Linton Kwesi Johnson

[sean]

LKJ , quite simply, is better than most reggae boys when it comes to talking politics and about the root of oppression, which is the fact that capitalism oppresses us all, intrinsic to that is the money relationship,and LKJ sum UK up sweetly with his exposes of police and other racism.

[Dub Tafari]

With all due respect to the man, Steve Barrow, but, I first heard "Sonny's Letter" when I bought a compilation in 1998 called Grooveyard on Mango and I was floored. Rest assured of this: after hearing "Sonny's Letter",every African American man, that I know, living in the United Staes,can immediately relate to LKJ's every word, because at one time or another, in our lives, we all have had a similar experience of harassment and racial profiling by the police in America. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as of January 2011, it's now called, Stop and Frisk. Sadly, it is a rite of passage for every black youth on his way to manhood. And the story as told by LKJ, Still rings true in the 21st century. In fact, while playing this song at ny vendor's stand, selling oils, insence & Reggae music, (thank you Steve Barrow & The Rough Guide to Reggae)I was falsely arrested and locked up while "Sonny's Letter" was playing on my sound system.

[CONGO BUNNY]

Glad to see that I’m not the only person who was annoyed by this

Some of Barrow and Dalton’s comments have often stuck me as unnecessarily bitchy, I have always assumed that they are some kind of reggae snobs who think that reggae is only reggae if it comes from the ghetto. With regards to LKJ they couldn’t have been more off the mark, only a fool would disregard his contribution to reggae and the massive power of his words over Bovell’s Dubs

You’ve only got to look at their recommendations for “essential” albums in rough guide and you’ll see they miss the mark as often as they hit it. This is not to belittle their outstanding contribution to reggae history and knowledge, but if your going to drop bitchy critics of people’s art then your bound to get a bit of a back lash from time to time.

I’d rather listen to LKJ over Barrow and Dalton any day

[Javier]

I would like to point out that LKJ said he does not adhere to Rastafari, maybe that is why his message is more rooted in socio political aspects of life rather than spiritual.
Great lyrics and perfect Dub and Reggae backing it.

[MadMusicologist]

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!!!

Yes, hre really is "rucially overlooked", he deserves hat his album be re amstered and sold as cd. As I remember (herad his stuff at a friend's), he had been backed by Aswad, but the album was very unconventional, almost anti-commercial in the sense that there was also re-spoken footage of some trial on court, don't actually remember what was the case aobut - I guess weed being the charge to justify harrassment by the beast.
Does anyone know what happend to him? Contacts?
Anything more about me: http://www.myspace.com/madmusicologist
aal we doin'is defendin'