The Boss

Despite what you might hear from individuals with not-so-much knowledge on the subject, there is absolutely no shortage in GOOD Reggae music or great difficulty in finding GOOD Reggae music these days. Quite the contrary: I’d go as far as to make the argument that, with as many people who’re participating in the music these days, today we have MORE good Reggae than ever before in history when it was simply coming from one area and, at least presumably, we’d have more tomorrow than we have today. In fact, I’d even say that it is FAR harder to sift through quality releases than it is to FIND them in the first place, which is exactly why I decided to make this list. From a historical perspective, in terms of having lineages going back further and further, Reggae labels and producers are arguably even more important than the artists themselves, as they have much longer shelf-lives. So, I thought that I’d point you in the direction of ten GREAT and maybe soon-to-be GREAT labels and producers of today. These are The Boss Men: My Top 12 Favourite Reggae Labels of Today.

{note: Labels are ranked according to how I feel about them RIGHT NOW, with only a very very slight consideration taken for their work in the past}
{Hon. Mentions: Truckback, Jahsolidrock/Not Easy At All, Rock 'N Vibes & Big Ship}

#12 Ward 21

The name ‘King Jammy’ is, of course, one of the greatest and most popular in the history of Reggae and Dancehall music and his family has subsequently gone onto make quite the name for themselves as well in the area of predominately Dancehall production. Still, to my opinion, it is the King’s non-blood related family who, these days, are doing the best at honouring his very lofty legacy, Ward 21. While Suku and company have had a pretty good 2010 and exhibitions of their overall ability go back more than a decade to the now timeless Bellyas Riddim, their entry on this list is mandatory here and now largely based on the fact that they have delivered what will probably go down as my favourite Dancehall riddim of 2010, the MASSIVE Cosa Nostra Riddim.

Ward 21 Website

#11 Tiger Records

Of course we have to mention one of the younger staples of this list, newer Achis Reggae favourite, Tiger Records from Sherkhan. It was probably least year’s retrospectively solid and increasingly very strange ”French Connection” from the . . . Solid and increasingly very strange Perfect (Yes - I still enjoy that album to this day), which caught most attention to this label, but the reason why it is on this list is because for such a new(er) label, it has such a wonderfully colourful and VARIED past. Besides doing heavy Roots pieces such as the Sufferah and Ol’ Sitt’n Riddims, there’s also the ‘FRESHLY’ vibed Wharfedale Riddim and the hardcore Dancehall piece, the Arena Riddim. Oh, and hopefully I need not even get into the fact that earlier this year Tiger Records dropped the very nice Box Guitar Riddim, which just happens to be the backing of Junior X’s mega-shot ‘Cross Me Heart’, the single best tune I’ve heard all year. Going forth, the most recent rumours I’ve heard had albums from both Diana Rutherford and Sizzla Kalonji jumping up in 2011. Should both (or either) come to fruition expect an even higher standing on this list a year from now.

Tiger Records @ Myspace

#10 Lustre Kings Productions

The boys and girls at Lustre Kings Productions remain my favourite US based Reggae label (although should Itation keep their current form into 2011-2012, they just may topple them at some point) and over the past few years they’ve done some of their finest work overall to date. Just two years ago they brought forth releases from Al Pancho (I know, I’m just mentioning it), Midnite, Noble Society and Norris Man (and they also had a hand in Messenjah Selah‘s work as well, if I recall correctly), while last year was highlighted by the excellent Proverbs Riddim, an LKP Dub album and the third installment of what got me so in LOVE with this label in the first place (even though they don’t answer their fucking email), ”Culture Dem”. Now, if they could just . . . Oh I don’t know maybe give us a Jahdan Reggae album this year, then that would definitely be something which would get them on such a list - It’ll be out in a couple of weeks.

LKP Website

#9 Juke Boxx Productions

Next in is Juke Boxx which, although they haven’t had the greatest of years, I judge largely on the output of he who definitely is their greatest attraction, the captivating Busy Signal and certainly he has had quite the nice year for 2010. Besides delivering his third official international studio release, ”D.O.B.”, which was pretty good, Busy has clearly had one of the most CONSISTENT of years of any big named Dancehall acts. And Shane Brown’s label hasn’t exactly been dormant besides supervising Busy’s exploits, they’ve also delivered a relicked version of the Stagalag and the ANGRY Damage Control Riddim as well. Combine that with the fact that the couple of previous years have been FIRE for Juke Boxx and they surely have to in the mix and I’m expecting even a bigger 2011 as well.

