Ever been at a dance, and suddenly the DJ drops a tune that you know, but it’s got a twist—a name drop, a special intro, or a wicked bassline that you’ve never heard before? Well, that, my friend, is the magic of a dubplate. Dubplates are a cornerstone of sound system culture, especially in Reggae, Dancehall, Jungle, and Hip-Hop. If you’ve ever wondered what makes these mystical items of soundclash supremacy so significant, then read on to be enlightened. In the simplest terms, a dubplate is an exclusive version of a track, often personalised with lyrics or sounds unique to...

This edition of the Riddim Breakdown series is a special one as we take a look at what has to be one of the most versioned riddims in the history of Reggae. ‘Real Rock’ was created in the late 1960s by the legendary Jamaican band Sound Dimension at the famous Studio One. This riddim has become a cornerstone of Reggae music, influencing countless artists across genres and generations. Its infectious bassline, driving rhythm, and distinctive organ melodies have made it a foundational groove that continues to resonate in music today. The ‘Real Rock’ riddim was crafted in 1967 under the direction...

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...

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...

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...

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...