Dancehall 45 Items

Death Is Not The End turns 10 years old in May, and as part of the celebrations are committing a selection of Dinte NTS Radio shows from over the years to cassette. Kicking off with the recent special Skateland Soundtapes, 1980-1986 - comprising a selection of clips from sessions held at Halfway Tree, Kingston's most storied roller skating rink during the dancehall era's golden period of the early to mid/late 1980s.

Audio sourced with the indefatigable efforts of the Who Cork The Dance crew - big thanks going out to Jayman, Ruff House, Keimo, Omar, Gee Wizz and the one Jah Humble.

When dub and dope beats entered into an open relationship in the mid-nineties and created a casual hybrid with trip hop, Jean-Yves Prieur aka Kid Loco was one of the first French people to be there. With singles like "She"s My Lover" and "Love Me Sweet" and the album A Grand Love Story, the producer proved himself to be a loverman indeed, with a knack for bedroom moods, charming little melodies and a comforting balance between minimalism and lush arrangements . As a keyboard all-rounder, Guillaume Méténier aka Soul Sugar has been featured on numerous Kid Loco productions for more than twenty years. From the synthesizer to the clavinet, from the Fender Rhodes to the Leslie organ, the "Funky Frenchman" is no stranger to any keyboard instrument. The Hamburg label Echo Beach, which has already issued dub commissions for a number of pop and new wave classics, thought it was time to change that. Dub masters such as Rob Smith, Noiseshaper, Dubmatix, Paolo Baldini and many others remixed for the label. Songs by Martha & The Muffins, The Police, David Bowie, Grace Jones and Robert Palmer, among others.In order to honor the music of Florian Schneider, Ralf Hütter and their respective fellow Kraftwerkers with a dub set, they turned to Kid Loco, who has now established himself as a musical all-rounder, and who immediately invited his long-time accomplice Soul Sugar brought on board. The calculation really worked out.

We've got a passion for two things: reggae and motorcycles, and we're thrilled to present a reissue that fuses these two loves in a fantastic tune. Singer Earl Anthony first graced the music scene in the early '80s, gaining recognition for his hit "Sensi Man Rock." However, he also left his mark with a few other undercover tracks over the years. In this feature, we highlight a hidden gem from 1987, a scorching digi production that celebrates his Kawasaki motorcycle and his woman's passion for high-speed thrills.

In the ongoing Harry J reissue series, we present Freddie McKay's 'Bag Over Shoulder,' one of his final recordings in 1986 before his untimely passing. Freddie, a truly talented singer, seamlessly navigated from the early Ska days right up to the Digital era. Check out this outstanding tune, giving a shout-out to all the backpack posse.

333 reissues a massive sought-after and obscure Jazzbo-produced 45 from Stanford Shirley. The System was recorded at Harry J's studio and released in 1987 on the late Linval Carter's Ujama label. Though one of the lesser known cuts from Jazzbo's late 80s production stable, it is surely up there with one of the best. Killer archetypal digi business.

All killer no filler 10 track compilation of peak late 80s digital tunes from Park Heights' most productive period. Pure fire produced between Jamaica and New York City. Featuring two previously unreleased tunes and the rest reissued for the first time.

Ten great tracks from Park Height's productive late '80s period, where Mr. Francis produced a lot of great early digital reggae both in Jamaica and right here in NYC. We've selected eight great never before reissued tracks from the catalog, plus two previously unreleased gems. As always, housed in a fresh jacket with the vibes of the time.

Rare late 80s reggae/dancehall heat coming yet again on Dinte sub-label 333. This time it's the turn of Hugh Maddo's Pop Style LP. Recorded in Jamaica at Byron Lee's Dynamics & Herman Chin-Loy's Aquarius studios for the Bronx-based Jamaazima label in 1987, it is issued here under license from co-producer and label owner, Nami Harmon. The record features a host of celebrated and renowned musicians incl. Winston Wright, Bobby Ellis, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Dwight Pinkney, Willie Lindo and Mikey "Boo" Richards amongst many others - alongside the sublime vocals of Killamanjaro's Hugh Maddo aka UU Madoo. A must.

Hard piece of stepping digital from 1989 with the masters of the era on the rhythm track, Steely & Clevie. Likewise, Conroy is one of the iconic artists of the late '80s digital era with numerous classics to his name.

