Two legendary deejays will vie for glory next month in Brooklyn in order to decide the ruler of the technological reggae, format specific to the genre.
“Foundation meets the future” bills Jamaica’s Rory Stone Love against England’s David Rodigan for a challenge to decide king of the turntables.
They will maneuver rotating discs while spinning promotions of reggae, ska, rocksteady, dub, and dancehall. The clever combination, refined and perfected in Jamaica, predates a proliferation of radio on the island. And folk tales claim communities were informed by tech savvy, music lovers who invented a portable sound system.
Likened to griots, their messages spoke a language communities embraced.
Rodigan, although born in Hanover, Germany, is renowned as a British Broadcasting Corporation personality who from early on favored the transmission and the Jamaican beat as well. He seized on an opportunity to emulate the Caribbean innovation, and instead of following commercial, popular tradition, he chose an alternative playlist to program reggae on his “Roots Rockers” Capital Radio show. He did the same at Kiss FM.
And while he developed a burgeoning fan base there, his clashes with Killamajaro, Stone Love, Bass Odyssey, and other sound system legends earned him distinction from the Jamaican government. In 2020, he was honored with the order of distinction (OD) for “outstanding service to the promotion of Jamaican music across the world.”
He was reported to have said: “I was blown away.”
Ironically, Rory Stonelove Gillian (Gilligan) was born in South London, England. Known as the “gentle genius,” Rory moved to Jamaica at a young age, where he cemented an impactful relationship within the Stone Love Movement. Reportedly, he played a key role there that resonated with Jamaicans who declared his effort integral to the emergence of the most popular sound system of the era.
On April 3 and 4, the 60 year-old will face off against his 74 year old rival.
Win or lose, an anointing will proclaim a champion at Crown Hill Theater, which is located at 750 Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn. Fans are expecting a combination of vintage and current music styles, smooth transitions, nostalgic hit recordings as well as stylistic microphone technique to factor in deciding the winner of the contest.
It is their reactions that will ultimately prove worthiness. Both names are respected legends of the procedure; the two are no strangers to the coronation process, and together they have persevered through many battles.
Throughout, patrons anticipate creativity, frequency, and transitions from one composition to the next. What has become a regular challenge of wits and skill is now a territorial claim for inheritance.
The crown has been placed in the unlikeliest territories, Asia. Most alluring has been contests pitting Japanese talents against native Jamaicans for royal titles. With that Eastern country’s victory of winning a dancehall dance queen contest during the early phase of the popular female contest, it was inevitable that competitive men would conquer a similar trophy honoring the sub-culture.
Japan’s collective of the Mighty Crown nurtured that assembly by establishing its own sound system ambassadors. Founded in 1991 in Yokohama, their unique dubplate discography first won the Far East Rulaz contests. Eight titles later and 11 entries to boast, they are recorded undisputed champions. By 1999, they conquered the global landscape, winning world clashes in Jamaica and elsewhere.
Women’s History Month
As the month of March fades from the 2026 calendar, a spotlight should focus on four trailblazing females who attained prominence for leading CARICOM nations.
Dominica’s Eugenia Charles was first to lead the charge in 1995. Although Lucina da Costa of the Netherland Antilles, is the documented trailblazer, Charles is considered the first from the English-speaking region to attain such notoriety. She served the second-longest tenure of any Dominican head of government and was the world’s fifth-longest-serving female head of state.
Jamaica’s Portia Simpson-Miller followed suit in 2006. Named one of 100 distinguished influential people in the world by Time Magazine, her agenda focused on populism. While Charles’ politics seemed to strike a chord with Republican ideals and those projected by President Ronald Reagan (particularly when the US needed a springboard for the invasion of Grenada), Jamaica’s Sister P stood firm against US interventions, preferring to side with decisions relative to improving the social conditions of the less fortunate on the island.
Two current feminists places Barbados’ Mia Amor Mottley and Trinidad & Tobago’s Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the helm of championing respectability for their Eastern Caribbean countries.
Elected the 8th prime minister of Barbados in 2018, Mottley’s emergence ignited pride and independence from the colonial British decision-makers. Initially, she declared the goal, and soon after was first in establishing the Republic of Barbados. The impact she exudes seems like a pattern to emulate, and earlier this year she swept the polls, winning all 30 seats for a third consecutive landslide victory.
Mottley seems to be receiving the kind of attention Barbados never attained under colonial rule. She has spoken out vociferously about climate change and the need for first world nations in meeting a challenge of responsibility. Throughout her short tenure, her progressive agenda has gotten widespread endorsements at the United Nations.
Her cabinet is comprised of females in top leadership positions. Currently, Mottley remains the longest serving female leader in the world.
TT nationals elected Kamla Persad Bissessar their choice for the sought-after prime position. Elected for the second time last May, she made history in 2010 when she became the first woman of Indian descent to be elected Prime Minister. Like President Donald Trump, her resurgence to a second term as leader was not consecutive. Notably, it is her conservative ideals which aligns with those of the Republican leader that resonates most with critics of her regime.
Recently, the trailblazer became fodder for discussion when she rejected the notion of the Caribbean remaining a zone of peace.
Catch you on the Inside!
