Roots Archives Forum

Hey,
I've noticed quite a few riddims used by various artists who sold their albums, which made me wonder which riddims are free and which aren't. Also, how can you check if a riddim/instrumental is free to use ?

For example "Welcome to Jamrock" is free or not ? Or "Professor Green Jungle" ?
As i said, I've seen some artists in my country using riddims from old reggae songs in their albums without having any problem, which made me wonder what's the deal with this/
Thanks in advance for answers

None of them are free. The people doing this in your country could bite a serious bullet (legal gun!). There is however a practice in reggae that people re-cut others rhythms and in that way feel they have the rights to release it. If you do this then I have a hard time thinking any producer would go after you (as long as it's reggae since this has been the common practice).

But to be honest I don't think even this is OK by international copyright standards. The JA music industry was a creative chaos without very little regards to legal standards (a lot due to not knowing better). This context is a doubled edged sword since I'm quite convinced that JA music wouldn't have evolved as much and been as prolific if people didn't recut others rhythms but it has of course also created a culture were riddim is king and we rarely get original arrangements anymore. Not to mention how it has affected a lot of the original arrangers of the music. Leroy Sibbles and others could have been a millionaires today...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omtQqAjloik – Listen to lyrics!

»Every time a sound box string up, Leroy Sibbles in your neighbourhood«

Thanks for answer, man. I knew there should be copyright problems, but thought there was a special rule about riddims or that people who create reggae riddims have am unwritten convention or something like that to give them away