Jstar has unveiled the tracklist for his show 'Control Tower' on Scientific Sound Asia, the leading underground radio station and DJ agency serving Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Asia. The broadcast showcases reggae, dancehall, dub, and hip-hop across a carefully curated selection of tracks.
Following the release of his double album 'Licensed Plates' and studio albums 'Stand To Order' and 'Dub To Order', Jstar continues to expand his artistic reach. His recent work includes collaborations with Chinese reggae MCs and an 8-date tour of China, demonstrating his commitment to exploring new musical territories.
Jstar's approach to DJing spans multiple genres and eras, as he explains: "I love to play a classic deep dub DJ set as much as party-filling tropical dancehall or drum and bass. I'll play all sorts—I'm not apologising for playing dubstep in 2004 or Moombahton in 2010; even if no one had heard of those styles then, it all owes its debt to the sound system business."
The set opens with classic hip-hop and reggae foundations, featuring Rakim's 'It's Been A Long Time' and tracks from Bounty Killer, Capleton, and Shyne. Early selections establish the reggae and dancehall core, with contributions from Mr Vegas, Shabba Ranks, and Lady Lee, interspersed with hip-hop instrumentals from Dr Dre and Blu Cantrell.
The mix progresses through a blend of Caribbean and UK bass music, incorporating Jstar's own productions including 'Tempo Bye Bye', 'Girls Flava', 'Hot Sleng Dubplate', and 'Deadly Dub'. Tracks from Supercat, Alborosie, and Echo Minott maintain the reggae and dub focus, whilst remixes and bootlegs—including Jstar's own rework of Stormzy's 'Know Me From'—add contemporary energy.
The latter half shifts towards drum and bass, grime, and bass music, with selections from Mungo's Hi-Fi featuring Soom T, Kreed, and Sub Killaz. Jstar's remix of Longfingah's 'Urban Mystic' and collaborations with Parly B and other UK bass artists bridge the reggae and electronic music worlds, whilst tracks from Roots Manuva and Vybz Kartel close the set with hip-hop and reggae sensibilities intact.
“I love to play a classic deep dub DJ set as much as party-filling tropical dancehall or drum & bass. I'll play all sorts - I'm not apologising for playing dubstep in 2004 or Moombahton in 2010; even if no one had heard of those styles then, it all owes its debt to the sound system business” Jstar
Jstar frequently serves as a tour DJ for vocalist Soom T, showcasing his versatile skills and dynamic stage presence. Additionally, he has captivated audiences as a solo performer at renowned festivals worldwide, including Glastonbury (UK), EXIT (Serbia), Womad (UK), Fusion (Germany), Symbiosis (USA), Island Vibe (Australia), The Big Chill, Big Love, Kelburn Garden Party (Scotland), and many more.
His extensive touring schedule has taken him across Europe, parts of India, New Zealand, Russia, Kenya, Mexico, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ibiza's legendary Space Club on four occasions. Jstar's global presence and electrifying performances underscore his status as a standout artist in the international reggae and Bass music scene.
Jstar presents Control Tower 3 on Scientific Sound Asia, with a wide selection rooted in Dancehall, Reggae, Dub, Hip Hop, Jungle and Bass Music. The archive episode features music from Rakim, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Soom T, Stormzy, Roots Manuva and Vybz Kartel.
Control Tower is Jstar’s programme for reggae, dub, dancehall, bass music and sound system culture. This episode connects Jamaican vocal music, hip hop instrumentals, dubplates, jungle remixes and UK bass-led material across a broad selector-style tracklist.
Rakim opens with It's Been A Long Time, placing a Hip Hop reference at the start before Bounty Killer and Capleton bring the set into Dancehall. Shyne, Two Sound, Pace One and Jstar then move between rap instrumentals, accapella cuts and dubplate-style material.
Jstar’s Tempo Bye Bye and Girls Flava bring his own production voice into the early section before Mr Vegas, Blu Cantrell, Lady Lee and Dr. Dre widen the blend. Shaggy and Olivia follow with Tonight, while Shabba Ranks and Keith Lawrence move the mix back towards Jamaican vocal and reggae material.
Super Cat’s Ghetto Red Hot appears in remix form, adding a key dancehall reference before Big L shifts the programme back to Hip Hop. Nextmen, Toddla T, Ava Leigh and Bobby Kray then keep the selection moving through reggae, dancehall and UK-linked bass culture.
