Junior Reid
Encyclopedia
Delroy "Junior" Reid is a Jamaica
n reggae
and dancehall
musician, best known for the songs "One Blood" and "Funny Man", as well as being the man that replaced Michael Rose as lead vocalist for Black Uhuru
.
, released in Jamaica on Augustus Pablo
's Rockers International label, and popular as an import single in the United Kingdom
. UK label Greensleeves Records
followed this with "Know Myself" in 1981. He then went on to form his own band, the Voice of Progress, and after a local hit with "Mini-Bus Driver" the group scored local success with an album of the same name.
By the early 80's, commissioned by the great Sugar Minott
to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion label, enjoying considerable popularity with tracks such as "Human Nature", "A1 Lover", and the evergreen "See How Me Black See How Me Shine", an uplifting and proud statement which became an anthem to the ghetto youth whom Reid increasingly championed. Reid was present at the 1983 shooting death of reggae singer Hugh Mundell; he was travelling in the same car as Mundell in Kingston. After the death of Mundell, Reid transferred his talents to King Jammy
's studio on St. Lucia Road where his fast-growing success rose yet another notch. "Boom Shacka Lacka" was his first UK hit and led to another exceptional album. After a number of fine singles - which included "Youthman", "Bank Clerk", "Sufferation", "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Higgler Move" - his chance of a wider international audience came with the offer of replacing Michael Rose in Black Uhuru. Always a strong follower of Black Uhuru, and with a similar vocal style, Reid slipped into Rose's shoes with ease. The collaboration on his first Black Uhuru album, the Grammy-nominated Brutal, in 1986, was well received by all. Two years and two albums later, Junior's interest to produce material for himself, and desire to regain his domestic popularity, drove him back into the solo arena and back to King Jammy's studio, as well as setting up his own JR label. Reid had a number 21
hit in the UK in 1988 with the collaboration with Coldcut
, "Stop This Crazy Thing". He had an even bigger hit in 1990, with "I'm Free", recorded with The Soup Dragons
, reaching number 5. Meanwhile, 1989's "One Blood" saw him re-established at the forefront of the reggae scene.
's second album, Murder Love
, released in 1995. Reid has collaborated and produced for Dancehall
artist Ninjaman
, on many occasions since the early 1990s. He has also produced for Junior Demus, Dennis Brown
and Gregory Isaacs
. He also opened his own recording studio.
album by the Wu-Tang Clan
, which was released on November 21, 2000. In 2006, he collaborated with West Coast hip hop
artist Game on the song "It's Okay (One Blood)
"; The song also samples Reid's 1990 single "One Blood".
Reid appeared on the Blackout remix of Mims
' "This Is Why I'm Hot
" from his debut album M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior). This was one of the more popular remixes made in 2007. He recently did a song with Jim Jones
, Max B
and Mel Matrix called "What A Gwan", which features a sample from Barrington Levy
's "Black Roses". Reid is on Fabolous
's album From Nothin' to Somethin'
on the track "Gangsta Don't Play" and he has collaborated with Fat Joe on the track "More Money". He recently appeared on the remix of Smitty
's song "Died In Your Arms" also featuring Rick Ross
and T-Pain
. In late 2007 he performed in the "Freedom Concert" in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
and also went on to record the remix version of "Free" with The Indispensibles, a Nigerian hip hop duo. Reid was also proudly featured on the track "Fire" from San Francisco-based DJ and deep house producer Miguel Migs
' 2007 album "Those Things."
On 18 November 2007, Reid performed alongside Alicia Keys
at the 2007 American Music Awards
. Reid is also featured on a remix version of Alicia Keys' single "No One
". He also did a song with Lil Wayne
called "Ghetto Youths Rock". In 2008, Reid was featured on Bun B
's song "If It Was Up II Me" off his album II Trill
.
Junior Reid has been working on his New album which will be releases in 2009 titled The Living Legend with artist featured such as Lil Wayne
, Fat Joe
, Cool and Dre
, Snoop Dogg
and more.
In 2009, Junior Reid teamed up with Mahad Dar of Symboliq Sounds. Since working together, Dar began and is currently managing Reid.
In 2011, Junior Reid teamed up with Ludacris, T-Pain, Busta Rhymes, Mavado, Bun B, Game, Twista, Jadakiss, Waka Flocka Flame, Fat Joe, Ace Hood & Birdman in the remix of Dj Khaled's Welcome To My Hood. Welcome To My Hood (Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne & Plies) is the lead single of Dj Khaled's 5th studio album We The Best Forever.
also appears in:
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
musician, best known for the songs "One Blood" and "Funny Man", as well as being the man that replaced Michael Rose as lead vocalist for Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...
.
Biography
Reid was born in the Tower Hill area of Kingston, and had a tough upbringing in the city's Waterhouse district, notorious for being one of the most dangerous places in Jamaica. It was there in the politically turbulent late '70s that he recorded his first-ever single "Speak the Truth" at the age of 13 for the late Hugh MundellHugh Mundell
Hugh Mundell was a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Mundell was introduced to reggae by reggae performer and producer Boris Gardiner who was a friend of the family...
