Linton Kwesi Johnson

When poetry shakes hands with reggae’s deep basslines, the result is Bass Culture (1980)—Linton Kwesi Johnson’s seminal dub-infused manifesto. A founding text of "dub poetry," the album marries Johnson’s razor-sharp verses with Dennis Bovell’s production, creating a sonic battlefield against racism and oppression. Tracks like "Inglan Is a Bitch" and "Sonny’s Lettah" (a searing indictment of police brutality) pulse with urgency, their rhythms as deliberate as their politics. More than music, this is cultural testimony—a chronicle of Black British struggle, where every snare hit echoes resilience. Four decades on, Bass Culture remains a masterclass in art as weaponry, proving that the right words, over the right groove, can shake foundations.