A collaboration between two prestigious Italian bands, the wizards of dub and the masters of big-band ska-jazz, in perfect symbiosis. An album full of dub atmospheres mixed with orchestral patterns; compelling rhythms of the ska and reggae traditions together with dilated and hypnotic electronic sounds. A recording fruit of a challenge and a celebration of music, something that is undoubtedly reflected in the spectacular outcome. 22 musicians locked in a large studio to rediscover the beauty of sharing after months away from the stage due to the pandemic, without even being able to rehearse. The decision to record a live album was instantaneous, it was just about enjoying the energy of the moment. All tracks were recorded strictly live in the studio, without overdubs, with the aim of apprehending something unrepeatable. The electronics, the melodies of the wind section and the vocal power come together in this work, recorded live at Deep Studio in Treviso (Italy) and mastered by Ibon Larruzea (Bilbao), full of dub atmospheres mixed with orchestral patterns. All this merges into a unique and explosive sound in which the strength of the big band meets the deep and hypnotic beats of dub music. WDD began their journey as a quartet in 2014 and prior to Studio Session #1 they had already released two albums and several singles. NESJO formed in 2012 and have previously released two albums (both available on Brixton Records) and are working on what will be the recording of their next full-length. Northeast Italy is a border area and it's easy to connect with each other in those territories made of enchanted landscapes. That energy, that desire to experiment and get involved, have made possible this ambitious project in which a ska-jazz orchestra and a dub band, each with its own language, are assembled in an amazing sonority.Classic black vinyl!

Out now! The revival of Ruddy Henry's "New Girl In Town," a cherished rubadub gem. Originally launched in 1986 under the AIT label (All Island Television), a short-lived yet impactful music project spearheaded by producer Peter Moodie. This revival features the stellar instrumental and synthesizer sounds courtesy of the talented Star & Rhythm King backing band. A heartfelt shout-out to our dedicated team in Kingston for their boots-on-the-ground efforts in locating Mr. Henry.

Delving into the captivating world of the NY reggae scene of 1989, "So Dem Say" by Winston Fisher (aka Fisha) is an extraordinary yet elusive one-away record. Cherished by Digi dancehall aficionados, it's now poised to make a long-awaited comeback. Originally released as a 12" vinyl single, this sought-after classic is set to be revived in an economical 7" edition with none of its original essence, timing and power compromised. Everything remains intact and sourced directly from the original sources. Stay tuned for the highly anticipated release of this timeless gem.

Inspired in equal parts by gangsterism and the exceptional talent of U Roy on King Tubby’s sound system, Josie Wales left gang violence behind to toast on U Roy’s Sturgav sound system at the dawning of the 1980s; after a popular set of albums for Junjo Lawes, Michael Chin and George Phang, the excellent Ruling was produced by singer Tristan Palmer and released on Ossie Thomas’ Black Solidarity label in 1986. Josie is on fine and commanding form throughout, equally at home on spongy Roots Radics rhythms and early digital tracks built by Steely and Clevie. An exceptional slice of mid-1980s dancehall – all killer no filler!

Combination summer anthem by Japanese reggae DJ BunBun The MC and singer Sister Sheez. Remixes by Akio Nagase (EmotionalEspecial,DarkerThanWax,Chillmountain Rec) and Big Ken-G, previously only released digitally, are now available on vinyl for the first time.

Third release on O.M. Theorem is a nuclear club bomb featuring remixes by Ossia and DJ Sotofett as well as two VIP mixes of Lemma1. DJ Sotofett with his Dub-heavy output on Honest Jon's and Sex Tags Amfibia invites Ghanese Afro-Dub drummer Ekowmania for vocals and usual collaborator LNS for keyboard works on his bright, tight and colourfull Steppers remix. Bristol and Peng! Sounds Ossia drives the mixing desk in tru Dub-fashion with a classic riddim that meets an avant garde melody pattern going in and out of the mix. Both of the VIP mixes rebuilds percussion and bass while exploring further corners of UK-style Bass Music with Roots in D'n'B and Steppers.THIS 12" IS CUT With Loud Volume FOR Excellent Club USE!

