Hip-Hop News

Celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year, this is the debut album from new-wave band Dexy’s Midnight Runners. The album has a surprising history, with band members stealing the original tapes and only returning them once EMI raised their royalty rates. The album received widespread critical acclaim and is featured in The Guardian and NME’s 100 Best Albums lists.

INSIDE is the third album (and second in a row on Brixton Records) by the respected ten-piece group from Barcelona that fuses Jamaican music and jazz. DROP COLLECTIVE bravely faces the so-called third album syndrome and makes a sincere declaration of principles, a public manifestation of their musical identity. The two sides of the album are clearly identified. Side A is Inside-Out, displaying five own-penned compositions, including three songs sung in Catalan and two in English, in which DROP COLLECTIVE make it clear what they like to do and what they are capable of offering. The album opens with "Com Estimo Jo" (The Way I Love), a reggae ballad composed by Andreu Domènech (baritone sax) that is dedicated to the growth and learning we do when we love. It is followed by "Let Us Dance", a fluid ska with Latin airs and an invitation to dance, which recaptures the sound of some of the most celebrated passages from their previous album. "Estel" (Star) is a melancholic reggae song, sung in Catalan, in homage to someone who is no longer here - "now you are the star that watches over us from up there, bright, bright". Prior to the release of this LP, four advance tracks have been published on digital platforms, but "Life's Too Short" is, perhaps, the album's single. This resounding reggae with a powerful brass section could have easily taken more elaborate instrumental and studio developments, however, the band has preferred to produce a compact track brimming with strength and lasting less than three minutes. “Ombra" (Shade) closes this side of the album with solemn roots sonorities. The B-side is Outside-In, four reinterpretations of jazz classics that DROP COLLECTIVE internalize, make their own and, therefore, also form part of their identity. The choice of pieces is hair-raising, because of the risks they take. "Yearnin'" is a cover of the song originally included in one of the most epic albums in the history of jazz, "The Blues and the Abstract Truth", by saxophonist Oliver Nelson. DROP COLLECTIVE take the song to their own territory with the skill and freshness of expert ska-jazzers and with the special collaboration of trumpeter Joan Mar Sauqué, they make one of the most famous riffs in jazz sound unashamedly contemporary and... Caribbean. "Day by Day" is an adaptation of the standard from the late forties of the last century that was part of the regular repertoire of, among others, Frank Sinatra. The result is a swinging ska love themed, sugary and romantic, with an exquisite interpretation. And to close the album, two extraordinary trials by fire for Maria del Rio, the band's vocalist, which she solves with total ease and mastery of the situation. "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", a composition by Harry Woods that the legendary Billie Holiday recorded in 1935 and which, after 90 years, still sounds fresh in up tempo ska mode, and "Sinnerman", a traditional spiritual from the early 20th century made popular worldwide by Nina Simone, becomes a lively ska-jazz with soulful touches and an infectious organ solo by Daniel Ferruz. INSIDE is an album with a compact, solid, and synchronous sound, but full of details, which gives a total sense of permanence and singularity to their skareggae- jazz mastery, in which many universes fit.

The Ethiopians were one of Jamaica’s most popular bands in the late ska, rocksteady and early reggae period. They were founded by Leonard Dillon, Stephen Taylor and Aston Morrison, and recorded several hit singles, including “Train To Skaville” and “Owe Me No Pay Me”.

When their third album was released, reggae music was shifting from rough and fast towards a smoother and slower level. With the smooth vocals of The Ethiopians in front of the mix and the organ sound in the background, they recorded Woman Capture Man. The album is produced by J.J. Johnson, who was a major influence on Jamaican ska and rocksteady music during the 1960s revolution.

Woman Capture Man is available as a limited individually numbered edition of 1000 copies on gold coloured vinyl.

Ltd Orange Colored Indie Vinyl Die zehnköpfige Band aus Wiesbaden spielt traditionellen Ska, vermischt mit Soul, Rocksteady und Punk-Elementen. 1995 gegründet, löste sich die Band nach vier Studioalben, einer EP, einer Liveplatte und einer _ÇÜBest Of' im Jahr 2010 nach fünfzehn Jahren und einigen hundert Auftritten auf. Zu besonderen Anlässen, wie z.B. dem Geburtstag des Schlachthofs, gab es einmalige Reunion Konzerte. Das Feuer war aber wohl nie ganz erloschen, denn nun erscheint nach 10-jähriger Pause ein neues Studioalbum namens "Onkel Punk". Es enthält elf neue Songs, inkl. zweier toller Coverversionen (She's The One & Wayfaring Stranger), die die ganz Bandbreite der Band zeigen.

