10.24.11 - Producer Gyasi Addae LIVE in the studio

Deadly Dragon Sound welcomed legendary NYC label owner, producer and sound system operator Gyasi Addae into the studio. In the late 80s/ early 90s the sound of Gyasi's was the sound of New York Dancehall. In a relatively small period he released an enormous amount of 12"s and LPs and discovered such huge dancehall hit makers as Super C, Mad Lion, Princess Goldie and more. Queen Majesty and Scratch Famous will be talking to him about the golden age of New York dancehall and the future it promises to hold, as well as his own ranking alter ego and more! Check the archive.

10.10.11 - Jasmine Solano guest selections

Jasmine Solano is a Brooklyn-based rapper and DJ whose debut single, “That’s Not It” can now be seen on MtvU. Born in Philadelphia, her career began after she took an opportunity to host her own radio show called, The Secret Spot, featured on Boston’s WERS 88.9FM in which she received the Urban Music Award for Best Female Radio Personality. After moving to New York, Jasmine and DJ Wonder released “That’s Not It” and circulated a variety of her DJ remixes around the blogosphere, arousing a good deal of buzz for the rapper in the process as well as an opening slot on an international tour with punk/hip-hop group Ninjasonik. Her infamous monthly party, Electric Punanny with New York City’s downtown stars Melo-X, Roxy Cottontail and Phone By Tone has spread worldwide. Jasmine is known not only for her skills on the mic but also on the decks, and she brings some of her favorite reggae tunes for us. Check the archive as well as www.jasminesolano.com!

10.03.11 - DJ Ayres guest selection

DJ Ayres has been a staple in the NYC dj scene for over a decade with countless popular parties, mixes and remixes to prove it. Ayres brings his fondness for reggae to the show and selects some classic tunes as well as some things we have never heard before. Be sure to check the archive as well as www.djayres.com!

09.26.11 - John Cardiel aka Juan Love selects

The legendary pro skater John Cardiel aka DJ Juan Love was in town from California and stopped by to guest select on the show! John has been collecting and selecting reggae for some time now, and his natural positivity and contagious spirit comes out in the songs he chooses to play. Take a listen to the archive!

09.12.11 - Addis Pablo LIVE in the studio

Addis Pablo né Swaby grew up in both Kingston, Jamaica and the United States and learned at the foot of his father, Augustus, the importance of both the technical aspects of music and the spiritual resonance that roots music can contain. Over the past few years he has been working with Kingston based One Motion LLC and Triniyard Music developing multiple projects of his own as well as producing for other arists. In addition he has also taken on the mantle of re-developing the Rockers Record Shop in Kingston and working with his father's catalog. Every year, Addis (on Melodica) also joins Chinna Smith and his band for the Annual Celebration of the Life & Works of Augustus Pablo.

We were very happy to have had Addis on the show (pictured above with sister Isis) to chat with him as well as play some brand new music he is working on - take a listen to the archive!

08.22.11 - J Boog LIVE in the studio

J Boog's music career became serious in 2005, when a couple of brothers from his neighborhood brought him to one of J's favorite artists, George "Fiji" Veikoso". The two began working together immediately and J ended up moving to Hawaii in 2006 to continue developing his craft. After releasing his debut album "Hear Me Roar" in 2007, he joined the musical family Wash House Music Inc, an independent record label based in Hawaii and San Francisco.

A year later, in 2008, J Boog met Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage and there was an instant chemistry. Gramps was keen on working with J, and set out to make a way. Shortly after, Gramps, J Boog and other Wash House family members were in Jamaica recording in such prestigious places as Bob Marley's "Tuff Gong" Studio, Don Corleone's "Hit Maker", Bobby Digital's "Digital B", Shaggy's "Big Yard", Sugar Minott's "Youth Man Promotion" and more.

The results are apparent when listening to Boog's new music. It is authentic Island Music and genuine Jamaican reggae at the same time. Truly a new and exciting combination. There is a natural theme to Boog's writing: love. It recurs throughout his work and never once seems contrived. When you listen, you will feel he truly knows matters of the heart.

