Reggae & Dancehall 107 Items

Ruff and Tuff’ is the first 7" reference from Two Flames Records. This single is an exciting collaboration with legendary artist Winston Reedy and the house label band Two Flames Syndicate, featuring David “Jah D” Goldfine” from Zion I Kings on bass and Gyasi Crosdale on guitar.

The third solo album of the Italian producer is released eight years after his previous At Song Embassy, Papine, Kingston 6, an album/documentary recorded and filmed in Jamaica back in 2015. Over this eight-year span, Baldini intensively toured through Europe, United States and Latin America, and worked as a producer for artists like Mellow Mood, L.A.B., Forelock, Noiseshaper, Imperial Sound Army, Dubblestandart, and for well- established reggae labels like Pressure Sounds and Echo Beach. Differently from his previous albums, in which Baldini’s approach was tightly linked to the tradition of Jamaican dub (and where his works focused on re-editing and re-purposing materials coming from different sources), the starting point for the beat-making of In The Shell was the writing of original music, a blank page on which to develop every single track. This time, the core of the production and song-writing is rooted in the creation of instrumental tracks in the studio; only at a later stage did Baldini look on the outside, establishing the necessary connections and collaborations for the entire album. The shared element among the songs in the record is the use of a palette of ethnic sounds and samples, recorded and archived by Paolo Baldini himself during his various trips to Africa, and on which he later carried out his unique electronic production and post-production work – the distinctive feature of his musical aesthetics. The personal and family ties that led the Italian producer to visit Sub-Saharan Africa, and especially Senegal, granted him an exclusive observation standpoint on day-to-day contexts which are usually not accessible to those who don’t have a key to participate in the family life of these communities, and allowed him to respectfully use this advantage to record original and unique samples.

Fikir Amlak and Akashic Records met Crucial Rob during the "Serious Time" remix challenge in 2020. Out of over 200 entrants, Rob's mixes rose to the top and he won the contest.

The bredrin continued working together - reasoning, recording and performing live shows. Their next release was "Middle Pillar" which came out as a Green King Cuts 7" polyvinyl.

That release did very well and we decided to build a full album focused on the theme of Alchemy. Eventually this turned into a 15-track album with the first 10 tracks being pressed to an LP!

The Bandcamp / Digital album has 5 extra tracks that are not on the vinyl LP, including Dreadstone and Truth Seeker with dubs, plus a beautiful acoustic version of Black Sun.

While all of the parties have released plenty of music, this is the first LP for Akashic Records, Fikir Amlak and Crucial Rob. The Black Sun LP ships for June 28th release date, pre-orders get two tracks right away - Black Sun and Black Dub!

The artwork on this album comes from Ras Amlak. Before Zero Records helped with the layout and engineering support.

Visionary engineer, producer and dub experimentalist, Scientist returns to his roots to mix new album direct-to-disc for latest Night Dreamer session. With over 60,000 recordings to his name, Scientist (born Hopeton Overton Brown) is one of the most influential figures in dub. From Studio One to King Tubby"s, Channel One to Tuff Gong, he worked at Kingston"s premier studios, pioneering recording techniques and elevating the dub mix into an rt form in his own right. Known as the "Dub Chemist" for both his technical expertise and forwardthinking ideas, Scientist"s Night Dreamer session brings together musicians from across the London reggae scene, including The Instigators" rhythm section Mafia (bass) and Fluxy (drums), Creation Rebel guitarist Tony Ruffcut, vocalist Donovan Kingjay, Jah Shaka keyboardist Greg Assing and saxophonist Finn Peters.

This first single is not only available on digital platforms, but also as a 7” record on a limited edition press, with Tiempos Ruff on the A side and its instrumental riddim version on the B side.

A musical bomb, inspired by the great Mikey Dread, that will shake the ground while talking about the nowadays struggle and inequality.

Infini-t music (chalice Sound) presents a brand new 7” - 45rpm vinyl release: Nytto Dread “kush", an original song mixed by Roberto Sánchez at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio and mastered by Ibon Larruzea, Euridia Estudios.

Nytto Dread unique style alongside the Emeterians vocal trio on the backing vocals, with an instrumental made by the legends: Mafia & Fluxy, alongsinde the international known Spanish Forward Ever Band.

