Toppa Top 10: LargeUp’s Holiday Gift Guide 2012

Words by LargeUp Crew—

Today is Black Friday, so that must mean it’s time to start start thinking about your holiday shopping list, right? Or not. You’ve actually still got more than 30 days until Christmas, and even Hannukah is a month away. Whatever your shopping preferences, here’s a rundown of LargeUp-recommended gift ideas from music to books to coffee and rum.

10. Reggae 45 Soundsystem: The Label Art of Reggae Singles book

Foundation reggae and vinyl aficionados have a rare gift this year with the arrival of Soul Jazz‘s Reggae 45 Soundsystem book. Soul Jazz—one of the most rated labels for comprehensive and quality music compilations from all over the world—know a bit about reggae history, and display the 1959-79 era in fine style with this 500-page book. The full-size artwork is peeled from 1000 classic 45’s from iconic Jamaican labels, and is printed along with the background story for each. It’s the 7″ companion to their Reggae Soundsystem book, which is definitely worth copping as well. Grab the book and more info here.

9. Blue Mountain Coffee

It’s generally accepted that the best—and most expensive— coffee in the world comes from Jamaica, specifically the Blue Mountain range, at altitudes of between 2,000 and 5,000 feet. BlueMountainCoffee, the U.S. distributor for Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, is offering a 15-percent discount on all the items in their store for Cyber Monday, including beans, grounds and gift packages, making this indulgence a little more affordable. Have a taste for something different, and cheaper? Try Dominica’s Cafe Dominique ($7.95 for 8 oz.), from Bello, the same company behind that island’s favorite hot sauce, or St. Lucia’s Cafe St. Lucie ($7.95 for 8.8 oz.), both available from the Caribbean Island Imports web store.

8. King Tubby’s Meets Rockers Uptown Deluxe Box Set

Boston’s Get On Down Records is behind some of the coolest album reissues on the planet. In the past year they’ve put out the first Fat Boys album in a pizza box and re-released GZA’s Liquid Swords in a chess box. And check out what they did with Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Making their first ventures into dub and reggae, the label also recently reissued King Tubby’s Meets Rockers Uptown and Lee Scratch Perry’s Blackboard Jungle Dub as deluxe box sets. The Blackboard Jungle Dub set is now sold out, but the triple-vinyl edition of Meets Rockers Uptown can be had for $25.

7. Shimmy Shimmy “Don Dada” tee

Our friends at Shimmy Shimmy in the UK dropped what has to be the slickest artist-themed T-shirt of the year with their Supercat-inspired “Don Dada” design. We couldn’t be bigger Wild Apache fans, so we copped a couple the first chance we could. Fresh off his own tip of the cap to “The Don,” Nas was even spotted wearing one in his “Becoming Nas” special. Grab it in purple here, or in white here.

6. Jamaican Dancehall Signs Book

Published by our friends at Miss Lily’s Variety in NYC, Jamaican Dancehall Signs is like taking a car ride around Jamaica without all of the crazy drivers. The book, which features the private collection of JA film producer Maxine Walters, features page after page of the hand-made cardboard signs for dancehall parties, stage shows, plays and other events posted in just about every public space on the island. If you’ve never noticed these before, or never been down to yard, you’re in for a treat. While often crude, these signs have a rich visual language that’s truly distinct, and quintessentially Jamaican. Buy here, or walk in and grab a copy at Miss Lily’s Variety next time you’re in downtown NYC.

5. Banks 7 Golden Age rum

Want to make a purchase that will have an economic impact across the Caribbean, and actually tastes pretty good? Normally we don’t rate blended liquors but Banks 7 Golden Age is a pretty cool concept and comes with superb reviews. The “7” doesn’t refer to the years the rum was aged but the amount of countries where the rum comes from. All told, Banks 7 Golden Age blends 23 rums from distilleries located in Barbados, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and Java, in the South Pacific. Buy a 750-ml bottle here for $29.99.

4. Naparima Girls High School Cookbook

Produced for decades by Naparima Girls’ High School in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, The Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean is perhaps the most comprehensive Caribbean cookbook there is, with over 500 recipes. Until recently it was as hard to find as it is renowned, but the Caribbean cooking bible is now available from our friends at UncommonCaribbean.com. Get it here, for $39.99.

Get the t-shirt worn by Diplo, Popcaan and Johnny Osbourne! LargeUp recently collaborated with one of our favorite apparel brands, the highly respected and influential Rockers NYC, for our new tee design, celebrating Jamaica on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The bold design by noted visual artist Marcus Burrowes highlights the island’s vibrant national colors, and is available in black and yellow on American Apparel tees sizes M, L and XL. Visit the Okayplayer store and LargeUp yourself— use the promo code “Legendary” to get 30% off your order.

2. Lee Scratch Perry vinyl figure

Back in April, we told you about the vinyl Lee “Scratch” Perry figurine that Japanese toymaker Presspop was preparing to unleash. Now you can have your own mini Lee, designed by Archer Prewitt of the indie rock band The Sea and Cake and featuring the iconoclastic Jamaican music legend rocking a Jamaica tank, pink pants and a removable trucker hat, for $39.95. Buy it here.

1. A trip to Dominica for Mas Dominik

LargeUp recently returned from a trip to the Nature Island, and we can safely report that it’s everything you’ve heard about, and more. Or maybe you haven’t heard about it: Dominica is one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets, though it won’t be one for long. We had the opportunity to be there during the island’s just-concluded independence season (highlights of which include Creole Day and the World Creole Music Festival) but the good news is that Carnival— known as Mas Dominik— is coming right up (in February), and it’s one of the region’s most colorful celebrations. Feting aside, no trip to the island is complete without spending time enjoying its abundant natural features—visit the Discover Dominica website to tailor a trip around your preferences.

Bonus Gift. Reggae Golden Jubilee box set

VP Records’ Reggae Golden Jubilee wasn’t the only CD compilation released for Jamaica’s 50th anniversary this year but the four-disc, 100-track set, curated by former Jamaica Prime Minister Edward Seaga, was definitely the most interesting. Cop it for $44.99 here.

Beres Hammond-One Love, One Life CD

This one might be more of a stocking stuffer than a primary gift, but we had to include the best reggae album of the season. Give early so you can play it at the holiday party. Buy here.