Linton Kwesi Johnson is the King of Reggae

Linton Kwesi Johnson is the King of Reggae and has been an iconic and influential figure in the genre for decades. In this blog post, we explore his life and career.

Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Life

Linton Kwesi Johnson was born in 1952 in Chapelton, a small town in rural Jamaica. His father, a factory worker, was a member of the Rastafari movement, and his mother was a domestic worker. Johnson was educated in the local Catholic school and later at the prestigious Jamaica College in Kingston. He left Jamaica in 1969 to study in England, and it was there that he became involved in the black British music scene.

His Early Life

Linton Kwesi Johnson was born in 1952 in Somerton, a small town in rural Jamaica. The fourth of six children, he was raised by his mother, a factory worker, and his grandparents. His father, who worked as a carpenter, left the family when Johnson was two years old. As a child, he struggled in school and was often teased by other kids because of his stutter. Johnson found refuge in music and began writing poems as a teenager. He became interested in politics after moving to the city of Kingston to attend college. There, he joined the Jamaican branch of the Black Panther Party and became involved in the country’s burgeoning reggae scene.

Johnson’s first collection of poetry, Voices of the Living and the Dead (1974), brought him national attention. The book’s gritty portrait of life in Kingston’s poorest neighborhoods earned him comparisons to American Beat writers like Allen Ginsberg and Langston Hughes. In 1978, Johnson released his first album, Dread Beat an’ Blood, which featured his poem “Dread Beat an’ Blood” set to music. The album was an instant classic and cemented Johnson’s reputation as one of reggae’s most original and provocative voices.

Over the next decade, Johnson continued to release acclaimed albums that blended dub-reggae with political commentary on race and class inequality. He also published several more collections of poetry, including Tings an’ Times (1991) and Making History (2004). In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Jamaica, one of his country’s highest honors. Today, Linton Kwesi Johnson is recognized as one of the most important figures in Jamaican culture and an influential voice in the world of reggae music.

His Career

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a renowned Jamaican poet, musician, and dub poet. He was born on August 24, 1952, in Chapelton, Jamaica. His parents were both from Ghana. He moved to London in 1963 with his mother. He attended Haringey College and then completed a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Goldsmiths’ College, University of London.

He began his career as a poet in 1974 when he started performing his work with the band British Reggae. His first album, Dread Beat an’ Blood, was released in 1978. It was the first reggae album to be nominated for a Grammy Award. He has released 11 studio albums and four live albums. His latest album, Twl Am I?, was released in 2018.

Johnson is known for his political lyrics that address the experiences of black people living in Britain and the Caribbean. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Forward Prize for Poetry (2002) and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Middlesex (2007).

Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Music

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a reggae artist who became famous in the 1970s. He is known for his political lyrics and his ability to fuse reggae with dub and jazz. His music is popular among reggae fans and he is considered to be one of the greatest reggae artists of all time.

His Albums

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a reggae singer, songwriter, and dub poet. He was born in Jamaica in 1952 and moved to the United Kingdom when he was a young man. His first album, Dread, Beat an’ Blood, was released in 1978 and is considered to be one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. He has released 11 albums in total, with his most recent, Reggae My Lai, being released in 2016. LKJ is considered to be one of the most important figures in reggae music and his work has had a profound impact on the genre.

His Songs

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a reggae singer, bassist, and dub poet. He was born in Jamaica and moved to London at the age of 12. His first album, “Forces of Victory”, was released in 1979 and is considered one of the most important records in reggae history. He has been described as “the dub poet laureate of England” and “the voice of black Britain”.

Some of his most famous songs include:
-Dread Beat an’ Blood
– Bass Culture
– Inglan is a Bitch
– Street 66

Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Legacy

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a reggae poet, dub poet, and musician. He was born in 1952 in Chapelton, Jamaica. Johnson moved to Brixton, London, England, with his family when he was two years old. He became involved in the British black panther movement in the late 1960s.

His Influence on Reggae Music

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a Jamaican-born poet, dub poet, and musician. He is considered to be one of the most influential reggae artists of all time. His work has been greatly influential in the development of reggae music and culture.

Johnson was born in 1952 in Chapelton, Jamaica. His parents were both Jamaican immigrants.Johnson’s father was a factory worker and his mother was a domestic worker. When he was five years old, his family moved to London, England. Johnson attended school in London and later studied at the London School of Economics.

In the early 1970s, Johnson became involved in the British black power movement. He joined the Black Panthers and became a member of the British Communist Party. He also became involved in the UK branch of the Rastafari movement.

It was during this time that Johnson began writing poetry. His first collection of poems, Voices of the Living and the Dead, was published in 1974. His second collection, Dread Beat an’ Blood, was published in 1975. These two collections established Johnson as one of Britain’s leading black poets.

In 1978, Johnson released his first album, Bass Culture. The album featured dub versions of some of his poems set to traditional reggae rhythms. The album was an instant hit with both critics and audiences alike. It is now considered to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever made.

Since then, Johnson has released eight more albums; each one exploring different aspects of reggae music and culture. He has also toured extensively throughout the world, performing his poems and songs to sold-out audiences. In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Jamaica; one of his country’s highest honors.

Today, Linton Kwesi Johnson is respected as one of the most important figures in reggae music and culture. His work has had a profound impact on generations of artists and activists worldwide

His Influence on Other Artists

In the world of reggae music, there are few artists as respected and influential as Linton Kwesi Johnson. A true pioneer in the genre, Johnson’s work has helped to shape the sound and style of reggae for generations of musicians.

Born in 1952 in Kingston, Jamaica, Johnson was exposed to the sounds of ska and rocksteady from an early age. He began his musical career as a member of the band Dennis Bovell and The Dub Band, before striking out on his own in the early 1980s. It was during this period that Johnson truly began to experiment with the possibilities of reggae, infusing his music with elements of dub, jazz, and poetry.

The results were nothing short of revolutionary. Johnson’s albums Bass Culture and Dread Beat an Blood are widely regarded as classics of the genre, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless other artists. From Damian “Junior Gong” Marley to Mosdef, countless musicians have been inspired by Johnson’s unique vision.

Today, Linton Kwesi Johnson remains one of the most respected figures in reggae music. His contributions to the genre are impossible to overstate, and his influence will be felt for generations to come.