Dubmatix Sticky Icky Reggae Mix

The previous decade saw the shift from Mento to the rise of Ska, the slowdown morphing into Rocksteady and eventual transition to something slower with a heavier groove, lower bass, and a new voice - one that communicated the news lyrically of what was transpiring within Kingston and surrounding areas - Roots Reggae. The Shift: From Rocksteady to Roots The late '60s gave us rocksteady, smoother, soulful, love-driven tunes with slower rhythms and tight harmonies. But by 1971, Jamaica was changing. The people were speaking out about politics, poverty, Rastafari, repatriation, and resistance. And the music began to echo that shift. Roots reggae emerged as a soundtrack to consciousness. The drums got heavier. The basslines got deeper. The lyrics started telling the truth about ghetto life, oppression, and spiritual awakening. PLAYLIST Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelations - Rasta Reggae David Isaacs - Knock Three Times Augustus Pablo & Bongo Herman - Java Passion Winston Wright & The Impact All Stars - Woodpecker Delroy Wilson - Better Must Come The Wailers - Sun Is Shining Lloyd Charmers - Reggae In Wonderland Bruce Ruffin - Rain Max Romeo - Let The Power Fall U-Roy - Everybody Bawling The Stingers - Give Me Power Prince Buster - Holly Dave & Ansel Collins - Double Barrel The Ethiopians - Everything Crash Roy Shirley - Dance Reggae Eric Donaldson - Cherry Oh Baby Burning Spear - This Population The Abyssinians - Poor Jason Whyte

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between. PLAYLIST Senya – Roots Man Fullness, Mikey General – Chariots and Horses Rob Smith aka RSD, Big Youth – Jim Screechy - Dub Joe Ariwa – Big Bad & Boasty Twilight Sound System, Prince Alla – No More Will I Roam - Extended Mix Ras Teo, Ashanti Selah – When Jah Arise Paul Fox – First Light Roots Massacre, Dub Addict Sound System, Joe Pilgrim – Nation Drones Overproof Soundsystem – Kunte Kinte Dennis Brown – Drifter Lloyd Parks – Mafia Junior Byles – Da Da Danny Red – Open the Gates Slimmah Sound – Peaceful Version Jah Works – Richman For more themed mixes, visit https://bassculture.substack.com/

Why the Golden Era? What makes it so special? Along with the fashion that has been part of Hip Hop culture from the start was the message, much like reggae shifted from love songs during the Rocksteady era to Roots Reggae in the 70s, where people were trying to unite and bring something more conscious and durable to the recordings. HipHop would repeat this shift 20 years later, from the early 80s with Run DMC, LL Cool J, Doug E. Fresh, and Kurtis Blow to Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Digable Planets, & Public Enemy amongst others - they formed a coalition of unity, consciousness, and empowerment. The Golden Era wasn’t just about hits; it was a cultural movement. It set the blueprint for what hip-hop could be: raw yet refined, rebellious but thoughtful. Whether you grew up with these tracks or are just discovering them, this mix is a celebration of the sound and soul of one of music's most influential periods. PLAYLIST Skee-Lo – I Wish A Tribe Called Quest – Buggin' Out Fugees, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Pras – Fu-Gee-La Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours (Revisited) Beastie Boys – Egg Man House Of Pain – Jump Around - Pete Rock Remix Pete Rock, Method Man – Half Man Half Amazin (feat. Method Man) Guru, Baybe – Lifesaver Cypress Hill – I Ain't Goin' Out Like That Craig Mack – Flava in Ya Ear Das EFX – They Want EFX Tha Alkaholiks – Make Room KRS-One – MC's Act Like They Don't Know Digable Planets – Jettin' Gang Starr – Code Of The Streets Slum Village, Jazz Spastiks – We Do It (Jazz Spastiks Remix)

Tracy and I go back to my very first album, “Champion Sound Clash,” back in 2004. He’s been a fantastic supporter of not only my music but thousands of musicians over the past decades, so it’s my great pleasure to share today’s mix with him. He currently hosts a show, “Reggae Shack” on KWNK 97.7 FM Reno, kwnkradio.org PLAYLIST Big Youth - World War III Little Harry - Long Time Ago Yellowman - Duppy or Gunman Frankie Paul/John Steele - I Need Your Lovin’/Ghettology Sister Candy - Black Culture John Wayne - Bubble with Me Papa Levi - Mi God Mi King Lone Ranger – Wicked a Go Run Captain Sinbad – Bam Salute Linval Thompson – Pop No Style Jah Batta – Youthman Time Toyan – Children Children Wayne Jarrett – Ranny And Lou Sammy Dread, Saddle Dread – Follow Fashion Anthony Johnson – What Kind of Herb

