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The earliest sound systems were set up in the 1950s. These systems consisted of stacks of speakers set up on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, playing US rhythm & blues records. Duke Reid and Sir Coxsone were pioneers, their names reflecting their status in the community.

This was the start of ‘sound clashes’, an informal battle between two sound systems set up near each other. As sound systems grew alongside reggae and dub in dance halls, and even took up arenas, the stacks grew in stature alongside them .

This hand-built stack is part of Channel One Sound System, led by selectors Mikey Dread and MC Ras Kayleb. Their conscious reggae, exclusive dubplates and uplifting steppas draw a mass...