Yaadcore unveils ‘Reggaeland’

Jamaican reggae don, Yaadcore has shared details of his forthcoming debut album, “Reggaeland,” along with the cover art and tracklist.

The artist’s own 12 Yaad Records and Delicious Vinyl Island, the new Caribbean music imprint from iconic L.A. label Delicious Vinyl dropped “Reggaeland” on March 18.

A game-changing DJ turned-groundbreaking artist, Yaadcore is one of the most unique and intriguing figures in today’s Jamaican reggae scene.

With the release of “Reggaeland,” the now full-time vocalist said he is set to cement his place as one of Jamaica’s “most important new voices.”

“Reggaeland is the sound of an artist honoring tradition while bringing his distinct vision of Jamaican music’s future to the forefront,” Yaadcore told Caribbean Life.

“While the title celebrates Jamaica’s status as the epicenter of reggae music, the project’s contents pull elements of trap, R&B, classic hip-hop and jazz into an eclectic, bass-forward sound that defies simple genre tags,” he added.

“It’s reggae music with a fusion,” Yaadcore continued. “From you hear I and I ‘pon it then you know it ah go bring Jamaican flavor.”

Guests on Reggaeland include fellow reggae stars Richie Spice, Jah9, Pressure Busspipe and I-Wayne, along with the late genre innovator and music icon Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Production comes from a committee including the USA’s Subatomic Sound, Ian McKee and Green Lion Crew, and Jamaica’s Micah Shemiah, Treydrumz and Chillmuchmore, along with Yaadcore himself.

Helping to give the project its distinctive sound on the mixing board are GRAMMY-winning engineer Bonzai Caruso (Damian Marley, Notorious B.I.G.) and Tippy-I (of I Grade Records and Zion I Kings), among others.

Yaadcore said he first emerged a decade ago as the essential DJ, or selector, of Jamaica’s reggae revival scene, a status that earned him recognition in outlets from Vice to Vogue.

After helping carry the movement worldwide as the tour DJ for Protoje and co-founder of multinational reggae party Dubwise Jamaica, he turned his attention to making his own music, beginning with breakthrough track “Ready Now” in 2019.

A veritable ganja icon, Yaadcore said he hosts Jamaica’s first weed strain review series, “Spliff A Light Spliff,” for Kingston dispensary Itopia Life, and has collaborated with US-based cannabis lifestyle brands Leafly and Blazy Susan, as well as with iconic streetwear brand Diamond Supply Co.

Yaadcore’s latest single, “La Laa Laa”, featuring Sarah Couch (of Jamaican indie pop duo DejaVilla) was recently handpicked by host Ebro Darden for Apple Music’s Discovered on Apple Music spotlight.

The album release party was held on Monday, Ma.ch 21, at 7:00 pm, at Cafe Erzulie, 894 Broadway, in the Bed-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.

For further information, contact Colette Romany/The LargeUp Agency: colette@largeup.com