All tensed up in the bubble and the bounce an the leap an the weightdrop. Bass culture linton kwesi johnson muzik of blood black reared pain rooted heart geared. The island anthology to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Play fulllength songs from bass culture by linton kwesi johnson on your phone, computer and home audio system with napster. It was produced by linton kwesi johnson and dennis bovell. But political activism was as important, perhaps more important, than churning out records and touring, and after the release of his third album, bass culture, in 1980, johnson took time off from the music scene, turning his back on a lucrative contract from island. Much of his work is written in the street creole of the caribbean communities in which he grew up in england. Johnsons poetry makes clever use of the unstandardised transcription of jamaican patois and, allied to the jamaican toasting tradition, is regarded as a precursor of rap. He recorded several albums on the island label, including forces of victory, bass culture, lkj in dub, and making history. He moved to london in 1963 to be with his mother and went on to read sociology at goldsmiths college, university of london.
In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to. Linton kwesi johnson, the jamaicanborn british poet and reggae artist, memorialized black power and immigrant rights movements in the uk of the 1970s and 1980s on records such as forces of victory, dread, beat and blood and bass culture. Find linton kwesi johnson discography, albums and singles on allmusic. Although he has only released one album of new material in the last ten years, and virtually retired from the live stage after his 1985 tour, linton kwesi johnson remains a towering figure in reggae music. Linton kwesi johnson has generously given the poetry archive permission to use these recordings taken from his cd lkj a cappella live, which includes previously unpublished works. Linton kwesi johnson reality poems the best of linton. Synopsis linton kwesi johnson was born on august 24, 1952 in chapleton, in the parish of clarendon, jamaica. It was produced by vivian weathers and linton kwesi johnson. In 1981, the year following the release of lkjs album bass culture. Linton kwesi johnson two sides of silence lyrics genius. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the penguin modern classics series. It contains dub versions of tracks from the two previous lkj albums, forces of victory and bass culture. He came to london in 1963, attended tulse hill secondary school, and later studied sociology at goldsmiths college, university of london graduating in 1973, which currently holds his personal papers in its archives.
Johnson, a jamaicanborn political poet living in london, with dennis bovells dub band resulted in some of the great records of the 1980s and some of the great political music. Linton kwesi johnson aka lkj born 24 august 1952, chapelton, jamaica is a britishbased author and dub poet. Bass culture by linton kwesi johnson album, dub poetry. He came to london in 1963, went to tulse hill secondary school and later studied sociology at goldsmiths college, university of london. In 1992 linton kwesi johnson and dennis bovell collaborated to produce lkj in dub. Forces of victory 1979, bass culture 1980, lkj in dub 1981 and making history. Muzik of blood, black reared pain rooted, heart geared all tensed up in the bubble and the bounce and the leap an the weight drop is is the beat of the heart this pulsing of blood that is a bublin bass a bad bad beat pushin against the wall whey bar black blood an is a whole. The jamaicanborn dub poet published his dread beat an blood collection in 1975, but it was his.
Linton kwesi johnson and the eloquence of rioters popmatters. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Linton kwesi johnson was born in chapelton, clarendon parish, in jamaica on august 24, 1952. He came to england in 1963, attending tulsa hill secondary school. Remaining stock will be available to purchase from this page at 00. To us who were of necessary birth for the earths hard and thankless toil silence has no meaning there is never a feeling of tranquility or mere. Linton kwesi johnson bass culture lyrics genius lyrics. Mar 20, 2014 this post showcases a sound file of and the words to linton kwesi johnsons dub poetry composition bass culture. The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. That is a bublin bass a bad bad beat pushin against the wall whey bar. A cultural icon for black british artists since the 1970s, linton kwesi johnson is known as a performer and recording artist as much as a writer, for poetry that blends the bass and rhythm of. The first major account of the history of reggae, black music journalist lloyd bradley describes its origins and development in jamaica, from ska.
Bass culture by linton kwesi johnson on amazon music. The energy of his live recitals gives the recordings a unique electricity, interspersed with the laughter and applause of audiences around europe. He married verse and reggae music into a new form known as dub. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in jamaican patois over dubreggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned british reggae producerartist dennis bovell. Linton kwesi johnson, author info, published books, bio, photo. Linton kwesi johnson exerted a major influence on the punk and.
Linton kwesi johnson bass culture 1980, vinyl discogs. Johnson, linton kwesi, book, teatro verdi, 1988, genova, all, all, none, poetry. In 1992 linton kwesi johnson and dennis bovell collaborated to produce. This was followed in the same year by lkj a cappella live, a collection of 14 poems including some unpublished works. Reality poems comprises linton kwesi johnsons key vocal and dub sides from 1979 and 1980, and provides the definitive introduction to the music and verse of one of the most innovative and influential artists in the history of modern popular culture. There are many extraordinary stories about characters like prince buster, king tubby and bob marley. It was produced by linton kwesi johnson and dennis bovell credited as blackbeard. Linton kwesi johnson bass culture lkj in dub rsd2020.
Linton kwesi johnson aka lkj born 24 august 1952 is a ukbased dub poet. Bass culture is an album by dub poet linton kwesi johnson, released in 1980 on the island. Linton kwesi johnson, barbican, london the independent. Nov 30, 2007 in 1980 race today published his third book, inglan is a bitch and there were four more albums on the island label. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. The afroamerican writers in the early days had a big influence on me. Geddy lees big beautiful book of bass this lavishly produced volume large format and hardcover is a wondrous celebration of the instrument, including its origins and history, and the weird and wonderful shapes it has taken. Linton kwesi johnson was born in 1952 in chapelton, jamaica.
