Blog · Place, livelihood and memory
Rural Jamaica in Reggae
Hear Burning Spear, the Maytals and the Congos through household work, homecoming and coastal livelihood.
Read the article
Pause · Breathe · Meditate
Jamaican roots. Global reasoning.
Read.Watch.Learn.
Explore roots reggae, Rastafari and ital living. Follow the music into its history, its makers and the ideas we carry forward.
Music · Memory · CommunityThe culture lives
in the connections.
01 / Read · New on Reggae Dread
Three stories.
More ways into the roots.
Begin with rural Jamaica, follow the women who kept records moving, and hear poetry meet the bassline.
Blog · Women and the music business
Women Who Kept Reggae Moving
Follow Patricia Chin and Sonia Pottinger through record counters, production relationships, labels and distribution decisions.
Read the articleDeep Dives · Poetry, music & history
When the Poem Becomes the Bassline
Hear Linton Kwesi Johnson through Jamaican language, Black British memory and the craft shared by poet, bassist, band and studio.
Follow the poemMore articles & Deep Dives 11
Blog · Artist portrait
Joe Higgs: Singer, Teacher and Songwriter
Hear Joe Higgs through his recordings, songwriting and the practical teaching he shared with Jamaican singers.
Read the article
Blog · Listening guide
The Version Side: Listen Beyond the Lead Vocal
Compare a vocal and its dub companion, following bass, drums, space and the studio choices behind the sound.
Read the article
Blog · Music and community
The Reggae Record Shop
Visit Randy’s, Peckings and Dub Vendor through the records, recommendations and relationships that made music available.
Read the article
Blog · Food and everyday livity
Ital Beyond the Recipe
Food belongs in that conversation. Explore ital through growing, shared meals and the everyday care behind a kitchen.
Read the article
Blog · Migration and music
Jamaica to Britain
Follow records from Jamaica to Britain through sound systems, family collections, shops and new musical lives.
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Blog · Art and visual culture
Reading a Reggae Album Cover
Look closely at artwork, photography, typography and credits to see how a sleeve introduces the music.
Read the article
Blog · Film and musical life
The Harder They Come
Explore Jimmy Cliff’s performance, Ivan’s ambition and the distance between making a record and making a living.
Read the article
Blog · Preservation and participation
Who Keeps Reggae’s History?
Preserve a flyer, photograph or sleeve with its story. Includes a practical activity for description, consent and backups.
Read the article
Blog · Artists & independent labels
U Brown & Hit Sound
Follow U Brown from the sound-system microphone into production, Hit Sound and the relationships behind a working catalogue.
Follow the labelDeep Dives · Artists & music history
Freddie McKay Deserves Another Listen
Follow McKay through Treasure Isle, Studio One, Festival Song and roots albums, with credited listening paths and reissue history.
Hear another sideDeep Dives · Voices, rhythm & dub
Yabby You & the Prophets: Conquering Lion
Explore the collaborators, dub versions, release history and work of preservation around a roots reggae landmark.
Explore Conquering LionKeep reading. Explore artist biographies, Caribbean history and the work behind the music.
02 / Watch · Featured video
More Than Good Times
A roots reggae song exploring joy, cultural memory, faith and resistance. Listen, reflect and follow the community connections behind the music.
Turn a listen into a learning session.
Choose a recording, note what you hear and follow the credits.
More videos to watch 3
Watch · Reggae Dread videos
Jah Light On The Hill
Take a moment with Reggae Dread’s music, then follow the conversation into Rastafari livity, place and everyday responsibility.
Watch on YouTube Explore Rastafari livity
Watch · Reggae Dread videos
People Build
A roots reggae tribute to Nevada County’s people, landscapes and community spirit, with a call to care for the next generation.
Watch on YouTube Read the companion story
Watch · Reggae Dread videos
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96
Watch Reggae Dread’s quick home-recording spotlight, then explore inputs, monitoring and practical projects in the full written review.
Watch on YouTube Read the full review03 / Learn · Reggae Dread Academy
Hear the work.
Name the makers.
Guided listening · Music credits
Jackie Mittoo: Hear the Part, Follow the Credits
Hear an ensemble, compare recording versions and build a listening guide that recognizes the work inside the sound.
Explore Jackie Mittoo
Marcia Griffiths · Sonia Pottinger
Who Made This Record?
Compare two recordings, follow their credits and examine an artist’s account. Keep evidence, interpretation and open questions distinct.
Follow the evidenceGuided listening · Voices, rhythm & credits
Yabby You & the Prophets Academy
Compare a vocal with its dub, investigate the contributors and build a credited listening guide through eight practical modules.
Explore Yabby YouInstructor: Reggae Dread · Self-paced study, guided listening and printable activities. The full collection also explores Steel Pulse, Jackie Jackson, Rastafari and Jamaican riddim economics.
Find your learning route04 / Reviews & Reggae Dread Store
Listen thoughtfully.
Choose with purpose.
Review · Listening & music-making tools
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96
Plan a focused home-recording setup with a guide to inputs, monitoring, MIDI and software checks, including Reggae Dread’s video.
Read the review
Review · Books & learning
How to Play Reggae Keyboard
Explore Jimmy Peart’s reggae keyboard guide, its learning progression, practice ideas and fit for the way you want to play.
Read the review
Review · Games & everyday technology
Baseus 9-in-1 USB-C Hub
Read the practical guide to ports, display arrangements, power and laptop compatibility before planning a connected desk.
Read the reviewAnother recording review 1
Review · Listening & music-making tools
MAONO A04 Gen2 Microphone Kit
Consider USB and XLR recording, desk-arm fit and a practical voiceover setup in this research-based microphone-kit review.
Read the reviewMake room for listening and making.
Browse Reggae Dread’s music-making collection for recording tools and creative projects. Use the reviews to decide what fits your work.
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Our foundations
Roots in the music.
Purpose in daily life.
Keep the sound connected to the histories, spiritual traditions and everyday practices that give it meaning.
01 / Roots reggae
Hear the message.
Follow Joe Higgs through recordings, songwriting and the practical teaching he shared with Jamaican singers.
Hear Joe Higgs02 / Rastafari
Reason with care.
Compare published accounts of livity through a guided lesson featuring Jah9 and Sister Carol, with room for different lived experiences.
Explore the livity lesson03 / Ital foods
Nourish your roots.
Food belongs in that conversation. Explore ital through growing, shared meals and the care behind everyday practice.
Explore ital beyond the recipeAfrica · Caribbean · Diaspora
Music, movement and living memory.
About Reggae Dread
Remember the roots.
Respect the makers.
Come for the sound. Stay for the people, histories and living traditions that make it meaningful. Read, watch, learn and reason with us.
Our purpose