Jstar presented Control Tower episode 4 for Scientific Sound Asia in September 2018. Scientific Sound Asia operates as an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music news outlet, connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Hailing from West London, England, Jstar is a DJ and producer whose work draws on a broad range of bass-led and Black music traditions. At the time of this edition, he was known for sets that moved between Dub, Drum and Bass, Jungle, Reggae, Hip Hop, R&B and Soul.
His production catalogue included more than 100 official and unofficial remixes, demonstrating extensive output alongside his DJ work. That approach gave his radio selections room to connect original recordings, reworks and Dub-oriented material without narrowing the programme to one style.
Jstar’s discography included the albums Stand To Order and Dub To Order. Both titles formed part of the recorded work cited in the original introduction to this archived edition.
He had also toured China before this post was published, taking his Reggae and Bass Music selections to new audiences. The appearance of his own productions within the set placed his radio work alongside his wider activity as a producer.
Control Tower episode 4 presents Jstar’s connection to sound system culture through Reggae, Dub, Hip Hop, Jungle and Drum and Bass. The programme documents the breadth of his selection style while linking his radio work with the productions and remixes that shaped his wider catalogue.
Dub, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Funk and Soul. The episode features music from Born Jamericans, Capleton, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Yabby You, Johnny Clarke and the Revolutionaries.
Control Tower is Jstar’s programme for reggae, dub, dancehall, bass music and sound system culture. This episode connects Jamaican vocal music, hip hop classics, soul breaks, dub versions and selector-led edits across a wide tracklist.
Born Jamericans open with Cease & Seckle, followed by Mr Benn and Blackout JA on Police. Busta Rhymes then appears through The Vibe in the Magikmoar remix, before John Legend’s Ordinary People is placed over the Stranger Riddim.
Admiral Tibet, Capleton, Dark Prophet and Tippa Irie keep the early section rooted in reggae and dancehall. Grand Magneto’s Tainted Love and the Unknown Loving / Drumsong Riddim selection then move the programme through version culture and reggae reinterpretation.
Busta Rhymes returns with Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check, followed by Dirtsman, A Tribe Called Quest and Jigsy King. Funkdoobiest and LL Cool J then strengthen the Hip Hop thread before Mary Jane Girls and En Vogue bring Soul into the middle of the episode.
General Degree’s Traffic Blocking moves the selection back to dancehall before Fatback Band and The Soul Searchers add Funk references through I Found Love and Ashley's Roachclip. The Pharcyde’s Passin' Me By, Beyoncé with Sean Paul on Baby Boy and The Marvels’ Rocksteady keep the middle section broad but connected to rhythm-led vocal music.
Mato’s version of Public Enemy’s Bring The Noise starts a dubwise run, followed by Jstar’s Regulate Rock and Mr. Dero’s Sessel Rock. Scrappy, Jstar, Jah Marnyah and Earl 16 then bring the set back towards sound system material through dancehall, dub and roots reggae.
VC, Junior Kelly and Lorenzo keep the reggae focus steady before Kardinal Offishall’s Nina adds another hip hop-linked entry. Shaggy’s Two Way in the Upstate remix, Cocoa Tea’s Sonia and Michigan And Smiley’s Diseases then return the mix to Jamaican vocal styles.
Ranking Devon, Frankie Wilmot, Kenny Knots and General Echo build the late section around older reggae and dancehall selections. Yabby You’s Death Trap, Johnny Clarke’s Don't Trouble Trouble and the Aggrovators’ A Rougher Version shift the programme into a deeper dub and roots reggae frame.
Junior Hibbert, Ethnic Fight Band and Carl Fletcher continue the roots-led closing run with Really For A Reason, Really A Rocker and Natty Burry. The Revolutionaries, Prince Allah with Philip Frazier and High Times Players close Control Tower 4 with Death Sentence, Come Away and Come Away Dub.
Control Tower 4 with Jstar
Born Jamericans - Cease & Seckle
Mr Benn feat. Blackout JA - Police
Busta Rhymes - The Vibe (Magikmoar Remix)
John Legend - Ordinary People - Stranger Riddim
Admiral Tibet - Never Stop Trying
Capleton - Prophet Rides Again
Dark Prophet - Thirsty Ear
Tippa Irie - War
Grand Magneto - Tainted Love
Unknown - Loving/Drumsong Riddim
Busta Rhymes - Wooh Hah
Dirstman - Hot This Year
A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It
Jigsy King - Gimme The Weed
Funkdoobiest - Heavyweight Funk
Ll Cool J - Big Ol Butt
Mary Jane Girls - All Night Young
En Vogue - Hold On
General Degree - Traffic Blocking
Fatback Band - I Found Love
Pharcyde - Passing Me By
Beyonce & Sean Paul - Baby Boy
The Soul Searchers - Ashleys' Roachclip
The Marvels - Rocksteady
Mato Vs Public Enemy - Bring The Noise
Jstar - Regulate Rock
Mr.Dero - Sessel Rock
Scrappy - Off The Lead
Jstar - I Heard It Dub
Jah Marnyah - Stormy Weather
Earl 16 - World In Crisis
VC - Deeds
Junior Kelly - Hungry Days
Lorenzo - A Wa Do Dem
Kardinal Offishall - Nina
Shaggy - Two Way (Upstate Remix)
Cocoa Tea - Sonia
Michigan And Smiley - Diseases
Ranking Devon - Trespassing
Frankie Wilmot - I Won't Give Up
Kenny Knots - Run Come Call Me
General Echo - Cross Road So
Yabby You - Death Trap
Jonny Clarke - Don't Trouble Trouble
Aggrovators - A Rougher Version
Junior Hibbert - Really For A Reason
Ethnic Fight Band - Really A Rocker
Carl Fletcher - Natty Burry
Revolutionaries - Death Sentence
Prince Allah & Phillp Frazier - Come Away
High Times Players - Come Away Dub
Listen Here.
