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January 08, 2008
Junior Reid reaps steady success
By: Joseph Cunningham
Junior "One Blood" Reid is currently one of the worlds' most sought after singers, and it's not by chance.
Junior got his initial inspiration from a tough upbringing in West Kingston's notorious Waterhouse district. It was there in the politically turbulent mid-'70's that he recorded his first-ever single "Know Myself" at age of 14 for the late Hugh Mundell; it was released in the U.K. by Greensleeves.
He then went on to form his own band, The Voice of Progress, and after a local hit with "Mini-Bus Driver" the group scored local success with an album of the same name.
The "young blood" was then commissioned by the great Sugar Minott to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion Label that enjoyed considerable popularity with tracks such as "Human Nature," "A1 Lover" and the evergreen "See How Me Black See How Me Shine," an uplifting and proud statement that became an anthem to the
ghetto youth who Junior increasingly championed.
Moving on Junior transferred his talents to King Jammy's studio on St. Lucia Road where his fast-growing success rose yet another notch. "Boom Shacka Lacka" was his first UK hit and led to another exceptional album. After a number of fine singles - including "Youthman," "Bank Clerk," "Sufferation," "Give Thanks and Praises" and
"Higgler Move" - his chance at a wider audience came with an offer to replace Michael Rose in the legendary Reggae group, Black Uhuru.
Always a strong follower of Black Uhuru and with a similar vocal style, Junior slipped into Rose's slot with ease and the collaboration on his first Uhuru album "Brutal" was well received by all. Two years and two albums later Junior's interest to produce material for himself drove him back into the solo arena and back to King Jammy's Studio where he recorded and released the album "Big Timer" in the early '90s.
Despite all the accolades, it has been speculated that he has not been
highly favored by factions in his native country, Jamaica, which is the headquarters of Reggae music.
Undeniably one of Jamaica's most talented singers, Junior Reid has for a longtime been seemingly forced to ply his trade in Europe and the United States, where he says he has always been more appreciated
Jamaican fans have hoped and prayed for many years to see Junior Reid on major Reggae shows, but for whatever the reason, fans have hoped in vain.
The last appearance Junior Reid made at Reggae Sumfest was 14 years ago! YardFlex decided to get personal with the singer, and he obliged. "Since I've been doing all these high profile collaborations with international superstars, Sumfest has called me, but I've told myself that I will not perform at Sumfest," a hurting Reid said.
Well, sometime during the course of 2007, the adage, "fortune favors the brave" proved to be a charm for Junior. He told YardFlex recently, "I have suffered much pain at the hands of my own people, but I held the faith."
He has held his head above the proverbial waters through his own record label, JR Records, through which he has been releasing his own music. The label also features his sons, Wada and Andrew Blood.
Today, Junior Reid is riding high with collaborations with international platinum selling rapper, The Game, with whom he did "One Blood." He recorded "Gangster" with another mainstream American rapper, Fabulous and since then has been featured in "This Is Why I'm Hot" with Mims, "No One" remix with Alicia Keys, and most recently, "Bad Boy" with DMX. Junior is also working on "Thanks For Looking Out" with Ruff Rider first-lady, Eve.
With his incisive, prophetic lyrics and unstinting support for the "ghetto man" cause, Junior Reid remains a roots artist of great power while maintaining an already burgeoning international reputation.
Posted by yardFlex at January 8, 2008 01:47 PM
Comments
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Posted by: Shelly Richards
on January 8, 2008 03:36 PM
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Junior Reid a di real singer roun ere,Look at Sean Paul,Jamaicans did not even look pon him until him buss a foreign,We nuh get hype bout wi artiste dem until we hear di white man a sing dem tune,We have to support dem a yard and abroad,Hold di faith rastaman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: supared
on January 8, 2008 03:46 PM
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junior reid is easily one of my favourite artists. he is a pioneer in reggae. he isn't so popular in jamaica which must hurt his feelings but any lover of good reggae knows junior reid's work. he is a living legend for me since his music is a big part of my life's soundtrack.
he need to get off dis nonsense with these rappers and disco music though.
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Posted by: DUBFYAH
on January 8, 2008 04:21 PM
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RESPECT JUNIOR... WE ALL WISH YOU MORE SUCCESS AND PLEASE FORGET DE BL%&%D CL44T MONEY ISSUE WID YUR BUDDY DEM !!! CAH DE $100,000 COURT CASE NAH GOH DO NUH RIGHT MAN, GROW UP RASTA !
"ONE BLOOD "...
DUBFYAH SEH SOH..
