The Pop Corporation

One of the most influential people in British bass culture has sadly left the building. Jah Shaka is a magnificently important person when it comes to soundsystem culture in the UK, in part, paving the way for so much music that follow in his footsteps.

Born in Jamaica, part of the post-Windrush wave, based in South East London, Jah Shaka was a pioneer and innovator and even managed to snag himself a spot in the legendary Babylon movie.

See him in the clip here and feel every hair on your body stand on end.

Playing with dub and roots reggae, making it his own and sprinkling it with spiritualism, Jah Shaka is one of the most pivotal figures in Black British music.

Jungle legend JJ Frost paid tribute, saying: “The king of Kings has left us. The greatest soundman that ever lived.”

Shaka will always be one of the most major players in British soundsystem history, working alongside the likes of Dennis Bovell’s Sufferer’s HiFi, serving up cosmic dubs, roots and dance minded reggae, with a hard rebel stance and DIY ethic. His work would influence trip hop, jungle, rave, drum ‘n’ bass and helped the burgeoning British reggae scene that blossomed in the ’80s.

Collaborating with the Mad Professor and Horace Andy, he was also a keen charity worker with his own foundation. He was the realest of the real.

He also released his own records, so it’s only right that we finish this small tribute with some of that. Let the bass rattle your windows – it’s definitely what he would have wanted.