New Roots in the Bronx for a Lion of Reggae

The article begins with an effective scene-setter lede which takes us to the neighborhood in the Bronx where this underground (although not literally) record company makes music.  It's clear from his knowledge that reporter Niko Koppel has made multiple trips to the location, as he captures the atmosphere both of the neighborhood and the recording session taking place inside.  To keep readers interested Koppel adds a few colorful details, for example the beverage of choice in the studio is Red Stripe, a beer that comes from Jamaica, just like reggae music.

He goes on to include the label's past, pointing out that it was one of the earliest producers of reggae music in America.  But what is especially interesting about this article are its characters- and there are many of them.  Koppel did not do any slacking when it came to his sources for the piece- quotes are plentiful, and it helps propel the reader through his story.  What is particularly interesting I think is the "everyman" vibe that this recording studio seems to exude.  They do not seem exclusive when it comes to recording musicians- one of their most recent records was made by a senior auto mechanic.

The authenticity of the reggae studio is further cemented with a few biographic facts about its owner Lloyd Barnes, a Jamaican who grew up in Trenchtown, the neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica that is considered the birth of reggae music.  The neighborhood is mentioned in "No Woman, No Cry", a popular song by the most famous reggae artist of all-time, Bob Marley.  Koppel ends the article on a tender note, with a quote from Barnes, who admits that the studio does not make very much money, and sometimes even struggles to keep the lights on, but they are doing what they love and they are sharing their music with the world.