The Brooklyn crew over at DKR (Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge Records) are back at it. They just dropped a heavy new 12″ that collector dem need to check for. This one features three solid tracks produced by Delroy Francis. If you know your history, you know Francis was the man behind the Park Heights label out of New York back in the 80s. He often used the Roots Radics for his sessions, typically cutting the riddims in Jamaica before voicing them up in NYC. This release is the latest piece of the puzzle in DKR’s ongoing Park Heights reissue series.

The A-side kicks off with the legendary Heptones. This is the era where Naggo Morris had stepped in for Leroy Sibbles, and those smooth harmonies are still pure gold. Get Up and Chant is a serious roots worker with a driving bassline and enough reverb to keep the dub heads happy. It’s a classic “chant” tune, calling for unity and spiritual strength. Interestingly, this one first appeared on the Street of Gold LP in 1981 but never actually saw a single release until now.

Next up is Bobby Floyd. He is a bit of an obscure figure in the grand scheme, though most fans remember him for Love Without Feeling produced by Sly and Robbie. Here he tackles Need to Belong with The Heptones providing the smooth backing vocals. It is a soulful roots take on the Curtis Mayfield classic. While the original is a bit more romantic, Bobby makes it feel broader—like a deep yearning for Zion or a place to call home. This one originally surfaced on the Unity Is Strength Vol. 2 compilation back in ’82.

But the real talk of the town is on the flip side. Stranger Cole delivers a previously unreleased gem from the early 80s in a proper discomix style. It’s an emotional, heavy-duty track. Stranger sounds desperate, crying out about being denied bail and maintaining his innocence. The riddim section is serious—moody horns, creative drumming, and a bassline that really bites. It is a mystery why this one stayed in the vaults for so long, but we’re glad it finally touch the road.