BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 29th March, 2025
Catching up on a heap of recent releases, including Lutan Fyah’s killer new album “Strength and Resilience”, featuring combinations with Chronixx and Akae Beka, and new music from Groundation, Lila Ike, Protoje, Claye, Randy Valentine, Kumar, Samory I and much more.
SAMORY I – Babylon Is Burning (JahWise Inna Jamrock: JahWise Productions) BIG YOUTH – Give Praises (Trojan) THE VICEROYS & TOMMY McCOOK – Slogan On The Wall (Studio One) THE NATURAL ITES – Picture On The Wall (CSA) –request BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – Redemption Song (band version) (Island) –request SUGAR MINOTT – Rub A Dub Sound (Tune In) (Taxi) SUGAR MINOTT – Dance Hall We Dey (DanceHall Live / Instant Rewind: Inner City’s Street Corner Records) MICHAEL PALMER – Lick Shot (DanceHall Live / Instant Rewind: Inner City’s Street Corner Records) EDI FITZROY – The Gun (DanceHall Live / Instant Rewind: Inner City’s Street Corner Records) EDI FITZROY – First Class Citizen (Check For You Once: Musical Ambassador) ECLIPSE – Blood Fi Dem (The Midlands Roots Explosion vol 1: Reggae Archive Records) DON CARLOS – Plantation (Dove) TWINKLE BROTHERS – Barabas (Rasta Pon Top: Grounation) THE PROGRESSIONS – Fair Deal (Pat Hardy) JOEY & GROUP – Soul Love (Treasure Isle) THE FRIGHTNRS – Gotta Find A Way (Nothing More To Say: Daptone) ALPHEUS – Far Away (From Creation: A-Lone Productions) LILA IKE – Too Late To Lie (Wurl Ike Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective) KY-MANI MARLEY, IBA MAHR, LUTAN FYAH – Love and Energy (Konfrontation Muzik & DubShot Records) LUTAN FYAH – Warning Dem (Strength and Resilience: I Grade) LUTAN FYAH & CHRONIXX – Freedom Sound (Strength and Resilience: I Grade) LUTAN FYAH – Leader Before Me (Strength and Resilience: I Grade) LUTAN FYAH & AKAE BEKA – Just The Time (Strength and Resilience: I Grade) MARK WONDER – Force and Flames (JahWise Inna Jamrock: JahWise Productions) KUMAR – Message In A Bottle (Fields Of Gold: Azul Music) GROUNDATION – Spirits In The Material World (Fields Of Gold: Azul Music) GROUNDATION – Energy (HTS Roots Creations) CLAYE – Rumours (Prawley-Mae Music) T’JEAN – 400 Years (Yaadman Records) PROTOJE – Big 45 (In.Digg.Nation Collective) RANDY VALENTINE – Long Way Home (Troots Music)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 15th March, 2025
Paying respects to one of the great Jamaican singers, Calvin “Cocoa Tea” Scott, who passed away at the age of 65 on March 11.
COCOA TEA – Babylon Is Falling (Fat Eyes) COCOA TEA – If Jah Is For Us (Settle Down: Corner Stone) COCOA TEA – There Must Be A Time (Settle Down: Corner Stone) COCOA TEA – Reggae Music (Settle Down: Corner Stone) COCOA TEA – Too Much (Settle Down: Corner Stone) COCOA TEA – Jah Made Them That Way (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – Don’t Be Shy (Settle Down: Corner Stone) COCOA TEA – Settle Down (Settle Down: Corner Stone) COCOA TEA – On Top Of The World (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – I’m Going Home (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – I’m Wanted (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – Chalice Nuh Fi Ramp With (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – Evening Time (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – Can’t Stop Cocoa Tea (Weh Dem A Go Do: Volcano) COCOA TEA – Crying Time (Jammys) COCOA TEA – Come Again (Jammys) COCOA TEA – We Must Be Free (Rikers Island: Mr Doo & Greensleeves) COCOA TEA – She Loves Me Now (Xterminator) COCOA TEA – We Do The Killing (Digital B) COCOA TEA & SHABBA RANKS – Love Me Truly (Digital B) COCOA TEA & SHABBA RANKS – Flag Flown High (Digital B) COCOA TEA – Burn Satan (Xterminator) COCOA TEA & SIZZLA – Bruk Down (Xterminator) COCOA TEA – Israel’s King (Israel’s King: Xterminator) COCOA TEA – Hurry Up And Come (Xterminator) COCOA TEA – There’s No Hope (Israel’s King: Xterminator) COCOA TEA – Repatriation (Israel’s King: Xterminator) COCOA TEA & LUCIANO – Rough Inna Town (Israel’s King: Xterminator) COCOA TEA – Mr Neck Tie Man (Xterminator) COCOA TEA – Cannot Be Real (Digital B) COCOA TEA – Cycle (Boot Camp) COCOA TEA – Medical Marijuana (Top Shelf riddim: Walshy Fire) COCOA TEA – Moving On (Digital B)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 1st March, 2025
Showcasing the works of Queen Omega ahead of her first ever performance in Melbourne, and paying respect to the late Jamaican singer Ken Parker.
