RhoDeo 1209 Roots

Hello, we're still on that island with a huge place in the global music catalogue, Jamaica. A production hothouse and they say the Weed makes you slow and lazy-go figure. Without the ganja driven reggae music Jamaica would have remained a Caribbean backwater and dare i say would never have given us Bolt, the fastest man in the world.

Can't get enough of that dub music ? Well here's some ragga dancehall then...

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A master of love songs and roots material, Leroy Smart has been on the reggae scene since the early '70s. He was raised in Kingston's Alpha Catholic Boys Home and began recording in the early '70s. Smart worked with such producers as Gussie Clarke, Joe Joe Hookin, and Bunny Lee while gaining fame for a flamboyant performance style, exceptionally anguished delivery, and penetrating vocal manner. Smart's smashing voice often seemed about to collapse from anxiety and earnestness mid-song. Smart recorded his first single, "It Pains Me" in 1969 for a producer called Mr. Caribbean. In 1970 he recorded "Ethiopia" for Joe Gibbs, and the first version of one of his most famous songs, "Pride & Ambition", with producer Gussie Clarke.

His breakthrough would come in 1973 with "Mother Liza", produced by Jimmy Radway, which topped the local singles chart, and led to "Pride & Ambition" also becoming a big local hit. After working with Bunny Lee for several years, he recorded another of his best-known songs, "Ballistic Affair" at Channel One, in 1976, and began producing himself in 1977. Smart has continued recording and remains popular, with over 35 albums to his name. He is regarded as one of Jamaica's most outrageous and colourful characters. and has continued to maintain his popularity, never scoring any crossover or international hits, but retaining his pull with the notoriously fickle Jamaican audience.

Leroy Smart - Superstar (flac 248mb)

01 Love In My Heart 2:55
02 Love Version 3:01
03 Let Your Heart Be Pure 3:28
04 Life Is A Funny Thing 3:45
05 I Don't Like It 3:00
06 We Want To Go Home 3:06
07 Jah Forgive Them 3:15
08 Forgive Jah Version 3:15
09 Man Is So Great 3:09
10 Jah Is Mighty 2:43
11 Mr. Rich Man 2:42
12 Shame And Pride 4:00
13 Channel One Feel It 3:27
14 Bad Minded People 2:57

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Reid was born in the Tower Hill area of Kingston, and had a tough upbringing in the city's Waterhouse district, notorious for being one of the most dangerous places in Jamaica.[1] It was there in the politically turbulent late '70s that he recorded his first-ever single "Speak the Truth" at the age of 13 for the late Hugh Mundell. He then went on to form his own band, the Voice of Progress, and after a local hit with "Mini-Bus Driver" the group scored local success with an album of the same name.

By the early 80's, commissioned by the great Sugar Minott to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion label, enjoying considerable popularity with tracks such as "Human Nature", "A1 Lover", and the evergreen "See How Me Black See How Me Shine", an uplifting and proud statement which became an anthem to the ghetto youth whom Reid increasingly championed. Reid was present at the 1983 shooting death of reggae singer Hugh Mundell; he was travelling in the same car as Mundell in Kingston.

Junior Reid found himself in a difficult spot when he joined Black Uhuru in 1986. He replaced Michael Rose, who had become quite popular as a longtime Uhuru contributor. Though essentially a good vocalist, Reid's style was so close to Rose's that he didn't establish his own identity. The group also suffered compositional difficulties and personal crisis during Reid's tenure. Puma Jones left and was replaced by Olafunke. They also didn't always get quality material or support from Sly and Robbie during this period. Reid departed in 1990 and began struggling as a solo artist to fulfill his considerable potential, with releases like 1991's Long Road, 1993's Big Timer, and 1996's Listen to the Voices.

Junior Reid - Original Foreign Mind (flac 181mb)

01 Junior Nature 3:48
02 Black Man Seed 3:11
03 Original Foreign Mind 3:15
04 Wrap Up A Draw 3:27
05 Rub A Dub It 2:30
06 Thank You 3:10
07 Hunts Bay 3:25
08 Love Mama 3:26
09 If You Would Be Mine 3:34
10 What Did You Know? 3:30

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Half Pint (born Lindon Andrew Roberts) began singing in the school choir at All Saints' Primary School. After the completion of his secondary education in 1976, he sought work as a vocalist within the Jamaican music industry. Half Pint toured the island with various sound systems including Black Scorpio, Jammys, Gemini, Lee's Unlimited and Killimanjaro. He subsequently worked with record producers such as Errol (John) Marshall; Errol (Myrie) Lewis; King Jammy; Sly and Robbie; George Phang; Jack Scorpio, Bobby "Digital" Dixon and Mass Hugh.

n 1983, Pint's first single, "Sally," was released followed by the song "Winsome," and both tracks became reggae hits.[2] He continued to release songs that became hits in the local and international reggae scenes, including "Mr. Landlord," "Level the Vibes," "Substitute Lover" and the chart-topper, "Victory." Besides these singles, Roberts released a number of albums.

In 1985, Half Pint accompanied Sly & Robbie on their international Taxi Gang tour, and subsequently cut several singles for them: the hit "Night Life Lady," "Hold On," and "World Inflation." Later that year, he moved on to work with producer George Phang, which resulted in his signature song, "Greetings." A pacesetter for the new ragga style (i.e., all-digital productions), "Greetings" was an enormous hit and stills ranks as a dancehall classic.

Half Pint - Greetings (flac 370mb)

01 Brother Love 3:38
02 Greetings 3:35
03 Living Is Hard 3:32
04 Heartbreaker 3:25
05 Loving 3:44
06 Don't Close The Door 3:32
07 Sounds Of Reality 3:45
08 Jah Don't Love That 3:27
bonus
09 Warn Them Marcus (Feat.Big Youth) 3:22
10 Get Ready 3:35
11 Level The Vibes 3:40
12 One Big Familly 3:30
13 Great Stone 3:34
14 Long Lost Lover 3:32
15 Too Late 4:06

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