Supreme is tapping into reggae history this week with a collaboration celebrating Barrington Levy and producer Hyman "Jah Life" Wright. For those unfamiliar, these two were instrumental in shaping the dancehall sound that emerged from Jamaica in the late '70s and early '80s. Jah Life, a New York-based producer working with Henry "Junjo" Lawes, helped craft Levy's first three albums - "Bounty Hunter," "Englishman," and "Robin Hood" - between 1979 and 1980. These releases essentially defined early dancehall and turned the teenage "Mellow Canary" into an international name.
What makes their story particularly relevant is how they challenged the notion that authentic reggae could only be made in Kingston. By the '80s, Levy and Jah Life were producing hits like the iconic "Murderer" entirely out of New York City, proving the scene could thrive beyond Jamaica's borders.
The collection includes a hooded sweatshirt, three t-shirts, and a tank top, all featuring original artwork. It drops June 16th in New York, LA, London, Paris, and online, with Japan following on June 18th.
