1980s

Shinehead's recording debut was in 1986 on the African Love Music independent record label with "Who The Cap Fits (Let Them Wear It)" from the album Rough & Rugged.

General Trees best-remembered song is "Mini Bus", which was awarded the title "Song Of The Year" in 1986 from the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.

In 1986, Boris Gardiner recorded the single "I Want to Wake Up with You," which became a number 1 hit in the UK. It spent two months in the top ten.

Fattis Burrell & Half Pint, Brixton 1986

In 1986 UB40 covered Laurel Aitken's single "Guilty" (recorded in 1971 under the name Tiger) which appears on their hit Labour of Love album.

In 1986 Alpha Blondy recorded “Jerusalem” at the legendary Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica with The Wailers featuring Bob Marley's legendary bass Aston "Family Man" Barrett.

Hopeton Lindo's 1987 classic "Territory" became a genuine classic and continues to be a vital weapon in any dance clash.

Kilimanjaro started its own label, and in 1987 Ninjaman got the chance to make- and self-produce - his first single, a duet with Courtney Melody called "Protection." It was a success, and led to further hit collaborations under producer Lloyd Dennis in 1988, most notably "Cover Me" with Tinga Stewart and "Zig It Up" with Flourgon.

Augustus 'Gussie' Clarke produced Gregory Isaac's song "Rumors" in 1988, whose riddim would launch a score of further version hits including JC Lodge's 'Telephone Love'

Sanchez scored his first major hit in 1988 with the Winston Riley produced song "Loneliness."

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers second album "Conscious Party" was released in 1988. It featured singles 'Tomorrow's People' and 'Tumblin Down'. The album was number 1 in the US on the Billboard R&B charts and also reached platinum status with over one million copies sold.

"Telephone Love” released by JC Lodge in 1988, was the first dancehall reggae track to cross over in the R&B and hip-hop markets in the United States, topping the urban charts in New York and other cities, and earning her a deal with the Warner Bros. Telephone Love appears on the Tropics of Love album.

Penthouse Studio opened at 56 Slipe Road in Kingston Jamaica in 1988 by executive producer Donavan Germaine. Penthouse allowed many young artists like Wayne Wonder, Buju Banton, Tony Rebel, Cutty Ranks, Sanchez or Mad Cobra to launch their international career in the early 90s.

In 1989, a supergroup featuring Cocoa Tea, Shabba Ranks, and Home T recorded together under the auspices of both King Jammy and Gussie Clarke. The resulting album, ‘Holding On’, was a major hit in Jamaica, as were the singles "Pirates Anthem" and "Who She Love."