Ease into your Sunday with this mellow one-hour mix of acoustic reggae. Featuring stripped-down acoustic tracks for this session. Kick back and enjoy the easy vibes. PLAYLIST Clinton Fearon – Backyard Meditation Stephen Marley, Damian Marley – The Traffic Jam (Acoustic Version) Barrington Levy – Personal Oval Sylford Walker – Burn Babylon (Acoustic Version) The Expanders – Evilous Number Israel Vibration – Dancing in the Rain (Acoustic Version - Bonus) Bedouin Soundclash – Jeb Rand The Congos – Hills and Valleys Toots & The Maytals – Bam Bam (Live) Bim Sherman – Over The Rainbow Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – One Good Spliff Ronnie Davis – Strange Things (Acoustic) UB40 featuring Ali Astro & Mickey – Food For Thought (Unplugged) Andrew Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Ky-Mani Marley – Soon Come Queen Ifrica – Predator's Paradise Jesse Royal – Feel Your Pain (Percapella)

This mix dives deep into the crucial transition period of Jamaican music during the early 1980s—those rich, rugged years when the roots reggae era evolved into the raw pulse of early dancehall, also known as rub-a-dub. The 17 tracks featured here capture the stripped-down riddims, streetwise vocals, and echo-laden dub textures that defined this moment in time. These were the years when roots consciousness met sound system swagger, and the groove got heavier, slower, and more bass-focused. As political tensions rose in Jamaica and the optimism of the ‘70s roots began to fade, artists and producers responded with music that reflected reality—gritty, direct, and dance-ready. About This Era (1979–1985): The Roots–Dancehall Crossover Why It Happened After nearly a decade of deeply spiritual and political roots reggae, a younger generation pushed for change. They craved music that could still carry a message but move the dancefloor and reflect everyday life. The result: rub-a-dub and early dancehall, a style with emphasis on drum and bass, minimal overdubs, and toasting (a rhythmic, talk-over vocal style) alongside melodic singing. Who Shaped the Sound Sly & Robbie (The Rhythm Twins): Their Taxi label and riddims drove innovation—combining militant basslines with minimal, hard-hitting drum grooves. Henry “Junjo” Lawes: A towering figure of this time, producing massive hits for artists like Yellowman, Don Carlos, Michael Prophet, and more—often backed by the mighty Roots Radics band. Roots Radics: The go-to session band for rub-a-dub—slow tempos, dubbed-out textures, and basslines that could anchor any vocal. Joe Gibbs, Channel One, Jammy’s, Techniques, and Volcano were the key studios and labels shaping the sound. PLAYLIST Tony Tuff – Come Fe Mash It Little John – Smoke Ganja Hard Gregory Isaacs – Oh What a Feeling Barrington Levy – Trying to Rule My Life Half Pint – Sally Michael Prophet – Gunman The Meditations – Carpenter Rebuild Linval Thompson – Look How Me Sexy Don Carlos – Laser Beam Super Cat – Dance Inna New York Yellowman – Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt Freddie McGregor – Roots Man Skanking Josey Wales – It A Fi Burn Wailing Souls – Inchpinchers Anthony Johnson, Jah Thomas, Toyan – Gunshot Cornell Campbell – Boxing Around Bunny Wailer – I'm The Toughest

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between. PLAYLIST Errol Holt – Congo Dread Jacob Miller – Some Of Them Say Them A Rasta Mystic Eyes – Linger a While Pablo Moses – Blood Money Leroy Brown – What a Fire The Abyssinians – South African Enlistment - Remastered 2002 Rod Taylor – Bad Man Comes and Goes NORRIS REID – PROTECT THEM The Officials – Babylonian Mighty Diamonds – Gates of Zion Johnny Clarke – Blood Dunza Dennis Brown – A True Barrington Levy – Walk 2000 Miles Horace Martin – Africa Is Calling Noel Ellis, Lone Ark – I Know Jah Shaka – Repatriation Senya – Roots Man Fullness, Mikey General – Chariots and Horses For more themed mixes, visit https://bassculture.substack.com/