QUEEN OMEGA – Babylon Pressure (Queen Omega: Green House Family) ABBACUSH – Batta Dem (In Progress: People Unite) MISTY IN ROOTS – Musi O Tunya (Musi-O-Tuni: People Unite) BLACK SLATE – Romans (Slate) WINSTON JARRETT & THE RIGHTEOUS FLAMES – My Sheep (Man of the Ghetto: Sonic Sounds) HUGH MUNDELL & M EDWARDS – Oh How I Love HIM (Rockers) NIOMINKA BI – Selassi (Maksound) KEN PARKER – A Change Is Gonna Come (Giant) KEN PARKER – How Could I (Island) KEN PARKER – True, True, True (Treasure Isle) KEN PARKER – I Can’t Hide (Duke Records) KEN PARKER – Count Your Blessing (Attack) FREDDIE McGREGOR – Little Angel (Lee’s) FREDDIE McGREGOR – Jah A We Father (Observer) FREDDIE McGREGOR – Push Comes To Shove (Weed Beat) –request NITTY GRITTY – We Run Things (Music Master) CARL MEEKS – Danger (Redman International) QUEEN OMEGA – Uprising (Green House Family) QUEEN OMEGA, SIZZLA, CAPLETON – Warning (Green House Family) QUEEN OMEGA – No Retire (Clean Vibes riddim: Special Delivery) QUEEN OMEGA – Hypocrites and Parasites (Queen Omega: Green House Family) QUEEN OMEGA – Serve The King (Runaway Slave riddim: Stingray) PRINCE MALACHI – Runaway Slave (Runaway Slave riddim: Stingray) MORGAN HERITAGE – Armagideon Calls (Runaway Slave riddim: Stingray) QUEEN OMEGA – Blessed (Rise Up riddim: Oneness) QUEEN OMEGA & GENTLEMAN – Revolution (Visions riddim: Special Delivery) QUEEN OMEGA – Hold Meditation (Greatest Friends) QUEEN OMEGA – Media Corruption (Greatest Friends) QUEEN OMEGA – Lioness (Baco Sessions Live: Baco Records) QUEEN OMEGA, KUSHITE, JALIFA – Wise Queens (Lions Flow Productions) KING JAMMY – African Queen (King Jammy’s Unites The Nations With Dub: Greensleeves) QUEEN OMEGA – No Love (Little Lion Sound & Evidence Music)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 22nd February, 2025
Paying respects to the late reggae artists Determine, Danny English and Naâman, plus new tunes from Lutan Fyah and Micah Shemaiah, and the usual foundation classics.
DETERMINE & BEENIE MAN – Kette Drum (Digital B) PRINCE FAR I – Final Chapter version (Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3: Daddy Kool/Cry Tuff) PETER TOSH – Burial (Intel Diplo) –request PETER TOSH – Get Up Stand Up (Equal Rights: Intel Diplo) PABLO MOSES – Corrupted Man (Revolutionary Dream: Jigsaw) KOJAK – Penitentiary (Kojak) KOJAK – Bunny Rygin (Kojak) KNOWLEDGE – Fools and Their Money (Stars) KNOWLEDGE – Population (Stars) LACKSLEY CASTELL – Collie Tree (Soundoff) HUGH MUNDELL – Rastafari’s Call (Blackman’s Foundation: Mun Rock) JERRY BAXTER – Macka Jungle (Ball O Fire) BUGLE – Devalue (Be Yourself: An9ted Ent) –request LUTAN FYAH – Strength and Resilience (I Grade) MICAH SHEMAIAH – When Yuh Right (JahSolidRock Music) NAAMAN – Riot (Big Scoop Records) NAAMAN – Karma (Rays of Resistance: Soulbeats) NAAMAN – Pop Dem Bubble (Rays of Resistance: Soulbeats) CAPLETON – Narrow Escape (Shine and Criss riddim: Prominent) LOUIE CULTURE & ANTHONY CRUZ – Cool Out Son (Shine and Criss riddim: Prominent) COBRA – Draw Me Out (Shine and Criss riddim: Prominent) BOUNTY KILLER – Top A Top (Shine and Criss riddim: Prominent) DANNY ENGLISH – Cut and Go Through (Shine and Criss riddim: Prominent) DANNY ENGLISH – Bigga Bus This Year (Midnight Rock) DANNY ENGLISH – Bun (Ice Pick riddim: Q45) DANNY ENGLISH – Every Night I Pray (Mixing Lab) DANNY ENGLISH & EGG NOG – Party Time (Diwali riddim: 40/40) DETERMINE – Fake Badman (Time Travel riddim: 40/40) DETERMINE – Weep Not (School riddim: Builders) DETERMINE – Time Like This (MX-6 riddim: X-Rated) VIDA SUNSHYNE, DETERMINE, CRYSTAL – Heard It All Before (Children of the World riddim: Savona Records) DETERMINE – See Di Fire (Angel riddim: Black Scorpio) DETERMINE – Full A Hype (Street Sweeper riddim: Studio 2000) DETERMINE – Rappin Up Rhymes (Night Night riddim: Steely & Clevie) DETERMINE – More Fire (Chant Down dubplate special)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 1st February, 2025
Revisiting some big tunes from 2014 and 2015 instead of the usual brand new music, including riddims Gate 7, Dancehall Sings, Brit Jam Soul and Groupie Luv… plus the usual vintage classics in the first hour.
