BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I
106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia
Saturday 27 December, 2025

My pick of the best new reggae releases of 2025, as aired on Babylon Burning. 2025 was a strong year for reggae music, with many excellent album releases. My pick for album of the year is Chronixx’s “Exile”, which comes as a bit of a surprise – partly because he has been notably absent in recent years, but also because I found the album a bit underwhelming on first listen. Somehow I came to enjoy it more and more on repeated listens, until it became a favourite. It’s not exactly the album I was hoping for, as it’s a different Chronixx sound compared to that of 10-12 years ago, but I love how it hearkens back to older eras of reggae music – some songs sound like they could have been produced by Joe Gibbs in the mid 70s, while others sound like they could have come from an Island-era Wailers session or even an early 80s Roots Radics-backed rub-a-dub session. I found his 2017 album “Chronology” a bit overproduced, but “Exile” goes the other direction, and I think the more raw approach works here – it’s a great album and a welcome return from one of modern reggae’s greatest.

My other favourite albums this year were Rik Jam’s “The Genesis”, Lutan Fyah’s “Strength & Resilience”, Keznamdi’s “Blxxd & Fyah”, Lila Ike’s “Treasure Self Love”, Yeza’s “Star of the East” and Perfect Giddimani’s “Sibusiso”. I mentioned Rik Jam as a breakthrough artist in 2024, and it was great to see him follow up with more great material in 2025. If I was pressed to pick a single song as my favourite for the year, his song “Give Praise” would probably be it.

Dahvid Slur has also been around for a few years now, but he stepped it up again this year, and his great EP “Give It Your All” also deserves mention. Both he and Perfect Giddimani benefited from sweet riddims from Spain’s Sinky Beatz, who has really cemented his place as a top-tier reggae producer.

Speaking of top-tier producers, Laurent “Tippy” Alfred from the small island St Croix produced Lutan Fyah’s album “Strength & Resilience”, which I rate as the best LP of Lutan’s decades-long career. Bucking the common trend of reggae artists dropping off as they age, Lutan Fyah seems to be aging like a fine wine, getting better if anything.

Lila Iké’s “Treasure Self Love” was a long time coming – a full 5 years since her debut “The ExPerience” – but it didn’t disappoint. Not every song connected for me personally, but there were enough that did, and on a dancehall tip as well as reggae. Lila’s musical mentor Protoje had a fairly quiet year, but his tune “Big 45” was a proper modern roots hit. Fellow “reggae revival” heavyweight Kabaka Pyramid didn’t release much either, but his “Show Love” was a lyrical favourite of mine. UK artist YT also penned some serious lyrics in 2025, and he was one of the few artists in reggae to directly address the ongoing genocides in Gaza, Sudan and the Congo.

Dezarie’s album “Guardian” actually came out in late 2024, but it somehow went under the radar for me last year. Her song “Hold On” was a huge favourite for me this year, so I had to include it, despite it technically being a 2024 release.

THE BEST REGGAE OF 2025 as put to air on BABYLON BURNING on Dec 27, 2025:

MORTIMER – Burn It To The Ground (Tampa riddim: Paris La Mont)
CHRONIXX – Exile (Exile: Forever Living Original)
CHRONIXX – Don’t Be Afraid (Exile: Forever Living Originals)
CHRONIXX – Keep On Rising (Exile: Forever Living Originals)
CHRONIXX – Family First (Exile: Forever Living Originals)
LUTAN FYAH & CHRONIXX – Freedom Sound (Strength and Resilience: I Grade)
LUTAN FYAH – Leader Before Me (Strength & Resilience: I Grade)
LUTAN FYAH – Strength and Resilience (Strength & Resilience: I Grade)
DEZARIE – Hold On (Guardian: Dezarie)*
RIK JAM – Give Praise (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
LILA IKÉ – Scatter (Treasure Self Love: Wurl Iké Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective)
LILA IKÉ – Too Late To Lie (Wurl Iké Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective)
ABIJAH – Warrior Mode (Vibes Man riddim: Tads)
PERFECT GIDDIMANI, PRESSURE BUSSPIPE, YOUNG SHANTY – Ibrahim Traore (Giddimani Records)
KEZNAMDI – Colonial Bondage (Blxxd & Fyah: Keznamdi Music Group)
KEZNAMDI, MAVADO, MARLON ASHER – Bun Di Ganja (Roots Version) (Blxxd & Fyah: Keznamdi Music Group)
ROE SUMMERZ & BOOSTIVE – I Smoke Pot (Green Lion Crew)
PERFECT GIDDIMANI, YOUNG SHANTY, SKILLIN JAH – High Grade Weed (Africa Works riddim: Giddiamani Records & Sinky Beatz)
REVELATION DA ROYAL – Pretty Marijuana Buds (Africa Works riddim: Giddiamani Records & Sinky Beatz)
RAS FRASER JR – Jah A Ruler (Africa Works riddim: Giddiamani Records & Sinky Beatz)
SHENNELL & MESH MARINA – Joke Dem A Joke (SRO Dimension Music)
PROTOJE – Big 45 (In.Digg.Nation Collective)
IRIE SOULJAH & KABAKA PYRAMID – World Citizen (World Citizen: Ineffable Records)
KABAKA PYRAMID – Show Love (Young Pow)
YT & THE YOUNG CULTURE BAND – Lately (Young Culture Records)
MORTIMER – Round and Round (Zion I Kings)
BUSY SIGNAL – The Days (Zion I Kings)
YEZA – Road Runner (Rorystonelove)
DRE ISLAND – Cold World (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
RANDY VALENTINE – The Prayer (Burn Out)
DAHVID SLUR & KARON – Do Jah Works (Give It Your All: Marily Gustus Music)
HAILE CELESTIAL, KABAKA PYRAMID, IOTOSH – Walking Parable (DubShot Records & Haile Celestial)
CLAYE & GENTLEMAN – Nature (I Am Here Now) (Prawley-Mae Music)
ARRISE – Changes (Scotch riddim: Treydrumz & BlakYaad Productions)

