Audiopile Review: Keith Hudson’s classic dub albums have a similar vibe to classic Norwegian black metal. Weird comparison, we know. But he was known as The Dark Prince of Reggae, so there’s something to it. The pointedly rudimentary graphic design that his albums were often housed in helps. But, mostly, it’s that strange combination of primal rage and atmospheric beauty. This marks Hudson’s productions out from King Tubby’s more cerebral approach and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s signature clowning. The darker element might explain why Hudson has never quite received the recognition he deserves, despite arguably being an even more prescient innovator than Tubby or Scratch. Dark Prince? More like The Godlike Peter Hammill of Reggae! Like Hammill, Hudson had an astonishing run of form in the second half of the 1970s and the early 1980s. ‘Nuh Skin Up Dub’ (later reissued as simply ‘Nuh Skin Up’) is a highpoint even within this extraordinary period. It’s a collaboration with legendary session band Soul Syndicate, and we have a customer who claims to buy any record that features Syndicate guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith. So, you know the riddims are heavy as hell. Hudson’s punky reggae vox adds some spice to the mix (his vocal album ‘From One Extreme to Another’ forms the core of these dubs). But it’s his intensely psychedelic production that takes this one over the top and makes it not just a dark, angry, and experimental album, but a deeply beautiful one too.

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Keith Hudson’s Nuh Skin Up Dub is a heavyweight dub album that stands out as one of the most potent statements in the genre’s history. Released in 1979, this sonic masterpiece showcases Hudson’s dark, almost mystical production style, where heavy bass lines, echo-drenched drums, and ghostly fragments of vocals swirl together in a hypnotic haze. It was also the first time Hudson highlighted the significant role played by his favorite studio band, the legendary Soul Syndicate, who he had already been working with for some years. Despite providing backing tracks for many important Jamaican artists and big hits, the band rarely received the recognition due.

Unlike the more polished, accessible dub records of the time, Nuh Skin Up Dub is raw, unfiltered, and experimental, pushing the boundaries of rhythm and space. Tracks like “No Commitment” and “Ire Ire” pulse with an eerie, almost menacing energy, while Hudson’s masterful use of reverb and delay creates a soundscape that feels simultaneously expansive and claustrophobic. It’s a record that also rewards deep listening—every spin reveals new layers of sonic detail, hidden textures, and dub wizardry.

Often referred to as the “Dark Prince of Reggae,” Hudson had an uncanny ability to craft music that was both deeply meditative and unsettling. Nuh Skin Up Dub is a prime example of his genius, solidifying his status as one of the most visionary figures in reggae history.