Review: You can always count on Liondub International to up the mood, with this latest single being a perfect example of that attitude in motion. We have always loved the Liondub ability to fuse the nostalgic beauty of dancehall and reggae music with modern production methods, this time seeing Blackout JA & Ricky T join the dance for the party-starting arrangements of 'Sound Murdara', a toasted homage to system culture, delivering both a classic sounding riddim dripping with flutey melodies and catchy horn stabs and a super catchy lead vocal. This one comes complete with a more system-friendly dub mix for good measure, kick starting 2022 in style.
Review: Sliding into 2022 with a little dancehall sweetness, Liondub International continue to celebrate all system styles with this wonderful Busy Signal collaboration. Smooth and moody with a little sensual twist, the in-demand Jamaican singer gets busy over a stripped back and subtle riddim from P Skinna and label bossman Liondub. Complete with a radio version and instrumental, this is a high grade way to start the year!
Review: Bang, blap, brap, booyaka; however you like to articulate your gunshots, there are enough here to go round as US artist Liondub and UK artist Mr Quest team up with MCs Blackout JA and Anthony Johnson for a gun-toting skanking slap-about. More than just a casual shoot-out, with both vocalists going toe-to-toe over a range of vibey and sometimes familiar samples, this is an all-out massacre. For those of you hungry for a slightly deeper twist and a purring bassline, head for Selecta J-Man's remix. Hell, even instrumentals have been supplied of both versions for those not jungle enough to embrace the vocals. Sweet murderation!
Review: Pure 2021 soul; Liondub teams up with the rising styles of Faysha and renowned Jamaican vocalist Ras Ajai for a beautiful and restrained moment of affirming, empowering jungle drum & bass. Honest and very stripped back to just the pianos and Ras's vocals, it's an emotional moment. Need something with a little more grit? Look no further than Dunk's remix with its sweeping alien basses and stark feeling of tension. Complete with instrumentals, all mix scenarios are covered right here.
Review: Let's talk about dub organisation. Essentially if your dubs are a mess, then your life is a mess. You need to keep things in order and have your weapons ready to pull out and chop off a soundboy's head at any minute and you can't do that if your dubs aren't organised. Good job Liondub and Faysha and Red Fox are on hand to help you get things in order. Just drop this and the lyrical energy and euphoric feels will give you the clarity and motivation you need to sort your dubs out. Nick The Lot's warm and bubbly remix will give you the buzz to make a whole bunch more dubs, too. Stay organised!
Review: It's been a hot minute since we last saw a brand new dancehall project that excited us as much as this one as Blackout JA teams up with Liondub International for a twelve track selection, channeling dancehall music into 2021. The list of collaborators for this one is the first thing that stands out for us, with the likes of Daddy Freddy, Ranking Joe, Blakkamoore, Echo Minott, Sophia May, YT, Ricky T & a bag more all getting involved with wicked contributions. It's an album that represents why dancehall still holds a key place in dance music in 2020. There are a couple of clear highlights for us across this release, with 'Love Dancehall' alongside Navigator & Sophia May being a really cool throwback to the original toasted dancehall sound, followed up by the super crunchy arrangements of 'Hidden Truth' with Souls Liberation providing a perfect outro track.
Review: Feel the wrath of Blackout Ja and friends as he tags in long-time friend and collaborator Liondub for an empowering version flex. The beat is 'Rocking Time Riddim' from Liondub and Jugganaut. A dancehall vibe, warm and rolling with funk and roots samples in equal measures, it's a bop unto itself but for most it's all about the title track 'Wrath Of Supreme'. Lead by a reflective story on life's highs, lows and the need for gratitude and humility, Blackout is joined by Blakkamoore and Ranking Joe for a powerful piece of music that sounds great now... And will sound all the sweeter through a system when we can finally dance again in the future.
Review: The team over at Liondub have been on a serious roll over the last few weeks, supplying us with some seriously exciting new releases, with this new corker from Blackout JA and Kandiman being no exception. The pair join forces for a classic-sounding dancehall shellout over Liondub & Rumble's explosive '2020 Skandal Bag Riddim', deploying sharpened snare slaps and digital blips alongside a lethal bassline rhythm. It's dancehall in 2020 perfectly summarized and we simply can't get enough of it!
Review: It's been a long time since we have been anywhere close to disappointed with a new Liondub International release, with this latest heavyweight collaboration continuing to apply the pressure, as Riko Dan, Trigon & Dave Gee join the Lion Dub team for a hard hitting new single entitled 'War Dub'. Right from the off we can tell we are in for a raucous affair as demonic horn lines and sizzling sublines provide the perfect skeleton for Riko Dan to run riot upon, unleashing a blistering display of clash-ready lyricism. This drop comes complete with the instrumental version for good measure, making it a must grab for any 140 DJ.
