Episode Details

This deep-dive into the history of Caribbean music explores the hidden war between the state and the artists who defined a region. From the colonial-era radio bans in 1960s Jamaica to the modern surveillance of drill and trap artists, we examine how governments have systematically used censorship, police intimidation, and legal warfare to silence the voice of the streets. Discover the high-stakes stories of icons like Don Drummond, the attempted assassination of Bob Marley, and the banning of revolutionary rhythms in Grenada and Cuba. We reveal how "moral panic" and "national security" have long been used as tools to suppress the cultural identity of the urban poor and the Rastafari movement.