No-maddz have been one of Jamaica’s best-kept secrets for years, sort of like an underground phenomenon for yardies cool enough to know about their dub poetry and theatrical performances. The “secret” is getting out, though, as the quartet have grown into a quintet and expanded their sound with Sly and Robbie. A blend of reggae, R&B, rap, ska, rocksteady and dub which at various times recalls Black Uhuru, The Wailers, The Pharcyde, The Monkees, Sade and Jodeci, their Sly and Robbie Presents No-maddz is one of the most interesting and distinctive albums out of Jamaica in many years, and it’s one of our favorite releases of 2015. As long time supporters of No-maddz, we’re beyond pleased to be presenting the group’s first-ever New York City performance, this Sunday, May 31st. A free, all-ages show at The Shrine in Harlem, it’s the start of a summer US trip that will also see the group head to California for the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in June.
Read our interview with “The World’s Fastest Band” from 2011 here, watch our webisode “On The Move With Jamaica’s No-maddz” below, and get the album here.