“Don’t Follow Rumours” is a reggae/dancehall collaboration that blends Shabba Ranks’ assertive deejay style with Carlton Livingston’s smooth, melodic vocals. It exists in that space between conscious messaging and commercial appeal. According to Shazam, the track is credited to both artists, with Bobby “Digital” Dixon listed as producer. (Shazam) In many ways, it’s a cautionary song: it warns listeners about gossip, hearsay, and the damage that rumors can cause. The central message is moral and relational — voices that spread unverified stories should not be trusted, and people should be slow to accept what they hear without seeking truth.

Carlton Livingston had earlier recorded “Don’t Follow Rumours” (or “Rumors”) as an independent track. According to accounts, the song was originally done at Channel One and later gained a refreshed life when reworked with Shabba Ranks in the late 1990s. (CLINTON LINDSAY) The “remix” or new version featuring Shabba appears on the Reggae Gold 1998 compilation. (Wikipedia) This pairing adds contrast and weight: Carlton brings emotional resonance and melodic authority; Shabba brings urgency, characterization, and a deejay’s attitude toward truth and reputation.

Musically, the version with Shabba is found on the Solomon riddim, produced under Brickwall, and the track is sometimes listed under the name “When You’re Up (Don’t Follow Rumours).” (riddimguide.com) This riddim allows room for vocal interplay, with instrumentation that supports both the gentle verses and the more forceful toasting style. The production is balanced so that neither vocalist overpowers the other; the song feels like a dialogue between voice and voice, between song and warning.

In its cultural role, “Don’t Follow Rumours” is more than a lovers’ song or a dance track — it carries a social cautionary dimension. In Jamaican and diaspora culture, where reputation, gossip, and community narrative are powerful forces, songs like this serve both as entertainment and as moral commentary. The fact that a roots vocalist and a dancehall deejay joined forces on this message suggests a bridging of stylistic boundaries in service of common ethical themes.

~AI

Don't Follow Rumours by Shabba Ranks & Carlton Livington from Reggae Gold 1998 on VP Records # BPM 03:55 Reggae SKA