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Robbie Shakespeare Archives

From the Bottom: Breaking Down Robbie Shakespeare’s Bass Line on “Pull Up to the Bumper”
From the Bottom

From the Bottom: Breaking Down Robbie Shakespeare’s Bass Line on “Pull Up to the Bumper”

In this episode, Paul Thompson breaks down the hit that made Grace Jones a pop star. The iconic bass line that kicks off “Pull Up to the Bumper” is an all-time groove by the late, great Robbie Shakespeare.

In Memoriam: Robbie Shakespeare
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Robbie Shakespeare

Another icon of the bass has left us. Reggae legend Robbie Shakespeare has passed away at the age of 68.

Sly & Robbie Return with “Red Hills Road”
New Albums

Sly & Robbie Return with “Red Hills Road”

The dynamic duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare started their careers together in the early 1970s in Kingston. Now, the legendary reggae rhythm section has dropped a new album, “Red Hills Road”.

Sly & Robbie with Mykal Rose: This Morning
Bass Videos

Sly & Robbie with Mykal Rose: This Morning

The legendary reggae rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare teamed up with Roots Radics for the album “The Final Battle.” Shakespeare’s simple yet perfect groove adds motion to the track, “This Morning.”

Sly & Robbie Continue to Exude the Reggae Power on Latest Album
New Albums

Sly & Robbie Continue to Exude the Reggae Power on Latest Album

Reggae legends Sly & Robbie’s latest album pairs the duo with Japanese reggae group Spicy Chocolate. The album, The Reggae Power 2, also features late reggae great Bob Marley’s grandson, Skip. “Once we heard Skip’s record ‘Cry to Me’ we knew that we wanted to try and involve him in the album,” said bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who is one half...

Bill Laswell Record is a Bass Extravaganza
New Albums

Bill Laswell Record is a Bass Extravaganza

The latest release from experimental composer/bassist/producer Bill Laswell is absolutely all about the bass. The seven-track piece, Bass Culture, features not only Laswell, but a divers group of bassists including funk icon Bootsy Collins (James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy’s Rubber Band), Robbie Shakespeare (one half of reggae legends Sly & Robbie), Jah Wobble (P.I.L.) and Gabe Katz (noise rockers Blind Idiot...

Shaggy Recruits Sly & Robbie for “Out of Many, One Music”
New Albums

Shaggy Recruits Sly & Robbie for “Out of Many, One Music”

Pop star Shaggy has teamed up with the legendary reggae rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare to release Out of Many One Music: Sly & Robbie Present Shaggy, the singer’s first all reggae album. Shaggy, who was born and raised in Jamaica, reached out to Sly and Robbie for their producing talent, but also to help promote the...

Sly and Robbie Release “New Legend – Jamaica 50th Edition”
New Albums

Sly and Robbie Release “New Legend – Jamaica 50th Edition”

Reggae masters Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare have done it again with New Legend – Jamaica 50th Edition, a new album of 10 original tracks celebrating Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence. The drum and bass duo are joined by a new band called the Jam Masters, which is filled out by guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, keyboardist Robbie Lyn and vocalist...

Legendary Reggae Duo Sly & Robbie Release “Blackwood Dub”
New Albums

Legendary Reggae Duo Sly & Robbie Release “Blackwood Dub”

The legendary Jamaican rhythm section duo of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare have released Blackwood Dub. The 10-track collection of instrumental songs was written by the Sly and Robbie and has a sense of groove that just won’t quit. The duo, who have helped to shape the face of Reggae and rock/pop music, recorded the album at the...

Grammy Nominations 2011: The Bass List
Player News

Grammy Nominations 2011: The Bass List

The 53rd Annual Grammy Award Nominations are in, and once again it’s been a good year for bassists. Some notable bassists have hit it big this year, including Esperanza Spalding, who is up for Best New Artist, and bass legend Stanley Clarke, whose latest release has garnered him two nominations. This is a historic year for the Grammy Awards, as...