A humble man with lots of talent, we were so happy to have him share some latest music and talk about things going on with him now. Check the archive!

08-01-11 - DJ Muro Selections

We are always honored to have DJ Muro on the show whenever he is in town from Japan, and this show marks his third time with us. Because of his vast experience with collecting and producing, the loving touch he brings to the vinyl he plays is unmistakeable. Check the archive.

07-18-11 - King Ryuku / Fadda T Selections

We were happy to be joined once again by FaddaT while he was in town. This man digs deep and shares his soulful musical finds with us, check the archive and you may still be able to find some of his mixes for sale on line!

07-11-11 - John Holt Birthday Special

For this show, Scratch Famous digs deep in the vaults to bring you all of the best tunes from the Paragons feauring John Holt , as well as the classic John Holt tunes we know from him on his own... Wicked selections, must check out!

06.27.11 - Charlie Brown BBC Hi-Fi

Big ups to the man Charlie Brown from the BBC Hi Fi Sound to come to the studio and bring a tuff selection for all of the listeners - much respect, please check the archive!

06.13.11 - Dawn Penn LIVE in the studio

Dawn Penn's earliest recordings were for Prince Buster around 1966. In 1967 she recorded and released the rocksteady single, "You Don't Love Me" produced by Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. She also recorded "Why Did You Leave" at Studio One, "Broke My Heart" for Bunny Lee, "I Let You Go Boy" and covers of "To Sir with Love" and "Here Comes the Sun". By 1970 Penn had left the music industry and had moved to the Virgin Islands. In 1987, however, she returned to Jamaica and to music. In the summer of 1992 she was invited to appear on stage at a Studio One anniversary show, where she performed the song "You Don’t Love Me" with Steely & Clevie as backing musicians. The performance was a success, and she returned to the recording studio to re-record the song for the tribute album Steely & Clevie Play Studio One Vintage. It was released as the single "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" over a year later, reaching the charts in the U.S. and Europe, plus hitting #1 in her native Jamaica.

Ms. Dodd joined us in the studio to talk some history with us as well as discussing her latest projects and promoting her new ventures at this week's Downtown Top Ranking party. Please take a listen to the archive!

06.06.11 - Byze One, Mighty Crown & Firecrew

Nuff special guests this show; our good friend Byze one bringing his favorite Jamaican vinyl all the way from the west coast, then joined by the big sound Mighty Crown the Far East Rulers join us and bring along the wicked Fire Crew alla way from Japan - must take a listen to the archive!

05.16.11 - Lloyd Knibbs Tribute

For this show we did a loving Skatalites tribute to the legendary drummer Lloyd Knibbs who sadly passed away. He was an amazingly talented musician that could go from jazz, to ska to Nyabinghi. Mr. Knibbs contribution to Jamaican music, particularly ska, will never be forgotten. This show we also spoke with the one and only Dawn Penn on the phone, check the archive.

05.02.11 - Dubplates & Redman

For this show, Scratch Famous takes us through his collection, not of specials, but of acetates and other vinyl versions of songs he has collected over the years. In the second hour, he curates a special hour-long set of the Redman International label - check the archive!

04.25.11 - Bobby Konders LIVE in the studio

Massive B started over 10 years ago with the vision of DJ Bobby Konders on starting his own sound system. Since inception, Massive B has added new members Big Dawg, Chudney Shotta and other members working with the team as well D-Life & X-Man and main man Jabba. Massive b has been representing New York and has toured all over the world, by playing major festivals and tours in all Europe, Africa, Caribbean, Japan, Canada, and of course, in the US. This show, the fronter for the label, Bobby Konders himself, was live in the studio with a special guest set. Be sure to check the archive!

