Skengdon’s dancehall legacy gets digital rewind - Jamaica Gleaner

In the 1980s, the giant speaker dancehall setting was the barometer by which noted producer-businessman Kenneth ‘Skengdon’ Black could judge whether a song was a bona fide hit or not. The dance was the ultimate litmus test where an emerging talent, a new voice, a booming riddim and a vibesy selector with the right touch could ignite a crowd. And Black was one of those in the music ecosystem who was prepared to bankroll that street-certified chemistry with hard cash. Forty years later, the executive producer’s investment in Jamaican talent is getting another feature. Albums featuring Super Cat, Nicodemus and Little John will complete the digital rollout of the Skengdon album catalogue on November 20, through VP Records. The releases will pave the way for Skengdon Anthology — The Sound System • The Studio • The Legacy, scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, bringing together recordings from an enterprise whose roots ran deep into sound-system culture. For Black, the business began with people he knew and talent he trusted. “My involvement started before the Skengdon recording sessions. I already had relationships within sound-system culture ...