Macka B

Biography

Macka B, born Christopher MacFarlane in 1966 in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, to Jamaican parents, is a British-born reggae artist, activist and one of the United Kingdom’s most influential dancehall DJs.[1][3][7] As a child he played violin and sang in the school choir, but at home he gravitated to the roots reggae of Burning Spear, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Count Ossie, which shaped both his sound and his Rastafarian consciousness.[1][2] After leaving school he trained as an engineering apprentice at the Ever Ready factory, but redundancy from that job pushed him to focus seriously on deejaying (toasting), practicing at home while studying the work of pioneering Jamaican DJs such as U‑Roy, I‑Roy, Big Youth and Prince Far I.[1][2] In 1982 a formative trip to Jamaica deepened his commitment to the music; the following year he won a DJ competition at the Rising Star club in Bilston, leading to radio appearances, TV slots, and local success with the band Pre‑Wax and their single “Maggie’s Letter.”[1][2]

A televised performance brought him to the attention of producer Mad Professor, who signed him to the Ariwa label and produced his landmark debut album “Sign of the Times” (1986), a chart‑topping British reggae set that fused dub‑wise production with hard‑hitting social and spiritual lyrics.[1][2] Through a prolific run of albums for Ariwa and other labels—including “We’ve Had Enough,” “Looks Are Deceiving,” “Buppie Culture,” “Natural Suntan,” “Peace Cup,” “Roots Ragga,” “Jamaica No Problem,” “Here Comes Trouble,” “Hold On to Your Culture,” “Suspicious,” “Roots & Culture,” “Global Messenger,” “Word, Sound and Power,” “By Royale Command,” and later works such as “Change the World,” “Rasta Soldier,” and “Never Played a 45”—he helped pull dancehall back toward Rastafarian, political and cultural themes while still embracing updated, dancehall‑age production techniques.[1][2] His rough, gravelly voice, nimble rhymes and mixture of serious commentary with occasional humor made him distinctive, and he consistently avoided overt commercial crossover in favor of roots‑oriented integrity.[1][3]

Over a career spanning more than three decades in the UK, Jamaica and worldwide, Macka B has become known not only as a recording artist but as a tireless live performer, touring extensively across Europe, Africa, Australia and beyond, and becoming one of the first foreign and first British reggae artists to reach territories such as Poland, Australia and the former Yugoslavia.[2][6] A practicing Rastaman, his work centers on spiritual uplift, black consciousness, pan‑African themes and social justice, while in later years he has also become a vocal advocate for veganism and holistic well‑being, further extending his influence beyond reggae audiences.[3][7] His legacy rests on bridging roots reggae, dub and dancehall; carrying forward the tradition of the conscious DJ in Britain; and helping to globalize UK reggae through consistent touring, collaboration and message‑driven music.[1][2][4][8]

Fun Facts

• He chose the stage name Macka B as a reference to the Maccabees, the Judean rebels who fought against Greek rule, underscoring his militant, resistance‑oriented stance.[3]
• Before becoming a full‑time artist, he trained and worked in engineering at the Ever Ready factory, but being laid off after a factory closure pushed him fully into music—a setback he later described as a blessing in disguise.[1][2]
• His 1986 debut album “Sign of the Times” not only topped the reggae LP charts in Britain but has been hailed as a milestone of British reggae, helping define the sound of UK roots‑dancehall.[1]
• He became the first British reggae artist to tour Australia, and was also among the first reggae artists to tour countries in the former Yugoslavia, reflecting his pioneering role in taking UK reggae to new territories.[2][6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Burning Spear - Formative roots reggae inspiration he listened to at home as a youth, shaping his spiritual and cultural outlook. (General catalog (e.g., classic 1970s roots albums) cited as early listening rather than specific collaborations.) [1970s–early 1980s (listening influence in his youth).]
• Bob Marley - Major musical and ideological influence whose roots reggae and Rastafarian themes informed Macka B’s own conscious lyrics. (Classic Bob Marley and the Wailers albums, referenced as inspirations rather than joint projects.) [1970s–early 1980s (pre‑professional inspiration).]
• Peter Tosh - Influenced his militant, politically outspoken side within reggae. (Known as part of his early listening to roots reggae icons.) [1970s–early 1980s (pre‑career influence).]
• Count Ossie - Nyabinghi and roots pioneer whose music contributed to Macka B’s spiritual and rhythmic sensibilities. (Cited generally among the greats he listened to at home.) [1970s–early 1980s (influence period).]
• U‑Roy - Foundational DJ whose toasting style helped shape Macka B’s approach on the microphone. (General DJ style influence rather than specific shared recordings.) [Late 1970s–early 1980s (while Macka B was practicing DJing).]
• I‑Roy - Veteran deejay who influenced Macka B’s lyrical phrasing and delivery. (Referenced as an inspiration in his DJ development.) [Late 1970s–early 1980s.]
• Big Youth - Helped inspire his conscious DJ style, combining cultural lyrics with distinctive vocal presence. (Influence on overall DJ approach, not on a specific track.) [Late 1970s–early 1980s.]
• Prince Far I - Especially important DJ influence whose deep‑voiced, biblical and militant style Macka B has cited as a key model. (General stylistic template for roots‑oriented deejaying.) [Late 1970s–early 1980s.]