Rhino announce details of special 20th Anniversary Editions of Hard-Fi debut album - Stars Of CCTV, "Stars of CCTV," released in 2005, it fused a blend of ska, rock, and reggae influences, and has sold 1.2 million copies worldwide, with over 600,000 in the UK. The Limited Zoetrope Edition features the original album on 1LP

Vinyl LP pressing. 2014 release, the second album from the British singer who has worked with the Slits, Ian Brown, Jamie T. and others. She is also the daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. Produced by Prince Fatty, TWICE sees Hollie's obvious love of Reggae joined by other influences including Bond-like strings, Brazilian percussion, dark Disco and shades of Giorgio Moroder. She is joined on the album by Dennis Bovell, Omar, George Dekker and Winston Francis.

HIGHLIGHTS! Jah Jazz Orchestra is a cross-border band consisting of nine jazz musicians with a passion for roots, ska, rocksteady... and the self-imposed mission of spreading good vibes using improvisation and brilliant jazz technique as weapons. This ensemble of jazzmen active on the Swiss, French and European scene goes back to the roots of Ska - initially, and in extreme summary, is a Jamaican take on American jazz and rhythm'n'blues - to deliver its own blend of groove, improvisation and big-band arrangements. "Introducing Jah Jazz Orchestra" is the debut album by this new band. DESCRIPTION: This debut album revisits compositions from jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Henderson as well as two classics from The Skatalites repertoire (Ska La Parisienne and King Solomon). The original arrangements set these tunes in grooves ranging from classic ska to reggae, strolling through rocksteady, with the ever presence of Jamaican jazz and the influence of artists such as The Skatalites, Ernest Ranglin, Jazz Jamaica_ Beyond this diversity, the unity of "Introducing Jah Jazz Orchestra" is hinted at by its title: it introduces the listener to a new band with a distinctive sound. A powerful horn section that can build a massive wall of sound as well as intricate lines and fiery solos. A rock-solid rhythm section that knows how and when to react in an interactive way. The twelve tunes presented in this album, recorded during an intense two-day's session, reflect the group's spontaneity. The resulting music is fresh, full of surprises, and reflect the facets of both jazz and Jamaican music: light and dark, deep and upbeat, simple and refined - always rooted in the tradition.

Toaster Jah Thomas began his career on the west Kingston sound systems of the mid-1970s, making a massive splash with ‘Midnight Rock’ in 1976. After a debut LP for Channel One, his self-produced Dance On The Corner raised the bar several levels. Voiced at King Tubby’s studio, mixed by Tubby, Jammy and Scientist and edited by the King himself, the album has Thomas chatting over hard Roots Radics rhythms earlier used by Barrington Levy – the perfect platform for Thomas’ relaxed chants, vexed rants, and commentaries on Jamaican life. This is Jah Thomas at his best – a must for all fans of reggae, dub, deejay, and dancehall!

Foundation. Rock Steady version of the much covered classic. A total beauty!!
Back with another great one from the amazing Joy Landis.

A premium series of limited edition Japanese pressed 7"s - featuring unreleased and impossibly hard to find gems from the Duke Reid archives.

Taking his stage name from a classic Prince Buster song, Judge Dread (born Alexander Minto Hughes) was one of the most popular UK reggae artists of all-time. Known for his salacious humor and over the top live shows Dread was a favorite among UK rude boys. The year 1975 was a big one for Judge Dread, he released several highly charting singles, including his over-the-top rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's sultry classic "Je T'Aime" and the naughty holiday classic "Christmas in Dreadland." The album Bedtime Stories, originally released late in 1975 reached the Top 30 of the UK charts. Featuring those singles and a host of other Dread classics, the album showcases Judge Dread's unique brand of braggadocio mixed with self-deprecating humor. Another UK reggae classic from Judge Dread reissued by Radiation.

From the early ‘90s King Prawn’s infectious blend of ska, hip-hop & punk rock earned them a reputation as one of the most entertaining live acts coming out of London. The rock press loved their sense of unpredictability and their huge fanbase adored their ability to simultaneously implode and explode on stage. In 2003 the band decided to split. Their farewell show to a sold out Forum was testament to the growing popularity of the band.