A White Label 7" entry with Greetings opens a dubwise section before DJ Vadim and Emo appear on Watch That Sound in the Jstar remix. Echo Minott, YT and Jstar then continue with Pon The Key, England Story and Hot Sleng Dubplate, keeping the central passage close to Dub and reggae sound system traditions.
Million Stylez, Cham and Pinchers return the episode to Dancehall with Miss Fatty Fatty, Rude Boy Pledge and Enemy. Alborosie follows with Slam Bam, before David Ruffin’s I Wish It Would Rain in the Upstate remix adds a Soul reference within the wider reggae and remix context.
Barriolites, Cut La Vis, Mungo's Hi-Fi and Jstar build the next section around reggae, dub and bass-led production. Stormzy’s Know Me From in the Jstar bootleg then brings Grime into the episode before Gardna and Kreed connect to modern UK sound system MC culture.
Pressure Buss Pipe, Krak In Dub and Longfingah move the mix back towards reggae and dub, with Zion Train and Jstar remixes shaping the late-middle section. Shabba Ranks and Chaka Demus then return with classic dancehall pressure through Peenie Peenie and Original Kuff.
Mystic, Jstar, Soom T and Naram keep the roots and dubplate thread active before Kreed, Moresounds and Sub Killaz shift the rhythm towards Bass Music and Jungle. Cantankerous, Ghost Writers and Lost City then extend that heavier late section with Parly B, Red Eye Hifi and a Jungle remix featuring General Jah Mikey.
Roots Manuva’s Witness The Fitness brings a final Hip Hop landmark into the closing run. Vybz Kartel and Ky-Mani Marley close Control Tower 3 with Cool And Deadly, ending the episode on a Dancehall and Reggae connection.
Control Tower 3 with Jstar
Rakim - It’s Been A Long Time
Bounty Killer - Model
Capleton - War
Shyne - Bad Boy (Riddim)
Two Sound - Accapella
Pace One - Green
Jstar - Tempo Bye Bye
Jstar - Girls Flava
Mr Vegas - Weed Day
Blu Cantrell - Breath (Instrumental)
Lady Lee - Situation (Accapella)
Dr Dre - Still Dre (Instrumental)
Shaggy & Olivia - Tonight
Shabba Ranks - Trailer Load A Girls
Keith Lawrence - People Ready
Supercat - Ghetto Red Hot (Remix)
Big L - Wack EP 1
Nextmen - Blood and Fire
Toddla T - Inna De Dancehall
Ava Leigh - La La La
Bobby Kray - Bam Bam,
White Label 7” - 'Greetings'
DJ Vadim - Watch That Sound feat. Emo (Jstar Remix)
Echo Minott - Pon The Key
YT - England Story
Jstar - Hot Sleng Dubplate
Million Stylez - Miss Fatty Fatty
Cham - Rude Boy Pledge
Pinchers - Enemy
Alborosie - Slam Bam
David Ruffin - I Wish It Would Rain (Upstate Remix)
Barriolites - Don’t Let Me Mash
Cut La Vis feat. Tippa Irie - Love My Music (Numa Crew dub)
Mungo's Hi-Fi feat. Soom T - Jump Up Quickly
Stormzy - Know Me From (Jstar Bootleg)
Gardna & Kreed - My Show feat. Inja Eva Lazarus, J Man, Parly B
Jstar - Deadly Dub
Pressure Buss Pipe - Lion is a Lion
Krak In Dub - Amazonite (Zion Train Remix)
Longfingah - Urban Mystic (Jstar Remix)
Shabba Ranks - Peenie Peenie (Music Lover)
Chaka Demus - Original Kuff
Mystic - Youth Get Tricked
Jstar - Baby Fan Ying feat. Mouse FX
Soom T - Saved by a Ganja Leaf (Instrumental Remix)
Naram feat. Robert Lee - Ragamuffin Soldiers
Kreed feat. Parly B - Too Shooty (TI Remix)
Moresounds - Analog Steak (Danny Scrilla Remix)
Sub Killaz - Raised by The Block
Cantankerous feat. Parly B - Fleck
Ghost Writers - They Wanna Know (Red Eye Hifi Remix)
Lost City & Michele Wylen - One by One feat. General Jah Mikey (Jungle Remix)
Roots Manuva - Witness The Fitness
Vybz Kartel feat. Ky-Mani Marley - Cool and Deadly
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