Key Collaborators

• Mad Professor - Primary producer and label head (Ariwa) who shaped Macka B’s sound by blending dub techniques with dancehall rhythms. (Albums including “Sign of the Times,” “We’ve Had Enough,” “Looks Are Deceiving,” “Buppie Culture,” “Natural Suntan,” “Peace Cup,” “Jamaica No Problem?,” “Roots Ragga,” “Here Comes Trouble,” “Hold On to Your Culture,” “Suspicious,” “Roots & Culture,” and “Global Messenger.”) [Mid‑1980s through at least 2000.[1][2]]
• Kofi - Duet partner on one of his biggest British reggae hits. (Single “Dread a Who She Love” from the album “Buppie Culture,” which reached number one in the reggae singles chart.[1][2]) [Late 1980s (around 1989).]
• Tony Rebel - Collaborated on a roots‑and‑culture track recorded in Jamaica. (Single “What’s Going On” on the Flames label.[2]) [Around 2000 (early 2000s).]
• Royale Roots Band - Backing band with whom he recorded and toured. (Album “By Royale Command,” released in 2002.[2]) [Early 2000s.]
• Nolan Irie - Label‑mate and collaborator on Ariwa recordings. (Sessions and tracks recorded for Ariwa (specific song titles not singled out in sources).) [1990s.[2]]
• Earl 16 - Roots singer collaborating on Ariwa material. (Collaborative recordings on Ariwa label projects.[2]) [1990s.]
• Horace Andy - Renowned vocalist with whom he shared recordings on Ariwa. (Collaborative tracks for Ariwa productions.[2]) [1990s.]
• Sandra Cross - UK reggae singer collaborating via shared Ariwa projects. (Ariwa label recordings alongside Macka B.[2]) [1990s.]
• Brown Sugar - Vocal group working within the Ariwa circle. (Collaborations and shared projects on Ariwa.[2]) [1990s.]
• Steve Ital - Collaborator within the Ariwa roster. (Ariwa sessions and releases featuring multiple artists.[2]) [1990s.]
• Fish - Artist cited among those recording with Macka B on Ariwa. (Collaborative Ariwa recordings.[2]) [1990s.]

Artists Influenced

• Younger British reggae and dancehall DJs (e.g., later UK sound‑system MCs and conscious artists) - He is widely described as one of Britain’s most influential dancehall DJs, whose fusion of Rastafarian politics, roots reggae and modern production set a template for subsequent UK conscious deejays; specific individuals are rarely named in sources, but his impact on the broader UK reggae DJ tradition is consistently noted. (Influence stems particularly from albums like “Sign of the Times,” “Buppie Culture,” and “Natural Suntan,” which demonstrated how political and spiritual messages could thrive in a dancehall context.[1][3][4][8]) [Mid‑1980s onward, as his records and live shows circulated in the UK and Europe.]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Step Up (Word, Sound & Power)
2. Bob (Hold On To Your Culture)
3. One For Jah (Roots & Culture)
4. I Don't Like Reggae (Roots & Culture)
5. Health Is Wealth (Health Is Wealth)
6. Never Played A 45 (Never Played A 45)
7. Block Them - Remix (The Foot Of The Mountain Remixes)
8. Rasta Tell Them (Never Played A 45)
9. Straight From The Pram (The Foot Of The Mountain LP)
10. Good Day

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #dancehall, #rastafarian, #reggae