Dub Music London: Dub London, Dub Artists, roots, dub poetry, dub music, dub, reggae music, Reggae, reggae artist, roots reggae, London UK

Dub music is a popular instrumental style of reggae, the ‘original remix’. Taking existing recordings, keeping the foundation of the track, drum and bass, then adding the artistic flavour of the dub master, sound effects full of echoing and reverb. Dub music creates a hypnotic beat, with throbbing sub sonic bass lines that drive through your body. Dub takes its name from the "dub plates" that were cut as instrumental B-sides to the hit ska, rocksteady, and reggae singles of the 60's.

Dub has its roots in Jamaica, during the late 1960's. For the first time in recording history, a track made not only by the musicians and producers, but the mixing engineer too. Osbourne Ruddock a.k.a. King Tubby, is considered by many as the creator of Dub. King Tubby shook the Kingston music scene with his use of inventive sound effects over instrumental cuts. His dub cuts, known as ‘versions’, of popular records became hugely popular. Working alongside King Tubby was, Daddy U-Roy who was the first to popularize the toasting or dee jaying style.

By the 70’s, the mixing desk took on new meaning as an instrument in its own right, broadening the range of dub music, and paved the way for new sound styles. Kings of Dub are Augustus Pablo, Lee Scratch Perry, King Tubby, Mikey Dread, Scientist, amongst others. Remixing culture was now spreading, with New York block parties and Grand Master Flash echoing the sound system setup, and 70’s Disco tunes full of experimental sound effects.

Britain became the new centre for dub production, during the 80’s introducing artists like Mad Professor and Jah Shaka. Whilst Dub has developed over the years, and has inspired many other forms of music, traditional dub has survived, with original artists Lee Scratch Perry, and Mad Professor still making music today. Artists like Aba Shanti-I produce new material. Dub is now a musical tradition, and a part of the Jamaican culture.

DUB MUSIC