Death Is Not The End's 333 series is back with another dig into the catalogue of the NYC-based Flames label on this reissue of a highly coveted Revolutionaries LP, Meditation in Dub.
One of reggae music's most famed session bands, The Revolutionaries were an often revolving cast of some of the finest session musicians on the island during the roots and early dancehall periods of the mid/late 1970s and early 1980s. These would include Earl 'Wire' Lindo, Radcliffe 'Dougie' Bryan, Ansell Collins, Bobby Kalphat, Lloyd Parks, Uziah 'Sticky' Thompson, Bongo Herman, Stanley Bryan, Bo Peep, Eric 'Bingy Bunny' Lamont, Errol 'Tarzan' Nelson, Skully Simms, Robbie Lyn, Mikey 'Mao' Chung amongst many others. The enduring core of the group, however, was undoubtedly in the coming together of the legendary rhythm section of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare - with the formation of The Revolutionaries marking the first time that this often unparalleled duo worked together.
The group laid down these rhythm tracks at their base at the storied Channel One recording studio, Maxfield Avenue, Kingston sometime in the mid 1970s - under the arrangement of one of reggae music's great undersung figures, Ossie Hibbert. Early in 1975 Ossie was to move to Maxfield Avenue just as Jo Jo & Ernest Hookim's studio was starting up. A well-respected session musician himself through the late 1960s and early 70s (he played keys for Bunny 'Striker' Lee and Keith Hudson and would also form part of another foundational session band, The Soul Syndicate) he was initially summoned by Jo Jo as a band member for The Revolutationaries but quickly assumed the role of producer, engineer and talent scout for the studio, responsible for selecting the artists to bring into the studio.
These tracks were recorded by Hibbert around this time for Winston Jones, the original singer and composer of Stop That Train (later made world-famous by Keith & Tex's version) with his Spanishtonians for Prince Buster's label in the early 1960s. Jones had moved from JA to NYC in the early 1970s where he established and ran the Flames label. The imprint would go on to form a core part of Brooklyn's reggae scene from the mid-1970s until the early 1990s, though Jones often employed the use of Channel One, Hibbert and The Revolutionaries back home in the recording of rhythm tracks for his productions. Thus the Meditation in Dub LP is essentially formed of stellar dub versions to many of the early Flames labels 45s, produced and released by Jones throughout the mid to late 1970s, including crucial takes on a great many popular rhythms of that period. One of any self-respecting dub LP collectors' holy grails, with originals going for up to £400, it is issued here under license from the now Texas-based Jones with the kind assistance of Rob at DKR in sourcing the audio for this new cut.

Available on April 20th, we're excited to unveil "Free Indeed" by Akae Beka and Higher Bound Productions on vinyl for the first time as part of our ongoing collaboration with Higher Bound Productions.

Produced in 2012, this remarkable collection represents a tapestry of deeply resonant melodies and emotions showcasing the perfect harmony between Vaughn Benjamin and producer Ryan 'Ishence' Willard showcasing their undeniable artistry. With each note and lyric, they both paint a vivid portrait of their shared creative vision, demonstrating an unparalleled synergy and depth of expression. "Free Indeed" ships on 4/20.

A mixtape of Studio One 12" singles, including some very rare stuff. All recorded from vinyl.

The early Reggae sound that came out of Jamaica between the years 1968 and 1971 became the soundtrack to the skinhead movement in the UK. Not only was the music embraced but also the dress style of the Jamaican Rude Boys.

The skinhead style started around 1968 and by the following year 1969, had become the style and fashion of the British teenagers. The uniform of the skinheads consisted of boots, braces, button down shirts and jeans and the upbeat reggae sounds seemed to match the style perfectly. The tempo of the music in Jamaica had previously slowed down from the more up tempo beat of Ska to the calmer pace of beat called Rock Steady. Some say this was to match the extreme heat wave that was hitting the island between 1966 and 1968. But that period had now passed and the evolution of the Reggae beat had again found a new pulse to hang its songs by. A more up tempo beat that all Jamaicans, British youths and various pockets of people around the world could groove to.

We have selected a cross section of tunes from those heady times, so sit back and enjoy some of the tunes the youths were listening to when the Skinhead Shuffle was all the rage. Hope you enjoy the set….

The highly anticipated second single from Tokyo Riddim Band featuring the masterful touch of Prince Fatty’s dripping dubwise! London based Tokyo Riddim Band is a unique fusion of cultures, bringing together the vibrant energy of three generations of Japanese female musicians with the eclectic sounds of London. Their dynamic performances blend reggae drums, funky bass lines, and the smooth City Pop guitar, all magically dubbed-out live on stage. This is not just music; it's a cultural phenomenon, offering a fresh and exciting take on the reggae scene.

Following the success of their debut single, "Denshi Lenzi," Tokyo Riddim Band returns with "Canoe Boy," a seductive and hypnotic Japanese new wave reggae track. Originally penned by Japanese punk rock pioneer Panta (of Zuno Keisatsu) in 1980 for New Music singer Tomoko Kuwae’s third album, this gem never saw a single release - until now.

