Anthony
B (born Keith Blair) is the living personification of Afrikan
consciousness in Reggae. His single "Nah vote again" was a major
factor in making the Jamaican elections of Thursday, December 18 1997, the most
peaceful one since the insidious cancer of gun violence was introduced in West
and Central Kingston, prior to the elections of 1967. Like his hero, Peter Tosh,
the most revolutionary of the Wailing Wailers, he is an uncompromising Pan
Afrikanist, in the tradition of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica's first national
hero and the founder and leader of the largest Afrikan organization ever, the
Universal Negro Improvement Association and Afrikan Communities League, U.N.I.A.
and A.C.L.
The traditional route of most Afrikan singers is
via the church and Anthony B is no exception. Growing up in Clarks Town in the
parish of Trelawny (a parish noted for the heroic Afrikan freedom fighters, the
Maroons, who defeated the English military), his Revivalist grandmother and
Seventh Day Adventist mother, immersed him in the singing, call and response and
clapping mechanics of rural Jamaica. In this rural environment that Afrikan
culture is best found and preserved in Jamaica, not Kingston nor urban St.
Andrew. Like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, The Maytals, Justin Hinds & The
Dominoes, Twinkle Brothers, the Clarendonians and countless other Jamaican
Stars, Anthony B honed his vocal skills in the church and school choirs and then
entered the secular world. His deejaying debut was on the local sound system
Shaggy Hi-Power. Moving to Portmore in the parish of St. Catharine in 1988, the
musically keen teen hooked up with other aspiring teenage deejays, Determine,
Mega Banton, Ricky General and Terror Fabulous on Lovers Choice Sound. Other
Portmore acts that he knew or flexed with were Little Devon, Agony Polish,
Cobra, Baby Wayne, Grindsman, Ronnie Thwaites, Professor Nuts and others. He
steadfastly refused to deejay girl lyrics when they were ruling the roost in the
early nineties.
Patience is a virtue and good things come to
those who wait. In combination with Little Devon (the Half Pint sound-a-like
singer) he made his debut single "The living is hard" on the Wizard
label in 1993. Anthony B tried King Jammys, Black Scorpio and other studio
producers after but none saw fit to help plant musical corn of the budding
genius. Undeterred he was looking for a break at Black Scorpio studio one day
when Little Devon introduced him to Afrocentric producer of Garnett "Mama
Africa" Silk fame, Richard "Bello" Bell of Star Trail Label fame.
The rest is history or blackstory !
Recordings and releases followed quickly and his
first hit was "Repentance time". The bigger hits "Fire
pon Rome", "Rumour" and "Raid di barn"
followed in quick pursuit and his landmark debut album Real Revolutionary was
released to popular acclaim in 1996. Late 1997 his second worldwide album
"Universal Struggle" was released and again excellence is consistent.
The album is one of the best in Reggae for 1997 and 1998. Lyrically,
thematically and rhythmically versatile, the album encapsulates Afrikan
consciousness and the Peter Tosh-like deliveries and clarity of vocals are
indelibly present throughout.
He was the most devastating deejay at Reggae
Summits 1997, at Catherine Hall in Montage Bay, Jamaica - a consummate
performer. Anthony B, indeed another Reggae king in full musical swing !! Y
father use to make it up as a drink in Jamaica.
Source:
"Jet Star Reggae News", Issue 4. (Jan. 1998) Writer:
Mango
