Linton Kwesi Johnson

[picaraza]

I just saw that nefta had picked this up and had it on his turntable... and it got me to thinking.

What do you think of LKJ?

I love him. I ask this because I feel he gets rather slighted in the *Rough Guide to Reggae* by Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton. Now, I really appreciate this book-- it has turned me on to so much good music that I might not have discovered otherwise.

That said, it has long irritated me the way that authors flippantly refer to LKJ. For example, the review of *Bass Culture*-- the only record they deem worthy of recommendation:

Politically conscious dub poetry, with every patois term enunciated clearly for Johnson's white audience. Flawless musical contributions are from the likes of Dennis Bovell, Jah Bunny, and Rico

Rather catty, don't you think?

Elsewhere, in recommending a Mutabaruka's *Check It*:

Mutabaruka's debut set more or less justified dub poetry, a genre that always had more appeal to earnest social worker types than the followers of sound-systems.

and

Dub poetry too often seems bogus--a weak and inept relation to deejaying aimed at those who would not think of coming near a dancehall

What other dub poets can you name?

Now what pisses me off about the review-- and that is the right word-- is the contempt that author's have towards "crossover" fans. However they pretend it is about "crossover artists", the bile is really aimed at "social workers" and people who might not understand patois unless it were clearly enunciated.


Anyway, I don't quite understand the authors' gripe with LKJ. The argument seems at best shallow, at worst bigoted. If the dancehall is the be-all-and-end-all of reggae legitimacy, why recommend *Ice On Fire* or *Haile I Hymn*? Or nyahbingi music? Or the later work of one Bob Marley? The glibness of the review, for me, strikes a false note. Does the *Bass Culture* review read like a recommendation?

I can't help but think that they must of crossed swords with LKJ at some point. Otherwise, I'm at a loss to explain the churlishness.

To my mind
*Dread Beat An' Blood*, *Bass Culture*, and *Forces of Victory* are crucial-- especially *Dread Beat An' Blood*, which was one of my very first reggae albums.

Ok, that's it. Rant over.

[leggo rocker]

I saw him live back in the day, he was great.

His messages were right on the button.

He said exactly what we felt (black or white) in the dark days of the late 70s and early 80s. He voiced the anger caused by the political and social pressures put upon the British working class at the time. Which is probably why middle class 'social workers' liked it so much

On the track 'Standing in the Rain' he almost sings!

[ton1]

When you drop knowledge, you have to make it understandable by the largest audience you can, if not this is no use as you often speak to people with the same point of view and LKJ has understood that.

I just remembered a show that summer with Admiral T (a french carribean artist singing ragga) saying "Reggae c'est message" (means more or less "reggae is about teaching") and just after that he sang in french creole shouting words so loud that even carribean people couldn't understand everything and I though he was really dumb to do so, or really hypocrite.

I saw recently LKJ at a show with no instrument, only a light light percussions sometimes, the message was clear and understandable for us french people and I thank him for that.

I have a great respect for Barrow, here I don't aggree but I doubt you can find someone who aggree with all the reviews from the Rough guide .

[imet]

...i always try to put on some dub poetry on my silekshans...check out also oku onuora whose self produced instrumentation oftern rivals the lkj and muta ones...

[Nefta]

Really my first dub poerty artist was Mutabaruka's Hard Time Love w\ Migthy Diamonds.Then i read Oku's review said that he record with the wailers backing band.I jump on that cd and right know is my favorite of dub poetry cd.For last i read info on LKJ so i got that Cd last week.I Don\t talk english very much but i don't have any problem understanding LKJ.His voice for my taste is not the best but the music that plays with his poems is big and heavy.I love this style of reggae and think there is another guy that i haven\t hear yet.Of the book i don't know hasn't read it.

LKJ is deep in the political scene in his country.He talks very inteligent and the poems are his way to give the punch back to the state..


Fya

[jahadambom]

All you Dub Poetry lovers might check out Archie Pool's Wicked City LP.....More great socially charged poetry, but with the ultimate in musical backing!!!

[Nefta]

Incredible as it seems i believe the other master in dub poetry name in like mine.I trace it back as once of the leaders of the twelve tribes of israel.The artists name is Ewan NAPTALI.Mine is NEFTALI..,



poetry rocks..,

[Bellyman]

[cover=343,395]
by the late and very great Michael Smith is THE most original dub poetry coming from JA. Really sad that this man had such a tragic end, he was stoned to death !
Thanks jahadambom for mentioning the crucially overlooked Archie Poole !

[leggo rocker]

Why was Michael Smith stoned to death and who by?

[monkey]

I saw LKJ in the early 80's in St Albans and it was one of the shows that cemented my passion for reggae music. It was a rocking show, never mind about lyric or poetry.

This year I saw him at the south bank as part of a literature festival with his 'friends'. No music, just lyric. And the audience was mixed, planty of ardent rasta and equally some trendy liberal types. But righteousness has no colour. Dread beat and blood is a classic album, and Linton and Dennis were fundamental to the british reggae story.