04.18.11 - Pete Rock! & Dj Muro guest select

Hailing out of Japan, DJ Muro has of course built a name producing and putting out hip hop, but also is very much into finding deep reggae and reggae breaks, as he showcased the last time he was on the show. That takes us to our second guest, the legendary hip hop producer Pete Rock. Recognized as one the most respected hip hop producers in the game, you can't have been into hip hop in the 90s without knowing something about reggae. We don't know if he and Muro are bringing wax or digital, and we don't know if they are playing reggae or not. But they are definitely part of the Deadly Dragon Massive and aesthetic so it should be a great show, I am sure you are excited as we are.

04.11.11 - Hahn Solo of Dub Is A Weapon selects

Today on Deadly Dragon Sounds, the crew welcomes Dave Han of Dub Is A Weapon, to the EVR studio. Dave and his cohort Larry have a new album coming out on April 26 and we'll be sure to hear all about what comprises this latest release.

Inspired by the dub productions of legendary producer King Tubby, Dave Hahn formed Dub Is A Weapon to make dub music as well, but wanted to take it out of the studio and perform it live. With help from a Jamaican beatnik percussionist (Larry McDonald, who had played on several crucial Bob Marley cuts in Jamaica and had since backed up American icons from Taj Mahal to Gil-Scott Heron to Bad Brains), an old high school friend, and young upstarts from the Brooklyn scene, Dave has honed their live take on the genre’s spaced-out grooves. This sound is felt in full force on tour as Lee “Scratch” Perry’s backing band and most recently on their soon-to-be-released album Vaporized.

04.04.11 - Papa Michigan LIVE in the studio

Papa Michigan and General Smiley were among the first dual-toasters on the first wave of Dancehall style in Jamaica. Beginning in the late 1970s while still in school, the humorous duo (Smiley got his name because he never smiles) scored immediately with Rub a Dub Style and a toasted real rock version named Nice up the Dance.

Now a solo artist, Papa Michigan continues to write record and perform groundbreaking material. The 2004 album, It's All Good, yielded the hugely popular underground single 400 Years and recent releases Barack Obama, Hustler and These Streets has served once again to reinforce his artistic brilliance. Now conscious of the need to be relevant, Michigan is employing a variety of strategies including a unique fusion of streetwise hip hop flavor that he blends with his native sound. Donning the caps of songwriter, producer and performer, it is evident that Papa Michigan has not only mastered several areas of the business but has continued to blossom over the years.

We were so happy to have him in the studio with us and catch up with him, and also big up Jah Fingers! please check the archive.

03.14.11 - Photographer David Corio LIVE in the studio

David Corio was born in London in 1960. He began his professional career in 1978 taking photographs of a diverse mix of musicians including Bob Marley, U2, Tom Waits and Public Enemy for New Musical Express, The Face, Time Out, and Black Echoes, covering a wide range of music and portraiture. After a stint as a music writer at City Limits, he worked as a freelance photographer for the Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Q and Mojo and has over 200 record covers to his credit. In 1992 he moved to New York working for the New York Times and the Times (UK) and the School of Visual Arts. Queen Majesty talks with him a bit about his photography and his current show at the Morrison Gallery. To check out some of his works on line, please go to DavidCorio.com

02.28.11 - Ranking Joe LIVE in the studio

This Monday, Deadly Dragon Sounds guest was the iconic Jamaican DeeJay (or toaster) Ranking Joe. Ranking Joe began chatting on the mic with sound-systems in the late 60s and was heavily influenced by the great DeeJay U ROY. Under the name "Little Joe" he cut a few tunes for Studio One. As the 70s progressed, he changed his name to Ranking Joe and developed a new style of chatting incorporating more speed and rhythmic elements as well as a deidication to cultural and conscious lyrics. At this time he was gathering great expsure by working with the Stur Grav sound In Jamaica and Ray Symbolic Hi-Fi in the UK. His WEAKHEART FADEAWAY LP was released on Greensleeves records at this time and was a strong, international seller. Throughout the 80s and 90s Ranking Joe put out numerous LPs and singles as well as focusing on his own productions and the "Ranking Joe Intl" and "Hi Power" labels. Ranking Joe is one of the great, living stage performers in Jamaican music. He is in demand all over the world and continues to tour on a consistent basis. For years he has livened up Deadly Dragon events with his infectious style.