Roots & Culture 200 Items

Recorded at Black Ark, Ariwa and Channel 1

Mungo’s Hi Fi are at the controls delivering their latest productions featuring megatons of talent from a dream lineup of MCs. Mungo's Hi Fi champion the evolution of reggae, dub and dancehall music and are reinvigorating soundsystem culture.

This album here is a lightning roller coaster musical journey through the music of Studio One, the most important record company in the history of Jamaican reggae music. Ska and Rock Steady feature from the greatest names in reggae: The Skatalites, The Maytals, Marcia Griffiths and The Heptones alongside vocal and roots styles from Horace Andy, Willie Williams and Wailing Souls; DJ and dancehall styles from Michigan and Smiley, Prince Jazzbo and Lone Ranger; plus some wicked instrumental and dub. It's all here! 100% essential foundation style.

Stix is back in 2014 with a scorching Disco Reggae Volume 2!

Rare and unreleased Augustus Pablo from the vaults of Gussie Clark. Includes full 12" versions of the mind-bending 'No Entry' and 'Classical Illusion' (complete with King Jammy dub). Also included is the rare JA 45 take, two unreleased Skylarking shock-outs and impossible to find 45's like 'Believe A Dub'. This is classic Augustus Pablo - Are you ready to be Dubbed?

Restless Marshaits hailing from Geneva are based around the core of Jil and Stuff. They released a sizeable amount of new roots classics throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Recently becoming active again, they are best remembered for the sessions they recorded at Kingston, Jamaica in the mid/late 90s with legendary musicians such as Vin Gordon, Deadly Headly and Dizzy Moore. The original releases have been since long deleted, but some are now unearthed thanks to Partial Records.

This one is a special dedication to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, as it was him - through his actions and words - who has continuously been inspiring a many people scattered around the world. It features Milton Henry - a distinct voice from Jamaica, well known for his works with Wackies - on a recut of the classic ‘Words Of My Mouth’-riddim by UK dub legend Disciples with an equally deep reinterpretation by Italy’s dub veteran Buriman (Moa Anbessa) on the flip side. A tune called ‘Modern Prophet’, telling the story of ‘old Marcus’ to the ones who have an open ear and heart, young and old. As a little extra the A side holds a melodica version by Dubiterian, while the B side ends with a sax cut by Sax N Dub. Both sides were transferred to 1/2inch Tape for extra analogue warmth, and mastered and cut with care by Star Delta, UK.

For us is a big pleasure to work together with Claudio AKA Abeng , other than a long time friend is a great musician with a deep Ska, Rocksteady & Roots Knowledge First side Abeng - Poor Man is an Old-Fashioned Bluesy-Rocksteady lovers track talking about the pains of love. Flip side Abeng - Together Soul Rockin' is a different cut to the riddim , a celebration of the feelings that reggae music carries on "Come everybody a come ya , rock together in this sorrow"

Jamwax Records proudly presents We Sing Gregory. On this album, jamaican producer Bravo used the best roots and culture band, the undomitable Roots Radics, featuring Flabba Holt on bass, Style Scott on drums and Keith Sterling on keyboards, and hired legends Robbie Lynn on keyboards, Cat Coore and Chinna Smith on guitar, Stick on percussion, Dean Fraser on horns, thus ensuring a heavy and flawless riddim foundation and superb arrangements. The Roots Radics were Gregory Isaacs band in the early 80's, playing on the Night Nurse and Out Deh! albums, touring around the world with the cool ruler. Gregory Isaacs' songwriting is magnificient and the subjects are always treated with humbleness and consideration for others.

Freestyle Records are proud to present the first ever reissue of this rare Black Ark-era Lee "Scratch" Perry production on LP & CD w/ bonus tracks. Both formats feature liner notes from author of the acclaimed People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae, David Katz.

The late Bunny Rugs was best known as the frontman for legendary reggae band Third World, but prior to that he completed an apprenticeship at Lee Perry's Black Ark resulting in this solo LP, originally released in 1975 and credited to Bunny Scott.

The album captures the laid-back sessions of the early Black Ark, with a few surprising innovations lurking amongst the soul covers and love ballads. Highlights include the sought after Blaxploitation-influenced funk track 'Kinky Fly' featuring members of The Chi-Lites' backing band, passing through Perry's infamous studio whilst in Jamaica for a series of shows - their horn section and Chinna Smith's wah-wah guitar give the track its outstanding difference as synth overdubs add to the moody feeling, underpinned by the ghostly click tracks of the Conn Rhythm Unit - one of Perry's first times experimenting with drum machines.

Breakup track 'Second Avenue' shows how suited Rugs' powerful, deep tenor was suited to a soul framework, the Chi-Lites' horns again making a striking difference. The Bee Gees' evergreen 'To Love Somebody' takes James Carr's soulful rendition as its reference and 'Big May' re-works the 'Return Of Django'/'Sick And Tired' rhythm, with a new drum part. while the broken-hearted 'What's The Use' was cut at the request of Sonia Pottinger, who ultimately failed to release it.

Somehow the sublime rendition of William DeVaughans' 'Be Thankful', recorded during the same session, was left off the LP - but appears here as a bonus track on the CD along with I Never Had It So Good & Hip Harry + it's version track.

Looking back on the sessions documented on this LP, Rugs said that Perry's creativity taught him that music could be limitless. As he explained, 'It was so simple that it became complex. The approach he has to music and to recording, I think the music nowadays lack that kind of intuition. He's somebody that would use pliers and a screwdriver to create percussion; he wouldn't hesitate to experiment. He was a little...not crazy, but somebody with that kind of thinking must be somewhere else, in another zone sometimes.'

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.

Liam Bailey Follows Up His 'Ekundayo' Album With This Heavy Hitting Remix 7" Featuring Two Absolute Legends.The A Side Is A Remix Of Champion Featuring Black Thought Of The Roots. Black Thought Kills The First Verse Finding The Pocket Over The Leon Michels Produced Reggae Banger Designed To Bust Up Woofers And Blow Out Dance Floors. Liam And Thought Combine To Sing Praises To A Woman Worthy Of All The Admiration They Can Muster, And In Doing So, They Take What Was Already A Classic To Another Level.The B Side Is Straight From The Far Flung Corners Of Outer Space. Producer Leon Michels Strips Down And Revamps The Album Cut Ugly Truth, Making Room For The Most Special Of Guests, The One And Only, Mr. Lee "Scratch" Perry. The Upsetter Switches Between Singing And Talking, One Minute Proclaiming His Powers And The Next Playing With The Title Of The Original Tune. Some Proper Lee Perry Business Alongside The Already Unstoppable Chemistry Of Liam Bailey And Leon Michels...An Absolute Big Crown Surehot.

Popcaan first unveiled his latest project titled Fixtape via Unruly / OVO Sound last year.



Fixtape includes a star-studded lineup, such as the Nineteen85-produced track “twist & Turn” featuring Drake and Partynextdoor. Additional guest appearances include French Montana, Preme, Masicka, Stylo G, Dane Ray, Frahcess One, Tommy Lee, and Jada Kingdom. Fixtape continues Popcaan's historic narrative as one of the most prominent global superstars in the reggae space today. It is also the follow-up to his Vanquish mixtape, which was released after it was announced that he had signed to OVO Sound.



The 19-track body of work is powered by Popcaan’s potent energy, lyrics, and unique amalgam of genres from hip-hop to dancehall and pop. Fixtape is further proof that his cultural appeal spans from the streets to the club.