News

  • Stevie Hyper D & The Soundsystem Roots of Jungle

    · By Tom Bibby

    A new documentary tells the fascinating but tragic story of Jungle MC Stevie Hyper D, the underground music icon who cut his teeth on the Reggae Soundsystems of South London in the 80s and grew to embody everything that Jungle Music represented. We are supporting the Kickstarter campaign to help get the film in cinemas this year.  Support the project on Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mcsteviehyperd/hyper-the-stevie-hyper-d-story  Over the past 70 years, Reggae Soundsystem culture has grown from the street corners and lawns of Jamaica to leave its mark on the entire world. But its impact has perhaps been most significant on the...

  • Customise Your 45 Adapters!

    · By James Harper

    We are excited to now be able to offer our community the option of customising their 45 record adapters with their own logos... Our Trojan 45 Adapters have been flying off the shelves recently and we've received some really great feedback from happy customers. You can read more reviews on the product page here. A few people have been asking about the possibility of getting their own logos engraved on them, so we have now added a brand new feature to the site where you can do just that! See below...  These exquisitely crafted record adapters are made from a single...

  • Get The Best Reggae Music Every Month

    · By Tom Bibby

    Are you tired of trawling through streaming services trying to find a decent selection? Well, fear not dear reader, we've got you covered! We update our Reggae Scorchers Spotify playlist every month with a brand new selection of the best Reggae, Dancehall, Jungle and more.  We do all the hard work for you, hand-picking a wide range of sounds and styles to keep you bubbling at home, work, or on your commute.  This month's playlist includes artists like Koffee, Kabaka Pyramid, Mr. Williamz,  Ragga Twins, Bounty Killer, Johnny Osbourne, Frankie Paul, Dennis Brown and much more. Click here to add Reggae Scorchers...

  • NEW BOOK: Pressure Drop by John Masouri

    · By Tom Bibby

    Acclaimed music journalist John Masouri has spent the last 35 years interviewing some of the biggest names in the history of Reggae. John’s passion for the music and access to key figures in the evolution of the genre has provided him with a unique perspective and insight that has made him one of our favourite writers here at Reggae Roast.  That’s why we were really excited to discover that John has a new book entitled Pressure Drop coming out 5th September with Omnibus Press. John describes it as "a story rich in adventure, controversy, resilience and imagination, and has its origins in...

  • Notting Hill Carnival: The Sound of Resistance and Celebration

    · By Tom Bibby

    Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest street party in Europe, a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture in the heart of London which is held every year during the August Bank Holiday. While there are many different Carnivals around the world, Notting Hill Carnival is particularly unique. A community-led event founded by anti-racism campaigners in the 1950s, it has grown to be one of London’s biggest events, attended by millions each year. The origins of Notting Hill Carnival can be traced back to the summer of 1958, following a period of increased racial tension and social unrest in Britain, gangs of...

  • Riddim Breakdown: Sleng Teng

    · By Tom Bibby

    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...