Sentinel Sound

Sentinel Sound

Sentinel Sound is a German reggae sound system and engineering group from Stuttgart, founded at the end of 1998. The group works within reggae and dancehall and presents itself as part of Jamaican sound system culture, with a focus on the relationship between the MC and the crowd and on helping audiences understand the meaning of the lyrics.

Line-up

The group consists of Elmar on MC duties, Mario, Nadia, Toby, and Uli as selectors, and Bongsi as an MC.

Clashes and international profile

Sentinel builds a reputation through soundclashes. Its first major international breakthrough comes in 2003, when it represents Germany in the RIDDIM Soundclash in Munich. There it finishes second behind Killamanjaro, but defeats Blackkat and Downbeat the Ruler. Shortly afterwards, it defeats Turbo Force in Kingston, Jamaica, becoming the first mainland European sound to clash in Jamaica. In 2004, Sentinel defeats Soundquake in the Champions Clash in Erlangen and is then invited to the World Clash in 2005, where it defeats Panther of Blackkat in tune for tune and becomes the first World Champion from continental Europe.

Work, events and collaborations

Sentinel is booked regularly across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the UK, Belgium and Italy. It works with artists including Beres Hammond, Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. The group also promotes the two-day Reggae Summer festival in Stuttgart, which runs from 2000 to 2004 and features acts including Stone Love, Killamanjaro, Red Rat, Buccaneer and Cecile. In Stuttgart, it also runs the monthly Kingston Hot residency, which becomes a notable dancehall and reggae event in southern Germany.

Recordings

From 2000, Sentinel выпускаes the Sentinel Dancehall Mixes series, with one Roots and Culture mix and one Hardcore Dancehall mix each year. These compilations include recent music and dubplate specials.

Selected festival and clash appearances

Sentinel appears at Summer Jam in Cologne in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and at SPLASH! Festival in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Other listed clashes include Kill or be Killed in Cologne in 2001, the RIDDIM Magazine Soundclash in Munich in 2003, the Turbo Force clash in Kingston in 2003, Champions Clash in Erlangen in 2004, Sudoeste Festival in Portugal in 2005, and World Clash in Brooklyn in 2005.