come from its Kingston roots. Strap in, light one up and get ready for a deep dub dive.

"Mad Blank" is a slow-mo reggae house groover! Recommended!
Emotional Rescue and Jamwax end their Capo Disco series by returning to Glen Adams and his cover of Bob Marley's classic. The early 70s Lee Perry produced original raw sound is taken to the disco reggae dancefloors of the early 80s with a bottom heavy jam, while his Capo Crew works a killer dub flipside. Fussing & Fighting' was originally released on the 1971's Soul Revolution album and for many came during the pinnacle of Bob Marley & The Wailers output, before the smoothing out of their sound during the later Island' years. Whichever, the guidance and collaboration with Perry transformed the Wailers from a successful Ska / Rocksteady group towards a visionary, conscious, crossover phenomenon. Actually released on both Capo Disco and Marley's own Tuff Gong, Adams' vocal marries a disco-dub and guitar groove, dropping, in the latter half, right down to tambourine into perfectly stretched Discomix.

Dubwise Stepper

Born and raised on the common desire of bass player Mattias Geernaert and drummer Marius Couvreur to groove and dance on the dub vibes.
Kosmo sound saw daylight in late summer of 2016 when these two ghent based musicians found one another. After a few jam sessions and brainstorms they started searching for like minded colleagues and added 4 wonderful masters of sound. Two guitar players (Cyriel Vandenabeele and Edmund Lauret), one keyboard player (Bos Debusscher) and one saxophone player (Ambroos De Schepper).

This band's sound can definitely be described as dub influenced. Making people dance and drift away in groove and trance is what they stand for.
Because of their background in jazz they sometimes add some improvisations.

The « Magnetic Buzz Riddim » brings us back to the Jamaican early dancehall days where heavy rub a dub riddims used to rule the dance. Fruits Records' studio band The 18th Parallel travelled to Jamaica and teamed up with reggae greatest bass player Robbie Shakespeare - from famous duet Sly & Robbie - to build the explosive and powerful « Magnetic Buzz Riddim ». Sylvan White, famous for hit songs like « Africans Unite » or « Mountain Top » recorded in the early 80's, comes back in the business after years off the scene with his beautiful song « Mother Nature ». Then follows an Experimental Dub mixed by Spanish wizard Roberto Sánchez featuring Robbie's crazy lead bass line. B side shows for the first time on vinyl record young promising artist from Rockfort Earth Warrior followed by the sweet voice of veteran singer Delroy Melody who's famous for hit songs from 1980 like « Ease up the Pressure » and « Natty Dread She Want ». Heavy maxi 12' record paying tribute to the early 80's Jamaican reggae!

Hidden Operator playing along to tribal drum music Exploring the outer limits of dancehall. In dub.

90s soundsystem legend TNT Roots on his first official vinyl release (!) after years of dubplates and CDs sold through Ebay and Blood & Fire forums. Two new productions presented in classic 90s stylee with alternative mixes.

7"
*Landing on Alchemy Dubs is a fresh vocal steppers reggae dub tune with a latin vibe.

*On the A side we find the track Life is better when you smile', produced by Ojah and featuring jazz singer Hada Guldris, who delivers beautiful yet powerful vocals and lyrics. Latin percussion and horns alongside a deep bass give this track a different edge.
*On the B side we find a heavy instrumental dub version where the different recorded instruments are showcased. A version that will surely make your walls shake.

*Limited edition of 500 copies, hand-stamped and hand-numbered, served in a reversed kraftliner printed sleeve.

Reissue of the sixth studio album from Dreadzone. Iconic electronica/dub fused tunes that were originally released in 2010

Grand Ancestor's eleventh release in the catalog features the legendary dub controller, Ras Muffet, of Roots Injection fame who's had his tunes played by the likes of Channel One, Aba Shanti, and Jah Shaka. With decades of dub experience, Ras Muffet dug deep into his vaults to produce two eerie dubs focused on the bottom frequencies and the continued evolution of the genre. Steppers enthusiasts worldwide will be delighted to get this weighty 12" onto their turntables before this limited pressing is all gone.