Juke Boxx Productions @ Myspace

#8 Necessary Mayhem Records

Curtis “Da Grynch” Lynch and friends at the breakout young UK label Necessary Mayhem have a great deal of potential and someday I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see them at the top of this list should some of the higher ones falter just a bit. Over the past couple of years or so Necessary Mayhem have provided the UK Reggae scene with a MUCH needed boost of young blood and interest in the production area of the music to go along with up and coming vocalists such as Mr. Williamz and Gappy Ranks. They’ve managed to do so, largely, by relicking older riddims and pushing them forward, however, what I’m seeing is if they’re album to do more original pieces and mix them in (and to my knowledge, their latest effort, the Jam 2/Wobble, was just that) then that combined with voicing the top UK talent (old and young), some big Jamaican talent and even other European artists such as Ziggi Recado and Maikal X can show that the sky is the ceiling for Necessary Mayhem.

Necessary Mayhem Website

#7 Maximum Sound

It’s so interesting that I am going to refer to Frenchie’s most SOLID Maximum Sound imprint as a “UK label” and do so with good reason, it is where the label is headquartered and always has been to my knowledge, but it is predominately with Jamaican artists that Maximum Sounds has made its name. Surely it isn’t the only of its kind, but that, alone, is quite rare, an international label making and reaffirming its name with the artists from another place and doing so not in ‘spurts’ (such as Minor 7, Flat 5 a few years back), but doing so continuously. Anthony B, of course, is the name most often tied to Maximum Sound, but they’ve also dealt extensively with the likes of Lukie D, Jah Mason, Fantan Mojah and most recently, Luciano for whom they released the very respectable ”United States of Africa” earlier this year. Also this year was the sequel to their outstanding ”Bobo Revolution” compilation and they’ve continued to plow along steadily and you can well expect more of the same in 2011.

Maximum Sound Website

#6 Don’s Music

Very much like the next entrant on this list, Don’s Music is not only a perennial favourite of mine, but they also happen to have quite a bit of influence on one of the big subgenres of Reggae and Dancehall. In this case, of course, Don’s Music is the biggest label around when it comes to Dancehall music from out of the French Caribbean and, also like the next label I’m going to tell you about, while they’re not the most active, they’ve had a VERY strong 2010 (and 2009 wasn’t bad either). Last year they kicked up with an album from the big artist, Saël and this year they’ve just outdone themselves. Not only did they bring back Gwada superstar Admiral T for ”Instinct Admiral”, they also brought ”Dancehall Anarchy”, the debut album of the Lieutenant and they branched out a bit into Zouk as well with Methi’S’ debut album, ”Mon Nid D’iles” and by releasing ‘Amazing’, the hit single from Ludy. And going into next year, they reportedly will be releasing the latest album from Paille sometime in December, presumably Ludy’s album will follow and the spectre of a WICKED sophomore album from the BLISTERING Saïk surely looms for 2011.

Don’s Music Website

#5 I Grade Records

As Don’s Music is to French Caribbean Dancehall historically, Laurent ‘Tippy I’ Alfred’s I Grade Records is to HEAVY Roots Reggae music from the US Virgin Islands. As music in the area has developed more and more and the world has come to know the names of artists such as Midnite, Pressure Busspipe and others over the years, the one constant label running right alongside them all has been I Grade. In my opinion, the only thing hurting them over the years (as is the case with so many independent labels) is the struggle to remain active. That has become less and less of a problem over the past year as beginning with the DOMINANT ”Joyful Noise” compilation of last year, I Grade followed in 2010 with the direct releasing of the American born Toussaint’s "Black Gold”, as well as physically distributing the much anticipated third album from NiyoRah, ”Feel Your Presence”, both of which just happen to be two of the biggest albums of 2010 and HOPEFULLY they continue things into 2011 (my own wish would be an album from Pressure, but I’d take an Army album or one from . . . DANNY I!) (or Batch) (or Ras Attitude . . .).

I Grade Records Website

#4 Don Corleon Records

It’s interesting that, from a historical perspective, Don Corleon would probably rank right around fourth for me if this were an “all-time” list, because he’s managed to be so consistent and prolific in a genre which offers very little of either, historically. And still, despite the fact, as I mentioned yesterday, I haven’t been paying such a great deal of attention to his output in 2010, respect and credit is due because he’s managed to string together a pretty big year. Not too long ago there was the ‘three headed monster’ of Munga Honourable and Alaine and Pressure Busspipe dominating on Corleon releases and since then Alaine has successfully moved on to her own projects, Munga has . . . Yep and Pressure has stuck around to a degree, and with them now moved on (except Pressure), Corleon hasn’t missed a beat. New favourites, particularly Ce’Cile and Tarrus Riley have continued to make big hits and in 2010 Corleon set them and their peers up nicely with the Major & Minor Riddims, the Feminine and others and because of his track record, 2011 appears to be no problem at all keeping things up - And yes - I will be watching this time.

