ABOUT

GERMAICA – keepin’ Dancehall real since 1999

GERMAICA DIGITAL is the successor of GERMAICAN RECORDS founded in 1999 by PIONEAR, a German national from the East German city of Leipzig. Between 1989 to 1999 he was the mastermind and producer of the German Ska & Reggae Band “Messer Banzani”. His mentor DEAN FRASER introduced him to the Kingston Reggae scene, and also to KING JAMMYS who shortly after released PIONEAR’s debut Riddim “Final Judgement” on the renowned “King Jammys” Label in 1998.

After living in Jamaica between 1998 and 2000, PIONEAR returned to Germany to build up the label. The first international approach – “Bitch” – featured Artistes like: ELEPHANT MAN, LADY SAW, DEGREE, HAWKEYE, LUKIE-D or KIP RICH and was an instant hit and the best selling Riddim of that year in Germany.

The international breakthrough came in 2002 with TANYA STEPHENS’ “It’s A Pity” on the “Doctor’s Darling Riddim” played by SEEED, Germany’s top notch Reggae Band from Berlin. The song reached the top spot of the Reggae charts in Trinidad, (for 8 weeks) in Atlanta and also in New York. The song was included on VP records’ “Reggae Gold”, the world’s most prestigeous Reggae compilation in 2003. The Riddim for the song was even picked for VP’s “Riddim Driven” series. Both song and Riddim were the first and to date only German Reggae productions ever, to achieve such honor…

After releasing 16 Riddims and more than a hundred singles in the classic 45rpm format, global smashs like the “Cure” riddim amongst them, PIONEAR in 2008 launched GERMAICA DIGITAL, which today serves as a boutique label for his solo productions as well as those of his studio band THE GERMAICANS.