Meditative and off-kilter, Dubkasm's new 12' is, unsurprisingly, completely unlike any other tune out there, and pays tribute to a toofrequently overlooked part of reggae tradition: dub poetry. Originating in a collaboration between Dubkasm and their long-time friend, Norway-dwelling heavyweight bass guitarist, Bajan Steppa, Enter the Gates is a discomix built on a tuff bassline, skittering drums and retro synths, and features reflective, courageous lyrics about the enduring power of Black liberation movements and consciousness, from Gloucester vocalist Rider Shafique. The B-side contains an upfront instrumental cut, followed, in true Dubkasm style, by a collaboration with a musical titan. Mad Professor's incredible dub flips the original into a propulsive soundsystem killer, retaining the tune's heart and spirit, but driving and percussive where the original is deep and soulful. (Paul Lee) Mastered on to 1/2' tape at Stardelta Studios, and pressed on 180g vinyl. Sleeve design by Studio Tape-Echo.

- 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
- LIMITED EDITION OF 750 NUMBERED COPIES ON ORANGE COLOURED VINYL

Long out of print, Dubb Everlasting is a highly rated Dub album by noted sound engineer Errol Brown.

Duke Reid's nephew Errol Brown got his start as a junior sound engineer at his uncle's legendary Treasure Isle studio. There he made his first tentative steps in production and 1975's Dubb Everlasting was the result. Three years later followed by Dub Expression (MOVLP2065).

Key to this success was the crack outfit from the Channel One studio, the Revolutionaires. Featuring the eminent talents of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare to name but two, the band's expansive skill, taste and restraint is evident and contributes to the success of this album. What sets Brown's Dub albums apart from the herd, is that there seems to be a lot more happening on them. Sure there are the spacey, chilled moments as well, but more instruments than the bass and drums are given a chance to shine more often. He's left a bit more in than most Dub practitioners, which keeps things interesting. Being a sound engineer at heart, he liked to keep things moving along, bringing instruments up in the mix and sparingly using drop-out, which makes it all more effective.

Overall Dubb Everlasting is a neat quite obscure but thoroughly intriguing and satisfying 70s Dub Reggae album. Finally available again on vinyl, the first 750 copies are pressed on orange coloured vinyl.

First production undername of Dub Master Clash. Party organisers since 2016, with a core compsoed with Pilah (Kaly Live Dub Addict), Roots Raid and Fabasstone (Hight Tone) and... Dub Sheperds with Anti Bypass from Dub Addict.... Nevertheless !! Echo Minott, from Jamaica purely sing his song over that solid musical base. And here comes the point : release party take place on 7th of april... and will be a Dub Master Clash !! in Pérignat Les Sarlièves (63). BLASTER !!!

Another dig from the vaults results in another reissue in a 90s roots / dub classic which was recorded and produced by two of the most respected producers in the UK reggae scene: Nick `Manasseh' Raphael and Dougie `Conscious Sounds' Wardrop.
* Originally released on an extremely hard-to-find Conscious Sounds 7' in 1990.
* Featuring UK based roots reggae singer Tena Stelin and Centry which was the given name to any project that Dougie was involved with before he formed Bush Chemists.
* This 10' slab features the original vocal and dub cuts plus two extra previously unreleased dub cuts.
* `Can't Touch Jah' has been played extensively for nearly 30 years by the sound system heavyweights Aba Shanti I and Jah Shaka.

* `Originally dating from 1999, `Only Jah' finally surfaced on a 10' EP (PRTL10007) by Partial Records two years ago. The track was picked up by the likes of sound systems such as Channel One and Jah Tubbys, with a video clip of the former dropping the tune reaching 40,000 views on Facebook and YouTube.
* The original EP has long since sold out, so demand commanded that `Only Jah' should ride again, so here it is. This time with the full original mixes including the vocal cut voiced by Jah Meek back in 1999.
* `Only Jah' is a throbbing steppers workout in a UK dub style, but with a retro feel aided by a sample of a vocal 'borrowed' from an obscure late 70's dub tune.
* All four mixes are previously unreleased.

