Built to Last: Bobby Konders on Music, Movement, and Staying Power
Bobby Konders is a pioneering DJ, producer, and co-founder of Massive B Sound System and Massive B Records. Alongside Jabba, he has helped shape reggae and dancehall culture in New York and beyond, bringing high-energy sound to audiences through their long-running show on Hot 97 and international stages.
Since launching Massive B in 1991, Konders has produced and remixed music for artists including Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, and Ziggy Marley, while also helping break emerging talent. Rooted in Brooklyn and Kingston, Massive B continues to bridge reggae, hip-hop, and dancehall, maintaining its place as a global force in sound system culture.
Advertisements
Beyond the studio, Massive B Sound System has built a reputation for electrifying live sets, touring across the U.S., Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Sharing stages with influential sounds and DJs worldwide, the collective has remained a consistent presence in both underground and mainstream spaces, known for its energy, authenticity, and deep connection to the culture.
Through decades of evolution, Konders has continued to push the sound forward—developing original riddims, collaborating across genres, and creating opportunities for new voices. His work not only reflects the roots of reggae and dancehall, but also its future, cementing Massive B as both a platform for talent and a lasting institution in global music.
We ran into Bobby Konders at VP Records Day and asked a few questions about his journey.
NLM: Tell us a little bit about your story
Bobby Konders: I’ve been DJing for over 40 years. So I just love to DJ and was fortunate to get into some positions to project it into a business. And that’s what you have to understand. If you want to make it a business, you’ve got to handle it like business.
NLM: What has been the key to keeping Massive B together and growing as a team over the years?
Bobby Konders: Well, you have to have loyalty and you have to be real with the people you work with. Jabba’s real, I’m real and we just been holding it down since ‘93. Then we brought other people to the team. Some have elevated to other things like Maja Hype and so forth. We got AK on the team, DJ Skip, Chudney Shotta and a bunch of people on the team. Everyone plays their part.
NLM: You’ve been around a lot of artists, how has the approach to building an audience and breaking into the music industry changed over time?
Advertisements
Bobby Konders: Well, 2026 is different than 2006, which is different than 1996. So, for today’s time you have to be socially active. Socially present, stay active on social media. There’s a lot of good music out there, but if nobody knows about it, or they don’t know you, it ain’t gonna matter.
NLM: Tell us about some places where Massive B has gone.
Bobby Konders: We’ve been to a lot of countries. All over Europe, West Africa, West Indies, Asia, Canada, Caribbean. I don’t know, we haven’t been to Russia or South America yet.
