About the Album
A debut steeped in the spirit of Jamaica's golden age — The Reggae Anthology is a wordless journey through 38 original instrumentals, each a handcrafted homage to the soulful grooves of the 1960s and '70s. Deep, rolling basslines. Skanking guitar offbeats. Vintage organ bubbles rising like smoke. All written, performed, and produced by Young Lion.
Full Album — Stream Free
Roots, Rhythm & the Reggae Story
Born in Kingston
Reggae emerged from the streets of Kingston, Jamaica in the late 1960s, evolving out of ska and rocksteady. Its unmistakable heartbeat — a delayed offbeat guitar "skank" on the 2nd and 4th beats — gave the music a laid-back swagger unlike anything else in the world.
"The riddim carries the soul — the words are optional."
The Power of Instrumental
Long before vocal tracks, Jamaican studio bands cut pure instrumental "riddims" — backing tracks that would be voiced, re-voiced, and re-released for years. This tradition of instrumental mastery is the bedrock The Reggae Anthology honours. No lyrics needed: the groove speaks.
The Golden Era: 1968–1979
Reggae crystallises as a distinct genre from rocksteady — slower tempo, heavier bass.
The Harder They Come soundtrack brings Jamaican roots music to global audiences.
Rastafari spiritual themes and conscious lyrics define "roots reggae" at its peak.
Dub production — echo, reverb, stripped-back versions — becomes an art form in itself.
What Makes It Reggae?
The signature elements: a booming, melodic bass guitar that leads rather than follows; the choppy rhythm guitar on upbeats; warm organ or piano "bubbling" beneath; a relaxed, behind-the-beat drum feel; and a deeply human warmth that no genre has quite replicated. Young Lion captures all of it — instrument by instrument, track by track.
About Young Lion
Young Lion is the musical alias of multi-instrumentalist and producer Lionel Cohen of dna-productions. With deep influences in classic Jamaican music, Young Lion channels the spirit of the original Kingston session players — those unsung heroes who built an entire genre with nothing but feel, timing, and tone. The Reggae Anthology is both tribute and original statement: the sounds of a bygone era, reimagined fresh.
All tracks written, performed & produced by Young Lion
© 2017 Lionel Cohen Music / dna-productions