Episode #2: Rude Bwoy!! Roots Reggae & Early Dancehall

Roots reggae and early dancehall are some of my favorite genres. It’s simultaneously downtempo yet badass. The infectious, slinky beats, called “riddims,” may sound very familiar to your ear as it is common practice for roots artists to borrow “riddims” from one another, perhaps even more brazen than present-day sampling.

Whether lauding the tenets of Rastafarianism, chanting down Babylon, or just burning up the dancehall, this mix is a nice intro to the world of roots reggae and early dancehall with some deep cuts that take you beyond the better-known icons such as Bob Marley and Toots Hibbert. Enjoy.

Track listing:
1) Rumble Jumble Life – Tenor Saw
2) Run Babylon – Larry Marshall
3) 007 (Shanty Town) – Desmond Dekker
4) Bam Bam – Sister Nancy
5) I Chase the Devil – Max Romeo & The Upsetters
6) Armagideon Time – Willie Williams
7) Satta Massagana – The Abyssinians
8) Mix Up – The Gladiators
9) Brand New Second Hand – Peter Tosh & The Wailers
10) The Invasion – Burning Spear
11) Rivers of Babylon – The Melodians
12) This is Reggae Music – Zap Pow
13) Jah Vengeance – Yabby You
14) Uptown Top Ranking – Althia & Donna
15) Blood & Fire – Winston “Niney” Holness
16) Tenement Yard – Jacob Miller
17) Truth and Rights – Johnny Osbourne