With golden beaches, misty mountains and russet sunsets, Jamaica is a postcard perfect paradise born out of the blood, sweat and tears of slavery and colonialism. Thousands of holidaymakers flock to the Caribbean island every year to soak up a laid back lifestyle sold on the seductive beats of dread locked reggae legend Bob Marley. But behind the rumbling bass lines and the scented smoke of ever-present marijuana reefers, Jamaica is still a country coming to terms with its difficult past. Gun and knife-wielding gangs make parts of the capital Kingston a no-go area, with high poverty levels creating a desperate underworld of hustlers and criminals who often target tourists.

These troubles, however, nurture a vibrant music scene that allows Jamaica to punch way beyond its weight, exporting fresh new hip-hop and dance hall sounds - alongside regular reggae - to a world thirsty for its tropical beats.

Mobile sound systems carry the rhythms of Kingston

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