For today’s clash, I welcome Dubmaster Conte, who came through with a heavy UK steppers selection—deep basslines, militant drums, and hypnotic echoes. In response, I dug into my vault and pulled seven stepper tracks that complement and contrast his picks, forming a heavyweight sonic journey. Each episode becomes a time capsule of two minds meeting over music. PLAYLIST Manasseh, The Equaliser – Millennium The Bush Chemists – Earth’s Rightful Ruler Miniman, Murray Man – Dub Over Evil Alpha & Omega – Sacred Realm The Disciples – Eastern Fire Indica Dubs, Vibronics, Vanya O – Dub Stream Dougie Conscious, Artman – Artman Meets Dougie Dub Dynasty, Alpha Steppa, Alpha & Omega, Don Fe – River Jordan Junior Delgado, Smith & Mighty – Storm is Coming Fikir Amlak, Ital Horns, Dougie Conscious – African Raindrops Gussie Clarke – No Entry – 2025 Remaster Fullness – Bless Na Curse Riddim Macka B, Mad Professor – Warrior Dub Roots Keepers, Vibronics – Rootswoman Dub

A dive into the raw, psychedelic world of Lee "Scratch" Perry — the original Upsetter. This one-hour mix uncovers rare gems, unreleased dub plates, and overlooked productions from Perry’s Black Ark era and beyond. Expect swirling echoes, hypnotic grooves, and unpredictable sonic experiments that highlight Perry’s genius outside the mainstream. This isn’t a greatest hits session, it’s a head-nod to the underground wizardry of reggae’s mad scientist. Perfect for crate diggers, dub heads, and anyone curious about the sonic shadows of Scratch. PLAYLIST The Classics - Civilization (Produced by Perry) The Upsetters - A Live Injection Lee "Scratch" Perry - Perry In Dub Lee "Scratch" Perry - Three Blind Dub Lee "Scratch" Perry - Rub-A-Dub Lee "Scratch" Perry - After Beat Dub The Upsetters - Rare Acetates Vol 1 (B Side Mix) The Upsetters - Haunted House (Rare Vinyl) The Upsetters & Augustus Pablo - Black Ark The Upsetters - Dark Moon The Upsetters - Rebels Train / Rebels Dub The Upsetters - Shuffle (Unreleased Dub Plate Mix) Lee "Scratch" Perry - Caneriver Rock extended with Rocky River The Upsetters & Bob Marley - Natural Mystic The Upsetters - Vibrator

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between. PLAYLIST Sylford Walker – Eternal Day Junior Delgado – Every Natty Tetrack – Look Within Yourself Prince Alla – Funeral Earth & Stone – Jail House Set Me Free The Twinkle Brothers, Alla – Babylon A Fight Barry Brown – Enter the Kingdom of Zion Linval Thompson – Cool Down Your Temper Cultural Roots – World Of Illusion The Black Survivors – Come Away Jah Jah Children Delton Screechie – Living in the Ghetto - 12 Mix Keith Porter, The Itals – Jah Glory Naggo Morris – Jah Guide Bob Andy – Unchain Me Leroy Smart – Babylon Don't Like Dreadlocks Junior Ross & The Spears – Rasta Come From Zion aka Rastaman Say For more themed mixes, visit https://bassculture.substack.com/

For today’s mix, I’ve brought in a guest, Ediblspaceships, who’s been an active part of Bass Culture, and he’s selected seven tracks, and I’ve filled out the rest of the hour. I hope you enjoy it. If you’d like to be part of a future Sound Clash, please don't hesitate to message me. PLAYLIST ediblspaceships selections Twilight Circus Dub Sound System – Dance Plate Dry & Heavy - Kick The Bong Around Prince Fatty, Shniece McMenamin – Expansions Twilight Circus Dub Sound System – Floorshaker Prince Fatty, Mungo's Hi Fi, Sugar Minott – Scrub a Dub Style - Prince Fatty Mix Sherwood & Pinch - Bring Me Weed (Casio Love Bootleg Remix) Clouds - Elders (Rootah Dub) Dubmatix selections Restriction – Four Point Plan Jah Shaka & Mad Professor – Ecological Dub Jah Warrior – Herbsman Anthem Manasseh – Zion Dubbing Gentleman's Dub Club, Kiko Bun – Use Me (Ben Mckone Dub) - Mixed Sis Jendayi – Feel It - Dub Two Butch Cassidy Sound System – Coming Storm Diggory Kenrick, The Prophet Allstars – Oppression (Part 1)

