ENTITY · GROUP

Sly & Robbie

Well supported

Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, the drum-and-bass partnership that anchored Jamaican music for four decades and played on a scarcely believable number of records. They came up through the Revolutionaries at Channel One, where Sly's militant rockers drumming displaced the one drop, built the Taxi label as producers, and became the international rhythm section of choice — working with Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Grace Jones, Bob Dylan and many more. Shakespeare died in 2021.

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At a glance

Type: group →
Era: Streaming and the living archive →
Confidence: Well supported

Connections

Media & sources

Audio

Taxi Connection - Sly & Robbie

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · performs

Official youtube upload (channel: Universal Music Group (from 1986 Heartbeat release 'Taxi Fare')); embedded as a discovery-only reference pending editorial review.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Articles & sources

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MusicBrainz — Sly & Robbie search

WEB · rights discovery only · musicbrainz source

MusicBrainz discovery source for Sly & Robbie credits.

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Discogs — Sly & Robbie

WEB · rights discovery only · discogs source

Discogs source for Sly & Robbie credits and productions.

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Billboard — Robbie Shakespeare, Legendary Bass Player Who Formed Sly & Robbie, Dies at 68

WEB · rights discovery only · documents

Billboard article; clickable source URL for editorial verification, external reference only.

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In stories

Story · Well supportedSession bands built the reggae sound

From the Skatalites to the Firehouse Crew, uncredited studio bands built every era of Jamaican music while record labels named only singers and producers.

Debate & reception

How people argued about the music — praise, criticism and public debate. See all debate & reception →

commentary

Credit the rhythm section

Reggae histories often foreground singers and producers, but session musicians and rhythm sections require explicit credit trails where sources allow.

Stance: front artist vs backing musician labour