Don Corleon Records Website

#3 Irie Ites

It seems like every fucking day Camille from United Reggae asks me to do another news story (go and find my page over there, I have literally 9,000 posts in less than a year) and it just happens to be some random riddim release from some random European label and they are almost ALWAYS from out of France. French people LOVE Reggae music just as much as they love being French (and talking funny) (and incidentally, Camille is French). Can you blame them? With as many strong labels as they have, it’s probably played in schools at this point. The BIGGEST of them all, to my opinion, is clear. I’ve been listening to Irie Ites’ music from ever since they released Ras Mac Bean’s album ”Pack Up & Leave” more than five years ago now and while everything hasn’t been golden ever since, I cannot say that they’ve ever TOTALLY popped off my radars. These days, they are seemingly as strong as ever, coming off a 2009 which FINALLY saw the release of one of the label’s major staples, Lorenzo and while they haven’t released an artist’s album this year (another Bean release would be so nice next year, wouldn’t it???), they have pushed a big bag of riddim albums. Releases for the Party Time/Take A Lick, the Only Solution, the Su Su Pon Rasta, the Strange Things and most recently the Billie Jean have dominated 2010 for Irie Ites - Yes. I have been paying attention (not like I have a choice with Camille demanding that shit every other day anyway). And biggup Mafia & Fluxy as well.

Irie Ites Website

#2 Penthouse Records

Had you told me . . . Maybe four years ago that it would be near the end of 2010 and I would be compiling a list of my favourite labels AT THE TIME and ranking all the way up at number 2 would be the famed Penthouse Records, I would’ve thought you mad (but I would’ve kept in contact with you because I like crazy people). But it was just a few years back when I believe Reggae superstar Buju Banton took his managerial responsibilities from Donovan Germain and the label and soon after Assassin would follow. So of course, like when Sizzla, Luciano, Turbulence and Chezidek left Xterminator, Penthouse essentially folded for a few years and went away . . . HELL NO! Penthouse (like 2 Hard a little while ago) instead turned their attentions back to the same production on which they had made their name initially a long ass time ago. Since then, they’ve been on an absolute ROLL and the fact that they rank so highly here isn’t indicative that 2010 was some type of HUGE year, in comparison to 207-2009, because it wasn’t, but what it is indicative of is the fact that Penthouse has helped to turn up potentially another GREAT Reggae superstar, following doing the same with the likes of Buju, Assassin, Wayne Wonder and Beres Hammond, Romain Virgo. Oh, and the first Sanchez album in a really long time didn’t hurt things either.

Penthouse Records Unofficial Website (biggup Guillaume)

#1 No Doubt Records/Flava McGregor Records

Certainly, it can be to the surprise of absolutely no one who reigns supreme on a list of my favourite labels in 2010. Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor’s No Doubt Records is the figurative descendent of Xterminator Productions, my absolute favourite Reggae label of all time and just like that wonderful once invincible entity, it is the dominant Roots Reggae house of this era. The label, although coming off a 2010 which I believe only saw the total production of a single new riddim, the Classic (which is definitely in the running for Reggae Riddim of The Year), has maintained a ‘CULTURE’ of making excellent music going back quite awhile. They’ve released tunes and bonafide hits for pretty much EVERY relatively solid Jamaican Roots Reggae artist of the day (with very very few exceptions) and full blown albums for quite a few of them as well - Sizzla Kalonji, Anthony B, Turbulence, Luciano, Chuck Fenda, Ginjah, Lutan Fyah, Natty King and more. No Doubt Records has also begun to do something which Xterminator never really did, which is to take advantage of a outer Jamaican scene (which didn’t really exists in the famed label’s prime years), recording the likes of VI star Pressure Busspipe and Dutchie Ziggi Recado. Finally, I’ll pay it the greatest compliment that I can think of by saying that although this list is one focusing on the work of producers and labels, my main attention, of course, is on the vocalists and I REALLY look forward to Flava’s riddims, just as much as I look forward to the tunes on top of them.

Flava McGregor Website