Tippa Lee meets the Naram Rhythm Section – Musically Bad (LP)

Five years on from their iconic debut album, the Red Robin posse return with another epic full length LP – this time featuring the ruffneck deejay styling of their longtime friend Tippa Lee.

With ten hardcore riddims from Naram stretching the full spectrum of 80s roots, rub-a-dub, and digi – and uncompromising street level lyrics from the LA-based Jamaican veteran Tippa Lee – Musically Bad is an absolute must-have for any discerning reggae collector.

The culmination of nearly a decade of collaboration, with multiple trips to LA where they improvised studio set ups at a range of cheap motels. Tippa takes listeners on a journey through his history in reggae, lamenting the rise of slackness and gun culture, firing shots at politicians and oligarchs, and shining a spotlight on the struggles of people of all colours and creeds suffering in the ghetto.

Despite the serious messages conveyed, and the heavyweight militant riddims, the album contains plenty of moments of humour and levity thanks to Tippa’s lyrical nous.

With all riddims recorded and mixed to half inch tape in Naram’s analogue Whanganui studio in Aotearoa, and crisp mastering from Downbeat Studios, the LP is fine tuned to mash up any dancehall or living room.