JUNIOR ROY – Deep Call (Urban Observations: Ashanti Selah Music) BURNING SPEAR – Institution (Social Living: Burning Spear) THE WAILERS – No More Trouble (Catch A Fire: Island) THE WAILERS – Midnight Ravers version (Tuff Gong) JOE HIGGS – Got To Make A Way (Life Of Contradiction: Micron) GREGORY ISAACS – One One Cocoa (Pantomine) DENNIS BROWN – Let Love In (Sun Shot) FREDDIE McKAY – I’m A Free Man version (Santic) ALPHA BLONDY – Jah Houphouet (Apartheid Is Nazism: Shanachie) RAS MICHAEL & THE SONS OF NEGUS – Booma Yeah (Kibir Am Lak: Rastafari) CEDRIC IM BROOKS & THE LIGHT OF SABA – Sabasi (The Light Of Saba: Honest Jons) THE MIGHY DIAMONDS – Africa (The Right Time: Virgin & Channel One) THE ROYALS – Peace and Love (Pick Up The Pieces: Tamoki Wambesi) THE ROYALS – Peace, Love and Dub (Dubbing With The Royals: Tamoki Wambesi & Pressure Sounds) JUNIOR LOGAN – Long Run (Inti-mate Records) KING SIGHTER – Master Of All (Ras Oney) I ROY – Point Blank (Observer) DILLINGER – Take A Dip (The Thing) GREGORY ISAACS – Slave Master (The Thing) YAMI BOLO – Love Is Everything (Fat Eyes) CULTURE & TONY REBEL – Hungry People (Fat Eyes) TORCH & BUGLE – Fire Man A Bun (Gate 7 riddim: Weedy G Soundforce) AGENT SASCO – Mash Dem Dung (Gate 7 riddim: Weedy G Soundforce) DON TIPPA & PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Mek It Bun (Gate 7 riddim: Weedy G Soundforce) MITCH – Friends Dem Gone (Gate 7 riddim: Weedy G Soundforce) BUGLE – False Prophet (Dancehall Sings riddim: CR203) MAVADO – Kill Dem Slowly (Dancehall Sings riddim: CR203) ALKALINE – Weh You Did Deh (Dancehall Sings riddim: CR203) MASICKA – Just Can’t Do It (Dancehall Sings riddim: CR203) KONSHENS – Bad Man Heart (Dancehall Sings riddim: CR203) CHRISTOPHER MARTIN & AZUZU – Pass Me A Blunt (Dancehall Sings riddim: CR203) RC, EXCO LEVI, SHUGA – Ready When You Ready (Penthouse) JAH CURE – Rasta (Iyah Cure) ROMAIN VIRGO & AGENT SASCO – Fade Away (Lifted: VP) AGENT SASCO – Celebrate (Brit Jam Soul rididm: Good Good) BUGLE – Divine Intervention (Fight Poverty First) (Brit Jam Soul rididm: Good Good) CHRISTOPHER MARTIN – Naah Work (Groupie Luv riddim: Daseca) KONSHENS – Naah Run Lef Mi Fren (Groupie Luv riddim: Daseca) DEXTA DAPS – Mi Like A Gal (Groupie Luv riddim: Daseca) SAGITARR – I’ll Follow You (Groupie Luv riddim: Daseca) ALAINE & BUGLE – Star Life (Groupie Luv riddim: Daseca) DENYQUE – All Night Long (Groupie Luv riddim: Daseca)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 25th January, 2025
Featuring a live studio interview with Marvin Priest, lead singer of Crown Heights and son of Maxi Priest… a new take on the No Man Is An Island riddim from Stingray Records… local productions from Sasquatch Sound… new tunes from Claye, Perfect Giddimani, and EyeGen… and the usual vintage classics.
CULTURE – Rolling Stone (Humble African: Fat Eyes) COUNT OSSIE – Whispering Drums (Moodisc) PAT KELLY – You Send Me (Justice) JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES – Meditation (Travel With Love: Nighthawk) GLADSTONE ANDERSON – Holy Mount Zion (Glad Sound) GLEN ADAMS – What About Africa (Landmark) THE GATHERERS – Words (Black Art) JAH LION – Wisdom (Black Art/Island) MISTA SAVONA – Words and Meditations (Mista Savona) THE UPSETTERS – Dread Lion (Black Art/Island) EARL SIXTEEN – Concrete Castle (Merge Records) BURNING SPEAR – Follow Marcus Garvey (Hail HIM: Burning Spear) BURNING SPEAR – The Ghost (Garvey’s Ghost: Island) BURNING SPEAR – Old Marcus Garvey (Marcus Garvey: Island) DENNIS BROWN – No Man Is An Island (Studio One) GEORGE NOOKS – No Man Is An Island (Island riddim: Stingray) RANDY VALENTINE – Timeless Token (Island riddim: Stingray) MEDISUN – Image Of My Dream (Island riddim: Stingray) ABKA KABA – Tingling Feeling (Island riddim: Stingray) GINJAH – One Way Street (Island riddim: Stingray) YASHEMA MCLEOD – Lord Is My Shepherd (Island riddim: Stingray) MARVIN PRIEST – We Pray (Message In A Bottle riddim: Nusantara Records) CROWN HEIGHTS – My Days (Crown Heights) < interview with Marvin Priest > CROWN HEIGHTS – The Vibe (Slow Down: Irie Nation) MAXI PRIEST & KABAKA PYRAMID – Nyabinghi Love (Clive Hunt) JEMERE MORGAN – Sweet Love (Ghetto Youths International) RUBI DU – Played Me (Low Key Source) RAPHA PICO – Dem Greedy (Sasquatch Sound) DANNY RED – What A Deal (Sasquatch Sound) PERFECT GIDDIMANI – High Grade Mi Love (Giddimani Music & Sinky Beats) WILLIAM SPRING & JOLLY STEWART – Hold On (The Hidden Treasures of William Spring: Roll & Record) CLAYE – Money Can’t Buy (Prawley-Mae Music) CLAYE – Holy Water (Prawley-Mae Music) EYEGEN – Reggae Calling (Hits 38 Production & King Jammys) PROTOJE – Wait On The Law (In Search Of Zion: In.Digg.Nation, Six Course Music, Zion I Kings)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 18th January, 2025
Featuring the new Party Time riddim from Tad’s Records, the Constellation riddim from Skunga Records, more on the Resilience riddim from Kushite Organic Records, homegrown reggae from Australia’s Jah Tung and Jason Heerah, new dancehall from Popcaan, Kranium, Masicka, Yaksta and Chronic Law… and the usual vintage classics.