The « Magnetic Buzz Riddim » brings us back to the Jamaican early dancehall days where heavy rub a dub riddims used to rule the dance. Fruits Records' studio band The 18th Parallel travelled to Jamaica and teamed up with reggae greatest bass player Robbie Shakespeare - from famous duet Sly & Robbie - to build the explosive and powerful « Magnetic Buzz Riddim ». Sylvan White, famous for hit songs like « Africans Unite » or « Mountain Top » recorded in the early 80's, comes back in the business after years off the scene with his beautiful song « Mother Nature ». Then follows an Experimental Dub mixed by Spanish wizard Roberto Sánchez featuring Robbie's crazy lead bass line. B side shows for the first time on vinyl record young promising artist from Rockfort Earth Warrior followed by the sweet voice of veteran singer Delroy Melody who's famous for hit songs from 1980 like « Ease up the Pressure » and « Natty Dread She Want ». Heavy maxi 12' record paying tribute to the early 80's Jamaican reggae!

Deadly styles we've got many, deadly vibes we've got plenty...
45 Live is proud to welcome the new record 'Ready', a masterclass to mash up yer dance from club dub doyens The Nextmen, featuring badass Bristol babe Eva Lazarus (Mungo's HiFi/Gentlemen's Dub Club), the goddess with the golden pipes.
'Ready' is a sweet slice of dancehall that feels tightly sprung, with songbird Eva Lazarus rolling on the rhythms' rise from sweaty and soulful to saucy, priapic pop. You will want to wiggle. This joint feels infectious.
Much loved music makers The Nextmen have been busy twiddling knobs and working wires purely for people's pleasure over two decades deep, having worked with everyone from Public Enemy, Wilkinson, The Pharcyde, Ms Dynamite, Groove Armada, Plan B, Chali 2na, Tippa Irie, Cutty Ranks and a million more.
Good. Grooves.
Crate diggers quickly quickly, make it snappy to make Daddy happy, this limited edition 45 release is exclusively vinyl only.
Pressed loud on 45.
'Ready'. The whole room knows it's on...

In 2015 internationally touring Reggae artist Cian Finn released one of the most eagerly anticipated albums of the year to critical acclaim. Blending the vintage with the contemporary, 'This Applies' is one of the most exciting and unique Reggae albums of its time. Recorded and produced live in studio by renowned Reggae producer Prince Fatty, and featuring some of the worlds finest Reggae musicians and guest singers, such as Horseman, Black Steel, Digistep, Hollie Cook, Dub Judah and Max Romeo. After heavy demand Emerald Isle Records has teamed up with Steppas Records to bring you the full and complete dub album, mixed in a traditional dub style through the finest vintage equipment onto analogue tape. With dub mixes from two of the most innovative and exciting producers around, both Prince Fatty and gold disc / multi award winning producer, Gaudi help to create a truly unique dub album sure to stand the test of time. As played by the legendary Jah Shaka Soundsystem.

2 track Single from Cultural Roots / King Tubbys released by King Tubby's Dub Plate/Dub Store Records

2 track Single from Lilly Melody / King Tubbys released by King Tubby's Dub Plate/Dub Store Records

Momentous album from 1982 building a bridge between roots reggae and dancehall.

A conscious compilation with a variety of youth deejays, including Lee Van Cleef, Prince Hammer & Trinity chanting down Babylon over a selection of the very best Roots Radics rhythms.

Police & Thieves is a Roots Reggae classic by Junior Murvin originally released in 1977 which was produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry (who also wrote or co-wrote many of the songs) at his legendary Black Ark Studios with The Upsetters. The title song was memorably covered by The Clash in a very different arrangement than Murvin's. Perry's imaginative and groundbreaking production surrounded Junior's falsetto vocals and the musicians in a dense, echo heavy, spaced out sound to create one of the great songs, and albums, of the roots era. Now available on opaque blue vinyl! Record stampers produced by Record Technology, Inc. Camarillo California, USA.