Two lost & found lofi nuggets from the Jahtari vault, appearing on 7" floppy disc for the very first time. "Arcade Addict" is the original Dub cut of Mikey Murka's "Sensi Addict", a version of the sweet Ujama classic that came out as a Jahtari Net-7" in 2006. Sprinkled with field recordings from early 80s Arcade Halls (done by kids with a walkman) this little oddity never made it to vinyl until now. "Proper Tings" on B is taken from a home made video from 2012, originally made to show the capabilities of a DIY Synth project using a Commodore C64 home computer sound chip, the growly SID synth.

Sounds are made from scratch, sequenced out on a MPC - and the ensuing Dub jam turned out to be a lucky shot, eventually shaping up as Paul St. Hilaire's "Who Goes There". There's a raw, beautiful 8bit magic to this Dub, finally making it to wax for the first time.

Death Is Not The End sub-label 333 hit again with a reissue of a rarely encountered piece of prime UK digi, courtesy of Franklyn Bernard aka Frankie B - mixed at Fashion's A Class Studio in Clapham, and released on the Ital Stuff label in early 1986.
Frankie B began his recording career with producer Bert Douglas, first releasing on his Reggae City label in 1984 with the No More Tears 7" under his birth name Franklyn Bernard. In 1985 he then linked up with Ital Stuff - a production team consisting of three brothers who also helmed the Sweet & Bitter Band. Operating a small eight track studio in the basement of their house in Balham, Ital Stuff had recently been responsible for putting together and laying down the backing track to Dixie Peach's classic Pure Worries, released on the Jah Tubbys label in 1985. Upon playing Pure Worries to Frankie he was immediately inspired to lay down his own vocal on the track, which too features Dixie Peach contributing vocal harmonies - it was recorded late 1985 and mixed down along with a ferocious dub side at South London's A Class Studio, eventually seeing release in early 1986.

Death Is Not The End sub-label 333 returns again with... 333.

Originally released on his seminal Ujama label in 1988, Prince Jazzbo's 333 (aka Mango Tree) features the foundation deejay riding a killer update on the Mpla rhythm. One of the best 45s to come out of this late 80s digital era, no doubt.

Disco mix sides from the Jah Life archives. On the A side we have one of Barrington's best, "Black Heart Man", in its original disco mix from 1983, with killer Scientist dub wise. On the flip is one of the all time sleepers from the Jah Life catalog, way under the radar since its original release in the early '80s. Terrie from the Nairobi Sisters voices the immortal "Left With a Broken Heart" on the killer original cut of the rhythm, which follows into a dub wise melodica piece, which sounds to us like the maestro Augustus Pablo. Both sides are pressed using new stampers made from the original mothers, so what you get is identical to the original pressings.

Limited to 750 numbered copies!

Hustler Records announces THE DON as its debut release; a beast of a track, leaning more towards heavy breaks with a Ragga vocal and emotive strings. THE DON is all about remembering you are THE DON of your own life and you never walk alone.

THE Ragga Twins: The Ragga Twins started out on London's Unity sound system, and are regarded as pioneer s of the scene. AllMusic called them "crucial cogs in the development of U.K. dance music.

Lusinda: One of the female DJ’s actively pushing boundaries and scenes forwards. Her eclectic taste in music overspills into her sets; ranging through anything bass heavy; House, old skool, Techno, Drum & Bass, UKG and Grime. She focuses on the raw end of the sound whilst still being both accessible and innovative. For more than 16 years DJ Lusinda has been djing around the globe; South America, Europe and USA.

Available now the brand new single out of the Taxi hit factory. Presenting a scorching new instrumental "Freedom" out now on 7" vinyl. This dynamic track breathes new life into the Skatalites hit, "Addis Ababa," originally released on Studio One in 1964, thanks to the contemporary retouch of Sly & Robbie. Listen closely for the brilliant contributions of Charlie Organaire on harmonica, Robbie Lyn on vibraphone, and the captivating vocal vibes provided by Cherine Anderson. Together, they elevate the experience, harmonizing seamlessly with Sly Dunbar's masterful and fierce drum programming. In Sly's own words "I grew up listening to the Skatalites, they were the ones that inspired me to become a musician, I would sneak out of the house just to see Lloyd Knibbs perform, he is a hero of mine. So to lick Addis Ababa in a Dancehall style was cool".

