Roots & Culture 315 Items

Here comes a special tribute to Hamburg’s dub and sound system history of the 90s - an important chapter for dub and reggae music in Germany on a whole. One of the local veterans, Pensi, also known as the man behind Ire Hi-Fi, meets Dub Me Ruff at the Sound Navigator Studio. An unearthed gem from that era entitled ‘Generation Of Change’. The infamous ‘Dub Me Ruff System’-dubplate-mixtape from the 90s, which was run heavily on cassette by fans and collectors alike, featured a vocal cut and one dub. This and some dances at the time were the only way one could hear the tune. We just had to get in touch with Pensi directly, and carefully inquire if there could be a chance to release it after all those years properly. To our joy he was excited about the project and went back into his archive and found the original DAT-tapes and some lost mixes. We are honored to now present to you, transferred from those DATs at Soon Come Studio (a project run by Pensi and a collective of Hamburg producers nowadays) and freshly remastered and cut at Star Delta in the UK, this first ‘90s salute’ from 1995 on 12inch vinyl. Vocal plus three wonderful dub excursions crafted by Danielle ‘Yell’ Mommertz, with her going heavier on the fx with each mix - from ‘gentle’ to ‘Iration style’. The lyrics could not be more fitting today and seem to not have lost any relevance almost 30 years after they were written. A powerful message on an uncompromising roots riddim à la dub me ruff.

With the fantastic 'Black Rabbit,' dub don Prince Fatty masterfully navigates the realms of dub and reggae, infusing each track with his signature vintage sound and infectious grooves. The single is a great trip through rich basslines, swirling echoes, and soulful melodies that all showcase Fatty's exceptional production skills and deep understanding of Jamaican music traditions. From the laid-back instrumentals to his lively vocal performance, this tune has timeless charm and undeniable authenticity so is a testament to Prince Fatty's enduring influence in the contemporary reggae scene.

7inch black vinyl 45 RPM - Hsrss-0025 Special Edition - Strictly Limited TO 500 Copies This is the first re-release on 7inch vinyl single of the early Reggae classic “She Caught The Train” by Ray Martell released in 1970 on the Trojan sublabel Joe in the U.K. and later covered by UB 40 in 1983. The original Jamaican song, a huge hit, has featured on many compilations but has never been repressed as a single, until now…It is still extremely popular and very much in demand today. It was initially released with the track “Tea House From Emperor Roscoe” by Dice The boss on the B side - which we also release separately on the 22nd of March 2024 – see below. On this release, we chose to showcase a super rare song written and performed by Ray Martell, the gorgeous “Cora” initially released on Attack in 1970. Both tracks have never been reissued until now.

Limited edition vinyl single from Hong KONG's top ska/reggae act who teamed up with modern British producer King Zepha foe this heavy 70s styled roots affair. Features B Dubbs on vocals/chatting, with a dub on the flip. Red vinyl in picture sleeve.

Burt Bacharach's immortal masterpiece “what THE World Needs NOW IS Love” is covered soulfully by the diva Tina! The collaboration between Reggae Disco Rockers and Tina, a diva celebrating her 25th anniversary, has finally come to fruition. This is a must-hear release featuring Tina's soulful rendition of a classic song that has been sung through the ages and generations, with RDR's style of lovers' rock. The B-Side contains a Silent Dream Version reconstructed around a piano instrumental.

With visual and literary references from Dr. Who, Star Trek, Buck Rogers, H.G. Wells, or Moëbius, the new album by Reggae Per Xics (the family oriented project from The Penguins) delves into time-travelling, one of the yearnings most dreamed of by children and adults of all generations to the rhythm of Jamaican styles such as ska, rocksteady, reggae or dancehall.

Rikitakeman Meets Hummingbird's second release is, as the title suggests, a party tune!! The message, however, is as strong as ever. "Life is a party, let's have some fun before we get old!" - This is a call that resonates with those of us who have experienced the pandemic. The melodica on the familiar rhythm track is provided by Anna Ozawa, who has also worked with THE Slits and DRY & Heavy, and the dub mix by Hummingbird is unexpected, but also has a deep, lingering feel. The debut single was so well received that it almost sold out, so we recommend you get this one as well as soon as possible!

Roaring 20s is the second and final studio album by the iconic Black British duo Rizzle Kicks. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 2nd September 2013. With Black Story honouring it’s 11th anniversary (and Black History Month), we are pressing this rare album onto Colored Vinyl that features collaborators Ant Whiting and Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim and Jamie Cullum.

'Africa' is the first release by Jamaican born singer Robert Dallas on Dub & Sound International, known for his releases on Roots Garden and Jamtone. Here he delivers one of his strongest vocal works, with lovely harmonies and the the theme of returning home to Africa, while B-side dub amplifies the rhythm and has electrifying energy that's perfect for the sound system. Dub & Sound International, a Finnish label, is quickly making a name for itself in reggae circles with its signature roots reggae sound and here again label boss Jaakko Penttinen handled the mixing in the best old school style. Stay tuned for more equally infectious releases later this year.

A Disco Reggae cover of BOB MARLEY's immortal classic “could YOU BE Loved” in a Vortex sound! "Could You Be Loved“, one of BOB MARLEY's best-known songs, has been given a new spin on Disco Reggae by Robert ‘’dubwise”” Browne, while remaining faithful to the original! The song starts with an a cappella chorus and then moves on to the guitar riff that is essential to this song. The gradual build up of the song will shake both your body and your heart! An instrumental version is included on the reverse side. The mix engineer is Steven Stanley, who created the innovative sounds of Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, and others.