listen online at https://www.pbsfm.org.au/program/babylon-burning/2025-12-27/17-00-00

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Songs that didn’t make the “best of” program but deserve recognition.

ALBOROSIE – Calling Selassie (Nine Mile: VP Records)
ALBOROSIE – Zombies (Nine Mile: VP Records)
ALETHIA & JAHWISE – Waiting For Your Love (Jahwise Productions)
ANTHONY B – Keep It Burning (High Peak riddim: Oneness Records)
ANTHONY B – Rude Bwoy (Born Fire Music)
AUTARCHII – Rastafari’s Call (Red A Red Music Group & Colonel Records)
BABY CHAM, DAMIAN MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY – Hustling In My Blood (Lawless Army Productions)
BELLY & JAHWISE – Looking For A Reason (Jahwise Productions)
BIG YOUTH, SANGIE DAVIS, MISTA SAVONA – Travelling Man (Mista Savona)
BUGLE & AGENT SASCO – Upliftment (Derrick Sound & Evidence Music)
CATHY MATETE – We Won’t Be Silent (Nature’s Way Entertainment)
CHEZIDEK – More Ganja (Evidence Music)
CHEZIDEK – Wasp Nest (Irie Ites)
CHRONIC LAW – Loveless (Red Fyah riddim: Romeich)
CHRONIXX – I and I (Exile: Forever Living Originals)
CHRONIXX – Love Is On The Mountain (Exile: Forever Living Original)
CHRONIXX – Market (Exile: Forever Living Original)
CHRONIXX – Pain In Your Heart (Exile: Forever Living Originals)
CHRONIXX – Saviour (Exile: Forever Living Original)
CHRONIXX – Scheming (Exile: Forever Living Originals) –request
CHRONIXX – Sweet Argument (Exile: Forever Loving Originals)
CLAYE – Rumours (Prawley-Mae Music)
CLAYE – Holy Water (Prawley-Mae Music)
CLAYE – Money Can’t Buy (Prawley-Mae Music)
CLAYE & LUTAN FYAH – System (Prawley-Mae Music)
COLLIE BUDDZ & BUSY SIGNAL – Spark Up (Harper Digital)
DAHVID SLUR – Don’t Give Up On Love (Marily Gustus Music & Sinky Beatz)
DAHVID SLUR – The Psalm 23 (Give It Your All: Marily Gustus Music)
DAHVID SLUR & JAH VEZI – This Morning (Give It Your All: Marily Gustus Music)
DANIEL RISING & JEMERE MORGAN – Real Life (Bost & Bim)
DANNY RED – What A Deal (Sasquatch Sound)
DERAJAH – Justice (Littlerock Sound)
DERAJAH & MYSTIC FIRM – Chant (Baco Music)
DEZARIE – Criminal (Guardian: Dezarie)*
DEZARIE PHOENIX – Snaking (Itzayoung Boy Productions)
DOUGY – Feel The Vibration (Still & Solid: Evidence Music)
DOUGY – Look Inside (Still & Solid: Evidence Music)
DRE ISLAND – Mr Politician (Jam 2)
EARL SIXTEEN & THE CO-OPERATORS – Country Living (Concrete Rockers: Waggle Dance Records)
EARL SIXTEEN & THE CO-OPERATORS – Smile On Your Face (Concrete Rockers: Waggle Dance Records)
FIKIR AMLAK – Hold The Vibe (Zion Higher Realm: Arkstarr Records)
FIKIR AMLAK – Rasta Live (Zion Higher Realm: Arkstarr Records)
FIKIR AMLAK & KING ALPHA – Serious Time (Children of ~war~ Hope: Shades of Red)
GROUNDATION, MICHAEL ROSE, ALPHA BLONDY – The Youth (Candle Burning: Baco Music)
HAILE – Half Way (HaiVi)
HAILE – Ms Gina (HaiVi)
HAILE – Robin Hood (Spare Room: Hai\i/a)
HAILE – Sativa (HaiVi)
HECTOR ROOTS LEWIS, BUSY SIGNAL, THE MOVEMENT – Dangerous (Cre8ive Tribe)
HIRIE – Elevation (Easy Star Records & Controlled Substance Sound Labs)
I MAN CRUZ, ROBERTO SANCHEZ, LONE ARK RIDDIM FORCE – Follow Unfollow (In A Mission: A-Lone)
IFFA CUSH & T’JEAN – Motivation (Iffa Cush Muzik)
IMERU TAFARI – Armageddon Trod (Rebellion City Productions)
INDRA & KRIS KEMIST – Crying Out (Children of ~war~ Hope: Shades of Red
