Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

Up NEXT: Mr G and FAMOUS FACE on Steelie and Clevie's popular Sleepy Dog rhythm.

Just found these two on one of my restored videotapes.
The music video for Fitzgerald Henry, aka FAMOUS FACE, was filmed at STUDIO 2000, which was run by the award-winning rhythm twins, Steelie and Clevie. They also produced the popular Sleepy Dog rhythm. In addition to being the producer/director/editor for that video, I was one of the actors in it.

The Mr. G video was shot in the Marverly, St. Andrew community, located across from Drewsland, and it is a community that produced quite a few dancehall artists. He is a close family friend, as his mother and I worked together at the Jamaica national TV station (JBC TV) in the late 70s and early 80s. I also produced several other videos for him, including "Dog Bark", "Buff Bay," and "Red Plate."

Mr. G (born Chad Simpson) is a veteran Jamaican dancehall artist, songwriter, and prolific producer originally known by the stage name GOOFY.
In the 1990s, he rose to fame under the moniker Goofy, known for his humorous lyrics and distinctive "goofy" laugh. His breakout hit was "Fudgie" (1996), which topped Jamaican charts.
Around 2004, he rebranded as Mr. G to pursue a more serious musical direction and expand his work as a producer.
Beyond his solo career, he is a respected producer through his label, Young Blood Records. He has produced hits for major artists, including:
Buju Banton
Beenie Man
Aidonia
Christopher Martin and Romain Virgo (notably the hit "Leave People Business Alone")
Known for hits like "Fudgie," "Crook Buff Bay," and "I Don't Give a Damn," he also produces for major acts and created the group RDX. He is a staple in the dancehall scene.
He was raised in the Jones Town community in Kingston, Jamaica.
Mr G has also produced songs for artists like RDX, Jah Cure, and I-Octane. He discovered RDX and also produced their hits "Fast Lane" and "Wasteline".
Formerly known as "Sample Kid," his peers started calling him "Goofy" after a mislabeling on his hit record "Fudgie".
He continues to produce music and has collaborated with artists such as Bobi Wine.
Mr. G is often recognized for his contributions to both the artistic and production sides of Jamaican music. Mr. G remains active in the industry, recently releasing new music such as "Blessing Jus a Come Suh" (2025) and collaborating with artists like Wayne Wonder.

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5 months ago | [YT] | 50

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

UP NEXT: Jamaica's dancehall dancing king, GERALD "BOGLE" LEVY and the BLACK ROSES CREW dance up a storm with ELEPHANT MAN.

I found and restored this footage from the music video shoot I did for Elephant Man's "Sesame Street" song. The filming was done in a green room studio and on the Black Roses Crew corner. Bogle (RIP) and ICE (RIP) feature heavily in the footage, and you get an up close and personal view of both celebrated dancers in action.

