Richard ‘Shams’ Browne Breathes New Life into Reggae with Tropical Breeze Riddim
- dancehallleaguejm
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Veteran producer, DJ, and A&R executive Richard ‘Shams’ Browne is once again making waves in the reggae music scene with the release of his latest project, the Tropical Breeze Riddim, under his B-Rich Records imprint.
The multi-track juggling riddim made its debut on April 11 with Open Up by dancehall group T.O.K., and was followed by Ital Love from soulful songstress Shuga on April 18. Rounding out the trio is Darkness, a collaboration between rising talent F.Y.A.H and reggae stalwart Lutan Fyah, set to drop this Friday, April 25.
Speaking on the vision behind the riddim, Browne emphasized a return to roots. “My ultimate hope is to revamp a segment in the parties, dance or radio where good vibes reggae music can be played,” he said. “So much of what’s being produced now focuses on guns, drugs, and overly sexual themes. I want to remind people of the power and energy of classic reggae—the kind that can light up a dancefloor with positivity and real culture.”
Browne, who currently serves as an A&R manager at VP Records, is no stranger to impactful reggae releases. As a member of the legendary Browne family, his roots run deep—his father Glen Browne is a celebrated bassist who’s worked with icons like Burning Spear, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, and Buju Banton.
The Tropical Breeze project, like much of Browne’s work, came together organically. The seed for Open Up was planted during a T.O.K. tour in Costa Rica last year, with the group finalizing their vocals in Jamaica before Browne handled the mixing and mastering this year.
As for Shuga, Browne said the collaboration came naturally while working on her upcoming album—produced by Donovan Germain—for VP Records. “Shuga has always been an artiste I admired,” he said. “While working on her project, I asked if she’d be down to jump on the juggling. We had a conversation over the phone, found the right idea, and recorded it at my father’s studio.”
F.Y.A.H’s inclusion followed a similar rhythm. Browne noted that a pairing with Lutan Fyah felt like a no-brainer. “F.Y.A.H is promoting an album, but we worked it out so the new track wouldn’t interfere with that cycle. The collaboration just made sense.”
Known for past riddim productions like Orgasm and Baddis Ting, Browne continues to champion both innovation and integrity in the music industry.
To young artists and producers, his advice is straightforward but crucial: “Get your business in order. I lost out on royalties because I didn’t handle my publishing and PRO memberships early on,” he shared. “Also, put ego aside. Be open to constructive criticism—if someone with experience is guiding you, listen.”
With Tropical Breeze Riddim, Browne aims to inspire a renewed appreciation for reggae's roots while pushing the genre forward—one conscious, vibe-heavy track at a time.