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Posted by: Wade Cameron
on January 8, 2008 05:46 PM
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Posted by: King
on January 8, 2008 06:02 PM
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Great artist I hope they don't wait for him to pass away before Jamaica gives him some LOVE
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Posted by: jah son
on January 8, 2008 10:31 PM
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Jr u a di real big man naw lie, tears came to my eyes when i saw you on sting stage and the people dem act like yu anno icon. mi godfather leave dem to time, yuh real to the cause, yuh a one a di man dem wey a hold up the thing(dancehall), Nuh Bounty, Nuh Beenie, nuh Cartel, dem only do clubs, yuh do stadiums. Blessed love Mr Jr Ried!!!! Jamaican government fi recognize to.
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Posted by: mr.wendell
on January 9, 2008 05:15 AM
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Respect mr.Reid!Iwill never 4get that facinating performance U gave in ST.lucia.Now U are getting ur deserved shine on.Keep ur head up!AsT.lUCIA Road in Jamaica?Wow!
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Posted by: Dayne
on January 9, 2008 09:33 AM
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I'VE BEEN A FAN OF JUNIOR REID FOR A LONG TIME AND I LOVE DI FACT THAT HE'S GETTING HIS MONEY. BUT BEING A JAMICAN AND LIVING IN THE STATES, IVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST OUR REGGAE ARTIST WORKING WID THE YANKEES. THE REASON I FEEL THAT WAY IS BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER WHEN THEY HATED OUR MUSIC AND MADE FUN OF US. NOW THEY SEE HOW REGGAE MUSIC IS BIG AND WORLD WIDE THEY WANT TO JUMP ON THE BAN WAGON AND USE US US FOR THERE FINANCIAL GAIN. LIKE I SAID I'M HAPPY J.R IS GETTING NOTICED ON A MAJOR BASE. ITS FUNNY HOW DI YANKEES MADE FUN OF US BUT TRY SO HARD TO BE LIKE US.
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Posted by: ras order
on January 9, 2008 10:31 AM
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Jr Reid, great artist
Jr Reid 1st record is: Run come in the dance, for Augustus Pablo.
In the 80s he also did Original foreign mind for Black Roots / Sugar Minott.
He did One blood, one of the biggest anthems, recorded on his ow JR label
What about Banana boat man ?
He has head to head clashes albums with artist like Cornell Campbell and Teezy for the great producer Roy Cousins.
One head to head clash with Leroy Smart for Henry Junjo Lawes
One head to head clash with Don Carlos for Delroy Wright Live and Learn label
I notice most jamaicans don't know the history of their own music and foreigners seem to know it more. Love the artists, because they bring the Rasta culture very far and all over the world they love Rasta culture.
If you want to see my page you can go to www.youtube.com/rasorder
One Love Jah Rastafari
Ras Order
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Posted by: ras_gaks
on January 9, 2008 01:40 PM
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man its better to dance a yard b4 u dance abroad...
or both at d same time.
ras_gaks
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Posted by: zagga zow
on January 10, 2008 11:09 AM
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jah what you talking about junior reid cant walk in beenie man shoe no time so dont even thing that an me never see junior reid in a stadium a perform before look at beenie man america summer jam springfest europe the most festival japan 250000 people in there dont call beenie man name because his only couple dancehall artist can walk in him shoe big up junior reid if you a big him up but leave artist name out a it ok beenie man tour the world two time an sell out stadium over the years junior reid never tour the world once so dont compare ok it funny when beenie man a do tune with mya janet jackson akon wyclef steven segal aka nico unu say him sell out just because him help put dancehall music where it his today internationally junior reid cant even walk in bounty a cham are a ele shoe muchless beenie man beenie man fi life beenie man his dancehall music worldwide an yard member that
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Posted by: always smilin
on January 10, 2008 01:57 PM
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i feel your pain Dayne
hope yardflex brings that time up in black history and reggae month...the time when they hated us
or is that time really past???:):)
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Posted by: ******ALLIANCE*****
on January 12, 2008 09:45 PM
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BIG UP BL**DCL**T JUNIOR REID,
YUH SELL OFF......
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Posted by: mr bee
on January 13, 2008 08:33 PM
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JUNIOR REID GREAT ARTISTE BUT TOO GREEDY OVERPRICE HIMSELF THAT IS THE REASON WHY HE IS NOT ON MANY SHOWS IN JAMAICA
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Posted by: jahfireal
on March 25, 2008 04:17 AM
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well all i got to say is jr reid is ok artist in my opinion i just think all of this attention that jr gets is because of him style that he uses, but one ting people dont know because of false or no information that {michael rose} black uhuru lead singer is the originator of what today jr reid is known for the great mykal rose trade mark {tu tu tweng}. when i first heard the remix of this is why im hot and jr starts out saying mykal rose's trade i got upset but then proud of what mykal rose trend did for jr.reid i just wish the people would realize where this soundboy got him style from and give mykal rose his props and respect that he deserves big up mykal rose the overdoze......................
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