It took a request from the infamous BOOMTOWN festival in 2013 to headline the DEVIL KICKS stage to re-unite the members and for them to discover a new audience whose enthusiasm for the band had grown and were embraced as true pioneers of mid 90’s ska-punk scene.

The fifth studio album from London’s ska-punkers KING PRAWN, and their first since they reformed in 2013, takes the listener through a vibrant and eclectic journey through their musical heritage.

It is not without reason that during his lifetime Laurel Aitken acquired the mantles of ‘The Godfather of Ska’ and ‘The High Priest of Reggae’, for he was true pioneer of the modern Jamaican music industry whose works helped shape the sound of Reggae.
His breakthrough came in 1957 when, after making his name on the talent show circuit he recorded a series of hugely popular discs for pioneering producer, Dada Tuari.
By the early sixties he was Jamaica’s most popular artiste, recording in variety of styles from Calypso and Mento to the local Blues or Boogie Beat, an early form of Ska.
In 1960, he relocated to the UK where over the next 45 years he continued to record for an array of labels including Blue Beat, Pama and Trojan, remaining a hugely popular figure on the European Ska scene up until his untimely death in 2005 following a heart attack.
By the mid-sixties, Laurel Aitken had established a large and dedicated following in the UK, his recordings for London-based labels such as Rio and Ska Beat providing many British listeners with their first taste of Ska. It came as no surprise then, when in 1966 Rio chose capitalise on his popularity by issuing a collection of his works – a rarity for Jamaican acts during this time. Pressed in limited numbers, ‘Ska With Laurel’ promptly sold out and over the years that followed acquired an almost mythical status among collectors.
Now, some 45 years later, Black Bucther is proud to present a vinyl version of this groundbreaking, ultra-rare LP, its original dozen tracks almost all of which have been unavailable for over four decades.

Over 50 minutes of classic traditional ska from the Founding Fathers of ska The Skatalites and the Godfather of ska Laurel Aitken! - This historic recording represents the reunion of these two groundbreaking artists in 1996 some 30 years after their original meeting in Jamaica! - The studio tracks feature excellent new versions of Aitkins classics "Rudy Boy Dreams" and "It's Too Late" plus Skatalites performing "Come Down!"

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”.

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 11 th via Pure Noise Records. Fans can watch the music video for “Lie To Me” and pre-order the album now at https://smarturl.it/LTJ . “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 refueled. Personally, I feel that this is the first step of a new era for the band. While the music feels undeniably Less Than Jake, the flow of the tracks and the attitude of the horns and lyrics have a freshness to them and I look forward to sharing these songs with our amazing fans.” Less Than Jake has no plans of slowing down any time soon as they prepare for the release of their 9 th studio album, Silver Linings, out December 11 th via Pure Noise Records.

The Official “Forever” Versions of Less Than Jake’s first full lenght album, Pezcore and Losing Streak are here! "Losing Streak" comes with reimagined artwork done by the legendary punk artist Chris Shary (Descendents, ALL, Black Flag), this special version celebrates the history of this seminal album, with a fresh new look!

The Official “Forever” Versions of Less Than Jake’s first full lenght album, Pezcore and Losing Streak are here! There have not been many pressings of "Pezcore" over the career of Less Than Jake. Now, with a fresh look to the classic "Pezcore" art, this special 30th anniversary version will celebrate the history of this seminal album for years to come.

The Madness, originally released in May 1988, is the only album recorded by Suggs, Chas Smash, Chrissy Boy and Lee Thompson of Madness. Calling themselves “The Madness”, the group explored a new direction without Mike Barson, Woody and Mark Bedford. The result was an album bathed in all the new technology the late 1980s had to offer, and features some of this incarnation of Madness’ most experimental work.

Lead vocals were shared between Suggs and Chas Smash, while all members of the group contributed music and lyrics. The album also features a host of other musicians including Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) on keyboards and The Specials’ Jerry Dammers on piano.

Although short-lived, this version of Madness marked a significant detour from the original band’s trajectory and preceded one of the most extraordinary music comebacks ever witnessed, when the whole band reformed in 1992 for two sold-out “Madstock” shows in London’s Finsbury Park. The fans’ excitement led to a legendary mini-earthquake, and ‘Madstock’ would prove that no members of Madness ever truly leave the band.

This LP reissue is pressed on 180g black vinyl and features brand new liner notes by Chrissy Boy, Chas Smash and Lee Thompson.

