3. Samory-I, Black Gold

Black Gold, the debut album from Jamaican singer Samory-I, is a full-length collaboration with acclaimed selector and producer Rory StoneLove’s Black Dub Music. The pair’s musical relationship began after Samory-I auditioned for Rory performing “Take Me Oh Jah”, which gained him his earliest international exposure when it was released in 2015. The album, which includes no features, is a celebration of blackness, exploring topics including freedom, love and worship. It is the product of years worth of work, and a regime implemented by Rory that not only included daily rehearsals but also jogging. “Rasta Nuh Gangsta”, “Not Because” and “Black Gold” shine through when listening. Black Gold is modern roots reggae in its rawest most undiluted form, and a must listen for purists of the genre. — Gibbo