INEZI – Social Mess (Addis Records)
INNA VISION & INI KAMOZE – Keep Distance (Reggae Lives)
INTRESTT – Today Fi Me, Tomorrow Fi You (Hits 38 Production & King Jammys)
IOTOSH & PANA – Righteous (Sound Ting)
IRIE SOULJAH – Blaze Up The Fire (World Citizen: Ineffable Records)
IRIE SOULJAH – Bout Ya (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
J WRITTEN – Celestial (Scotch riddim: Treydrumz & BlakYaad Productions)
JAH IZREHL – Pon A Plane (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
JAH LIL – Hold Corner (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
JECK PILPIL & PEACEPIPE – Vitamin Sea (Reggae Soul Medication: Manila Vibration)
JESSE ROYAL – Art of Love (No Place Like Home: Easy Star)
JESSE ROYAL – No Place Like Home (No Place Like Home: Easy Star)
JESSE ROYAL – Just Another Day (Soul Remedy riddim: Natural High)
JESSE ROYAL & KABAKA PYRAMID – Jungle Justice (No Place Like Home: Easy Star)
JESSE ROYAL, MEDISUN, BERES HAMMOND – Born In Jamaica (Easy Star)
JHAZAHRA – Dat Mi Like (Scotch riddim: Treydrumz & BlakYaad Productions)
JHAZAHRA – Wickedness (Jhazahra Music)
JHAZAHRA – Pardon Me (The Reggae Repository)
JOE YORKE – Walking In The Air (Rhythm Steady & Big Chip)
JOE YORKE & L’ENTOURLOOP – Rocksteady (Face B)
JOHNNY OSBOURNE, TARRUS RILEY, DEAN FRASER – We Need Love (Maximum Sound & VP Records)
KABAKA PYRAMID – Jamaica (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
KA$E & HECTOR ROOTS LEWIS – Hunting Season (Ineffable Records)
KELISSA – Way You Make Me Feel (Kelissa Music)
KELLY SHANE – Don’t Let Me Down (Celebrating Jamaica 63: Tads)
KENYA EUGENE – I and I (You Are I: Zion I Kings)
KENYA EUGENE – Lift Up My Head (You Are I: Zion I Kings)
KENYA EUGENE – You Are I (You Are I: Zion I Kings)
KEZNAMDI & KELISSA – I Am (Blxxd & Fyah: Keznamdi Music Group)
KHALIA – This I Know (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
KIMECO – Jah Love (One Love Records)
KING ALPHA – Serious Dub (Children of ~war~ Hope: Shades of Red)
KUMAR – Message in a Bottle (Clive Hunt)
KY-MANI MARLEY, IBA MAHR, LUTAN FYAH – Love and Energy (Konfrontation Muzik & DubShot Records)
LILA IKÉ – Love In Lovely Way (Treasure Self Love: Wurl Iké Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective)
LILA IKÉ – Serious (Treasure Self Love: Wurl Iké Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective)
LUTAN FYAH – Drain The Swamp (Strength & Resilience: I Grade)
LUTAN FYAH – Warning Dem (Strength & Resilience: I Grade)
LUTAN FYAH – Propaganda On Dem Airwaves (Primetime Music)
LUTAN FYAH & AKAE BEKA – Just The Time (Strength & Resilience: I Grade)
MARCUS I & THE 18TH PARALLEL – Wax Box (Fruits Records)
MARCUS I, aDUBta, BLACK OAK ROOTS ALLSTARS – Mr Money Man (F-Spot Records)
MARINA P & THE CO-OPERATORS – Step Back (Know Nothing About: Waggle Dance Records)
MARLON ASHER & MASICKA – In The Hills (VAS Productions)
MEDISUN – Clean Up (Bost & Bim)
MEDISUN & THE AUTOS – Inna Earth (Easy Star Records)
MELLOW MOOD & ROMAIN VIRGO – Pull Up (La Tempesta Dub)
MICAH SHEMAIAH – When Yuh Right (JahSolidRock Muzik)
MICAH SHEMAIAH – Not For Sale (JahSolidRock Music)
MICAH SHEMAIAH & THE AUTOS – Immorality (Easy Star)
MIKE LOVE & NAYA ROCKERS – Long Way Down (Higher Education: Naya Records)
MR G – Two Side Mouth (CD Master & Inna Mi House Music)