Nov 22, 2009 linton kwesi johnson bass culture rastachaka. Linton kwesi johnson is a jamaican poet, journalist and author based in london. Muzik of blood, black reared pain rooted, heart geared all tensed up in the bubble and the bounce and the leap an the weight drop is is the beat of the heart this pulsing of blood that is a bublin bass a bad bad beat pushin against the wall. Born in kingston, jamaica and raised in the brixton section of london, johnson invented dub po. Mi revalueshanary fren includes all of his bestknown poems, which concern racism and politics, personal experience, philosophy, and the art of music, among other things. Linton kwesi johnson was born on 24 august 1952 in chapelton, a small town in the rural parish of clarendon, jamaica. Pop go the holidays with jazz, reggae and rap hits and. He is widely considered to be the father of reggae dub poetry, a precursor to rap music. Listen to your favorite songs from bass culture by linton kwesi johnson now. Information about linton kwesi johnson is also included in this post.
Although he never intended to, johnson became a star, in england anyway. Thirty years since the release of his first album, reggae poet linton kwesi johnson is still using his verse to fight racism and document black workingclass life in london. Linton kwesi johnson, author info, published books, bio. The track reggae fi peach laments the death of blair peach, an activist who was killed in london during a clash with police officers. Mar 11, 2008 linton kwesi johnson exerted a major influence on the punk and reggae tribes of late 1970s britain. In 2002, johnson became the first black poet to have his work published in england by penguin classics. May 03, 2002 a cultural icon for black british artists since the 1970s, linton kwesi johnson is known as a performer and recording artist as much as a writer, for poetry that blends the bass and rhythm of. Dread beat an blood is an album by poet and the roots released in 1978 on the front line label. A cultural icon for black british artists since the 1970s, linton kwesi. Lkj in dub is an album by dub poet linton kwesi johnson, released in 1980 on the island records label.
Linton kwesi johnsons politics of rhythm and bass, an introductory essay by louisa layne. Check out bass culture by linton kwesi johnson on amazon music. Only few musicians have done as much for politics, community and music as linton kwesi johnson has done. Adam bauer but at the end of the day love transcends race. Its stable of artists reflect the quality and musical originality that linton kwesi johnson first envisaged then, whilst the small but evergrowing catalogue provides listeners with albums that are creative, surprising and eminently worth hearing again and again. Provided to youtube by universal music group bass culture linton kwesi johnson bass culture. The poet is dub poet johnson and the roots are dennis bovell, lloyd jah bunny donaldson, desmond craig, winston curniffe, everald forrest, floyd lawson, john varnom, lila weathers and vivian weathers. Lkj records was established in 1981 to put the music back into reggae. Lkj was deeply involved in those struggles not only as an artist but as an activist and intellectual. Linton kwesi johnson biography, life, interesting facts. Linton kwesi johnsons politics of rhythm and bass louisa layne. Here politically charged messages are swapped for romance and there is even conventional singing of some type by a clearly smitten lkj, still with that fevered horn section and percussion.
Indeed, christianity was eventually accepted for no other reason than it was the only route to literacy, as the bible was the only book slaves were allowed, and in order. In the mid1980s, he established his own music label. Bass culture is an album by dub poet linton kwesi johnson, released in 1980 on the island records label. Jun 23, 2000 dub poet and writer linton kwesi johnson lkj has produced some of the most forceful poems set to music of recent times. Linton kwesi johnson aka lkj, born 24 august 1952 is a jamaican dub poet who has been based in the united kingdom since 1963. Linton kwesi johnson is a jamaican born british poet, reggae artist, and political activist early life. Watch linton kwesi johnson read his poetry and discuss it with professor paul gilroy, great writers inspire at home, oxford, 26 april 2018 reading bass culture. Buy linton kwesi johnsons album titled independant intavenshan. Jan 15, 2009 the poem bass culture is dedicated to big yout, the jamaican disc jockey manley augustus buchanan who developed a distinctive halfsung style of toasting or chatting characterised by a. The first major account of the history of reggae, black music journalist lloyd bradley describes its origins and development in jamaica, from ska to rocksteady to dub and then to reggae itself, a local music which conquered the world. Burnett, paula ed, book, penguin, 1986, harmondsworth, bass culture. Linton kwesi johnson born 24 august 1952, also known as lkj, is a jamaican dub poet who has been based in the united kingdom since 1963.
He was born in the west indies in 1952 and moved to england in the early 60s. Listen free to linton kwesi johnson bass culture bass culture, street 66 and more. Linton kwesi johnson was born on 24 august, 1952 in chapelton, a small town in the rural parish of clarendon, jamaica. Linton kwesi johnson bass culture lkj in dub rsd2020 lpx2. Linton kwesi johnson bass culture releases discogs. In the 70s he began writing poetry set to a background of dub reggae.
Bass culture is a display of the finest pieces from entwistles collection, complete with the personal notes he kept on each of them. He joined the black panther movement in 1970, organising a poetry workshop and working with rasta love, a group of poets and percussionists. Linton kwesi johnson, aka lkj, is a ukbased jamaicanbritish dub poet. Bass culture is tremendous, another successful collaboration between johnson and bovell with songs that are, at times, even more confrontational e. Linton kwesi johnson pennys poetry pages wiki fandom. Produced by linton kwesi johnson and the legendary dennis bovell blackbeard, the album is a fierce, politicallycharged view of britain at the. He went to live with his mother in london, england in 1963 aged 9 years. Stream bass culture by linton kwesi johnson and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. From the iconic album sleeve design to the hypnotic music within, bass culture.