| Admiral Tibet | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kenneth Allen |
| Also known as | Mr. Reality |
| Born | 1960 St. Mary, Jamaica |
| Genres | Dancehall, ragga |
| Years active | late 1970s - present |
Admiral Tibet (sometimes Tibett), also known as "Mr. Reality" (born Kenneth Allen, Freehill, Saint Mary, Jamaica, 1960)[1][2] is a Jamaican dancehall singer known for his "cultural" lyrics.
Tibet was one of the few artists from the early days of digital reggae to focus on "conscious" themes in his lyrics. A member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel since his youth.[1][2][3] He has been described as "the most consistently conscious singer of his age".[4] Allen described how he got his nickname: "I was going primary school and my cousin, both of us were sitting together looking into an atlas, and saw the name 'Tibet'. My cousin took it as a mockery and seh 'Tibet! Tibet!' and it stuck."[4]
He began performing in Jamaican clubs and with sound systems during his teens, including his local Torpedo system. He made his first recordings when he was in his 20s; a reluctance to move to Kingston played a part in this. He eventually made the move in 1982.[2][4] In 1985, Tibet made his first recording for producer Sherman Clacher, entitled "Babylon War",[4] Shortly after this he began recording for Winston Riley, Redman, King Jammy and Bobby Digital. His debut album Come Into the Light was produced by King Jammy and released in 1987. He recorded several more albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He appeared at the Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1989.[4] He was less prolific in the 1990s but returned with more albums in the 2000s, and is still performing in the late 2000s.[5]
His hit "Serious Time" was later issued in remixed form with contributions from two-time Grammy winner Shabba Ranks and Ninjaman, signalling a reconciliation between the two deejays who had been bitter rivals for some time.[4]
His voice has been described: "at its best has a convincing, vulnerable quality entirely suited to sufferers' laments."[1]