Hip-Hop News

A real Black Ark flavoured recording, even though recorded in London at Ariwa by Mad Professor.

Supernatural finds our hero in a very good mood on a very spooky recording. “I escaped from the mud hut” Classic!!!

Coupled with Psychopath, a recording from the same session, with the same intensity as Supernatural Taken from “Lost Tapes from the 80’s”

Spanning four decades over 32 years, The Trojans have constantly evolved, re-inventing themselves through several incarnations
while always remaining one happy family.
Formed By Gaz Mayall in the Autumn of 1986 after the demise of his first band, Gaz's Rebel Blues Rockers, The Trojans filled a gap
on the ska scene of the time of the time with a sound that encompassed ska and reggae with a dash of soul, funk, R&B and world roots.
During the first few years they recorded several albums that were well received on the UK underground, all on Gaz's own
independent label Gaz's Rockin' Records. The first was 'Ala-Ska' which featured the classic single 'Gaelic Ska' and launched a whole
new genre of Afro-Celtic fusion that has since become a hallmark of The Trojans' sound.
The 12 tracks included here cover the three main incarnations of The Trojans line-ups and features guest appearances from Prince
Buster, Jennie Bellestar and Zoe Devlin. Now available exclusively for RSD 2019 on 180g vinyl - a very limited Red edition and a
limited Black version

Soul Jazz Records' new Studio One release Rocksteady Got Soul is a collection of uplifting and superb rocksteady and soulful reggae from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Studio One is the number one label in the history of reggae and he album features - as ever with Studio One - an impeccable and unbeatable line-up of reggae superstars, all soaring at the height of their creative powers. Alton Ellis, John Holt, The Heptones, Jackie Mittoo, The Ethiopians, Lee Perry and more. The album is a mix of classic tunes and rhythms alongside super-rarities that were released in a dazzlingly complex web of Studio One labels and issues, deftly navigated with new sleevenotes from author and Studio One authority Rob Chapman. But enough with the chatter, just spin the platter - these tunes rule the town, hands down! This Soul Jazz/Studio One album is released as deluxe gatefold double-vinyl + house inners + download code. Also as jewel case CD housed in card slipcase. Both formats come with full sleeve notes/discography and exclusive photography.

"The second in the series of DJ Duckcomb affiliated reissues brings the Jamaica / London connection to light, with a reissue of the Brixton based band Red Cloud under the spotlight.

Double Talk was their debut release, coming on House / Freestyle / Reggae label Dancefloor Records, first explored by Emotional Rescue several years ago. After meeting with label head, Jeffrey Collins, in his then London base, the band went on release 2 albums, a 12" and 7" with him, as well as notably being Floyd Lloyd Seivright's backing band.

The original 1983 12"" - now a highly sought after digger's disco reggae bomb - Double Talk is a perfect summer Lovers jam. A tale of sweat talking, cross loving and loss, with redemption and strength, all backed by an uplifting drum and bass, with guitar, keys and piano highlighting the JA climbs instilled in dem sound.

Dubble Dub brings it all down, stripping away and lifting the interplay between keys and piano, allowing guitar to ride above warm bass grooves.

On the flip Duckcomb returns, with his now trademark riding the vocal'n'dub, gently teasing'n'pulling, looping'n'flipping, before letting the echoplex loose to just let the wonderful groove bump'n'grind.

Kerbside Collection's third album "Smoke Signals" released in late 2018 is a real winner. Continuing in a down home, instrumental approach, but this time crafting newer ideas and flavours into their spectrum of warm, analogue, dusty rare grooves from much more Fender Rhodes electric jazz elements, to New Orleans sprinklings alongside their 60's inspired West Coast style.

"Cajun Jollof" is one the key tracks and was already released in its original form on a 7inch vinyl on Spasibo Records from St. Petersburg/Russia. Now French dub expert Grant Phabao takes "Cajun Jollof" on a surefire ska tip, while TwoDee delivers a down low dub version.

Glen Brown pleasantly covering the familiar Beatles classic not to mention stunning arrangement by Bunny Lee. Backed with popular female rocksteady vocal

This is the iconic Ska compilation from Coxsone / Studio One including top tunes like The Wailer’s “Simmer Down” “How Many times (Do You Remember)” and Jackie Opel’s “Push Wood” “Sit Down Servant”, released in 1964 - 65, when Ska was at its zenith.

Andy & Joey’ s evergreen “You’re Wondering Now” has been famously covered by The Specials and the late Amy Winehouse. “Wonder No More” was an earnest follow-up. The cover of Willie Mitchell’s “20-75” is replaced by brushed up 7 inch version. Don Drummond’s “Heaven & Earth” has been mis-credited on the original LP & reissues as “Roll On Sweet Don”, but this is the correct title.
The CD includes 4 rare ska cuts from The Blue Beats, Gaylads & Skatalites recorded in the same period.

