On-U Sound is one of the oldest and most influential record labels in the bass universe. Led by Adrian Sherwood, in the '80s the imprint was a crucial bridge between Jamaican dub and reggae and British punk, new wave and industrial scenes — members of PiL, the Slits and the Pop Group mingled with Kingston royalty like Prince Far-I and Lee “Scratch” Perry. The label’s influence was reborn in the '00s through the visionary bassweight of dubstep, with a new generation of producers – including Digital Mystikz, Kode9 and Pinch – entering the On-U Sound universe. This month, Sherwood reboots the label’s famous _Pay It All Back_ compilation series after a 23-year break — he joins Chal on Top Flight to talk about On-U’s four-decade history, his long relationship with Lee Perry and his recent collaboration with a bat colony. We’ll also hear music from the On-U archives and brand new tracks from _Pay It All Back Vol. 7_.
