Tracing the history and relationship between sound system culture and protest movements.
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Text: Jeremy Freeman, Artwork: Irie Design The Billie Jean riddim first came to attention with the release of Shinehead’s 1984 cover of Michael Jackson’s smash hit “Billie Jean” on New York’s African Love label. Interestingly, the flip side of the original 12” was another cover (of UK R&B singer Junior’s “Mama Used To Say”) and […]
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The prolific MC talks about his inspiration, current projects and COVID
The Portland based producer talks about his musical journey, his recent release “Clash EP” and his love for the rose city
Text by Anderson Muth Birthed by the great Jackie Mittoo as the 60s began to give way to the 70s, the Hot Milk riddim, aka Murderer, has been the source of hit records ever since. The initial Coxson 7” led to the Studio One era and then into deejays, rubadub, dancehall, and sound system: like […]
Arising out of the increasingly slack dancehall scene found in mid-80s Jamaica, the Punanny (also spelled Punaany and Punany, amongst other possible iterations) riddim is a much-versioned up-tempo digital shuffle.
Every Saturday night from 1987 to 1999, London’s roots fans would tune into Kiss FM pirate radio for a weekly show by the Manasseh crew, which went deep into the early hours of Sunday morning. When the legendary station celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010, Seb Carayol spoke with the main characters behind Manasseh’s show to look back on their musical saga.
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Inside one of London’s main dubplate studios there are no singers rushing to record ‘specials,’ but instead music genres yet unknown in Jamaica. Seb Carayol took a look at a regular day at Music House back in 2006.
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The Groove Thief explores the elusive roots and evolution of the mythical Kunta Kinte Riddim