MYKAL ROSE – Murderer (JahWise Inna Jamrock: JahWise Productions)
NAOMI COWAN & JOHNNY OSBOURNE – Version (Welcome to Paradise: Easy Star)
NATTALIE RIZE – Fear and Dread (Rize Nation)
NINJA FORD – Da Song Deh (AC Records)
NYLE BANKS & LUTAN FYAH – Glass House (Rock & Come In: Nyle Banks Music Group)
PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Selassie White Horse (Giddimani Music & Sinky Beats)
PERFECT GIDDIMANI – Ganja Fi Bun (BAKE: Giddimani Music & Sinky Beatz)
PERFECT GIDDIMANI – High Grade Mi Love (Giddimani Music & Sinky Beats)
POPCAAN – We Alright (Nothing Without God: Unruly Ent)
PRESSURE BUSSPIPE & CAPLETON – Gunman Town (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
QRAIG VOICEMAIL & SINGER J – Real Vibez (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
QUEEN OMEGA – Touch Ina Di Place (Bun Dem riddim: Irie Ites)
RAPHA PICO – Dem Greedy (Sasquatch Sound)
RAS ATTITUDE & AKAE BEKA – Light Up (Partii Animalz Global)
RAYVON – Fortress (GTC Entertainment)
RENIGAD – Anti Social Media (Country Man riddim: Blaqk Sheep Music & Jahkader Production)
RIK JAM – Book of Life (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
RIK JAM – Gwan Walk (Jonquan & Easy Star)
RIK JAM – Hail The King (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
RIK JAM – Stronger (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
RIK JAM & ERIC RACHMANY – Stereo (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
RIK JAM & MEDISUN – Cry Blood (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
RIK JAM & TAYE LOUISE – Fight With You (The Genesis: Irie Yute Tapes)
ROE SUMMERZ & DUB SHEPHERDS – Strongest Soldier (BAT Records)
ROYAL BLU & PROTOJE – Life From Kingston (Easy Star)
ROYAL BLU & RUNKUS – 911 (Spain Root: G.Wav & Easy Star Records)
RUBI DU – Played Me (Low Key Source)
SAM GARRETT & MARCUS GAD – Salam Alekum (One Family: Ram Ram Records)
SAMORY I – Babylon Is Burning (JahWise Inna Jamrock: JahWise Productions)
SEJ – Bad Man (Compound Entertainment)
SKIP MARLEY – In Our Sight (Def Jam)
STEPHEN MARLEY & NAYA ROCKERS – The Right Path (Higher Education: Naya Records)
T’JEAN – 400 Years (Yaadman Records)
TARRUS RILEY – You + Me = Good Life (XTM.Nation)
TARRUS RILEY & TOK – Call Mi (Vigilanti Ent)
THE CO-OPERATORS & DENNISON JOSEPH – More Fire (Sounds from the Fridge: Waggle Dance Records)
WILLI WILLIAMS & LONE ARK – Don’t Show Off (Glory to the King: A-Lone Productions)
YAKSTA – Pon Di Island (Pon Di Island riddim: Bebble Rock)
YANISS ODUA – Lighta (Caan Dun Music)
YEZA – Edge Control (Star Of The East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YEZA – Heavyweight (Star Of The East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YEZA – Ism Schism (Star Of The East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YEZA – Likkle Wine (Star Of The East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YEZA – Piss Up (Star Of The East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YEZA – Preacher Man (Star Of The East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YEZA – Star of the East (Star of the East: RoryStoneLove & Black Dub Music)
YT – Weapon of Choice (Superchip Music)
ZIKKI – Know Yourself (Angaza: Bost & Bim)
ZIKKI – Love and Wars (Angaza: Bost & Bim)
ZIKKI – Trouble (Angaza: Bost & Bim)