System Clash: The Best Sound System of All-Time.

In the lead-up to this year’s edition of »Culture Clash« in New York city, Red Bull Music Academy asked reggae writers Eddie Stats, David Katz, Rishi Nath and Paul Bradshaw to weigh in with their pick for the best sound system of all-time in a series of articles they called »System Clash«.

Stats chose Stone Love for the musical variety they played, them pioneering the art of juggling, revolutionizing the dub plate game, their clean sound and them being the first truly global soundsystem:

By the end of the ’90s, Stone Love had franchises in New York and London as well, solidifying their supremacy and making them the only sound that could play three different dances in three different cities – on three different continents.

Katz picked Jah Shaka for their sound manipulation skills, their consequent focus on positive sounds of actual importance as well as the spiritual vibes in their sessions:

A Jah Shaka session really is akin to a religious experience; even those who claim not to be religious themselves will often report feeling something spiritual there.

Nath went with Massive B for their massive radio presence, their high-quality promotion, their record label and their consistent and longstanding connection to the dancehall community:

You can’t just think of Massive B doing good things for New York. You have to think in another way: being from New York, look what they’ve done. Try to imagine reggae without Massive B? You can’t.

Finally, Bradshaw repped for Sir Coxsone Outernational for him recognising the value of youth and the need for fresh ideas within his team, him maintaining long-standing links with Jamaica’s finest producers and artists and his sound boasting an unrivalled selection of music:

Lloyd possessed a gravitas that was commensurate to the Knighthood he had bestowed upon himself.

You can read all articles clicking on the links at the beginning of each paragraph above. Enjoy!

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