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 dir ..read more

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 ..read more

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 piece of solid Bra ..read more

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 ..read more

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 o ..read more

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 ..read more

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 Haye r ..read more

Our latest single 'I'll Get Along Without You' featuring the great Earl 16, is out now on all streaming platforms, you can also download it in HD from our Bandcamp page here. The release also features a brand new Dub version of the track, mixed by Reggae Roast’s very own Matt Interrupt, which deconstructs the riddim, showcasing each element in the mix. We always love working with Earl 16, he is one of the most revered Reggae singers of his generation, having worked with the crème de la crème of producers in both Jamaica and Europe. He is a foundation Jamaican singer who ha ..read more

This month's Artist Spotlight is an extra special one, as it features none other than James Harper, the DJ, Producer, Soundman and founder of Reggae Roast. So we’re going to dive into James’s story and of course, the story of Reggae Roast. James has dedicated his life to bringing people together through music. He put on his first events as a teenager in Kentish Town, North London in the 90s and has gone on to stage 100’s of events, spanning 4 decades. He has put out dozens of releases, both as a producer and through his label, providing a platform for both up and coming artists as well as ..read more

One of the best things about hearing a live Reggae Soundsystem, is the selector or DJ's creative use of sirens and outboard FX to add that extra unique flavour and spice to the mix.  As DJs, we know how satisfying it is hitting that button before a big drop, or slapping some lickshot delay on a transition. So when we were building our Soundsystem we searched high and low to find the best gear.  We were lucky enough to meet Sandro Musetti, founder of Benidub Audio Electronics who specialise in building the finest Dub sirens and outboard FX units.  Benidub products are known ..read more