Long out of print compilation from the late 80s featuring various rare roots tracks recorded at Lee Perry's studio The Black Ark between 1973-1978, featuring rare dubs to "Curly Locks" plus vocals by Jackie Bernard, Jack Lord, Debra Keese, Jah T and others.

Limited edition of 300 on coloured vinyl.

With their debut album, "Burning Inspiration" garnering high praise and strong reviews, together with highly acclaimed performances supporting Natty on his 2017 UK tour, the future is looking bright for Royal Sounds and UK reggae. The track "Love" is suitably upbeat and has the positive message of 'Love will save the day!' How the world needs that message in 2018. But rather than using the previously released album version of 'Love', the masters have been handed over to label mate Compendulum to work his usual magic.

The results of the collaboration are four exclusive mixes, the A side gives us "Compendulum Mix", a vocal mix that gives a different emphasis to the individual elements, partnered with "Drub A Drub" which is something of a drum and bass version with guitar. Side B takes things in a heavier direction starting with a "Dubplate Mix" and rounding things off rather nicely with the sparse stripped back dub of the "Drub A Drub Mix" taking the original guitar line and contrasting it with some heavy drum and bass which to this listener is reminiscent of early eighties Sly and Robbie at their best.

Compendulum's mixes use the latest technology, but are firmly anchored in reggae's long history, he adds elements, but does so subtly enhancing the core strengths of the track and giving each of the mixes that unmistakeable Compendulum feel.

The special edition 7' release of Protoje's hit single 'Blood Money' features the original track, an exclusive Gregory Morris' dub mix, and is pressed on blood red vinyl.
The song lyrics provide hard-hitting, raw and unapologetic commentary on the current state of Jamaica, touching on several
recent grievances and social injustices that have afflicted Jamaican society.
Protoje masterfully describes the air of discrimination, classism, and oppression prevalent in the Jamaican political landscape, calling out corrupt practices, and conveys the meaningful message to his audience of awareness, activism and the need to call for change and accountability.
This message has been championed across the world, with 'Blood Money' becoming a firm favourite with both reggae fans, as well as those outside of the scene. 

Two great 45s with an early R'n'B / carnival vibe. Recorded in New York in 1953 but this is real New Orleans music.

Late 70s classic, with version.

Moment In Time - This song is being released to mark the end of an era.

A catchy song inspired by Usain Bolt and his Jamaican team mates when they secured a record beating 1st 2nd and 3rd places in the 200 metres of the Olympics...The phrase 123 ARGUMENT DUN was coined immediately.
Written and produced in the heat of that incredibe moment by the Jamaican sax man Ray Carless & bass man Colin 'steamfish' McNeish, this anthem is performed here by UK rapper Watusi87 and soulful vocalist Emzee Haywoode.
This is our musical tribute in recognition of our legendary and Iconic Jamaican sprinter who has been showing a clean pair of heels to all-comers for quite some time now.
Lets face it, sain's been breaking records faster than us musicians can make or compose them, and we just wanted to sing his praises and express our love to the champ through song... #TheGreatest

Soul Jazz Records are releasing Studio One Dub Plate Special, an exclusive Record Store Day collectors 7' box set featuring 10 amazing unreleased Studio One tracks, only ever released as extremely limited edition hand-etched one-sided dubplates (250 copies!), available only directly to Soul Jazz Records subscribers (most of these sold out in less than 2 hours!). This box set brings together all 8 of these exclusive dubplate unreleased cuts, plus two more also never before released alternate cuts. Featuring Alton Ellis, Cedric Brooks, Brentford Road All Stars, Jacob Miller and more!

They are now available worldwide for the first time ever, only for this collectors' box set RSD special release. This unique box set edition is only available as a one-off pressing for Record Store Day 2018!

Excellent instrumental dub sound, Rough and melodious. Ritch sound !

Back to back in-demanders from producer - King Jammy's vaults recorded and mixed by Jammy at Channel One studio, Two of Johnny Osbourne's finest roots classics seeing first time single release complete with their lethal dub companions. Hi-Times band in full effect, top draw vocal and dubs cut loud and proud and housed in the classic Greensleeves 12" bag.