Gerald Levy (22 August 1964 – 20 January 2005), better known as BOGLE and also as Bogle Dancer, Mr Bogle, Father Bogle, and Mr Wacky, was a Jamaican dancehall dancer and choreographer. Beenie Man called Bogle "the greatest dancer of all time", and he is recognized as "part of the foundation and as an icon inside of dancehall culture." Bogle created more dancehall moves than any other figure; he is best known for creating the Bogle dance, which is named after him. His stage name, Bogle, is a reference to Paul Bogle, a National Hero of Jamaica.
Gerald Levy was born on 22 August 1964 in Trenchtown, West Kingston in the capital of Jamaica. He was educated at Charlie Smith All Age and spent a brief period at St George's College. As a child in the 1970s, he appeared on Louise Bennett's television show Ring Ding, and in the 1980s he danced on the Saturday evening television programme Where It's At, both on the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation.
In the 1990s, Levy created the Bogle dance, the scene's first crossover dance move. He was also a major influence on breakout artists such as Elephant Man and Beenie Man, who gave shout-outs to Levy in songs like "Row Like a Boat": "Seh Mr Bogle have di brand new style/Come get di style, come get di style."
On the night of 20 January 2005, after getting into an altercation with Beenie Man and his entourage, Bogle and four others were in his car at a gas station when two men on a bicycle rode by, shooting into the vehicle. The passengers were rushed to Kingston Public Hospital, where the 40-year-old Levy was pronounced dead. The home of John Hype, Levy's creative rival over the previous year, was burned to the ground just hours later. In the wake of Bogle's murder, Beenie Man offered a $1 million reward for the capture of the killers.
Bogle's work lives on throughout the dancehall community as Jamaica's greatest dancer of all time. Many dancehall artists and dancers respect "Father Bogle" and give him shout-outs in songs. Popular DJ Bounty Killer credits Bogle for making him want to dance[citation needed]. In 2005, the trio Voice Mail had the hit single "Wacky Dip" on the Junkanoo Riddim, which included lyrics that have proven to be true thus far: "Mr Wacky is gone, but his dancing lives on". Elephant Man, who previously recorded songs for Bogle's dances, had the hit single "Willie Bounce," which is by far one of Bogle's most popular dances. Buju Banton also recorded a song called "Bogle Dance", which was inspired by Bogle. In R&B singer Rihanna's music video Rude Boy, she is seen doing "The Bogle".

Alexander Smith, famously known as the Jamaican dancer ICE, was born in 1982 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Tragically, he was killed at the age of 26 on December 26, 2008, in the Gulf View area of Kingston. Ice was a prominent figure in the Jamaican dancehall scene and a key member of the Black Roses Crew, alongside fellow legendary dancer Gerald "Bogle" Levy. He was celebrated for creating several iconic dancehall moves, most notably the "Gully Creeper".
While "Gully Creeper" is his most famous creation—gaining global fame when Usain Bolt performed it during the 2008 Beijing Olympics—Ice's repertoire included several other influential moves:
Gully Creeper: A crouching, rhythmic step that became a worldwide sensation.
Rubba Bounce: A move inspired by the disco genre.
Cobra: Another of his signature steps, often taught in tribute workshops.
Twista: Part of his foundational contributions to the "new school" dancehall era.
Ice was a central figure in the Black Roses Crew, a legendary collective based at "Black Roses Corner" (Lincoln Avenue) in Kingston.
Following the 2005 murder of the crew's lead dancer, Gerald "Bogle" Levy, Ice was touted to take over leadership of the group.
Along with Bogle and the crew's founder, William "Willie Haggart" Moore, Ice helped set fashion and style trends that transformed dancehall from local street culture into a global phenomenon. He mentored several younger dancers, including Boysie and Stephan "Baby Ice" Ledgister, who continue to teach his steps today to preserve his legacy.

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5 months ago | [YT] | 48

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

UP NEXT: QUEEN IFRICA
The Kingston Night Market is a weekly artisan popup market hosted each Tuesday at 8 Hillcrest Avenue. Premium Art, Unique Crafts, Authentic Food, and Music.

In honour of Women's Month 2026, Queen Ifrica blessed the Kingston Night Market with her presence at the invitation of Hyacinth McDonald, the founder of the cultural event. As always, Quenn Ifrica gave an inspirational and fun performance, interacting with the adoring audience.

Ventrice Morgan (born 25 March 1975), better known by the stage names Queen Ifrica and Fyah Muma, is a reggae singer and disc jockey from the hills above Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is the daughter of ska musician Derrick Morgan, but was raised by her mother and stepfather.

Her career began in her hometown in 1995 when she won a talent competition in a local club. In 1998, she began working with Tony Rebel's Flames Productions, and she has since performed at music festivals all over the world, including Reggae on the River in California and Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica.

Ras Tafari by faith, she is known for her work in that community. While some of her songs are about deeply personal subject matter, such as "Below the Waist" and "Daddy," she also moves forward with a strong social critique in songs such as "Tyad A Dah Sumn Yah" and "Serve and Protect."