Dubby and funky Tokyo Riddim Band’s rendition features one and only Prince Fatty’s deep & wild dubwise with siren machines, longer solos and groovy outro.

Red vinyl

Still sealed Limited edition.

Still sealed.

Still sealed. Dark Green vinyl Limited edition.

Holy Shit! A new player in town with 2 smart dancefloor classics. Joyful A side with polish reggae mash up hero Dreadsquad with one of his most classic mash up. The flip sees the debut of Albanian artist Toni Cicoria. All the way from Tirana, Toni take advantage of this long time classic Italian rap, and deliver a real SM Click experience.

2022 Reissue | Green vinyl

Still sealed

Yellow vinyl Limited edition.

Pink vinyl Limited edition. Still sealed with hype sticker.

Orange vinyl Limited edition. Numbered. Tiny corner wear.

Kheper Wax is the second solo album of Imhotep, artist known for have being the sound architecht of IAM, a very popular hip hop group from Marseille (South of France) in the 90’s and the early 00’s.

The 100% instrumental album is a blend of Dub and Trip-Hop, infused with oriental music samples.

It was self-released by the artist in 2013 and since, the album price has increased a lot on Internet.

Still sealed

“…the greatest man that came to Jamaica and changed the whole beat from ska to rock steady was Lyn Taitt. He was from Trinidad but Byron Lee did bring him come to Jamaica as an organist but he started playing guitar and the rest is history! We should call him rock steady… it’s Lyn Taitt as he was the man! He played lead guitar and ska at the same time…” Bunny Lee

As the frantic, frenetic pace of ska finally let up in 1966 the cool, cool sound of rock steady came to the fore. This languid, soulful music was the complete musical antithesis of its more famous antecedent and the gentle guitar of Lyn Taitt would forever define the sound of rock steady.

Trinidadian Nerlyn ‘Lyn’ Taitt had been given a contract by Byron Lee to travel to Jamaica to play at the Independence celebrations in 1962 but fell in love with Jamaica and decided to stay joining The Sheiks and then The Cavaliers before forming Lyn Taitt & The Comets. Lyn also recorded as a guest guitarist with The Skatalites before Lyn Taitt & The Jets came together in 1966.

The rock steady beat was slower, more measured and the emphasis was placed on the bass. It no longer gave equal emphasis to every beat but, instead, played a repeated pattern that syncopated the rhythm. The

rhythmic focus shifted to the core of the music to the bass and the drums where it has remained ever since.

“For that tempo the tempo is very slow with the bass and guitar line playing the same thing. You used to use two guitars. Hux Brown and myself or another guitarist and myself. And it was very slow but with a definite bass line going straight through the song…” Lyn Taitt

Lyn Taitt & The Jets were soon in such great demand that they would often play up to five sessions a day for as many different producers but they were not the only rock steady band. When the Skatalites had broken up in 1965 Jackie Mittoo formed Studio One’s house band The Soul Brothers (who soon became The Soul Vendors) and Tommy McCook decided to work with Duke Reid at Treasure Isle studio with The Supersonics. Bobby Aitken’s Carib Beats eschewed subtlety for drive but together these musicians were responsible for establishing the rules of rock steady music.

Their gentle approach allowed vocalists such as Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and Desmond Dekker and harmony groups including The Techniques, The Melodians, The Uniques and The Paragons and many, many more to demonstrate their prowess.

Rock steady only lasted for a brief period, from 1966 to 1968, but its significance to the subsequent development of Jamaican music is incalculable and it would go on to shape each successive musical movement over the next four decades. Deejays, dub, digital and dance hall all stepped to the tune and pace of rhythms whose

origins were grounded in the rock steady beat and it is impossible to ever overstate its importance... or its beauty.

Record is close to VG+.

Small light scuff on side B.

Record has some hairlines and a few superficial scratches.

Small light scuff on side A.

Record has some hairlines and a few superficial scratches.

Small light scuff on side B.

Vinyl with a couple of light scuffs. Small damage on opening.

Vinyl close to VG+

Vinyl closer to VG+

Record is close to VG+.

Small light scuff on side A.

Record is close to VG+.

Cover with seam split

Record has some hairlines and a few superficial scratches.

Still sealed with hype sticker. 2021 reissue.

Record is close to VG+.

Vinyl with scuffs and hairlines. Still in shrink, but opened, with hype sticker. With original inner sleeve

Record has some hairlines and a few superficial scratches.

Record has some hairlines and a few superficial scratches.

Ships in a label sleeve.