Jstar presented Control Tower 9 for Scientific Sound Asia in 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.
Jstar was a London DJ and producer whose career had already spanned more than two decades when this edition was published. His work included remixes across Reggae, Dancehall and Hip Hop, linking his catalogue to sound system culture and bass-led club music.
His productions had received support from Ram Jam Rodigan, Norman Jay and Grandmaster Flash. That support placed his remix work within a broad lineage of Reggae, Dub, club selection and Hip Hop-focused DJ culture.
The article also noted Stand To Order and Dub To Order among his previous albums. These records formed part of the background to his work as a producer as well as a selector.
At the time, Jstar was involved in supporting Reggae artists in developing regions across Asia and Oceania. This activity extended the scope of his work beyond his London roots and recorded output.
A tour of China was another documented part of that period, as Reggae had been finding an audience within parts of the country’s underground music scene. The visit included contact with Jado, an emerging artist from Shanghai’s Reggae community.
Control Tower 9 presents Jstar’s connection to Reggae, Dub, Dancehall, Hip Hop and wider bass-led music. The programme links his production history, remix work and international activity with the sound system foundations behind the series.
Jstar presents Control Tower 9 on Scientific Sound Asia, with a roots-led archive selection moving through Reggae, Dub, Dancehall, Bass Music and Soul. The episode features music from Randy Valentine, Macka B, Prince Fatty, Winston Francis, Shabba Ranks, Jesse Royal, Horace Andy, Sizzla, Capleton, Dubmatix and Nostalgia 77.
Control Tower is Jstar’s programme for reggae, dub, dancehall, bass music and sound system culture. This episode links classic Jamaican vocal records with modern dub versions, UK bass remixes and contemporary roots material.
Randy Valentine opens with Victory, followed by Macka B’s Cyarry Di Box and Midnight Sun’s Natural Self in the Prince Fatty version. Winston Francis then adds I Kill The Devil Last Night, keeping the early section rooted in reggae vocal tradition.
Shabba Ranks and Mikey Spice move the programme into Dancehall with Kushung Peng, before Jesse Royal returns the set to modern roots reggae with Wadada. G Duppy’s Run Fi Cover in the Jstar remix brings Parly B, Dandelion and Jago into the sequence, adding a direct sound system link.
Delroy Wilson’s Conquer Dub introduces a dubwise turn before Winston Francis and Phyllis Dillon return with Don't Change and Woman Of The Ghetto. Framix and Roland Alphonso then keep the flow close to reggae and ska-rooted foundations through No War and Determination 5.
Lord Echo’s Terabu and Magic Circle Express’ Magic Fever widen the middle section through dub, reggae and groove-based instrumentation. Dennis Brown’s Westbound Train in the Tarzan Bros rework then adds a familiar roots reference before Mr Benn and Eva Lazarus move into Bass Music with Stars.
Bobby Hustle, Gappy Ranks and Esco Levi continue the vocal run with Life Is What You Make It, Carpenter and Wheat And Tears. Half Pint follows with Freedom Fighter, before Solo Banton and Trevor Irie bring Dancehall back into the episode with Dancehall Nice Again.
Silva MC and Jah Red Lion return the set to reggae with Guiding Star, followed by Dubmatix and The Ragga Twins on Gun Down in the Jason DJ Shine Spanu remix. Jazmine Sullivan’s Need U Bad appears in the Moody Boys mix, adding a Soul reference within the wider reggae and remix context.
Tackhead’s War in the RSD aka Rob Smith Dub remix shifts the later section back into Dub, while The Heatwave and Stylo G add a UK bass turn through Closer To Me in the Roska remix. Trilion and General G follow with No Nicotine, before King Yoof and Raggs bring the programme back to Dub with Barter Town Dub.
Horace Andy’s Live Up on Blakamix opens the closing stretch, followed by Dreadsquad and Ras Demo with Everyday. Stephen Marley, Sizzla and Capleton then add a roots reggae collaboration with Rock Stone, before Sizzla’s Just One Of Those Days keeps the focus on Jamaican vocal material.
Master links with Charlie P and Brother Culture on Murder, returning the final section to Dancehall and sound system MC culture. Jstar and Ranking Joe follow with Bad Boy Stepping, before Nostalgia 77 and Prince Fatty close Control Tower 9 with Seven Nation Dub.
Control Tower 9 with Jstar
Randy Valentine - Victory
Macka B - Cyarry Di Box
Midnight Sun - Natural Self (Prince Fatty Version)
Winston Francis - I Kill The Devil Last Night
Shabba Ranks and Mikey Spice - Kushung Peng
Jesse Royal - Wadada
G Duppy feat. Parly B, Dandelion And Jago - Run Fi Cover (Jstar Remix)
Delroy Wilson - Conquer Dub
Winston Francis - Don't Change
Phyllis Dillon - Woman Of The Ghetto
Framix - No War
Roland Alphonso - Determination 5
Lord Echo - Terabu
Magic Circle Express - Magic Fever
Dennis Brown - Westbound Train (Tarzan Bros Rework)
Mr Benn - Stars feat. Eva Lazarus
Bobby Hustle - Life Is What You Make It
Gappy Ranks - Carpenter (Juggling Mix)
Esco Levi - Wheat And Tears
Half Pint - Freedom Fighter
Solo Banton And Trevor Irie - Dancehall Nice Again
Silva Mc feat. Jah Red Lion - Guiding Star
Dubmatix - Gun Down feat. The Ragga Twins (Jason DJ Shine Spanu Remix)
Jasmine Sullivan - Need U Bad (Moody Boys Mix)
Tackhead - War (RSD Aka Rob Smith Dub Remix)
The Heatwave feat. Stylo G - Closer To Me (Roska Remix)
Trilion feat. General G - No Nicotine
King Youth - Barter Town Dub feat. Raggs
Horace Andy - Live Up [Blakamix]
Dreadsquad - Everyday feat. Ras Demo
Stephen Marley feat. Sizzla & Capleton - Rock Stone
Sizzla - Just One Of Those Days
Master - Murder feat. Charlie P & Brother Culture
Jstar feat. Ranking Joe - Bad Boy Stepping (Deejay Edit)
Nostalgia 77 & Prince Fatty - Seven Nation Dub
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