Linton Kwesi Johnson

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Linton Kwesi Johnson portrait on CD cover 1991
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Linton Kwesi Johnson portrait on CD cover 1991

Linton Kwesi Johnson (aka LKJ) (born 24 August 1952, in Chapelton, Jamaica) is a British-based Dub poet. He became only the second living poet to be published in the Penguin Classics series. [1] His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Creole over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British reggae producer/artist Dennis Bovell.

Johnson attended Goldsmiths College in New Cross, London, which currently holds his personal papers in its archives; in 2004 he became an Honorary Visiting Professor of Middlesex University in London. In 2005 Linton Kwesi Johnson was awarded a silver Musgrave medal from the Institute of Jamaica for distinguished eminence in the field of poetry.

Contents

[edit] Poetry

Most of Johnson's poetry is political, dealing mainly with the experiences of being an African-Caribbean in Britain. However, he has also shown himself more than capable of writing about other issues, such as British foreign policy or the death of anti-racist marcher Blair Peach. His most celebrated poems were written during the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The poems contain graphic accounts of the often racist police brutality occurring at the time. When written, Johnson's poetry makes clever use of the unstandardised transcription of Jamaican Creole.

A collection of his poems has been published as Mi Revalueshanary Fren by Penguin Modern Classics. Johnson is one of only three poets to be published by Penguin Modern Classics while still alive.

[edit] Music

Johnson's best known albums include his debut Dread Beat An' Blood, Forces of Victory, Bass Culture and Making History. Across these albums are spread classics of the dub poetry school of performance - and, indeed, of reggae itself - such as Dread Beat An' Blood, Sonny's Lettah, Inglan Is A Bitch and Independent Intavenshan.

Johnson's record label LKJ Records is home to other reggae artists, some of whom made up The Dub Band, with whom Johnson mostly recorded, and other Dub Poets, such as Jean Binta Breeze.

Of late, Johnson has only performed live on an intermittent basis, perhaps a result of modern reggae's shift towards more spontaneous and rapid-fire performers of raggamuffin or dancehall. Others have speculated that he is aging and cannot keep up with the demands of a world tour.

[edit] Discography

  • LKJ in Dub: Volume 3 - LKJ Records, 2002.
  • Independent Intavenshan - Island, 1998.
  • More Time - LKJ Records, 1998.
  • LKJ A Cappella Live - LKJ Records, 1996.
  • LKJ Presents - LKJ Records, 1996.
  • LKJ in Dub: Volume 2 - LKJ Records, 1992.
  • Tings An' Times - LKJ Records, 1991.
  • LKJ Live in Concert with the Dub Band - LKJ Records, 1985.
  • Making History - Island, 1983.
  • LKJ in Dub - Island, 1981.
  • Bass Culture - Island, 1980.
  • Forces of Victory - Island, 1979.
  • Dread Beat An' Blood - Island, 1978.

[edit] External links

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