During the 1990s, dancehall-reggae had a number of elite producers. Gussie Clarke, Mikey Bennett, King Jammy, Steely & Clevie, Bobby Digital and Donovan Germain are usually regarded as that era’s most successful studio directors.

In New York City, Philip Smart quietly worked on some monster hits by artists like Shaggy, who recorded his breakthrough ‘Oh Carolina’ at Smart’s HC&F Recording Studio in Long Island. Smart also produced ‘Hot This Year’ by Dirtsman, one of 1989’s biggest hits.

Smart died in 2014 from cancer, while Dirtsman, older brother of Papa San, was murdered in 1993. The ‘riddim’ of their finest moment is revisited on ‘Hotta This Year’, a compilation album released on April 18 by C&I Jah Bless Records.

The eight-song project, co-produced by Ian Clough, Michael McDonald (Smart’s brother-in-law/business partner), Shane Hoosong and Dwayne Johnson, features ‘Call On Me’ by Shaggy, Crissin, Olaf Blackwood and Kartel Monttana, ‘Back it Up’ by Charly Black, ‘If I Had A Wish’ by Maxi Priest and ‘Hotta This Year’ by Maino, an American rapper.

Clough, a Jamaican based in Georgia, was an associate of Smart’s. He said ‘Hotta This Year’ is part of a campaign to reintroduce the engineer/producer’s work to a new generation of dancehall fans.

“This release is very significant to Phillip Smart’s legacy, as it will give young reggae lovers some new songs to listen to on his old riddim, updated for a newer feel and a newer audience. These releases will give listeners an opportunity to research the man’s work on all platforms that weren’t around in abundance during his lifetime,” Clough explained.

Last year, C&I Jah Bless Records kicked off its campaign by releasing ‘Prince Phillip Presents: Dubplates and Raw Rhythm From King Tubby’s Studio 1973-1976’. That retrospective album showcases Smart’s work with his mentor, the legendary engineer, Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock.

Smart was born in Kingston and raised in Havendale, a middle-class neighbourhood where dub visionary Augustus Pablo was also from. It was Pablo who introduced him to King Tubby during the early 1970s when roots-reggae and dub gained a global audience.

After migrating to the United States in 1976, Smart became a Disc Jockey on WNYU, hosting the ‘Get Smart’ show on that radio station from 1979 to 2004. In 1982, he established HC&F Recording Studio, which became a hub for dancehall-reggae in New York City.

Shaggy cut several of his early songs there including ‘Oh Carolina’, his cover of The Folkes Brothers hit; ‘Mampie’, ‘Big Up’ and ‘Angel’. Smart’s best-known dancehall hit in Jamaica remains ‘Hot This Year’, which has been sampled by reggaeton stars such as Daddy Yankee and Jowell & Randy.

(Photo of Phillip Smart at WNYU by Beth Lesser)