Macka B

Macka.B has always been interested in music. At a very young age he was impressed by the heavyweight sound system Lord Barley, playing in the blues party next door. The vibrant reggae beat found a place in his heart that remains there to this very day. He started to practice D.J.ing at home gaining inspiration from legends such as U-Roy, I-Roy, Big Youth, Prince Far-I , etc. It was also at this time that Macka.B decided to accept the Ras Tafari faith, which is the central part of his life. He and some friends started a sound system called Exodus, which just happened to be the same sound that Macka.B used to listen to as a little youth. The sound was passed down from father to sons and renamed Exodus. Macka.B never stopped working with sound systems Wassifa from Birmingham & Skippy & Lippy being the main ones. A tape of a dance Wassifa v Saxon Sound in Leicester, was heard by John & Chris at Fashion records who invited Macka.B to do some recording. “Bible Reader” was released and did well in the Reggae singles charts. Also released was a track called “Gentleman with Manners” on a LP called Great British M.C’s. Released 2nd album “We’ve Had Enough” in 1987. In 1988 visited Jamaica recorded “Love it in Jamaica” & “Slow Down Driver” for Black Scorpio label. Recorded “Looks are Deceiving” for Ariwa. Released LP Buppie Culture in 1989. The album contained the single “Dread a who she love” a duet with Kofi, which went to number one in the reggae singles charts. 1990 saw the release of “Proud of Mandela” celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela. It went straight to number one in the Reggae singles chart and was featured on the album “Natural Suntan”. In the nineties Macka.B . recorded 8 more albums for Ariwa and also collaborated with other artists and labels. Albums for Ariwa were “Peace Cup”- “Discrimination” – “Roots Ragga” – “Jamaica No Problem” – “Here Comes Trouble” – “Hold On To your Culture” – “Suspicious” – “Roots & Culture”. Recorded “Tongue a no Gun” & “God a Come” with Sanchez on Xterminator label. “D. J. Unity” with Tony Rebel on Penthouse label. “Sex Machine” on Black Scorpio label. “Mr Cop” with Gregory Isaacs on Ras label. “Yele” with Baba Maal on Island records. “Doctors of love” with Pato Banton. “Malcolm X” with Steel Pulse. Recorded on Ariwa with Nolan Irie, Earl 16, Horace Andy, Sandra Cross, Kofi, Brown Sugar, Steve Ital, Fish. He has twice performed on Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica, also at Sting & White River Reggae Bash in Jamaica. He also appeared in front of Nelson Mandela in the National Stadium Kingston. Macka.B has toured Japan all over America, Africa, Hawaii, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Spain, Poland to name but a few. He has performed alongside artists such as Burning Spear, U-Roy, The Wailers, Kool and the Gang, Lee Perry, Culture, Gladiators and many more. In the year 2000 he released the album “Global Messenger” on the Ariwa label. He also recorded “What’s going on” with Tony Rebel on the Flames label. He appeared on Rebel Salute in Jamaica and also toured South Africa. In 2001 he recorded 2 songs on the Humal label “Homeland Africa” & “More Knowledge” which were very well received. In 2002 Macka.B teamed up with the Royale Roots Band and produced the album entitled “By Royale Command” which is still in demand.In 2003 Macka.B played for the first time in West Africa performing in Senegal alongside Baba Maal and also in Sierra Leone. He also become the first Reggae artist to tour the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia). In 2004 Macka.B signed to the Jet Star label (Charm) releasing the album “Word,Sound and Power “.In 2008 a brand new live Cd and also the first live Dvd featuring Macka.B was released.2009 saw Macka.B’s Cd ”More Knowledge” released by Humal Records . 2016 Macka.B embarked on his Never Played A 45 Asia Tour visiting countries like Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Japan After over 30 years Macka.B continues