Nearly 30 years into an already impressive career – which includes 8 studio albums, tours with Descendents, blink-182, Bon Jovi, Linkin Park, Snoop Dogg, Bad Religion, and more, and over 365 shows on the Vans Warped Tour – Less Than Jake has never been a band to rest on its laurels. Today the ska punk veterans have shown the best is yet to come with the release of their first new song in 3 years, “Lie To Me,” and announcement of their new album Silver Linings, out December 11th via Pure Noise Records.
“We made a new record! Our first full length with our new drummer, Matt Yonker, and it sounds amazing,” shares vocalist/guitarist Chris Demakes. “More vocal hooks than a tackle box, horns galore and that bombastic and upbeat energy that we’re known for. We didn’t try to reinvent the wheel with this one, it’s still undeniably Less Than Jake. Just a bit punchier and in your face. We can’t wait for our fans to hear it!” On how it feels to still be writing music together after so many years, vocalist/bassist Roger Lima shares: “It’s still so freaking exciting!! After decades of working on songs together, we still love it, and with our new drummer Matt Yonker, we feel reignited and refuelled”.

New flagship band of the Swiss ska and rocksteady scene, Cosmic Shuffling finally delivers its first album, Magic Rocket Ship. After the success of its first EP, Cosmic Goes Wild, which was playlisted for more than a year on the Swiss national radios, elected in the ten best records of the genre in 2017 and internationally acclaimed by the specialized critics, the Geneva band had to live up to the expectations, and it's done. Magic Rocket Ship is both a tribute to the Jamaican music of the 1960s and a breakthrough into the futuristic world of the sextet. Recorded in the aesthetics of sixties sound, ribbon microphones, magnetic tapes and analog saturation, it was Roberto Sánchez, the extraordinary Spanish producer, who mixed the nine original tracks on this LP. Dancing from beginning to end like a comet in space, Magic Rocket Ship is a real musical nugget that will delight both vintage fans and music lovers in search of freshness. To be discovered urgently!

"Directed by Zunggu Zunggu and KO,
a new label "It's a Romance Production" has been recently launched. Inspired by classical UK Lovers Rock Reggae, finally here is a Japanese Lovers Rock song. Welcoming the guest singer Bisca, who is known for her amazing ability of singing, especially in Japanese Reggae and R&B field, this is her first Lovers Rock song. On the B-side, a dubwise version, created by 'Hav' who is known as Dub Master in Osaka Japan. Furthermore, organ melody by talented keyboardist 'Higgs' who brings a Jazz sense to the proceedings. Singing about the vunerable emotion of being in a romance, it is highly recommended to listen under cold night looking up the stars. Yes, it's a romance isn't it?"

Bisca (Vocals, Backing Vocals) Takumi Moriya (Bass)
Higgs (Keyboards)
Composed and Arranged by Higgs Mastered by Ogidoo
Jacket Photo by Junya S-Steady Distributed by DRUM & BASS RECORDS
Monji (Drums)
Shogo Endo (Guitar)
Produced by Zunggu Zunggu & KO Mixed and Dub Mix by HAV (Soul Fire) Jacket Design By Sana

Cosmic Shuffling, the Geneva based combo, made a strong impact a couple months ago with its double A side ska 7” single “Eastern Ska” b/w “Western Ska”. Before releasing the band’s new album, we are happy to give you another double scorcher on 7” record. The gorgeous instrumental “Short Break” on the A side brings us right back to the mid sixties of Jamaica, when Rocksteady was king. “Revenge” on the flip side is a shuffle ska led by a magnificent six-piece horns section. Named after Anne Bonny’s boat, this song is an exclusive 7” release, it will not feature on the upcoming album. Real authentic sounds to make you jump and twist!

This 40th Anniversary 7” collection has been curated by Jerry Dammers, selecting his favourite 12 singles released on the label between 1979 and 1984. Presented with their original sleeve designs in a bespoke 1960’s style carry case along with a Two Tone 7” slipmat and an art card signed by Jerry Dammers.

Second instalment on new label All Nations Records from Simon Nyabinghi. This one is introducing to you the powerful vibes of French producer Khayo Ben Yahmeen. Deeply inspired by Rastafari teachings, Kahyo works out a meditative vibration that is amplified and concretized by the mixing technics of Simon Nyabinghi.

Highly sought after double A-sided female rocksteady vocals.
Dawn Penn cut of The Uniques - Let Me Go Girl. On the flip side is another popular female vocal tune by Dian Lawrence that was also covered by Norma Frazer for Studio One.

SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PICTURE DISC FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TWO TONE!
Back in 1978, THE COVENTRY AUTOMATICS headed into the studio to record some demos in an effort to secure a record deal. It didn’t happen, but within months the band had renamed themselves THE SPECIALS and set up their own label called 2 TONE and a movement was born and the rest is history!

As one of Jamaica’s leading record producers Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid embraced the new reggae sound. London based reggae giant Trojan Records brought together a dozen of his finest works under the title “Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae”. If features many of the biggest Jamaican hits from 1969 to 1970. Tommy McCook & The Supersonics is one of the main artists to be found on this record. The 12 tracks bringing the best Jamaica had to offer during the heydays of their musical days.

Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae is available as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on orange coloured vinyl.

Here is the 2nd TIGHTEN UP release, showcasing sounds from one of the most exciting new Ska/Reggae bands in Denmark, LEO & THE LINEUP!

This 9-piece outfit toes the line between ska and reggae, with a heavy dose of soul. Frontman Kevin Leo delivers his charismatic attitude directly to your face, backed up by 3 gorgeous ladies in red. The supertight rhythm section is lifted up by inventive organ stylings, and it all hits the ceiling when the horn section starts to blow!

Leo & the Lineup released their self-titled debut album in 2012 to critical acclaim and we are proud to announce our current release featuring two new songs by the band, recorded exclusively for the TIGHTEN UP imprint.

“Run-Around” is a certified live classic and a proper footstomper. It gets the joints warmed up and the timeless theme is simply irresistible. “Gotta Go” is an up-tempo gem that tells a little story about the ups and downs of romance in the rock ‘n’ roll world. These songs are bona fide party starters. It’s spot on....It’s LEO & THE LINEUP!

After 5 days of speeding up and down a snow-covered autobahn in a van that had chosen freezing Germany as the ideal place to give the heater a couple of days off, the cozy and warm Lovelite studio in Berlin was a sight for sore eyes. Never having met Jochen, who were to record us, we were very eager to get to know him and the place. There were stacks of tapes, vinyls, recording equipment and a coffee machine that was even more unpredictable than our car. Everything in there had a vibe to it and in no time we were convinced that we'd come to the perfect place for what we had in mind. To record what unmistakably was the same song, in versions that would hopefully take you to two different places.

You see, this is a song that wanted to be more than a song. It wanted to be two songs and who are we to stand in the way of ambition and bravado.

As it is the first song to my first-born I've been very keen on recording it ever since it started falling into place. I remember saying to the guys after every rehearsal that they'd have to release the rehearsal tapes, should I have the bad luck of walking under a bus. At the time of writing, I have not.

The song sprung from the realization that I would literally do anything for this little girl. Go anywhere, sacrifice anything, kill anyone…and it scared the hell out of me. It probably always will.

First 7" single from Denmark's TIGHTEN UP label, two great cuts from 2 TONE legend and (ENGLISH) BEAT vocalist RANKING ROGER. Side a is a rare 2001 cut written w/NEVILLE STAPLES, produced by BENTLEY RHYTHM ACE's FUZZ TOWSHEND. Flip is an unreleased SLY & ROBBIE production from 1989. Pic sleeve.

The link between Jamaican music and US Soul and Blues is of course very strong. I am a huge fan of Stax/Volt, Motown, Chess Records and contemporaries which I consider to be the bedrock of pop music and whereas everybody hears about the more obvious big band influences on SKA such as Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, Boots Randolph, Louis Armstrong.....less people are aware of the link to soul and R+B artists like Chuck Berry, Etta James, King Curtis, Rosco Gordon and so on. The great Lester Sterling once told me that he based the whole idea of the horn chop (or "upchuck" as some people like to call it) on what the guitar player was doing on the Yakkety Sax track. If you listen to that you will definitely hear the ska beat,

All these songs were mixed by myself over the course of different project sessions. The Ska Jerk recording is actually post the DLTBGYD album sessions and was originally intended for a compilation project that eventually never came out, so that track has just been languishing in the Toaster vaults. At that time we had been hired to do quite a bit of film and TV scores as well as commercial jingles for the likes of Cisco, Coca Cola, AOL, Miller Beer, etc. and so the band was tight, often incorporating guest members from the greater NYC SKA massive and we were able to turn around a complete mix like that in just one day. The engineer on SKA JERK was George Evagelou who also worked with me on the Edna's Goldfish record.

- Robert "Bucket" Hingley of THE TOASTERS

Written back in 1966 by Smokey Robinson, the Motown hit ‘Get Ready’

saw global success through The Temptations and has withstood the test of

time for over half a century. Now in 2019, production guru Prince Fatty has

stepped up to the plate with a who’s who of reggae and dancehall royalty

to give the record a dub rework.

