Editorial Picks: July’s Reggae Rotation
From NYC to Melbourne and back to Kingston, through Wackies, Tubby’s and beyond — July’s rotation digs deep into dubwise history while spotlighting labels and artists who’ve built their own tectonic legacy. These eight selections span unreleased dubplates, epochal riddim excursions, Y2K digi thrillers, spiritual steppers and timeless toast.
No throwbacks here — each one still stings with urgency, futurism, and the kind of rhythm science that moves bodies and builds mythologies.
Genesis – Drum Talk (7")
Talking drum meets Tubby’s board
A remarkable 7” from Leroy “Mabrak” Mattis, percussionist and oral historian of the drum. After studying under Ghanaian master Kojo Fosu in Washington DC, Mabrak returned to Jamaica with a new rhythmic vocabulary — one he brought to life at King Tubby’s, adding repeater overdubs to Bim Sherman’s 100 Years. This version of the Love Forever rhythm replaces horns with crystalline guitar, pulling bright, sharp energy from the dub. Rich, raw, and culturally rooted.
Jeff Dread – Dub The Farmer's Daughter / Out On A Limb (7")
Two Y2K-era digi-dub gems from Sydney’s underground: raw, bass-heavy live mixes by Jeff Dread—dub futurist and ally to Firehouse, Club Kooky, and Creative Vibes. “Dub The Farmer’s Daughter” rides a wicked melodica lick and acid synth edits (via Sheriff Lindo), while “Out On A Limb” skulks in deep with unadorned, haunting minimalism. Steppers built for heavy bins—finally on 7”.
Various Artists – Tempo Explosion (LP)
NYC x JA pressure, Wackies link-up, version heaven
Sugar Minott, Willie Williams, Tenor Saw and Nitty Gritty all collide across this crucial LP, issued by Black Victory — a label bridging Studio One discipline with Bronx-digital invention. Featuring brutalist cuts on the immortal Tempo riddim (mixed by Tubby & Crucial Bunny), plus smouldering DJ versions and sharp production touches that ride the cusp of analogue and digital. Think militant swing, dubwise pressure, and NYC grit meeting Kingston consciousness.
I Roy / Keith Hudson – Jah Lion Jungle / Torch Of Freedom (7")
Deejay fire and freedom song on transparent yellow vinyl
Icon meets icon. I-Roy tears it up on Jah Lion Jungle — a mic masterclass with spiritual fire over Hudson’s Class & Subject riddim. Flip it and Hudson’s Torch of Freedom glows slow and low, with one of the deepest, moodiest grooves in his catalog. A 2008 repress on yellow wax, this plate still feels like a secret weapon from dub’s inner sanctum.
Alpha & Omega – Rastafari (7")
UK dub royalty in heavyweight mode
Originally dropped in ‘92 and reissued in 2013, this is a UK steppers anthem at its most righteous and raw. Rastafari rolls with meditative drive and deep-rooted intent — backed by a dubplate mix that delivers the low-end rumble and spiritual lift Alpha & Omega are revered for. A cornerstone sound for any system with a conscience.
Various – King Culture Presents Cuss Cuss (12")
Six deadly versions on one immortal rhythm
Lloyd Robinson’s Cuss Cuss riddim gets the full showcase treatment here, spanning recordings from Toronto and JA, voiced and mixed at Tubby’s with help from apprentices Professor and Puggy. Vocalists like Rod Taylor, Barry Brown and Stamma bring heat, while the dubwise cuts are tailor-made for selectors — raw, fierce, and engineered to mash up dances. An essential riddimology tool.
Silk, Satin, Velvet & Wool – Natty Burry (Dubplate Mix) (7")
Unreleased dubplate gold from the Uprising archives
Deep-digging magic from DKR, this 7" pulls an alternate vocal take of Natty Burry — stripped back, lyric-switched, and dubbed into the ether. The flip features the version played by Jahlovemuzik in the ‘70s, making this a must-have for any dubplate archivist. One rhythm, two hidden stories. Pressed like a whisper from a time capsule.
Prince Jazzbo - Replay Version (12")
Late-’80s digi-dub devastation from the mighty Prince Jazzbo, reissued with full clarity by Basic Replay. Originally on Ujama, these four cuts mark a new era in reggae—haunted, minimal, and heavy on the FX. Lead track “Replay Version” is pure dread funk: tense, paranoid, and completely undeniable. A foundational step into the future.
RIYL: King Tubby, Bullwackies, Keith Hudson, Prince Jazzbo, Alpha & Omega, Sugar Minott, Tenor Saw, Dub Store Records, Studio One, Roots Radics, DKR, Channel One, Youth Promotion, Efficient Space.