Episodes
Feb. 15, 2021
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…
Feb. 15, 2021
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 convin…
Feb. 22, 2021
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 a job …
March 1, 2021
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 …
March 15, 2021
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 a local gangs…
March 22, 2021
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…
March 29, 2021
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 discov…
April 7, 2021
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 a…
April 13, 2021
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…
Jan. 18, 2022
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 determi…
Jan. 25, 2022
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 …
Feb. 1, 2022
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 arroga…
Feb. 1, 2022
Exodus Chapter 3: "Urban Legendz"
There is a saying in NYC real estate the 3 most important things are "location, location, location." When Island moves offices from 4th and Broadway into the swank new open floored penthouse at 400 Lafayette Street, Henr…
Feb. 8, 2022
Exodus Chapter 5: "Loyal Soldierz"
In the Spring of 1991, Henry drives from Kingston to Ochos Rios in order to attend a concert hosted by Sister Rita Marley commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Bob Malrey's passing. For the Kush Danai, the Rasta in the …
Feb. 15, 2022
Exodus Chapter 6: "Not all that glitterz..."
Henry finally gets the "chance of a lifetime", an opportunity to meet his boss Chris Blackwell founder and President of Island Records. Blackwell had recently sold his label to Polygram Entertainment for half a billion do…
Feb. 22, 2022
Exodus Chapter 7: "The Last Train to Woodmere"
In the Season 2 Finale: Brian tries to convince Henry that it's the right to move to Jamaica while chilling out in NYC's Washington Square Park. Before Henry's willing to make the move, he books some time at one New Yo…
March 1, 2022
Music Mix "Songs of Freedom"
The Rootsland Republic is truly a global family. These stories about reggae music and Jamaica have connected with so many people form diverse backgrounds and far away places. 2 of places where we have family and listener are…
March 15, 2022
"Packing for the Promised Land"
On April 3, we commemorate the anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King's "I've Been to the Mountaintop" Speech, given 54 years ago in Memphis. In this Bonus Episode of Rootsland, host Henry K explores if Moses, Bob Marley…
July 12, 2022
"Back Home with Rootsland"
People Get Ready and Enjoy the Season 3 Trailer of Rootsland to start off this Bonus Episode. Once the vibe is nice, kick back and listen to our tribute to Reggae Superstar Bob Andy . The show features special guest Wayn…
July 26, 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 popularit…
Aug. 2, 2022
Blood and Fire Chapter 2: "Kingston Red Hot"
The Kingston adventure begins for Henry and Brian with a dire warning from their long time taxi driver, a meeting with a top reggae power player. and a run-in with one of Kingston's "Rude Boy" Gangsters. That was just the fi…
Aug. 9, 2022
Blood and Fire Chapter 3: "Pon Di Corna" (On the Corner)
Hanging out on a dusty, hot New Kingston street corner breathing in taxi exhaust fumes surrounded by street youth juggling dime bags of sinsemilla, isn't exactly listed as an attraction in the Jamaican guidebooks. Yet, Br…
Aug. 16, 2022
Blood and Fire Chapter 4: "Inna Di Yaad" (Chilling at Home)
Once the phone started ringing at Brian & Henry's "Dread & Breakfast" their quiet spot in the hills became the Kingston base for dozens of reggae tourists from all over the globe. Music business people, journalists, singe…
Aug. 23, 2022
Blood and Fire Chapter 5: "Outta Road" (In the Street)
Dancehall culture and the street dances that inspired it can be traced back the 1950’s to poorest and most marginalized areas in Kingston. Attended by residents who lived on gully banks and sustained themselves by sifting th…