Wesley Benjamin Drops African Roots Reggae Single, Limited Vinyl Edition Follows

Wesley Benjamin's new single "Sierra Leone" arrived on March 20 via Reality Shock Records, pairing an immediate digital release on Bandcamp with a limited edition hand-cut 7" vinyl pressing slated for shipping in early April.

Reality Shock Records, the UK-based independent label and studio founded by producer Kris Kemist in 2003, has specialised in roots reggae for over two decades, and the label's announcement framed the release in direct terms: "Reality Shock Records presents a brand new single & limited edition hand cut 7" vinyl by African roots reggae artist Wesley Benjamin." The label's Bandcamp page already carries a previous Wesley Benjamin single, "What A Shame," confirming an ongoing relationship between artist and imprint.

The vinyl component is the detail that will catch collectors' eyes. The 7" is described as hand-cut and limited edition, with no pressing quantity publicly announced. That deliberate scarcity, combined with the hand-cut process, places "Sierra Leone" squarely in the tradition of artisanal small-run pressings that have become a calling card for serious roots labels. The format suits the music's lineage: a heavy 7" is still the format of choice for the kind of conscious, African-rooted sound Benjamin represents.

Reality Shock's catalog spans more than 20 years and has featured artists including Fred Locks, Mikey General, Errol Dunkley, Earl Sixteen, and Macka B, so Benjamin is joining a roster with real depth in the international roots scene. The label's track record with physical releases, including 12" vinyl pressings sold through Bandcamp, suggests the "Sierra Leone" 7" will move quickly once it ships.

The single is available now in digital form via the Reality Shock Bandcamp page. Collectors chasing the vinyl have a narrow window: once that limited hand-cut pressing sells through, it sells through.