, released in Jamaica on Augustus Pablo
Augustus Pablo
Horace Swaby , known as Augustus Pablo, was a Jamaican roots reggae and dub record producer, melodica player and keyboardist, active from the 1970s onwards. He popularized the use of the melodica in reggae music...
's Rockers International label, and popular as an import single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. UK label Greensleeves Records
Greensleeves Records
Greensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
followed this with "Know Myself" in 1981. He then went on to form his own band, the Voice of Progress, and after a local hit with "Mini-Bus Driver" the group scored local success with an album of the same name.
By the early 80's, commissioned by the great Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion label, enjoying considerable popularity with tracks such as "Human Nature", "A1 Lover", and the evergreen "See How Me Black See How Me Shine", an uplifting and proud statement which became an anthem to the ghetto youth whom Reid increasingly championed. Reid was present at the 1983 shooting death of reggae singer Hugh Mundell; he was travelling in the same car as Mundell in Kingston. After the death of Mundell, Reid transferred his talents to King Jammy
King Jammy
Lloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
's studio on St. Lucia Road where his fast-growing success rose yet another notch. "Boom Shacka Lacka" was his first UK hit and led to another exceptional album. After a number of fine singles - which included "Youthman", "Bank Clerk", "Sufferation", "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Higgler Move" - his chance of a wider international audience came with the offer of replacing Michael Rose in Black Uhuru. Always a strong follower of Black Uhuru, and with a similar vocal style, Reid slipped into Rose's shoes with ease. The collaboration on his first Black Uhuru album, the Grammy-nominated Brutal, in 1986, was well received by all. Two years and two albums later, Junior's interest to produce material for himself, and desire to regain his domestic popularity, drove him back into the solo arena and back to King Jammy's studio, as well as setting up his own JR label. Reid had a number 21
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
hit in the UK in 1988 with the collaboration with Coldcut
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
, "Stop This Crazy Thing". He had an even bigger hit in 1990, with "I'm Free", recorded with The Soup Dragons
The Soup Dragons
The Soup Dragons were a Scottish alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Named after a character in the 1970s children's television show Clangers, the group is best known for its cover of the Rolling Stones' song "I'm Free."-History:...
, reaching number 5. Meanwhile, 1989's "One Blood" saw him re-established at the forefront of the reggae scene.
Production work
As a producer, Reid has his own production company; JR Productions. He produced much of SnowSnow (musician)
Darrin O'Brien , better known by his stage name Snow, is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rap and reggae musician. He is best known for his 1992 single "Informer", which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.-Life and work:...
's second album, Murder Love
Murder Love
Murder Love is Canadian reggae musician Snow’s second album. While his preceding album featured a wide array of musical genres fusing hip-hop, pop, and reggae, Murder Love was recorded in Jamaica and primarily featured dancehall tracks...
, released in 1995. Reid has collaborated and produced for Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
artist Ninjaman
Ninjaman
Ninjaman, alias Don Gorgon, is a popular dancehall deejay / Actor, known for his controversial and pro-gun lyrics and his stuttering and melodramatic style...
, on many occasions since the early 1990s. He has also produced for Junior Demus, Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
and Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
. He also opened his own recording studio.
Recent work
His vocals have been used in the hip hop scene, which first debuted as a sample on the song "One Blood Under W" from The WThe W
The W is the third studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released November 21, 2000 on Loud/Columbia Records. It was released several years after their previous album Wu-Tang Forever, to which many group members released solo projects between the two albums...
album by the Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
, which was released on November 21, 2000. In 2006, he collaborated with West Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music that originates in the westernmost region of the United States, as opposed to East Coast hip hop, based originally in New York alone...
artist Game on the song "It's Okay (One Blood)
It's Okay (One Blood)
"It's Okay " is a song by American rapper and West Coast hip hop artist The Game featuring vocals from reggae singer Junior Reid, from his second studio album Doctor's Advocate. Released as the album's lead single on July 24, 2006, the song was written by The Game himself and Junior Reid, and it...
"; The song also samples Reid's 1990 single "One Blood".
Reid appeared on the Blackout remix of Mims
Mims (rapper)
-Career:Mims graduated from Westbury High School and was born in Westbury Ny enrolled at Nassau Community College. He left the institution after two months of classes to pursue a career in rap music. He began spending time in Harlem with Cam'ron as an acquaintance...
' "This Is Why I'm Hot
This Is Why I'm Hot
"This Is Why I'm Hot" is a song by American rapper Mims. The song was co-written by Mims and produced by Blackout Movement for his debut album Music Is My Savior ....
" from his debut album M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior). This was one of the more popular remixes made in 2007. He recently did a song with Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...
, Max B
Max B
Charly Wingate , better known as Max B, is an American rapper and songwriter from Harlem and is known for his original rap style of mumbled delivery, catchy sing-song choruses & hooks, and his energetic personality in interviews and videos.In 2009, Max B began serving a 75-year prison sentence for...
and Mel Matrix called "What A Gwan", which features a sample from Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy is a reggae and dancehall artist from Jamaica.-Career:In 1976, Levy formed a band with his cousin, Everton Dacres, called the Mighty Multitude; the pair released "My Black Girl" in 1977...