Ambient dub is the dreamlike extension of traditional dub—a sound world where slow-motion basslines, swirling echoes, and textured layers stretch out like scenes from a film you've never seen but somehow remember. It’s not dub for the dancefloor. It’s dub for drifting. For breathing. For letting go. PLAYLIST Docetism – Old Oak Akcept, Another Channel – Transmission Another Channel – Version Of Love Versa – Breakthrough Thievery Corporation – Le Monde Eccodek, Dubmatix – Voices Have Eyes (Dubmatix Cinematic Dub Mix) Low Volume, Biodub – Hope So - Biodub Remix Upwellings – Blue Line to Brixton - Original Mix Deadbeat, Paul St. Hilaire – Dopa Biodub – Schweben Dubmatix, Future Dub Orchestra – Black Arc

Burning Spear—born Winston Rodney in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica—is not just a reggae artist; he is a vessel of history, resistance, and Rastafari wisdom. While his better-known songs, such as "Marcus Garvey," "Columbus," and "Slavery Days," defined 1970s roots reggae, there’s a rich body of lesser-known tracks that offer just as much power, insight, and sonic magic. This one-hour mix delves into a deeper catalog: unreleased takes, dub versions, extended disco mixes, and forgotten B-sides that still resonate with Spear’s unwavering spiritual and political voice. These are songs for those ready to go beneath the surface. PLAYLIST Burning Spear - Call On You Burning Spear - Swell Head Burning Spear - Foggy Road Burning Spear - Institution (Disco Mix) Burning Spear - Workshop (Red Gold And Green) Burning Spear - Travelling Burning Spear - Free Black People Burning Spear - Farther East Of Jack (Old Marcus Garvey) Burning Spear - Spear Burning Burning Spear - Dub Man Burning Spear - Natural (Version) Burning Spear - Jah No Dead (Disco Mix) Burning Spear - Marcus Senior Burning Spear - Do The Reggae (12" Inch mix) Burning Spear - The Whole We A Suffer

We take a deep dive into the heaviest, deepest, and most earth-shaking dub sounds of the 1970s with 15 killer, no filler, dub tracks. This is the era when dub was forged in Kingston's studios, carved into vinyl grooves, and blasted through the most powerful sound systems across Jamaica and beyond. These dubs rattled speakers, lifted minds, and laid the foundation for what we now call bass culture. So turn up your speakers, feel the bass in your chest, and let’s step into the echo chamber of heavyweight dub. PLAYLIST King Tubby - Keep On Dubbing The Revolutionaries - Rocking Dub The Scientist - Drum Song The Aggrovators - Bag O Wire Prince Jammy - Fist Of Fury Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Chapter Three The Revolutionaries - Waiting In The Park Dub The Twinkle Brothers - Jahovah in Dub Majesty King Tubby & The Aggrovators - A Rougher Version Horace Andy & The Aggrovators - Money For Dub Mikey Dread - Industrial Dub Prince Far I & The Arabs - Dub To Africa Prince Far I - Back Weh The Viceroys - Why Dub Roots Radics - Blood On His Lips

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between. PLAYLIST Horace Andy – Babylon System Sylford Walker – My Father's Homeland Hugh Mundell – Can't Pop No Style Creation Rebel – Know Yourself Joy White – Dread Out Deh Moon Rocks, Prince Jazzbo – Have No Fear Barry Brown – Politician Linval Thompson – Pop No Style Welton Irie – Greetings The Black Survivors – Come Away Jah Jah Children Lacksley Castell – My Woman Can Soul Syndicate – Tonight Augustus Pablo – Some Dub Plate Wayne Jrrett – Saturday Night Jamboree Mystic Eyes – Judgement Time For more themed mixes, visit https://bassculture.substack.com/

This special mix celebrates the voice, vision, and vibration of Martin Campbell, one of the UK’s most dedicated roots reggae artists. With haunting vocals, militant riddims, and dubwise production, his sound remains a powerful bridge between the message-driven reggae of the 1970s and today’s global dub revival. This was an artist I’d never crossed musical paths with, so when I first heard “Wicked Rule,” my ears perked up. The music was different, his voice stood out with a unique tone and delivery that made me stop and ask What was that? T’ Then I had to relisten several times to wrap my head around what this guy was doing. Released in 1990, it was a blend of digital dancehall sounds, soundsystem-style steppers, and bass, with minimalist production. PLAYLIST Martin Campbell, Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – Just Another Day Martin Campbell – Babylon Come Martin Campbell – Another Night Martin Campbell – Give the Poor Man a Try Martin Campbell – Everywhere I Walk Martin Campbell, Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – Keep on Rowing the Boat Martin Campbell – War and Plunder Martin Campbell – Tears Form Martin Campbell – Hard Living Martin Campbell – Got to Pray Alien Dread, Martin Campbell, The Hi-Tech Roots Dynamics – Don't Cry Dub Martin Campbell – Ignorance & Poverty Martin Campbell – Crazy Circus Martin Campbell – Bound to Fall Martin Campbell – Jacks Mouth Martin Campbell, Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – You Lick Me First Martin Campbell - Wicked Rule

