Alan Kingpin: a Jah Shaka Dubplate Story

For years, a legendary dubplate, simply known as “Shaka a Serious Warrior” drove Jah Shaka sound system’s aficionados crazy – who could be behind such a one-away tune? Time did tell: it was one Alan Kingpin, co-frontman and singer of the band Reggae Regular. A Muslim man in a Rasta environment, Alan King based the dub off his “Little Jimmy” release. Like the song, the man is as different as he is elusive. In 2006, Seb Carayol finally got the chance to cross his path.

Read More

Behind The Label: Scotch Bonnet Records

Our second installment is a short interview with Doug Paine of Scotch Bonnet Records, of Mungo’s Hi-Fi. Founded in 2000 out of Glasgow, Scotland, the sound system and label have achieved international success and acclaim, working with a multitude of legendary Jamaican artists.

Read More

Behind The Label: Bent Backs Records

Behind The Label explores the many record labels in the global sound system community and the stories behind them. Big and small, everyone has a story about the music they love; Our first installment is an interview with Lo Gautier of Bent Backs Records, the label behind Jonny Go Figure’s 2019 smash hit “Vinyl Lover.” Starting in 2009 as a sound system crew in the city of Rennes, France, Bent Backs since relocated to New York, turning into a fully fledged record label championing the 80s digital reggae revival sound.

Read More