ALBUM EXPLORES MUSIC OF TOP-RANKING PRODUCER HUGH ‘REDMAN’ JAMES
The year 1985 saw the release of Wayne Smith’s Under Mi Sleng Teng, revolutionising the music industry by using simple, digital beats. This marked the beginning of a creative era that lasted for about a decade, during which many new and exciting artists, producers, record labels, sound systems, fashions, dances, and different ways of doing things emerged. Redman, the owner of Redman Hi-Power, was at the heart of this renewal and rebirth of the Jamaican music scene.
Redman International – We Run Things is a comprehensive exploration of the music produced by Hugh ‘Redman’ James, a top-ranking Jamaican record producer. The album features digital Dancehall hits from renowned artists such as Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, John Holt, Frankie Paul, and many others.
Redman’s career began in 1985 when he helped to revive the musical career of Dub pioneer King Tubby by facilitating the purchase of a state-of-the-art mixing desk from the USA.
Redman worked with some of the hottest musicians on the island, including the Roots Radics and Steely & Clevie, who helped to shape his signature sound. His music was characterized by rough and tough basslines, digital drum machines with heavily syncopated rhythms, and synth-infused melodies that resonated with the Dancehall audience. Redman’s music gained global recognition when the legendary middleweight boxer Nigel Benn used Courtney Melody’s Dangerous as his entrance music.
This Reggae Anthology showcases Redman’s versatility as a producer, featuring his digital Roots and Rub-A-Dub shots with artists such as Admiral Tibett, Red Dragon, Puddy Roots, and Carl Meeks. The expanded double CD includes various vocals on the same riddims, additional DJ cuts, and more. The album includes classic covers such as Sanchez’s Lady In Red and Thriller U’s Careless Whisper.
Reggae historian John Masouri wrote the in-depth sleeve notes, and the album design incorporates several unreleased and rare photographs from Redman’s archive, making this compilation a true collector’s item.
VP Records, a leading music label, has been preserving Jamaican culture for over 45 years by promoting Reggae and Dancehall music. This album is a must-have for fans of the genre and beyond.
THE ALBUM
ON THE REGGAE TASTEMAKER PLAYLIST NOW…