"The Liberty of Norton Folgate" ist das neunte
Studioalbum von Madness und gilt als ihr Hauptwerk.
Ursprünglich im Mai 2009 veröffentlicht und in einer fast
dreijährigen Produktionszeit entstanden, war es das erste
Album mit der kompletten Band seit "Wonderful" von 1999
und wurde als Konzeptalbum über die Heimatstadt der
Band entwickelt. Der zehnminütige Titeltrack erzählt die
Geschichte eines Teils von Ostlondon (Norton Folgate, in
der Nähe von Spitalfields), der eine Zeit lang von der
Herrschaft der Krone befreit war und daher als "Liberty"
bezeichnet wurde, in der die normalen Regeln des
Stadtlebens nicht galten. Das Album zeigt die Band in
vollem kreativen Flow, mit einem Song nach dem anderen
(einschließlich der Tracks, die es nicht auf die
Standard-CD oder LP-Veröffentlichung geschafft haben),
die die Reife und Tiefe ihrer Songwriting-Fähigkeiten
zeigen. Das Album enthält die Singles "NW5", "Dust
Devil", "Forever Young" und "Sugar and Spice". Die
erweiterte 2LP-Version enthält außerdem sieben
Bonustracks. Erhältlich auf Heavyweight-Vinyl im Gatefold,
inklusive neuen Liner Notes mit Interviews mit Suggs, Lee
Thompson, Chrissyboy Foreman, Daniel Woodgate und
Mike Barson sowie einem exklusiven Gedicht von Cathal
Smyth.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones third album Don’t Know How To Party spawned several singles, including the Bosstones fan favourited “Someday I Suppose”. Their heavy metal influences increased, but their Ska sound and horn section still shines. It’s a record where their true spirit comes through in raw and angry music and lyrics. Ska punk as it must be, as one of the progenitors of this genre The Mighty Mighty Bosstones know how to act.

Zehn Jahre war es still um moskovSKAya - jetzt sind die Ska-Veteranen zurück. Die 9-köpfige Band steht für schnellen Ska mit markanten Bläser-Riffs, treibenden Rhythmen und einer explosiven Live-Energie. Mit Elementen von Polka bis Punk, von Reggea bis Jazz bringen sie ihr Live Publikum in Clubs oder bei großen Open Airs zum Tanzen...schwitzen garantiert! Bei unzähligen Auftritten, auch als Support von z.B. Bob Geldof, Manfred Mann oder The Specials haben sie das unter Beweis gestellt. Dabei stehen moskovSKAya weder für Mainstream, noch für Rebellion, sondern für Verbundenheit und der gemeinsamen Leidenschaft für die Musik, das Miteinander und dem unbeschreiblichen Gefühl, wenn auf und vor der Bühne alles zusammenpasst: die Baseline groovt, Gitarre und Orgel schwingen im Offbeat und die Bläser schieben nach vorne, bis das ganze Publikum mit dem Sänger um die Wette springt. Nun bringt die 1989 gegründete Band mit "Dancehall Schwof" ihr sechstes Studioalbum, das bei Sunny Bastards Records erscheint. Und moskovSKAya stellen mit den zehn Songs unter Beweis, dass sie nichts von ihrer Sound-Vielfalt und ihren knackigen Bläserriffs verloren haben...treibender Offbeat, musikalische Präzision, Charakter und ungebremste Spielfreude. Ska, wie er heute klingen muss - lebendig, auf den Punkt und jenseits von Nostalgie. Absolute 'Must-Dance' Anspieltipps wären unter Anderem 'Night Train', 'Let You Down', 'Eso Es' oder 'Only Once'. Hier bleibt kein Bein ruhig, Kopf und Körper wollen zwangsläufig in Bewegung gehen. Und wer damit nicht bis zum nächsten Live Auftritt der Band warten möchte, dem sei dieses Album klar ans Herz gelegt!

Alternate Take. Wicked Female Early Reggae Vocal with a cool old time reggae instrumental on the flip.

A premium series of limited edition Japanese pressed 7"s - featuring unreleased and impossibly hard to find gems from the Duke Reid archives.

The Staples do it again with another Ska classic that is guaranteed to get you singing along. This song is something of a good time anthem with happy vibes contrasting with some of the negatives that are around right now. With this song Neville and Sugary Staple really know how to put a smile on people’s faces. I can see this becoming a live favourite.

