Linton Kwesi Johnson

Biography

Linton Kwesi Johnson, born on August 24, 1952, in Chapelton, Clarendon, Jamaica, is a pioneering dub poet, musician, and political activist. He moved to London in 1963, joining his mother as part of the Windrush generation, and attended Tulse Hill secondary school before studying Sociology at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. Johnson became involved in the British Black Panther Movement as a teenager, organizing poetry workshops and performing with the Rasta Love group, which fused poetry and drumming as a form of cultural resistance.

Johnson began publishing poetry in the early 1970s, with his first collection, 'Voices of the Living and the Dead,' released in 1974. He is best known for blending his politically charged verse, often recited in Jamaican patois, with dub and reggae rhythms—a style that became known as dub poetry. His debut album, 'Dread Beat an’ Blood' (1978), and subsequent works like 'Forces of Victory' (1979) and 'Bass Culture' (1980), addressed themes of racism, police brutality, and social injustice in Britain. Johnson's collaborations with producer Dennis Bovell and the Dub Band were central to his sound, and his influence extended into journalism, radio, and activism throughout the 1980s and beyond.

Regarded as the world's first reggae poet, Johnson's impact on British poetry, reggae, and political discourse is profound. In 2002, he became the first black poet and only the second living poet to be published in Penguin’s Modern Classics series. His work has been translated into multiple languages, and he remains a respected figure in both literary and musical circles, recognized for using poetry as a weapon in the struggle against racial oppression.

Fun Facts

• Johnson is credited as the world's first reggae poet, pioneering the genre of dub poetry by merging spoken word with reggae rhythms.
• He was the first black poet and only the second living poet to be published in Penguin’s Modern Classics series.
• Johnson founded his own record label, LKJ Records, in 1981, which released works by other poets and musicians.
• His middle name, 'Kwesi,' is a Ghanaian name given to boys born on a Sunday.

Associated Acts

• Poet and the Roots - original (1977–1978)

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Lindsay Barrett - Jamaican novelist who produced Johnson's early staged poem 'Voices of the Living and the Dead' at the Keskidee Centre (Voices of the Living and the Dead (stage production)) [early 1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Dennis Bovell - Longtime musical collaborator, producer, and bandleader of the Dub Band, co-wrote and produced most of Johnson's albums (Dread Beat an’ Blood, Forces of Victory, Bass Culture, LKJ in Dub, Making History, LKJ Live in Concert, LKJ in Dub: Volume Two) [1978–present]
• Rasta Love - Group of poets and drummers with whom Johnson developed his early performance style (Early poetry performances and workshops) [early 1970s]
• Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze - Johnson produced albums for Breeze, a pioneering dub poet (Album productions (various)) [1980s]
• Shake Keane - Johnson produced albums for Keane, a jazz trumpeter (Album productions (various)) [1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Benjamin Zephaniah - British dub poet and writer who cites Johnson as a key influence in the development of dub poetry in the UK (Pen Rhythm, The Dread Affair) [1980s–present]
• Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze - Jamaican-British dub poet inspired by Johnson's pioneering work and later collaborated with him (Riddym Ravings, The Arrival of Brighteye) [1980s–2010s]
• Various British reggae and spoken word artists - Johnson's fusion of poetry and reggae paved the way for subsequent generations of politically engaged artists (Numerous albums and performances) [1980s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Inglan Is A Bitch (Bass Culture)
2. Want Fi Goh Rave (Forces Of Victory)
3. Sonny's Lettah (Anti-Sus Poem) (Forces Of Victory)
4. Iron Bar - Dub (LKJ In Dub)
5. Fite Dem Back (Forces Of Victory)
6. Street 66 (Bass Culture)
7. Loraine (Bass Culture)
8. Reggae Sounds (Bass Culture)
9. It Noh Funny (Forces Of Victory)
10. Bass Culture (Bass Culture)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #dub, #dub-poetry, #reggae