After more than 15 years producing singles and dubplates, Days OF DUB is Simon Nyabinghi's first full lenght album. It offers 12 original dub tracks produced and mixed at All Nations studio, and includes Featurings with innovative artists:Youthie, Kulture D, Iman Onedub. The album particularly explores the sounds of synthesizers and drum machines typical of the 80s while remaining in the pure tradition of dub, mixed with lots of echo and reverbs. Built on the same format as the greatest dub albums, it takes us progressively an alternative rhythmic and atmospheric journey such as experienced in a sound system session. From the initial percussion-based phases through the powerful meditative stages until the biggest "stepper" hits. Faithful to the codes of the genre and reinforced by true originality of composition, it is destined both to purists and to younger fans.

Mallory Williams (son of Jamaican pianist and band leader, Luther Williams), a celebrated musician, singer, arranger, and producer, launched his musical journey in 1976 as a keyboard player in various bands within Jamaica's vibrant tourism industry. Along his path, he performed and toured with prestigious groups like Jimmy Cliff's Oneness Band and also We The People Band, providing backing for countless Jamaican artists.

In 1985, during the reggae's digital revolution, Mallory Williams collaborated with Tony DaCosta (from Skatalites fame) and his group the Tony DaCosta Affair (tda), to craft the remarkable single "Yu Saaf." This release not only showcases DaCosta's impressive vocal range but also highlights Mallory's instrumental talent, which incorporates a pioneering proto-digital rhythm. We are thrilled to announce that the 7" reissue of this single will be released back again on Mallory's original 'now' imprint. "Yu Saaf," which translates to "You're Soft" is a pure sound business! It not only serves as a testament to Mallory's production skills but also possesses the power to silence any selectors.

Lovers Rock at its finest with a beautiful cover version of Merlyn Brooks' "You'll Never Need Somebody". Originally released in 1981 this release is the work of Reggae heavyweight Geoffrey Chung (who also worked on Dhaima with Phillip Michael Thomas, previously released on Missyou). This release features the original 7" version along with a small collection of other new mixes. On the A side, the Dub Organiser skillfully extends the original 3 minute track into a 7 and a half minute long trip along with a new "Dub" version, respectfully re-mixed from the original multitracks 40 years later. On the B-side, the mixing console is handed over to a dedicated student of Dub, the Swiss Androo who's clearly no stranger to studio work when it comes to dubby landscapes. Elegantly walking the tightrope between traditional approaches and raw experimentation with 3 new mixes, each with very unique feelings.

Visionary artist Augustus Pablo is among the most important figures in reggae history. Widely credited with popularizing the use of the melodica in reggae, Pablo was a talented musician and an innovative producer who became an early dub pioneer. Now regarded as classics, his memorable 1970s recordings were part of the remarkable creative surge that vaulted the Jamaican music scene to international prominence. Much of this material was released by Rockers, an independent record label founded by Pablo and named after his popular Kingston sound system. Now, Nature Sounds is proud to present Roots, Rockers, & Dub, a new Augustus Pablo vinyl collection celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rockers. Featuring classic dubs along with rare and out-of-print tracks, the album captures Pabloís immense contribution to roots reggae by highlighting a wealth of material spanning his entire career, all released on Rockers. Fully remastered and released in partnership with the Pablo family, Roots, Rockers, & Dub is a fitting tribute to an artist whose music still reverberates heavily more than two decades after his passing.

A self-released 12" by Toragon, recorded by Asuka Ando and other musicians active in live reggae bands in Japan. 70's roots style with clever backing playing and simple lyrics, similar to the popular killer roots BIG H & Carib Rocks "10 Nen Bun (for 10 years)", a typical Tokyo reggae urban style.

In the debut EP ‘We Are The Ones/Fire/Forever’, Chicago DJ legend Rahaan collaborates with an incredibly talented group of musicians, including Marcus J. Austin on lead vocals, Nancy Clayton on backing vocals, Carnell C. Newbill (also known as Spike Rebel) on keyboards and backing vocals, Todd Swope on guitar, and Lou Terry on bass.

Together, they create a 3-track EP that perfectly showcases Rahaan’s production skills and the musical talents of the entire group. Rahaan’s experience and expertise as a DJ and producer are evident in each track, with grooves that are sure to keep the dancefloor moving.

The title track, ‘We Are The Ones’, is a story of adventure and return, with a twist. Created by Rahaan and The Ones while under the influence, the track was lost for years as it was unnamed on his computer. However, Rahaan’s determination to find it paid off, and with the help of Ohio Players’ Kenny Anderson on the horns, he built upon the elusive skeleton track.

