1.2K
The annual PBS Radio Festival – the time of the year when we ask the listeners to become members of the station, and help keep the music on air for another year – Sign up here: https://www.pbsfm.org.
Burning Spear – Door Peep
The original Babylon Burning anthem, from the early days when the program was called Chant Down Babylon. Killer mid-70s roots reggae, with dramatic horns the perfect accompaniment for Winston Rodney’s plaintive chanting.
Third World – 1865 (96 Degrees In The Shade)
The song that got me into reggae, back when I was a teenage hiphop fan. Don’t be misled by the title – this is not a song about lounging in the shade, but rather a historical tale of rebellion against colonial powers, and the subsequent massacre of over 400 people.
Sizzla – Praise Ye Jah
When I first became a reggae fan, I only really liked the golden-age 70s roots sound – until I first heard Sizzla’s “Praise Ye Jah” album when it was released in 1997. This opened my ears to the vast world of contemporary reggae music, and my life was never the same again.
Midnite – Love Right (Live Right)
Hailing not from Jamaica, but rather the small island of St.Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Midnite’s lead singer Vaughn Benjamin (aka Akae Beka) gets my vote as the best lyricist in all of reggae music. While other contemporary Rastafarian singers devolved into pastiche and tired cliches, Vaughn’s lyrics went to places never before explored by the music. While I don’t love all of his countless releases, Midnite is likely to remain my all-time personal favourite forever.
Collie Buddz – Love and Reggae
My vote for the biggest reggae song of the last couple years, this is an absolute reggae party anthem, from Bermuda’s Collie Buddz. “I just want to smoke, drink, and love my girl to some reggae”.
Chronixx – Here Comes Trouble
An early breakthrough tune from the biggest name in modern Jamaican reggae music, over a modern-day reworking of a classic Sly & Robbie riddim from the early 80s.
Busy Signal – Stay So
Moving now from reggae to dancehall – from one extreme of Jamaican music to the other. “Stay So” is one of the biggest songs of the last few years, and even after hearing it countless times, I still love it (something that isn’t always the case with dancehall hits). It has an excellent cinematic video clip too.
Koffee – Toast
The biggest dancehall song of last year in my opinion. A welcome antidote to the current trap-influenced sound of contemporary dancehall and its darkly violent lyrics, “Toast” is an upful, positive song that shows gratitude for life from a young artist with a big future ahead of her.
