As Brooklyn progressive reggae act, SunDub, puts the finishing touches on their new LP due out later this summer, they have spearheaded a new riddim project named for their home borough, “Brooklyn Riddim.”  Riddims, of course, are a Jamaican musical tradition in which an artist, producer, studio or label provides an instrumental track for artists to sing over. As Easy Star Records, the band’s label releasing the music, said so perfectly in their press release, “This time-honored approach has long fueled reggae and dancehall’s innovative spirit – encouraging community, reinvention, and musical dialogue.” They describe this riddim project in particular as “a vibrant, cross-cultural celebration of reggae music—one that honors its deep roots while pushing the genre forward,” and I would have to concur.

SunDub

The riddim was written by Ben Teters, SunDub’s drummer, and then collectively composed by the band while recording their new album at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Legendary reggae guitarist, Earl “Chinna” Smith, joined them in the studio to play the axe and track the music.  Teters, along with bandmate Sidney Mills, who played keyboards for Steel Pulse for twenty years and currently co-produces SunDub music, recruited the artists to be featured on the riddim compilation with some input from the Easy Star leadership team. “The artists are hand-selected based off who we thought might be a good fit for the project,” said Teters. “They are some our best friends, favorite artists and closest collaborators. It’s always fun to see how the riddim is interpreted differently depending on who is working on it.”

The compilation blends classic and contemporary reggae styles and will roll out in groups. The first batch, just released last week, includes versions from SunDub, fellow New York recording artist, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Florida songstress Sailor Jane, and Rhode Island-based Clatta Bumboo. In the coming weeks, two more batches will feature versions by Easy Star All-Stars, Cas Haley, Salomón Beda, The Meditations, Mo’Kalamity, Kumar, Vysionaer, Coolie Ranx, and more.

SunDub leads the way with “Love and Humanity,” calling out the current U.S administration as they barrel into more conservative policy to see how far they can push the envelope towards straight-up authoritarianism. The biting commentary does justice to the fierce riddim:

Let them fight til they tear down the system
Let them battle and worry and blame
Hear them cry out and claim they’re the victim
That they’re losing the game
As they light up a match and burn in their own flame…

Let them choose to commit to destruction
Let them gather their weapons in rage
Can’t tell apart justice from corruption, they can’t find the page
Couldn’t see if the gospel was slapped in their face
Let them wander so blind in the darkness
Let them think everyone is astray

It’s nice to see an American reggae band making rebel music, and I equally appreciate the optimism in the face of so many triggers:

Meanwhile I’m standing by
Waiting for a new sun to rise
One that burns out the hate
And gives light to the darkest night, shining so bright

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is no stranger to political commentary but for their version of the  Brooklyn Riddim, they take a walk down memory lane with “African Incense.”

“We took our minds to Brooklyn for the inspiration for this collab,” Panda bassie James Searl told me. “Brooklyn NY and the Rasta community lent great inspiration to Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad in our early years. Walking up and down Flatbush , Franklin, Myrtle…there was heavy vibes in the air and more to sense that could be seen. Going and seeing bands like Midnite and checking the literature outside of the shows was foundational in its education and we are always grateful to those who do the work to spread the message of Rastafari, truth, rights, love, and justice to all the corners of creation.”

He continued, “As Above So Below is a shop on Fulton and Jah Sun was always projecting big vibes. Our brother Moussa from Mali would always be bringing back huge sticks of incense from BK and call it “African Incense”.  Lyrically, this song seeks to take us back to those foundational times on hot summer hazy days, walking around and smelling Brooklyn, and knowing that after all of the searching, we still wouldn’t know the half of it, and there is always more to explore. The air connects us together and the sounds and smells we share are sacred. Throughout heartbreak, triumph, joy, pain, and everything in between, we are connected.”

Sailor Jane joins SunDub’s Joanna Teters as another sensational female singer contributing to this first batch of tunes released on Brooklyn Riddim. As a performer who works with a lot of Jamaican musicians and has spent a lot of time on the island, for her track, “Walk Good,” she draws inspiration from the Jamaican phrase commonly used as a warm farewell, meaning “take care” or “stay safe.” “The song embodies themes of hard work, perseverance, confidence, resilience, and keeping your head up through life’s challenges,” the cancer survivor told me. “It’s all about pushing forward with strength and not letting obstacles hold you back or break you… Not letting the bad mind or negative thoughts take over or prevent you from moving forward.”

Finally, Jamaican-born, Clatta Bumboo brings a classic roots vibe to his stirring rendition, “We Can Win (Rise of Color),” with female harmony singers that elevate the song and bring to mind some of the best reggae music ever made. Bumboo pays respect to those who “have come before us and paved the way” and encourages people of color to “take the bull by its horns” and “flip the discourse on its head.” About his song, Bumboo said it is “a call to order—a reminder to all people of color that we have a responsibility to save ourselves. This is not merely a slogan, but a directive: we must recognize our power, embrace our history, and prepare for the future.”

On the strength of its initial offerings, Brooklyn Riddim promises to be one of the better riddim compilations in recent memory. Keep an eye out for subsequent releases in the coming weeks.