Jus Goodie premieres ‘Reggae Rock’ EP

Justin Goodman (Jus Goodie) has made his mark on the reggae-rock scene for a while, with two full-length albums already under his Boulder, Colorado belt. After touring extensively around the United States, both as a headliner and as part of big name reggae acts, Jus Goodie has taken solace playing guitar and singing harmonies with […]

YIC Summer Meltdown 2016

The students of the Yes I Can program experienced their 13th successful year at the annual Summer Meltdown last month. This one-day festival appropriately took place at the end of Autism Awareness Month. It is one of the only festivals in the country that is put on by students with and without disabilities who share […]

Zion I gets down with dub in “Elemental Roots”

Zion I, a hip hop duo out of Oakland, California, usually reps a more rap style over a reggae vibe since their formation in 1996. Over recent years, however, the two have leaned more towards the latter, appearing at many a reggae-oriented festival and affiliating themselves with bands within the growing movement. When asked about […]

Roots of Creation ‘Livin Free’ album review

To some of us here at Top Shelf Reggae, there is something sweet and unique when it comes to the mixing of reggae and rock music. Not only does the infamous skank of reggae seem to overtake our listening ears, but the rock music appears to pump the adrenaline in our body! Well, that is […]

Saritah’s new single “Inner Wealth”

Gifted with an expressive presence and an even more expressive voice, the new single from Australian artist Saritah drops today alongside a beautifully produced new music video to boot.  With an elegant style and an ear for catchy tunes, the innovative single offers various musical styles and genres that has something for everyone. Saritah’s latest […]

Skanks Roots Project releases “Blown” single

California is the birthplace of two distinct musical styles – California reggae and west-coast rap. Indeed, there’s no need to argue that reggae and rap is widespread around the globe: neither are new concepts and both stand as conglomerates of many musical influences put together. However, California is the one place that gives both genres […]

The Steppas release new single “We All”

During the majority of 2014 and 2015, The Steppas spent most of their time on the road touring the United States with Tribal Seeds, Fortunate Youth, The Skints, Through the Roots, The Supervillains and Inna Vision.   It’s been roughly three years since Hawaiian roots reggae rock band The Steppas last released an album, and […]

E.N Young’s ‘Call On Me’ album review

E.N Young is an artist among the reggae-rock scene who seems to cherish both the American lifestyle, and the honor of Rastafarian reggae music. With his dreads hanging low, and often times freely on stage with his full-time band, Tribal Seeds, E.N Young is obviously a musician before anything else. His chosen genre is reggae […]

Akae Beka premieres sophomore LP ‘Portals’

Since the late 1980s, Caribbean-based Rastafarian Vaughn Benjamin has been producing roots reggae to promote spiritual enlightenment. Vaughn’s music career began when he teamed up with his brother Ron to form the band Midnite – a rootsy project, centering around one love and equality for all of Jah’s people. In recent years, however, Vaughn branched […]

Pacific Grown releases debut single “Wherever You Are”

California is the hotspot for the growing trend in reggae to add American elements to traditional island and Jamaican reggae, forming a novel hybrid genre that is among the top of the industry charts. That’s right, California Reggae: an alternative approach to reggae that, at this point, doesn’t need explaining since we’ve all heard it […]

The Movement ‘Golden’ album review

South Carolina based band The Movement’s latest album, Golden, is a monument of modern reggae and showcases the prowess and potential of the ensemble. The album which is set to be released on April 8th, 2016 features something for just about everyone, with songs like “Rescue” and “Fair Warning,” The Movement has clearly mastered the art […]

Locos Por Juana new single “The Cure” feat. Collie Buddz

For over 16 years, the men of Locos Por Juana have been fusing together traditional North American music to create a new kind of reggae/hip hop/Latin/dub hybrid. Since their start in 2000, the band has grown from their Miami roots to encompass rhythms of the Caribbean and Latin Americas, earning both GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY […]

The Slackers’ new self-titled LP is slammin’

Since their formation in 1991, The Slackers have been a quintessential band in the ever-growing genre-bending trend of mixing Jamaican styles with American flair. The band out of Brooklyn has toured around the world, boasting at least 100 shows per year since 1997 – the year they released their second full-length album Red Light off […]

Premiere: Sway Jah Vu “Happy Ever After”

Five piece Florida alt-reggae band Sway Jah Vu are gearing up to release a new EP titled In the Company of Wolves on March 29th, 2016. In advance of the release, Top Shelf Reggae is excited to bring you an exclusive first listen to a new track from the album, “Happy Ever After.” “You can […]

Dankrupt’s Dos Toros will grab you by the horns

Almost exactly one year ago, the Los Angeles County band Dankrupt released their debut EP titled Moonlight which had notes of Latin, funk, ska, hip hop as well as obvious hints from their influences Sublime, 311, Jack Johnson and Iration can all be heard distinctly.  the band sways harder on the rock side of their […]