Rootsland "Reggae's Untold Stories"
Presented by Henry K, The #1 Apple Music History Podcast Rootsland is a series that explores the story of two friends who take a musical and spiritual journey from the suburbs of Long Island to the streets of Kingston, Jamaica. Narrated by the man himself, Henry “K” Karyo, Rootsland tells musical s...
Episodes
Chapter 1: "Catch a Fire"
In the premiere of the #1 Music History Podcast Season 1: "Catch a Fire" dials things back to 1987 and heads to Washington, D.C., where Henry is a disillusioned justice major at American University. His life changes, however,...
Chapter 2: "When the Music Hits"
Season 1: continues with "When the Music Hits" as Henry befriends a reggae super fan and an obsessed caller to the label. He soon learns that "Brian from Colorado" is an aspiring singer, whose revolutionary spirit may convinc...
Chapter 3: “Welcome to Jamrock”
Season 1: continues with “Welcome to Jamrock” as Henry finds his groove at RAS Records just as reggae music grabs hold of him. Soon after, Dr Dread makes a call to Bob Marley’s widow, Rita, and the young intern lands …
Chapter 4: “Ghetto Stays in the Mind”
Season 1: continues with “Ghetto Stays in the Mind” as Henry meets Mrs. Rita Marley, his new boss at Tuff Gong Music. The label is a magical melting pot of unsung heroes, reggae legends, and righteous Rastafarians. Reality h...
Chapter 5: “Money Can’t Buy Life”
Season 1: continues with “Money Can’t Buy Life” as Henry learns that the future of the Marley Estate will be decided in the courts. Beyond the legal mumbo jumbo, he also has a chance meeting at a hotel bar with …
Chapter 6: “Unchained"
Season 1: continues with "Unchained". For the first generation of Jamaicans to grow up listening to reggae music, these songs weren't just jams for a Saturday night of dancing -- they were a guidebook for life. The music was ...
Chapter 7: “Love and Hate (Can Never Be Friends)"
Season 1: continues with “Love and Hate (Can Never Be Friends)". In the classic roots anthem “Here I Come”, Dennis Brown, the crown prince of reggae, sings, “Love and hate can never be friends." In this chapter, Henry discove...
Chapter 8: "Legalize It, Don’t Criticize It"
Season 1: continues with "Legalize It, Don’t Criticize It". Because of the global impact of reggae and the rise of Rastafari culture, the island of Jamaica and marijuana -- or “ganja”, as it is called -- are forever joined as...
Chapter 9: "Righteous People"
Season 1: concludes with "Righteous People". Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash Festival is essentially a less organized version of Woodstock -- the same amount of love, only with more weed. On paper, five days of reggae music under ...
Exodus Chapter 1: "Ambush in the Night"
The Season 2 Debut of Rootsland picks up when Narrator Henry K returns to 56 Hope Road where a decade earlier a violent assassination attempt was made on Bob Malrey's life. Summoned to the hallowed ground by Bob's determin...
Exodus Chapter 2: "We and Dem"
5 years after starting out as an intern in the music business, sweeping floors and packing boxes, Henry is working for the most influential man in the music business... sweeping floors and packing boxes. However, Henry m...
Exodus Chapter 4: "Living Dangerously"
Henry learns that being in the game, means getting to know the players. One of the most important job qualifications at Island was having a rich father who was friends with the owner. Fortunate sons like Billy D an arrogan...