's "Black Roses". Reid is on Fabolous
Fabolous
John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
's album From Nothin' to Somethin'
From Nothin' to Somethin'
-Credits:* Chris Athens – mastering* Ashaunna Ayars – marketing* David Brown – engineer* Shari Bryant – marketing* Miguel Bustamante – mixing assistant* Don Cannon – producer, engineer* Jermaine Dupri – producer, mixing* Aaron Heick – saxophon...
on the track "Gangsta Don't Play" and he has collaborated with Fat Joe on the track "More Money". He recently appeared on the remix of Smitty
Smitty
Varick D. Bennet, better known as Smitty, is a American rapper and hip-hop ghostwriter from Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami, Florida.-Biography:...
's song "Died In Your Arms" also featuring Rick Ross
Rick Ross (rapper)
William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
and T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
. In late 2007 he performed in the "Freedom Concert" in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and also went on to record the remix version of "Free" with The Indispensibles, a Nigerian hip hop duo. Reid was also proudly featured on the track "Fire" from San Francisco-based DJ and deep house producer Miguel Migs
Miguel Migs
Miguel Steward, better known as Miguel Migs is a deep house DJ, producer and musician from San Francisco, California. -Biography:Migs began his music career at 18 years old, as a lead guitarist and songwriter for a Santa Cruz local band called Zion Sounds...
' 2007 album "Those Things."
On 18 November 2007, Reid performed alongside Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
at the 2007 American Music Awards
American Music Awards of 2007
The 35th American Music Awards took place on November 18, 2007 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.-Pop/Rock:Favorite Male Artist:*Akon*Timbaland*Justin Timberlake...
. Reid is also featured on a remix version of Alicia Keys' single "No One
No One (Alicia Keys song)
"No One" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am. Written and produced by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and George M. Harry, and released as the album's lead single in September 2007...
". He also did a song with Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
called "Ghetto Youths Rock". In 2008, Reid was featured on Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
's song "If It Was Up II Me" off his album II Trill
II Trill
-Samples:You're Everything*"Cry for You" by JodeciPop It 4 Pimp*"Back That Azz Up" by JuvenileUnderground Thang*"Steppin' Out" by Steel PulseAngel In The Sky*"Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder-Chopped-Up Not Slopped-Up:...
.
Junior Reid has been working on his New album which will be releases in 2009 titled The Living Legend with artist featured such as Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Fat Joe
Fat Joe
Joseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
, Cool and Dre
Cool and Dre
Cool & Dre are a team of hip hop producers from Miami, Florida, consisting of Marcello "Cool" Valenzano and Andre "Dre" Christopher Lyon.-Epidemic Records:...
, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
and more.
In 2009, Junior Reid teamed up with Mahad Dar of Symboliq Sounds. Since working together, Dar began and is currently managing Reid.
In 2011, Junior Reid teamed up with Ludacris, T-Pain, Busta Rhymes, Mavado, Bun B, Game, Twista, Jadakiss, Waka Flocka Flame, Fat Joe, Ace Hood & Birdman in the remix of Dj Khaled's Welcome To My Hood. Welcome To My Hood (Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne & Plies) is the lead single of Dj Khaled's 5th studio album We The Best Forever.
Albums
- One Sufferation (10" vinyl) (1980)
- Boom-Shack-A-Lack (1985) GreensleevesGreensleeves RecordsGreensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
- Original Foreign Mind (1985)
- One Blood (1990, re-released in 1992) Big Life/MercuryMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
- Progress (1990)
- Long Road (1991) Cohiba
- Big Timer (1993) VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- Visa (1994) Greensleeves
- Junior Reid & The Bloods (1995) RASRAS RecordsRAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label.-History:RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid 1980s RAS had signed artists such as Black Uhuru, Inner...
- Showers Of Blessings (1995)
- Listen To The Voices (1996) RAS
- RAS Portraits (1997) RAS
- Big Timer (2000)
- Emmanuel Calling (2000) JR Productions and One Blood Music, Jamaica.
- Rasta Government (2003) Penitentiary
- Double Top (2005) Tamoki Wambesi (with Cornell CampbellCornell CampbellCornell Campbell aka Don Cornell or Don Gorgon is a reggae singer, best known for his trademark falsetto voice, and his recordings at Studio One in the late 1960s and his later work with Bunny Lee in the 1970s.-Biography:Cornel has one of the sweetest falsettos of any Jamaican vocalist and uses it...
) - Firehouse Clash (with Don CarlosDon Carlos (musician)Don Carlos a.k.a. Don McCarlos is a Jamaican reggae singer and composer.-Biography:He was born and raised in Western Kingston, Jamaica in a very deprived district known as Waterhouse out of which came many talented reggae musicians. One such artist was King Tubby, one of the founders of Black...
) - Live in Berkeley (2007) 2B1
DVD
- Live In Berkeley (2007) Proper Music Distribution
also appears in:
- Reggae Heroes (2006) Keeling