This one-hour set draws from key artists and tracks that have helped shape the sound, making it a perfect companion for chill-out sessions, creative focus, or late-night journeys through your mind. PLAYLIST Quanta - Akasha Experience – Quazilimbo (Akasha Experience Remix) Pitch Black - Deep Fried Dub – Transient Transmission (Deep Fried Dub's Battered Mix) Kuba – The Woman Who Made The Rain Come Psybur – Pocket Universe Deep Fried Dub – Kryptology (Deciphered Mix) Tor.Ma In Dub – The Colour from Space Third Ear Audio – The End? International Observer – Low Light Meter Ricky Bamboo – Subconscious Deep Fried Dub – Mirage Dubsalon – Yeco Ne Boko

Steely & Clevie laid the blueprint for digital reggae and modern dancehall. Their innovations in rhythm sequencing, MIDI drum programming, and sampling gave rise to an entire generation of producers. Sadly, Steely passed away in 2009, but their legacy lives on in countless tracks, remixes, and riddims still in rotation today. PLAYLIST Pinchers – Bandelero Beres Hammond – Tempted to Touch Steely & Clevie, Dawn Penn – You Don't Love Me Freddie McGregor – Loving Pauper Junior Tucker – Love Of A Lifetime Steely & Clevie, Leroy Sibbles – Fatty Fatty Foxy Brown – Sorry Lady G, Sugar Minott – A Whole Heap A Man Cocoa Tea – Sonia Come Back Tiger – Ram Dance Hall Sugar Minott – Smile Mr. Vegas – Heads High Admiral Bailey – Punanny Gregory Peck – Oversized Mampie General Degree – When I Hold You Tonight Shabba Ranks – Trailer Load A Girls Anthony Malvo, Daddy Lizard – Take You To The Dance Ninjaman – Murder Dem

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between. PLAYLIST Earth & Stone – False Ruler Delton Screechie – Living in the Ghetto - 12 Mix Ranking Joe – STEP IT DOWN SHEPHERDS BUSH Barry Brown, Scientist – Movements of Jah Dubmaster Conte, Baltazzar – High Vibes Dub Prince Jazzbo – Mr. Harry Skank Linval Thompson – River Jordan Wayne Jarrett – Satta Dread Ras Midas – Let the People Go The Revolutionaries – Big Foot Hortense Ellis – Jah Created the World Junior Ross & The Spear – Judgement Time Neville Tate – See A Man's Face Joe Auxumite – No Equal Rights in Babylon Jack Ruby, King Tubby, Errol Thompson – Running Dub For more themed mixes, visit https://bassculture.substack.com/

I’ve been locked in with Leroy from the moment I heard Ballistic Affair as the needle hit vinyl and exploded out of my childhood bedroom stereo decades ago - the infectious groove and his vocal delivery, raw pleading, captured my attention and hasn’t let go since. He is a once-in-a-generation voice that, after 50 years, still resonates with young and old and will get your head nodding and feet moving. The Backstory Leroy Smart isn’t just another reggae singer—he’s one of the most fearless and outspoken voices to ever rise from Kingston’s music scene. Known as “The Don,” his career blends social commentary, streetwise bravado, and timeless melodies. PLAYLIST Leroy Smart - Mother Lisa Leroy Smart, Big Youth - Pride And Ambition (Extended) Leroy Smart - Life Is a Funny Thing Leroy Smart - Wreck up My Life Leroy Smart - Ballistic Affair Leroy Smart - We Want to Go Home Leroy Smart - Jah Is Mighty Leroy Smart - Badness No Pay Leroy Smart - Badness Don't Pay (45 Edit) Leroy Smart - Africa Leroy Smart - Mr. Smart Leroy Smart - Friday Night Leroy Smart - Party Time Rock Leroy Smart - No Love Leroy Smart - Jah Almighty Leroy Smart - Beautiful Rainbow Leroy Smart - No Check Babylon God Leroy Smart - Jah Jah Forgive Them