With Marcus J. Austin on lead vocals and Nancy Clayton on backing vocals, ‘We Are The Ones’ delivers a soulful, 4-to-the-floor anthem that showcases the vocal talents of the group. And in ‘Fire’, Todd Swope’s guitar skills shine through, creating an epic production that draws spiritual inspiration from traditional AfroBeat rhythms.

It’s worth noting that The Ones features some truly talented musicians, including Carnell C. Newbill (Spike Rebel) on keyboards and backing vocals. Spike Rebel is a well-known producer and musician in his own right. With his soulful vocals taking center stage, Carnell Newbill leads the charge on “Forever,” he also superbly delivers on bass, keys, percussion, and guitar. Expertly mixed by Rahaan, this track is sure to become a dance floor anthem.

In summary, ‘The Ones’ EP is an impressive collaboration between some of the most talented musicians in the Chicago underground House and Disco scene. With Rahaan at the helm, this project is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves to dance.

Mastered with Love by the Grammy nominated The Carvery Studios, this is one for any worthwhile DJ’s record bag.

YamashiRoll & Kaja is a unit established by Deejay / Human Beat Boxer "Kaja", who is active in the dancehall reggae scene, and guitarist "YamashiRoll", who also performs with many other bands. The first 7inch single of their career will be released at last. The A-side features "In The Groove," their breakout track that debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Store reggae chart. The flip side features the latest track "Get Up!".

Milestone album from n°1 Dancehall artist in Europe available for the first time ever on vinyl. Includes the monster hits "Bad" and "World Whin" as bonus tracks.

Blaiz Fayah currently lives between Paris and London and comes from a family of musicians. Songwriter- singer-composer, he made a name for himself thanks to the Dancehall and Moombahton djs who selected him for their best mixes around the world.

After making the world dance with his track « Bad » and its millions of streams, Blaiz Fayah is the dancehall hit maker of the moment.

Blaiz Fayah is the most exciting dancehall artist of his generation !

The French artist has been very successful all over the world and this has brought him to the South American, Caribbean and European dancehall scenes.

Independent and unstoppable, his freshness and talent have pushed him to the top with several million streams per month thanks to hits such as : Best Gyal, Bubble & Whine, Bounce it, Call The Police... With millions of views on TikTok, his hit "Bad" (with Tribal Kush) has gone viral, accumulating thousands of videos.

Independant and unstoppable, his freshness and talent have pushed him to the top with several million streams per month and a string of hits...

Blaiz Fayah, with his charisma and accompanied by his dancers on stage, brings to each of his live performances, a crazy energy and happiness to the public.

The leader of the European Dancehall/Shatta scene is still as productive as ever after his latest project Mad Ting 2 and a Europe/Latin America tour in 2022. By delivering multiple hits and appearing at major festivals, Blaiz Fayah is starting 2023 the same way he ended the previous year. The hit maker confirms his notoriety through his appearance in mixes played in clubs by the best DJs of the moment. His exponential growth on social networks, especially Tiktok, is also noteworthy.

A few digits: Blaiz Fayah has 850k monthly listeners on Spotify, 36M Spotify listens and 56M views YouTube for his hit "Bad", more than 9 million TikTok videos under the #blaizfayah.

For his upcoming project "Mad Ting 3" scheduled for June 2, 2023, which concludes the "Mad Ting" series, Blaiz Fayah highlights the vast range of his musical references by bringing in Dancehall, Kompa, Moombahton, Reggae, Shatta and Zouk influences.

For the occasion, some of the most renowned artists of their genre have been invited, such as Busy Signal, Jahyanai King and Nesly.

More than a mere sensation, the artist has seduced Dancehall fans all over the world with hits powered by a dancing energy that only he knows the formula. A unique energy that he was able to spread on some of the best European stages in 2022 (Solidays, Garorock) and that he will be able to continue to broadcast during some fifteen European dates in 2023 (Dour Festival, Reggae Sunska, No Logo...).

By collaborating with international DJs for the production of the tracks on his album (Netherlands, United Kingdom, Mauritius, West Indies...), the artist from the Parisian suburbs extends his influence across different international music stages, as shown by the success of his tour in Latin America (Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile...) and in the Indian Ocean (Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles...).