THE CO-OPERATORS & DENNISON JOSEPH – More Fire (Sounds from the Fridge: Waggle Dance Records) KARL BRYAN & THE AFROKATS – Money Generator (Studio One) BUNNIE & SKITTER – Lumumbo (Worldisc) SOUND DIMENSION – Congo Rock (Bongo Man) ALTON ELLIS – It’s True (Studio One) ALTON ELLIS – Rasta Spirit (Clintones) BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – Burnin’ and Lootin’ (Burnin: Island) –request JACOB MILLER – Jolly Joseph (Top Ranking) BARRINGTON LEVY – Good Loving (Prison Oval Rock: Volcano/VP Records) GENERAL ECHO – Oil In A Babylon (Manzie) DILLINGER – Plantation Heights (Well Charge) THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS – I Need A Roof (Right Time: Virgin/Channel One) JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES – What You Don’t Know (Jezebel: Island) PETER BROGGS – I Don’t Know (Progressive Youth: RAS) THE GLADIATORS – Chatty Chatty Mouth (Trenchtown Mix Up: Virgin) JAH STITCH – Words Of Wisdom (Justice) CULTURE – Nah Stay Inna Babylon (Humble African: Fat Eyes) CULTURE – Humble African (Humble African: Fat Eyes) RICHIE SPICE – Righteous Youths (5th Element) JESSE ROYAL – Those Days (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) KHALIA – Devil In Disguise (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) CHEZIDEK – One Life (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) HEZRON – We’ve Made It (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) GUINNEY PEPPER – Island Home (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) ANTHONY CRUZ – Badmind (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) TERRY LINEN – Praise You (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) WARRIOR KING – Positive Energy (Party Time riddim: Tads Records) JAH TUNG – Count My Blessings (House Of Riddim) JASON HEERAH – Nothing Without You (JH Records) RAS MUHAMAD & CONRAD GOOD VIBRATIONS – Satu Rasa (Salam: Oneness) MEDISUN – Harmony (Constellation riddim: Skunga Records) KUMAR – Hell and Powder House (Constellation riddim: Skunga Records) KABAKA PYRAMID & IRIE SOULJAH – Show Love (Resilience riddim: Kushite Organic Records) EESAH – Justice (Resilience riddim: Kushite Organic Records) LUTAN FYAH – Bad Dawg (Resilience riddim: Kushite Organic Records) QUEEN OMEGA – Resilience (Resilience riddim: Kushite Organic Records) INDIE ALLEN – Good Vibes Only (Oasis: Indie Allen) POPCAAN & DANE RAY – Fully Prayers (Hope Yuh Memba: Island Specifix) KRANIUM & MASICKA – Cut The Link (TJ Records & Out Deh) YAKSTA & CHRONIC LAW – Cease Fire (Makaveli Muzik & Bush Music)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 11th January, 2025
Starting with a big new combination from Haile Celestial, Kabaka Pyramid and Iotosh, then moving into some classic UK and Jamaican early reggae sounds, before running through the biggest and best dancehall tunes of the last year.
HAILE CELESTIAL, KABAKA PYRAMID, IOTOSH – Walking Parable (DubShot Records & Haile Celestial) KING TUBBY & YABBY YOU – Beware Of God (Vivian Jackson) STEEL PULSE – Nyahbinghi Voyage (Caught You: Island) MATUMBI – Jah Movements (Testify: Solid Groove Records) MATUMBI – War (Matumbi: EMI) DENNIS BOVELL & THE 4TH STREET ORCHESTRA – North Parade (A Summer Place) CORNEL CAMPBELL – The Investigator (Jackpot) PAT KELLY – I’m So Proud (Burning Rockers) EARTH AND STONE – No Time To Lose version (Hight Note) KEN BOOTHE – Love and Unity (Beverley’s) THE WAILERS – Stop The Train (Beverley’s) THE WAILERS – Soon Come (Beverley’s) SLIM SMITH & THE UNIQUES – Girls Like Dirt version (Justice) FREDDIE McKAY – High School Dance (Studio One) JOHN HOLT – Stick By Me (Jackpot) THE SPARKERS – Dig It Up (Spade Records) DELROY WILSON – Cool Operator version (Jackpot) BLACK UHURU – Carbine (Red: Island) DAMIAN JR GONG MARLEY – Banner (Ghetto Youths International) IMERU TAFARI, IOTOSH, KABAKA PYRAMID – Vortex (The Essential: Koastal Kings & DubShot Records) PROTOJE – Mariposa (In.Digg.Nation) ROYAL BLU – Cool (G.wav) BUSY SIGNAL – Happy Birthday (Cashflow) CHRONIC LAW – Garrison (808 Reggae: Slyda Di Wizard & Romeich Ent) KRANIUM & CHRONIC LAW – Higher Life (CJ the Chemist) 450 – Wild and Rich (Weekday & Tru Ambassador