Various Artists - The Deejays Meet Down Town 1975-1980 Various Artists

This collection celebrates the pioneering Jamaican deejays whose innovative vocal style transformed reggae and laid the foundations for modern rap and hip-hop.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, artists took the energy of live sound system performances into the recording studio, developing the art of "toasting" from simple introductions into full-length vocal performances delivered across an entire rhythm track. This uniquely Jamaican approach would go on to influence popular music around the world.

Featuring legendary deejays including U-Roy, I-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Big Joe, Little Joe, and Prince Jazzbo, the collection highlights the artists who helped establish the deejay as a recording star with a catalogue of hit singles and albums. Their influence paved the way for a new generation of performers including Dillinger, Dr. Alimantado, Clint Eastwood, and Jah Stitch.

More than simply talking over records, these recordings document the emergence of a revolutionary vocal style whose impact continues to resonate across reggae, hip-hop, and popular music today.