Queen Ifrica began her career in 1995 after she turned on a scorcher of a performance in a talent contest at the aptly named Club Inferno in Montego Bay. The Queen beat all other contestants to win by a landslide. Her baptism in the business included a performance on Reggae Sumfest’s Singers Night; coming onstage after a blazing set by Buju Banton, Queen Ifrica was not overawed by the occasion, but succeeded in commanding a good reception to her message.
With roots firmly secured in the Rastafarian faith, she blossomed as one of the top cultural artists in reggae, swarming the airwaves with hits like “Randy”, “Jus My Brethren”, “Below the Waist” and “Daddy” and stealing the stages at major festivals and stage shows around the world (Summer Jam in Germany, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Bob Marley Festival, Reggae on the River in California and Reggae Sundance Festival in Holland). As an active community leader, Ifrica is involved in several outreach programs for children in Jamaica’s inner city and in charity shows, where proceeds are donated to the cause.

She signed a record deal with VP Records, leading to the release of her first album, Montego Bay, in July 2009. Her second album, Climb, was released in March 2017 and topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.

According to Queen Ifrica, female energy is important within the rasta community, but it seems tough for women to be heard since it’s a conservative religion. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any women. Quite the opposite.

“There are 1,000’s of rasta women in Jamaica. They’re the invisible visible. You don’t see them as you see other women,” she explains.
Being a role model is part of being an artist, and as a young artist, you need to understand what it means to be a role model. Queen Ifrica says you have a responsibility.

“Reggae hails from the poor and poverty. It’s music that will spark a certain type of reaction. You need to encourage the youths,” she explains, and continues:

“Stick to positive cultural music, and I know that young people can love it."

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6 months ago | [YT] | 35

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

UP NEXT: RANKING JOE, LITTLE JOHN, JAH MIKEY, DANNY DREAD perform an original 1980s dancehall set. Pt 1.

This video recording is historic for me, as it took me back to my 70s/80s dancehall days for the very first time in decades.
The four artists that appear in this video are original dancehall superstars, and they delivered a set that captured the original way artists performed on sound systems in the 70s and 80s. Melodic djing and singjaying, no unsavoury lyrics, and the selector (Oliver, Metromedia's master selector/mixer) mixing to the lyrical chant of the artists rather than the usual shouting in the microphone that patrons are nowadays subjected to all night. Truly historic! Kudos to Oneil Famous and Peter Metro for producing this milestone night of genuine original dancehall fun and musical delight.

RANKING JOE a.k.a. Little Joe (born Joseph Jackson, 1 July 1959, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae deejay who rose to prominence in the 1970s and had continuing success in the 1980s.
Joe performed at school concerts and won a local talent contest in the mid-70's. As he got older, he participated in stage shows and parties in different Jamaican parishes for veteran singer/promoter Jackie Brown. His first performing name was"D.J. Jolly", and he performed with well know artist like Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, Bingy Bunny, Bongo Herman, and Keith Poppin.
At age 15, he went to the legendary "Studio One" to audition, and what resulted was his first big hit "GUN COURT", produced by Clement"Coxsone" Dodd and a name change to "Little Joe".
Jackson was initially inspired towards a musical career by his father, who operated a sound system. He attended secondary school with Winston McAnuff, U Brown, and Earl Sixteen, and they would perform at concerts. After starting out by toasting on the Smith The Weapon sound system, Jackson progressed to the El Paso sound system, where he performed under the name Little Joe (inspired by the character from Bonanza), inspired greatly by U-Roy. "Stop Your Coming and Come" provided the first deejay hit for Sly & Robbie's Taxi label. In the latter half of the 1970s. His big break in international terms came in 1980, when the Ray Symbolic Hi Fi sound system, with which he was then the resident deejay, toured the United Kingdom, raising his profile. Ray Symbolic's death interrupted Joe's career, but he returned as a producer, with dubs of his productions released on the King Tubby albums Original King Key Dub and Dangerous Dub. He later moved to New York City, setting up a record label, also named Ranking Joe, which provided an outlet for his productions.
When mentioning the pioneering DJs of the 70's, usually the names U-Roy, Prince Jazzbo, King Stitt, Dennis Alcapone, and others are heralded most. Ranking Joe is another of these artist that deserves the recognition of their talents and contributions to reggae music over the years.

