Alberto D’Ascola, better known as Alborosie, is truly one of reggae’s international ambassadors. Since relocating to Jamaica from Sicily nearly two decades ago, this singer and producer has built a global following with dubwise reggae sounds constructed at Shengen Studio, his mostly analog Kingston recording facility. Living and working across the sea in the home of reggae music, Albo’s become one of the most popular performers in his native Italy, while also helping to build the genre’s presence in other markets, including Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Even if his music is not as widely known in Jamaica as it is other territories, Alborosie has earned his bonafides as a respected member of Jamaica’s music community. During his run Albo has collaborated with a wide swath of Jamaican musicians and performers, including Protoje and Etana to Errol Dunkley and King Jammys, with whom he shared the 2015 LP, Dub of Thrones. We’ve compiled a playlist featuring one-drop hits and dub essentials from the Jamaica-based, Italian-born reggae maestro, as well as collaborations with the aforementioned acts. Beginning with his breakthrough tracks “Kingston Town” and “Herbalist,” to his latest single “Living Dread,” the playlist offers an A to Z overview of Alborosie’s last decade, including a handful of instrumentals from his many dub projects.
Listen to Alborosie’s Raggamuffin Anthems playlist now on Apple Music, and look out for our upcoming webisode with Albo celebrating 40 years of Greensleeves Records.