Dr Pete Chambers BEM, Coventry Observer

My goodness, the best of two huge talents. Husband and wife team Sugary & Neville Staple haven’t disappointed again! Feel good ska-based melody, toe-tapping and butt-shakingly good!TRISH ADUDU, BBC RADIO CWR

Well known for changing the face of music not once, but three times, 2Tone music legend Neville Staple (From the Specials), also known as the ‘Original Rude Boy’ and his super sidekick wife, Sugary Staple, release their brand new song, ‘Be Free Baby’, on the highly respected, Pickout Records.

A super ska track which mixes the original influences of Jamaican sounds, along with the 2Tone style that this dynamic ska duo, take on tour with them globally, alongside their top band of musicians.

Written by Neville Staple, who has scores of music awards from 40 years of 2Tone & Ska hits and albums, and his super talented sidekick, Sugary Staple and acclaimed record producer Lloyd ‘Pickout’ Dennis this song is a truly happy song, to take our minds away from the difficult days of Covid lockdowns, into a party mood of freedom and dancing. Fans will love the irresistible skanking beat, along with super feel-good lyrics to sing along to.

“After recently writing a song about the Lockdown, which related to the tough days of staying home and following rules and so on, I decided we needed some uplifting music too.” Explained Sugary, Frizzle TV Award Winner and Skamouth Festival Founder. “There is so much doom and gloom about in the news and we know how music can really be so good for the human soul. This tune has a lot of love and feeling behind it, as it encompasses all the fun, freedom and thrills that we have on stage, when we perform live. A whole year of global touring has been postponed, so we put the vibrance of a live show into this song.

Neville agrees, “I love writing with Sugary, as we are both on the same wavelength. We feed off each other. We were both in need of getting out there and performing for the masses but have had all our 2020 shows moved to next year, so we decided to bring the party to everyone through this song. We love the traditional sound and the bluebeat vibes too, with a twist of 2Tone magic. It makes me think about our holidays back home in Jamaica and beach parties, street carnivals, gigs and festivals. This is a happy tune for dancing away the blues!”

''Sulla Rotta Dei Venti'' (On the Route of the Winds) is the brand-new album of Italian ska-jazz maestros North East Ska*Jazz Orchestra (NESJO). A collection of eleven own-penned original tracks, written and composed between 2020 and 2023, that frames a new chapter in the ten-year career of the band. In this record, NESJO bravely explores other worlds through music, which, as we know, is always also an inner quest. It is at the same time an effort to place their own music at the centre of the time and space in which they live, even at the cost of going beyond the stylistic limits linked to the band's chosen musical genre. Although, these new 11 cuts are built around rhythms that are undeniably of Jamaican origin, melodies are tainted with music from other traditions and sometimes also feature pop elements. Somehow, in this new album, NESJO has chosen to let the jazz big-band out of the orchestra pit and to mix with the popular sound of the street. Through the tracks of the record, NESJO creates mixed ensembles with the use of instruments such as strings, accordion, flute, clarinet, horn, tuba… together with the band's regular branding of sax, trumpets and trombones. Another novelty of this work is that the non-instrumental tracks are sung in Italian by the three singers Freddy Frenzy, Michela Grena and Rosa Mussin. And the musical journey takes us to exotic but at the same time very close sounds in 21st century Europe: Balkan (“Piazza Della Liberta”, “CiganSka #1”), Arabic (“Petrolio”), African (“Nimi Muzima”), Italian (“Roma Tokyo Paris”), and ska (“Donna Di Chi”) and a sophisticated ska-jazz suite (“Sulla Rotta Dei Venti”). The opening words of the first track of the album give us a glimpse of the feeling of vindication, brotherhood and hope contained in this set of songs: "Where is the empathy for those in difficulty / in the streets of Trieste that shout with vitality / indifference hearts of stone / dense black Balkan agony".

