Here at Reggae Roast we love soundsystem culture. It brings people together, builds communities and so much more! But where did it all start? In this post we're going to explore the origins of this influential movement that continues to inspire so many people around the world. Soundsystems first emerged in Jamaica after World War II. In 1947, a man named Hedley Jones, drawing on his experience as a Radar Engineer in the British Air Force, built the first amplifier in Jamaica. Using his severance pay from the army, Jones opened a shop selling radios and records. He built the amp so he...

In this second instalment of our Riddim Breakdown series, we are looking at one of the most influential Reggae tracks of all time: Wayne Smith's 'Under Mi Sleng Teng.' Released in 1985, this song didn't just top charts; it revolutionised the entire genre. The tale of 'Under Mi Sleng Teng' began when young musician Noel Davey and his pal Wayne Smith got their hands on a Casio MT-40 keyboard. They'd managed to get hold of it from his friend George "Buddy" Haye, a musician who had been touring the US with The Wailing Souls. Davey was hoping for a Yamaha DX7 synthesiser, but...

'Stalag 17' by Ansel Collins & Winston Riley has been used for over 300 versions of Reggae and Dancehall tunes and has been sampled in hundreds more songs in other genres.  Find out the story of one of the most well-known and reused riddims in the history of Reggae music.