Madhouse Records (Jamaican record label)

Lore & Background

Dave Kelly learned engineering at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong label alongside his brother Anthony 'Tony' Kelly. In 1988, Dave partnered with Donovan Germain to start Penthouse Productions, where he worked as engineer, producer, writer, mixer, and beat maker. In 1993, Kelly and Janet Davidson left Penthouse to found Madhouse Records, with Janet running the label and Dave making the records. Their early success came with Terror Fabulous, who signed a deal with East West America/Atlantic Records, resulting in the album Yaga Yaga.

In 1996, Madhouse opened its own offices and the Boxx studio in Kingston, Jamaica. This studio became the regular base for recording acts including Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Baby Cham, Spragga Benz, Wayne Wonder, Lady Saw, Mr. Easy, Shaggy, and Frisco Kid in the late 1990s. The label created numerous riddims such as Bogle, Pepper Seed, Joyride, Showtime, Fiesta, The Bug, Arab, Mi Nuh Know, Heartbeat, Medicine, Stink, Rae Rae, Haunted, and Eighty-Five.

Major hits on the label include 'Action' by Terror Fabulous & Nadine Sutherland, 'Sycamore Tree' by Lady Saw, 'Dude' by Beenie Man & Ms. Thing, 'Slam' by Beenie Man, and 'Ghetto Story' by Cham. In 2003, Madhouse signed a label deal with Atlantic Records, which released Baby Cham's Ghetto Story album.

Reader's Guide

Madhouse Records played a pivotal role in shaping Jamaican dancehall and reggae from the mid-1990s onward. Co-founded by Dave Kelly, a key figure from Penthouse Productions, the label brought a distinctive production style and a roster of influential artists. Its Boxx studio in Kingston became a hub for major acts, and its riddims—such as Bogle, Pepper Seed, and Joyride—provided the foundation for numerous hits. The label's success with Terror Fabulous led to a major-label deal with East West America/Atlantic Records, and later a direct deal with Atlantic in 2003 for Baby Cham's Ghetto Story album. Madhouse's legacy includes launching or boosting the careers of artists like Lady Saw, Beenie Man, and Baby Cham, and its catalog remains a touchstone for dancehall music of the era.

Did You Know?

• Madhouse Records was named after its out-of-the-box approach to making music.
• The label's Boxx studio in Kingston was the regular base for Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and others in the late 1990s.
• Madhouse created at least 15 named riddims, including Bogle, Pepper Seed, and Joyride.