Reggae Noir: Colin Channer Selects 10 Dark Reggae Classics

Words by Colin Channer—

Author of books such as Waiting In Vain and the founder of Jamaica’s renowned Calabash Literary Festival, Colin Channer’s latest act was curating and editing Akashic Books’ Kingston Noir, a newly-released anthology of gripping and dark short stories (including Colin’s own “Monkey Man”) set in JA’s capital city. Following our recent interview with Colin, we tapped the musically-minded author for a soundtrack—or better yet a musical companion piece—to Kingston Noir. Read on for Colin’s favorite dark reggae selections, and stop through Miss Lily’s Variety this Thursday night from 7 to 9 pm, for a special book reading and reasoning session with Colin that will be broadcast on our RadioLily show, The LargeUp Sessions. We’ll be running these tunes…

10. Bob Marley and the Wailers, “Burnin’ and Lootin'”

Three of the original rudies—Bob, Peter and Bunny—promise trouble outta road if the police no ease off with the curfews. The bass line is pure urban menace. The threat in the lyrics is served up without drama. So cool. No—cold. And the harmonies? So sweet. The fictionalized rebels are happy to go burn things down.

9. Buju Banton, “Driver A”

This song could have been called “Hustling & Juggling For Dummies.” It lays out the runnings so clear. There is no holding back on the details. In the world being depicted, there is no shame in herb selling. In this world, the moral laws are upside down.

8. Lloyd Parks, “Mafia”

There are few things darker and more chilling than finding out that someone you thought was soft is a hard-hard dude. In this sleeper of a tune a man presents his underworld credentials so someone who clearly didn’t know who they were messing with.

7. Inner Circle, “Discipline Child”

This is the anthem of the anti-hero. Funny, you could hear an arena rock group like Queen doing this. Yeah man, Freddie Mercury woulda bust up this letter of regret from death row. Jacob Miller’s pop awareness is on full display here. But the tune still roots.

6. The Meditations, “Woman Is Like A Shadow”

Warning! Warning! Femme fatales are on the loose. The double-crossing seductress is a staple of noir fiction. The bass on this one is so dark and heavy that the dub version woulda been enough to be noir!

5. Junior Murvin, “Police and Thieves”

Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves -1977 by LostPirate77

Sometimes it seems like the only war more vicious and longstanding than the one between the lions and hyenas on the Serengeti is the one between dutty babylon and bad bwoy on the hot plains of Kingston. Lee Perry produced this everlasting hit.

4. Terror Fabulous, “Gangster Anthem”

Every time I hear this one I remember playing cops and robbers in Jamaica. Nobody wanted to be a cop. Sure the folks at Bank of America or Chase won’t love this one. Want to have some fun? Hum it next time you go to the ATM.

3.Beenie Man, “Mobster”

Badman braggadocio at it’s most fantastical, over-the-top brilliance. The name-checking of people and neighborhoods and the sophisticated production values makes this one not just lyric dependent. Still, the lyrics are wicked on their own.

2. Sammy Dread, “M16”

If you’re going to be a one hit wonder, this might not be a bad hit to have. Sammy is one of the foundation singjays. This tune is about mood and attitude and not so much about lyrics. Can’t diss the lyrics though. They capture a historical moment — when people were surprised that gangsters had assault rifles. We kinda assume that now!

1. Sister Nancy, “Bam Bam”

Is there a darker, moodier riddim than the Stalag? While you’re thinking, lemme give you the answer—NO. Sure, Nancy sliced off a part of the lyric from Toots & The Maytals to make this one. But so what? Lighters don’t come on for the Toots original. They do for this. When you are a woman who gets badman ratings, you know say you bloodcl–t bad!

Honorebel Mentions

Dread Out Deh — Joy White
Warm & Sunny Day — Barrington Levy
General Penitentiary — Black Uhuru
Blood Bath — Bounty Killer
Stepping Razor — Peter Tosh
A Who Seh Me Done — Cutty Ranks
What Kind Of World — Brigadier Jerry
Hard Times — Derrick Lara
Fade Away — Junior Byles
Armagideon Time — Willie Williams