Next Generation 450 – Levels (Weekday & Tru Ambassador) SHENSEEA – Dating Szn (Options) (Romeich) SHENSEEA & MASICKA – Hit and Run (Di Genius) NIGY BOY – Judgement (Payment Plan riddim: Head Concussion) NIGY BOY – Continent (Dutty Money riddim: Head Concussion) JADA KINGDOM – What’s Up (Big Buddy) (Dutty Money riddim: Head Concussion) VALIANT – Bubble Gum (Dutty Money riddim: Head Concussion) VALIANT – Lumbah (DJ Mac & Diplomats & Rockit Muzik) JQUAN – Chakka (Chakka riddim: DJ Mac & Crash Dummy Productions) ALKALINE – Nah Lef Eh Game (Autobamb Records & Sponge Music) MASICKA – 20 Matic (Dunwell) MASICKA – All Over Again (TJ Records) MASICKA – Whites (Attomatic, Dan Sky Records, 1Syde Records) CHRONIC LAW – Grimey (New World Order riddim: Armzhouse Records & Realascanb Ent) CHRONIC LAW – 90s Spin Di Block (Collect Di Bred & Chemist Records) CHRONIC LAW – Weekend (Bup Bup) (Street Vybz riddim: NotNice) *2023 SKENG – Taboo (Street Vybz riddim: NotNice) VYBZ KARTEL – Street Vybz (Street Vybz riddim: NotNice) *2009 VYBZ KARTEL – Fire Vybz (Crush Grabba) (Adidjaheim) VYBZ KARTEL – Drag Dem Bat (Music House Entertainment) VYBZ KARTEL – The Comet (Vybz Kartel Muzik) BLAIZ FAYAH – Party On/Shatta Land (Creepy Music)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 4th January, 2025
My pick of the best new reggae releases of 2024, as aired on Babylon Burning. In recent years I moved away from a numbered countdown, and this year I expanded the reggae recap to the full two hours, allowing me to fit in multiple cuts on a riddim where I felt it was warranted.
Protoje was my personal favourite artist of the year. It’s rare that I like everything an artist puts out, but I enjoyed all of his tunes this year. Likewise, I enjoyed everything that Lila Ike released, though all of her songs this year were in a combination with someone else. The breakthrough artists of 2024 would have to be Jah Lil and Rik Jam – both have been around for several years now, but they definitely stepped up their output in 2024. Iotosh also deserves mention here, and he will definitely be one to watch in coming years. YG Marley’s crossover hit “Praise Jah In The Moonlight” was actually released in 2023, but it was so popular in 2024 that I had to include it here – it even reached number 19 on the Australian ARIA chart. See below for an extensive ‘honourable mentions’ list.
THE BEST REGGAE OF 2024
HAILE – Love and Clarity (Nyahbinghi Mix) (Zonah World & A Separate Group) HAILE – Pure Blue (Zonah World & A Separate Group) IOTOSH – Perfection (Sound Ting) COLLIE BUDDZ – Own Business (Harper Digital) PEETAH MORGAN – Who Run The World (Full Bloom riddim: Zion I Kings) ARKAINGELLE & JALIFA – Too Dread (Full Bloom riddim: Zion I Kings) MICAH SHEMAIAH – Dis Ya Rockers (Full Bloom riddim: Zion I Kings) REEMAH – Greatest Thing (Full Bloom riddim: Zion I Kings) REEMAH – What Goes Around (Mafia & Fluxy) REEMAH – Big Fraud (Feel Line Records) ALPHEUS – Evil Man (Unify: Liquidator) AKAE BEKA – Going On A Mission (Living Testament: Trinity Farm Productions & Go A Chant) THE BROWN BOYS & KA’IKENA SCANLAN – Roots and Culture (Rubbah Slippah Productions) DERAJAH – Wicked Man (JahWise Productions & Nusantara Records) BUGLE, DAMIAN MARLEY, BUJU BANTON – Thank You Lord (Apex: An9ted Entertainment) BUSY SIGNAL – Steam Chalice (Nuh Rush Records) BUSY SIGNAL – Jah You Know (Brimstone riddim: Dutty Rock Productions) BUSHMAN – Show I The Way (Brimstone riddim: Dutty Rock Productions) J WRITTEN – Work To Do (Kaleidoscope: Tafari Records) JAH LIL – Above Water (Out Deh Records) JAH LIL – End Of War (Big Scoop Records) RIK JAM – Hail The King Forever (Irie Yute Tapes) RIK JAM – Caution (Irie Yute Tapes) LUTAN FYAH – We Want World Peace (Mista Savona) ZIGGI RECADO – Jungle (Nayamari Music) QUEEN OMEGA, CHEZIDEK, U BROWN – Three The Hard Way (Irie Ites) PERFECT GIDDIMANI & YOUNG SHANTY – Got Trees (Sinky Beatz) KABAKA PYRAMID & RYGIN KING – Believe (Reggae Remix) (Bebble Rock & Ghetto Youths International) GENTLEMAN – Watch Over Me (Finally riddim: Don Corleon) KIMECO – El Shadai (Finally riddim: Don Corleon) TARRUS RILEY – It Nuh Mek Sense (Finally riddim: Don Corleon) IKAYA – God’s Favourite (Sweet 7 riddim: A-Team Lifestyle & Usain Bolt) JAZ ELISE – Gunman (Ineffable Records) JHAY FAJ & JALIFA – Rastafarian (Music Therapy: JhayFaj Music Enertainment) VERHSON – Mankind Bless (Quiet Storm & Yellow Leo) MORTIMER – My Child (Overstand & Easy Star Entertainment) ROYAL BLU, KABAKA PYRAMID, THE AUTOS – Light My Way (Easy Star Records) PROTOJE & JAHSHII – Where We Come From (In.Digg.Nation Collective & Izy Beats) PROTOJE – 80s Wild (The Jamaican Situation Side A: In.Digg.Nation Collective) PROTOJE – Barrel Bun (The Jamaican Situation Side A: In.Digg.Nation Collective) PROTOJE – Legend Legend Legend (Zion I Kings Remix) (In.Digg.Nation & Zion I Kings) YG MARLEY – Praise Jah In The Moonlight (Fifty Six Hope Road Music)* LILA IKE & JOEY BADA$$ – Fry Plantain (In.Digg.Nation & Wurl Ike Records)
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
ADREYN CASH – Web Of Love (Orange Hill & Zinc Fence) AFRIKAN SIMBA – Freedom Struggle (Reality Shock Records) AFRIKAN SIMBA & MIKEY GENERAL – Freedom Struggle (Reality Shock Records) AKAE BEKA – Cream Of Joy (Living Testament: Trinity Farm Productions & Go A Chant) AKAE BEKA – Who Will Go For Us (Trinity Farm Productions & Go A Chant) ALAIN – Pile Up (Sweet 7 riddim: A-Team Lifestyle & Usain Bolt) ALBOROSIE & JAZ ELISE – Faith (VP Records) ALPHEUS – Unify (Unify: Liquidator) ANCIENT WARRIOR – Love Is Like A Mountain (Mista Savona) ANTHONY B – Inna De Revolution (Strictly Culture 23 riddim: Blacker Dread)* ANTHONY JOHNSON & RANDY VALENTINE – Behold (Buzwakk Records) AZA LINEAGE – My Mother (Jam 2) BAYONICS, SENECA, THE MYSTIC REVELATION OF RASTAFARI – Can’t Be How It Is (City Roots Ent) BLING DAWG – Spliff Today (Young Pow) BRUTHA RODZ & ISRAEL STARR – Burning (Brutha Rodz meets Israel Starr at the Foothills of Mt Raupehu: BlessUp Music) BRUTHA RODZ, ISRAEL STARR, CJ RUKA – Political Lies (Maoribank riddim: Maoribank Creatives Ltd) BUGLE – Promise (Apex: An9ted Ent) BUGLE & CAPLETON – Hopes (Small World) (Apex: A9ted Ent) BUSY SIGNAL & CAPLETON – Nuh Trust (DND: Jiggy D Entertainment) BUSY SIGNAL – In Every Country (River Nile Entertainment) CHEZIDEK – Action Man (Irie Ites) CHRISTOPHER ELLIS – Lessons Of Love (Silly Walks Discotheque) CHRISTOPHER ELLIS – Miss You (Ghetto Youths International) CHRISTOS DC & THE LIGERIANS – Shadow of Perception (SoulNurse Records & Honest Music) CHRONIC LAW – One Dream (Survivors Guilt riddim: Notnice) THE CO-OPERATORS & DENNISON JOSEPH – More Fire (Sounds From The Fridge: Waggle Dance Records) THE CO-OPERATORS & PERKIE – Over Yonder (Sounds from the Fridge: Waggle Dance Records) THE CO-OPERATORS, REBEKAH, IAMBE – Beneath The Sun (Sounds from the Fridge: Waggle Dance Records) D’YANI – Hard Ears (God’s Timing Music) DAMIAN JR GONG MARLEY – Banner (Ghetto Youths International) DEZARIE – Lion Is Lion (Dezarie Music) DUKE OF ROOTS & TARRUS RILEY – Pressure Drop (Duke Of Roots: Migration Records & Young Pow Productions) DUMIS9NE, STEPART, IMERU TAFARI – Feeling Irie (Timeless: Hologram Records) EN YOUNG & ROYAL BLU – Come With Fire (Roots Musician Records) ETANA – Grateful (Freemind riddim: Freemind Music) FALLE NIOKE, CONGO NATTY, MANU DIGITAL – The Children Of Shaka (Digital UK Session: X-Ray Production & Manudigital) FIKIR AMLAK – Vampire (Most High Records) FIKIR AMLAK & IZOARDI – Pay Day (Steppaz: Strange Land Records) FITZROY LEE – Poor and Hungry (New Earth riddim: Astro Melody Records) GINO NAYNA – On A Mission (JH Records) I-TAWEH – Let I Go (Musically Speaking: Tap Nat Muzik) I OCTANE – Burning Fire (Picture Frame riddim: John John) IMERU TAFARI – Anguish (The Essential: Koastal Kings & DubShot Records) IMERU TAFARI & QUEEN IFRICA – I Love Rastafari (Koastal Kings) IMERU TAFARI & SAMORY I – Protect My Soul (The Essential: Koastal Kings & DubShot Records) IMERU TAFARI, IOTOSH, KABAKA PYRAMID – Vortex (The Essential: Koastal Kings & DubShot Records) INDI ALLEN – Good Vibes Only (Oasis: Indie Allen) INEZI – Mind Check (Addis Records) INI KAMOZE & LILA IKE – I Want You (XTM.Nation & DubShot) INTRESTT & LUTAN FYAH – High Like The Cloud (Hits 38 Production) IOTOSH – The Cure (For The People) (For The People: Sound Ting) IOTOSH & PROTOJE – Fill My Cup (Sound Ting)* IRIE SOULJAH & MEDISUN – So Far (Ineffable Records) J WRITTEN & ALBOROSIE – Fear To Understand (Kaleidoscope: Tafari Records) JAH LIL – Currency Called Time (Out Deh Records) JAH LIL – Hold Corner (Bebble Rock Records) JAH LIL – Step By Step (Out Deh Records & Sinky Beats) JAH LIL – Warn Yuh (XTM.Nation & DubShot) JAH9 – Match (VP Records) JAHRIFFE & JALIFA – Iron Sharpen Iron (JahRiffe) JAHSHII & LILA IKE – Blessings (Slyda Di Wizard & Romeich) JESSE ROYAL, KUMAR, JAH IZREHL, IMERU TAFARI – Live Like Selassie (Boxy Records) JHAZAHRA – True Mi Bad (Treydrumz) JOE YORKE & THE CO-OPERATORS – Downbeat Melody (Waggle Dance Records) JORJA SMITH & MORTIMER – Greatest Gift (Camp Habitat Remix) (Falling Or Flying deluxe: FAMM) JUNIOR DREAD – Leaders (Irie Ites) KA$E – Perfect Storm (Cre8ive Tribe) KHALIA – Addicted (Albion Music) KUMAR & THE 18TH PARALELL – Never Give Up (Tales Of Reality: Easy Star & Fruits Records) KUMAR & THE 18TH PARALELL – Salvation (Tales Of Reality: Easy Star & Fruits Records) KY-MANI MARLEY – New Creature (Konfrontation Muzik & Dubshot Records) LENGUALERTA, NAI-JAH, ALPHA STEPPER – Ceasefire Now (Steppas Records) LIKKLE JORDEE – Wake Up (Likkle Jordee) LILA IKE & HER – He Loves Us Both (RCA Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective) LINVAL THOMPSON – Bound To Fall (Easy Star & Quan Records) LUCIANO – What We Gonna Do (Jah Wise & Nusantara Records) LUTAN FYAH – Bad Dawg (Resilience riddim: Kushite Organic Records) LUTAN FYAH – My Heart Cries (Clive Hunt) MARCUS GAD & ZULU VIBES – Babylon Nuh Care (Zulu Vibes & Sudar Publishing) MEDISUN – Discrimination (Hits 38 Production) MEDISUN – Extra Heavy (Extra Heavy riddim: Green Lion Crew) MICHAEL ROSE, HOLLIE COOK, SUBATOMIC SOUND SYSTEM – Happy Is The Man Who Finds Wisdom (DubShot Records & Controlled Substances) THE MIGHTY GRAVILLONS & THE 18TH PARALLEL – Crumbling World (Fruits Records) MORTIMER, KABAKA PYRAMID, LILA IKE – Bruises (Overstand & Easy Star) MORTIMER – Heavy (Overstand & Easy Star Entertainment) MORTIMER – Not A Day Goes By (Overstand & Easy Star Entertainment) NADIA McANUFF & THE LIGERIANS – Holy (Shelter From The Storm: SoulNurse Records) NADIA McANUFF & THE LIGERIANS – Shelter (Shelter From The Storm: SoulNurse Records) NGA HAN – Good To Know (Rebellion City Productions) NGA HAN – More Blessings (Fat Puffin) NGA HAN – Until War (Temple In Man: Majestic Vision, Roots Unity, Tetra Ark Records)* NORRIS MAN – Bun Babylon (Free Man: Tads) OLAF BLACKWOOD & SHAGGY – Pull Up Selector (Badman riddim: Ranch Entertainment) PEETAH MORGAN – Better World (Soul Rebel Sound)* PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Bob Marley Reggae (Giddimani Music & Sinky Beats) PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Chalice Face (Sinky Beatz) PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Rastafari To The World (Free Jah Jah Children riddim: Galaxy Soundstation) PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Reason (Irie Ites) PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Worthy For Jah (Giddimani Music & Sinky Beats) PINNACLE SOUND, EMANUEL & THE BIONITES – Deep Wata (Still Dread: Bat Records) PROTOJE – 30 Million (In.Digg.Nation & Ineffable) PROTOJE – Legend Legend (Ineffable Records) QUEEN OMEGA – Loyalty (Jahwise Productions) QUEEN OMEGA & NATURE MAKONNEN – Resilience (Kushite Organic Records) RANDY VALENTINE – Love Is In The House Of Life (Troots Music) RAS DEMO & KRAK IN DUB – Zion Gate (Evidence Music) RAS FRASER JR & NATTY KING – Disgrace (I Am Conscious: Wide Awake Music) RAS FRASER JR & PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Burn Down Babylon (I Am Conscious: Wide Awake Music) RAS TEO & THE NATURALS – Bil Back (King Solomon Records) RC – One A Way (Warriors Don’t Cry riddim: Penthouse) REEMAH – As Far As I Can See (Roots and Culture riddim: Silly Walks) RENIGAD & ASTYLE ALIVE – Blaze Up (Bad People Productions) RIK JAM – Journey (Irie Yute Tapes) ROBERT LEE – Sound A Go Dead (Dem A Fight riddim: Grubby Mitts) ROE SUMMERZ – Oouu! (Green Lion Crew) ROMAIN VIRGO – Just Like That (The Gentle Man: VP Records) ROMAIN