Early 1980, UB40 scored their first success with “Food For Thought”, reaching high positions in the charts. By the time they released their first album they were already so successful that they had signed off on unemployment benefit, leading to the stamped Signing Off featured on form 40, for the sleeve of their debut album. UB40 Collected has captured all the different phases of the band in one complete album, from classic hits combined with the new!

The members of UB40 chose their name after a piece of paper most of them were all too familiar with: Unemployment Benef it form 40, in short: UB40. The name was put on posters and the band was promoted even before each member fully understood his instrument. The first dub album ever to reach the album charts in the U.K. included “One In Ten” and “Don’t Slow Down”. In 1983 the band put on a new project, boasting ten cover versions of Jamaican hits and, contrary to low expectations, it became a huge hit and the band’s first number one album. Tracks included are “Cherry Oh Baby” and “Please Don’t Make Me Cry”and “Red Red Wine”. The latter was a rather poppy song and became the band’s biggest selling single ever, entailing their definitive worldwide break through.

There have been lots of collaborations through the years and most of these became huge hit songs. Together with Chrissie Hynde UB40 recorded two singles: “I Got You Babe” (1985) and “Breakfast In Bed” (1988). They teamed up with Afrika Bambaataa for “Reckless” (1988) and with Robert Palmer the band released “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” (1990), just to name a few.

UB40 Collected is available as a limited edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on gold vinyl.

Pressure Sounds has thankfully made such a move away from the tired Record Store Day formula, to release a funk-alicious reggae box - for sale in Record Shops, at sometime near the end of April: Five stonking 7" from the house of Herman Chin-Loy.


Starting play with a Jamaican Funk banger, the wah-wah led, Temptations infused Medusa by H2O; the wild fuzz guitar of James Eastwood - a sublime cut of the Soul Vendors' Darker Shade Of Black; Chin-Loy himself as The Teacher, with a DJ cut of Augustus Pablo's East Of The River Nile; and Pablo in person performing two gracious gestures with his pipes, making this a box of sevens to cherish.

Pressure Sounds' screen-printer has gone into overdrive on this package, embellishing the box itself, also an enclosed poster, and a towel (tea towel to you). All this handiwork, and killer-no-filler sounds justifies the eye-watering price, there won't be many available, so get them while you can.

Washing the dishes will never be the same.

New voicing on U-Brown's rhythm with horn cut from Patrick Aba Original.

More versions on the Coach rhythm, with killer bongo cut.

Prolific London based reggae label presents four killer cuts on one rhythm.

2 track Single from Blues Busters released by Dub Store Records

A classic Rasta Man song sung by Bunny Wailer, the most devoted Rastafarian out of all the Wailers. This unforgettable Rasta Man Anthem was released just before one of the most important roots reggae albums to date, Blackheart Man, dropped. Unlike the original release, this single take is backed with a dub cut.

Rocksteady cover of the undoubtable Impressions' anthem.
Out of many rocksteady tunes this one stands out with it's splendid arrange and engineering genius. Backed with The Uniques legendary "Never Let Me Go".

One of the many spiritual and cultural classic lyrics that Bunny Wailer has written, and this is an exclusive single take. The lyrics - written soon after he was arrested due to possession of Marijuana, can be heard as "Fight Against Conviction" on one of the most important roots reggae albums to date, Blackheart Man, although this recording is an early take released in 1974 by the Wailers.

In 1966, Bunny Wailer started singing spiritual lyrics before anyone else, and this masterpiece he sung about returning to Africa was written while he was still recording for Studio One. Although it was originally recorded for Studio One, it has never seen the day of light. Then Lee Perry recorded it again and released in 1971. This particular take was recorded especially for the album in 1976 and released from Island Records UK as a single.

Combo Lulo returns to Names You Can Trust for their sophomore single, digging deeper into the diversified sounds of the Caribbean that helped define their debut. While the first single took a Jamaican foundation south into the neighboring continent, fusing the sensibilities of rock steady with those of classic Afro-Latin orchestras, this single goes far east. Inspired by the heady and sublime sounds of foundational ska mixed with East African influences, (think Buster's Islam, Don D's Addis Ababa or Further East), The Sieve & The Sand is a brand new composition within this natural order, albeit with the fortune of different reggae eras and studio styles to draw from. Divided into two parts (but also available seamlessly as it was played in the studio), Combo Lulo's talented players move effortlessly from the galloping shuffle of ska into a deep and dark, Roots Radics-styled instrumental. It's a lovely ode to the original styles of reggae, but also another impressive accomplishment that will surely leave listeners and new fans in anticipation of the shape of things to come for Combo Lulo.