Episode 1

full
Published on:

26th Jul 2022

Blood and Fire Chapter 1: "History meets Destiny"

As Henry and Brian are touching down, in Kingston so is an army of foreign invaders. Record Companies, music executives, publishers, mangers all looking to cash in on dancehall's recent waive of international popularity, Most were opportunists looking to take advantage of what they perceived as uneducated 3rd world artistes. Yet as greedy and ruthless as these international companies were, they had no idea of what kind of resistance they would encounter when they reached the island’s tropical shores. The Jamaican establishment, the same power hungry consortium that controlled the Islands resources and products for centuries, they also saw in dancehall as a commodity, they could exploit.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Introduction by:  Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by:  Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor Adam "Teacha" Barnes

music production and sound design by Henry K

additional music under license from artlist.io and beatstars.com

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Home | ROOTSLAND Reggae Music, Podcast & Merchandise "Wear Your Culture" Various Artists - Rootsland Gang: Fighting Babylon Since 1991 Various Artists - Rootsland (Original Podcast Soundtrack)

Disclaimer: Rootsland features dramatic recreations based on real events and features actors playing the roles of the characters on the show . These are stories and opinions told for entertainment and education from memory and the host assumes no liability for any omissions or errors. Any use of material not owned by Rootsland is covered Under section 107 of US copyright law of 1976 in which allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research, in these cases all credit is given to the owner of the work.

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About the Podcast

Rootsland "Stories that are Music to your ears"
A podcast about reggae, resistance, and what endures
Rootsland is a long-form storytelling podcast about music, resistance, and what remains. Hosted by Henry “K” Karyo — one of the first American producers to move to Kingston, Jamaica — the series blends first-person memoir with cultural history, tracing a journey into reggae’s underground world and far beyond it.
Set inside reggae culture but driven by human story, Rootsland explores creative survival, unlikely friendships, and the deeper truths music carries long after the noise fades. These are stories about craft, community, and memory — the things that don’t scale, can’t be optimized by algorithms, and still require us to sit still and listen.
Stories that are music to your ears.
© Henry K
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About your host

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henry karyo

Henry K: Henry K is a storyteller, creative director, and reggae enthusiast deeply integrated into the world of Jamaican music. Through his show "Rootsland," Henry shares narratives that blend music, culture, and life lessons, often drawing from his extensive experiences working with renowned artists and navigating the intricate layers of the music industry. His passion for authenticity and creative expression shines through in every episode.