VIRGO & CAPLETON – You Must Pay (The Gentle Man: VP Records) ROMAIN VIRGO & JESSE ROYAL – Bridges (The Gentle Man: VP Records) ROOTZ UNDERGROUND, WINSTON McANUFF, CEDRIC MYTON – Love For All (Tattooin Beat) SAMORY I – Clouds (Strength – Deluxe: Overstand & Easy Star) SAMORY I – You Will Know (Strength – Deluxe: Overstand & Easy Star) SAMORY I – Kingston Heat (Strength – Deluxe: Overstand & Easy Star) SHUGA – My Guide (Warriors Don’t Cry riddim: Penthouse) SIZZLA – Never Stop Try (Bogan Villa riddim: 12 Yaad Records & Zion Productions) SOULMEDIC – Firm and Militant (Jah Kebra Music) SPICE – Sitt’n Fi Chat (Badman riddim: Ranch Entertainment) STRANJAH MILLER – Too Hot (Too Hot riddim: Street Rockaz) T’JEAN – Hail Jah (AI (Ancient Intelligence) (Izreal Records & Jdeacs Records) T’JEAN – Mother Earth (AI (Ancient Intelligence) (Izreal Records & Jdeacs Records) TAJ WEEKES & ZION ALBERT – All Things Shall Pass (Eyes To See: Jatta Records) TAJ WEEKES & ZION ALBERT – Cornerstone (Eyes To See: Jatta Records) TATIK – Far Away (Stick With You riddim: DJ Densen & Oneness Records) TERRY LINEN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – Heathen (Tads) THE FLYING VIPERS – Show Me (Easy Star Records) THE HAPPY SUFFERER – Once Upon A Time Girl (The Happy Sufferer) TRIBAL SEEDS & HEMPRESS SATIVA – Wicked and Riled (Ancient Blood: Tribal Seeds Music) TRIBAL SEEDS & THE TWINKLE BROTHERS – Bondage (Ancient Blood: Tribal Seeds Music) U BROWN & AL CAMPBELL – Ruff Ina Dis Ya Time (Still Chanting Rub-A-Dub: Irie Ites) WINSTRONG – Khaki Suit (Harvest For Life riddim: Ambassador Musik) YG MARLEY – Survival (YG Marley Music)
BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia Saturday 28th December, 2024
Classic sounds in the first hour, modern sounds in the second… revisiting the Scriptures riddim by special request… new music from Rik Jam, Perfect Giddimani, Busy Signal and Sean Paul… and new dancehall in old-school style from King Toppa and SK Simeon.
ROMAN STEWART – Babylon (Foreward Recording Co) CULTURE – Deep Root Dub (Rare and Unreleased Dub: Revolver) KEN BOOTHE – Ain’t No Love (Hulk) ENOS McLEOD – See It Deh (High Note) ENOS McLEOD – If You Love Jah (The Genius Of Enos: Pressure Sounds) THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS – Plastic World (Channel One) LEROY SMART – Badness No Pay (Channel One) FREDDIE McKAY – Creation Dub (Creation: Plant Music & VP Records) BURNING SPEAR – It’s A Long Way Around (Dry and Heavy: Island) IJAHMAN LEVI – I’m A Levi (Haile I Hymn: Island) MONTY ALEXANDER – Forever Loving Jah (Concrete Jungle: The Music Of Bob Marley: Telarc) BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – Forever Loving Jah (Uprising: Island) HUGH MUNDELL – Jah Will Provide (Africa Must Be Free By 1983: Message) WILLI WILLIAMS – Give Jah Praise (Messenger Man: Drum Street) NGA HAN – Good To Know (Rebellion City Productions) MIDNITE & I GRADE – Double Speak (Let Live: I Grade) YAHADANAI – Rise (One Atonement: I Grade) YAHADANAI – Rise In Dub (One Atonement: I Grade) DUBBIN DARRYL, THE SPRINGTONES, NOYA – Walking On The Moon (Innerversions vol 1: Cry No More) CORRELLA – War (Skeletons: Loop) QUEEN OMEGA, CHEZIDEK, U BROWN – Three The Hard Way (Irie Ites) –request YEZA – Bullseye (RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music) YEZA – Tek Chat (Yeza Music & Sinky Beatz) PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Rastafari To The World (Free Jah Jah Children riddim: Galaxy Soundstation) CHRONIXX – Most I (Scriptures riddim: Don Corleon) –request JAH VINCI – Nice Again (Scriptures riddim: Don Corleon) MORGAN HERITAGE – Ends Nah Meet (Scriptures riddim: Don Corleon) RIK JAM – Caution (Irie Yute Tapes) KENNY KNOTS – Rasta No Answer (Jah Vision) SK SIMEON – Luganda (You Betta Run riddim: King Toppa) BIMM VYBZ & JOZELHA DA ARROWGAL – Ajon (You Betta Run riddim: King Toppa) SK SIMEON – Unnu Better Run (You Betta Run riddim: King Toppa) YAMI J – Baleke (You Betta Run riddim: King Toppa) SK SIMEON & JESSE I – Ying Yong (You Betta Run riddim: King Toppa) KYBBA, SEAN PAUL, BUSY SIGNAL – Ba Ba Bad (Basshall Records) AFRO BROS & DAMIAN MARLEY – Shattarock (Afreaka Records)