Vinyl 7inch - Split-Single: Ofisboyz/ Ghostbastardz - Non Ska-Bands from all over the world playing Ska songs: Eine türkische Oi!-Core Band aus Istanbul und eine deutsche Punk-Kapelle aus Wetzlar spielen Ska? Funktioniert! Ofisboyz "Istanbul Skinheads" The song criticizes racial prejudice, mocks stereotypes about Turks, and reclaims pride and identity in a rebellious, ironic way _ fitting into punk and skinhead traditions of standing against bigotry. Ghostbastardz "Für Skapunk reicht's" "Für Skapunk reicht's" mischt klangvollen Punkrock mit tanzbaren Offbeats - ein sommerlicher Ska- Remix, der Sonnenbrille, Bier und Rebellion in einen Soundtrack packt. Sechste Ausgabe der Ska-Split-Single-Edition, 2025, 300 Stück handnummeriert

Reissue on high quality, 180gr, limited color vinyl for PRINCE BUSTER's first studio album from 1963. Includes many of his top ska classics including "MADNESS", "THEY GOT TO COME", "WASH YOU TROUBLES AWAY", and "BLACK HEAD CHINAMAN". The musical accompaniment was by the DRUMBAGO ALL STARS and RICO RODRIGUEZ BLUES BAND. Essential early ska.

Ska icon Prince Buster changed the face of Jamaican popular music by helping give birth to the form in the late 1950s by blending Caribbean cadences with a rhythm-and-blues backbeat, its rhythmic emphasis shifted to the afterbeat rather than the fore. National Ska: Pain In My Belly is a killer various artists compilation that Buster produced in 1964 for Blue Beat Records in Britain, its blistering contents featuring Toots and the Maytals, Eric ‘Monty’ Morris, and the Prince himself, as well as the pivotal musicians Don Drummond and Tommy McCook, who would shortly form the Skatalites. Essential listening for all true ska devotees!

With their third studio album New Thing, Reggae Workers Of The World take a bold step forward while staying deeply rooted in the timeless sounds that define them. Scheduled for release in March 2026 on Badasonic Records, the album captures the full scope of this transcontinental supergroup’s musical identity: soulful, genre-defying, and driven by classic songwriting.

Formed by Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers), Jesse Wagner (The Aggrolites), and Nico Leonard (The Badasonics), Reggae Workers Of The World unite the musical spirits of New York, Los Angeles, and Charleroi into a seamless collaboration. Across 11 tracks, New Thing moves freely between reggae, ska, soul, mento, rhythm & blues, and early rock ’n’ roll, reflecting both the trio’s deep roots and their creative freedom.

The album is enriched by an exceptional list of guests, including Efren Santana (Hepcat), David Hillyard (The Slackers), and renowned harmonica master Steven Troch, who all appear on the title track “New Thing.” The result is a warm, organic, and vibrant record—equally suited for vinyl collectors, radio programmers, and live audiences.

Ahead of the album release, the first single will debut as a Japan-exclusive 7” vinyl on January 18, underlining the band’s strong international reach and collector appeal. Following the release of New Thing, Reggae Workers Of The World will return to the road with a European tour in April 2026, reaffirming their reputation as a powerful and authentic live act.

2Tone icon, Rhoda Dakar, delivers a beautiful ska and reggae infused take on Morrisey’s classic ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’. “During the first lockdown, trapped in my frontroom looking out over London, this song was my earworm. It never went away. Late summer 2020 we had the chance to get into the studio, in a socially distanced fashion. The track we recorded sounded good, very good and we smiled.” Rhoda Dakar began her career as lead vocalist with all female 2Tone band, The Bodysnatchers. She has also recorded with both The Specials and Madness. A respected DJ, Rhoda toured across Mexico, USA, Europe and the UK in 2019 and Australia in 2020. The artwork is designed by distinguished Sheffield based artist Pete McKee. McKee has forged an artistic career that over the years has attracted a worldwide following. In2011, Pete McKee opened the McKee Gallery in his native Sheffield. His 2018show, ‘The Class Works’ was an instant hit and sold out seeing over 10,000 visitors. He has also worked with Paul Smith, the Arctic Monkeys, Richard Hawley, Oasis, BBC 6 Music, Disney, Warp Films plus many more.

Rhoda Dakar is back with her first solo album in seven years with Version Girl, a collection of reggae and ska covers by artists and songwriters she admires. Rhoda Dakar began her musical career as lead vocalist with all female 2Tone band, The Bodysnatchers. They only ever released two singles, 'Let's Do Rocksteady' and 'Easy Life'. After a year together they split and Rhoda went on to guest with The Specials in Europe and the USA, having featured on their second album, 'More Specials', for which she won the first of her seven gold records. After their demise, and before joining Jerry Dammers' new project, she recorded The Bodysnatchers' first original song, 'The Boiler', a harrowing tale of date rape, which was inevitably banned. The Special AKA spent the next two years recording 'In The Studio', spawning a top ten hit with 'Free Nelson Mandela'.