Review: Based out of Brooklyn, Toronto, London and Kingston, Jamaica, comes the Revolution Liondub International label. Adding to the build up of Blackout JA & Liondub's forthcoming Love Dancehall LP (as Blacklion Movements) comes a dubwise preview in "Revolution", a 90s digi dub remake of a classic Derrick Harrriott riddim called "Tonight". With Blackout and UK legend Daddy Freddy going verse for verse in the ragga-tipped original, this 'tune about life' is described by Blackout himself as something uplifting for dreadful times.
Review: Blackout Ja has teamed up with label boss Liondub for a dubby (no surprises there) double sided outing on an imprint which bears all the hallmarks of a classic UK label, with jungle, drum & bass and dub music intertwined the whole way. This respect for the history is apparent on Rize Again, as two loping, plodding cuts of funky, upbeat music come at you with the grace of a stoner and the enthusiasm of one too. The title track is lovely in its percussion and Blackout Ja has nailed the dancehall vibe on the vocal line - you won't forget this one.
Review: Blackout Ja and Liondub unleash the first of their Blacklion Movements project and it's a big one; "Greatest Treasure" sees Blackout rolling out his distinctive gravelled tones, going toe-to-toe with another vital voice in modern day dancehall YT, while Liondub lays down a slinky, sexy dancehall rhythm. Weighty enough to buss up a system, roomy enough for both MCs to give all ladies in the dance a heartfelt salute, intimate enough to get everyone dancing up close... With Valentines Day en route, the timing of this could not be better. Treasure this.
Review: Liondub are really rolling out the guns with this one and label founder and namesake Liondub is involved himself, which is when you know stuff is popping off. He's joined by Patexx and Kumo and the trio have concocted something deeply rolling, a release which lunges out over four tunes, including two Kumo VIPs, and keeps things banging the whole way. Our pick of the bunch is Kumo's 'Roller Check VIP', a double-kick laden stomper that keeps things punchy in the percussion and twisted in the low frequencies, it reminds us of Workforce's 'Don't Tell' and that's an extremely good thing. 'Caan Touch' is also deliciously funky whilst keeping thins heavy, a tough balance to strike and one well struck here.
Review: Liondub's 10 year anniversary celebrations continue with this savage slab of ragga jungle. This time the captain Liondub takes to the controls himself alongside fellow US jungle veteran Jah Boogs while vocal guidance comes from one of the most distinctive MCs in the game: Bristol's Blackout Ja. Here we find him in fiery form as "Touch Up The Key" (and its complimentary VIP version) brocks out in all directions over a precision-tuned subby bass wobble. "Dread" flips for a sunnier side of the stack as Blackout pays homage to his roots with more of a melodic flow to his signature gravel-toned bars. Loaded with instrumentals too, this is the full package.
Review: Navi and Junior Dangerous on the same jam? This spells trouble in best body-bumping way possible. Versions galore, we kick off with the digidub dancehall swagger of the original before a crack squad of players all sign up to the bang gang... Label boss Deekline goes all tear-out with a bassline that's not dissimilar D*Minds around 10 years ago, Potential Bad Boy flips it into a purring subby jungle roller while Aries reminds us of his bashy side with a proper tropical shakedown. Finally we body bang all the way to New York state for a springy sci-fi skanker from Liondub and Jah Boogs. Banging.
Sotto Bless - "Sticky" (Prod Liondub) - (4:20) 88 BPM
Suku Ward - "Global" (Prod Liondub) - (4:12) 88 BPM
Liondub - "Sticky Riddim" - (4:13) 88 BPM
Review: Futuristic reggae champions Liondub International make a fabulous return here as they bring together three highly rated newschool toasters for some fresh heat over the 'Sticky Riddim'. We kick off with Sotto Bless's moody vocal stylings and and almost chanted lyricism on his cut entitled 'Sticky'. Following this we plunge into Suku Ward's intense vocal cut by the name of 'Global'. Both artists bring a unique take to the riddim, of which the instrumental version is also included in the full release package, making this a must have for any fan of future reggae music.
Review: Jahdan Blakkamoore and Metric Man have some serious fiscal fears. So they decided to team up with leading bass-smith Liondub to get their message out there. Thanks to the rich warm skank, gargling bass licks and sprightly synths, their thoughts about the evil paper are made loud and clear. With remixes from Noah D and Marcus Visionary, their broadcast is galvanised furthermore. The former adds a cool, funky west coast synth slides to the vibe while the latter gets slap happy with a cheeky dancehall riddim. Heavy.
Review: With a plethora of artists to choose from, Volume 6 takes a look at the more experimental beings on Hype's roster, to interesting effect. Mob Tactics set the whole show in motion with Elephant Man in a dancehall-inspired club banger cut with insane bass and high-stress sound effects. Total Recall makes an appearance in the Eastern-influenced "Ethnic Origins", taking jump-up to new heights. Playaz favourite Survival adds a trademark neuro touch to fastmoving breaks and eerie atmospherics, and Jaydan show's a sensitive side with the crisp, rolling "She's Heaven". A mature sound from the Playaz crew.