Donat Codner, aka REVEREND DANNY DREAD, started his musical career in 1978 as a deejay. In 1982, he had his first hits with "Bible Connection" for producer Leonard Synmoie and "Spar With Us" for producer Jimbo of the Zodiac label. His first album was released the following year on the Absissa label, where Danny Dread focused on his singing rather than his deejaying. In 1996, he produced and featured on the various artists album "Contracted Killa" (Ancient Tradition Int. LP) with two tracks.
He is not to be confused with sound system operator and producer Danny Dread.

John McMorris (born March 30, 1965), better known as LITTLE JOHN, is a Jamaican dancehall musician best known for his 1980s recordings.
Born March 30, 1965, in Kingston, Jamaica, Little John was so called as he began performing and recording at the age of nine. He first recorded for Captain Sinbad's Youth in Progress label (including the debut single "51 Storm") and is regarded by some as the first dancehall singer, known for his ability to craft lyrics over any backing track. Throughout the 1980s, he was backed by Roots Radics and Sly and Robbie, with frequent discomix vocal and dubwise production duties performed by Scientist. After joining Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion organisation, he performed with sound systems such as Romantic Hi Fi ( notably, also the name of Little John's own record label) Kilimanjaro, Gemini, and Henry "Junjo" Lawes' Volcano Hi Power. He recorded for m any producers in the 1980s, notably for Lawes, Joseph Hoo Kim, George Phang, Jah Thomas, and King Jammy, also gaining an audience amongst the followers of Jah Shaka sound system due to the popularity of the Dubplate discomix cuts of his spiritually conscious composition The More We Are Together, also known as Praising His Majesty.

JAH MIKEY, is a respected veteran of the Papa Roots Sound System and later King Stereo Mars Sound System. He appears in most of the videos I have on this channel as part of the Stereo Mars deejay team.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 103

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

UP NEXT: LUTAN FYAH.
It has been many moons since seeing LUTAN FYAH perform live, and I must say he has matured by leaps and bounds. A master class performer, he has become suave, cool, and in control.

Anthony Martin (born 6 December 1975), better known as Lutan Fyah, is a Jamaican musician, singer, and member of the Rastafari movement Bobo Shanti.

Born in Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica, Martin studied Architecture at the University of Technology and played professional football for Constant Spring F.C. before focusing on music.

Using the stage name Lutan Fyah, sometimes credited as Lute and Fyah, he started his musical career in 1999. He recorded his first songs for Buju Banton's Gargamel Records. His first two albums were released by Lustre Kings and Minor 7 Flat 5, the latter of which included Fyah as a guest artist on albums by Turbulence and Luciano.

According to Lutan Fyah, Rastafari livity means to tolerate and live side by side with those of other faiths, no matter what race or class. The purpose of Haile Selassie is to see that we become one in unity and love … and that is my purpose."

Much, much more than a deejay, much more than a singer and more than a chanter too, Lutan Fyah also plays guitar, keyboards and the kette drum. He holds strong beliefs in originality at all times, and so he is a songwriter too and, as the New Millennium has progressed, he has developed his very own idiosyncratic and unique vocal styling. He embraced the Rastafarian religion at the age of sixteen, but his songs are not always strictly Rasta. As a "living man with work to do", he ranges over all subjects, and everything and anything can inspire him to write, to play, to chant, to sing and to deejay. Preaching to the converted can be fairly easy, but taking the same message all around the world is a totally different ball game.

Born Anthony Martin in Thompson Pen, Spanish Town in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica, his formative years were spent in an environment where music was omnipresent. His grandfather ran a Sound System, and artists such as Lt. Stitchie, Papa San and Lady G would gather in the family's yard to practise and perfect their skills on the microphone.
"I grew up around a Sound System. Music flows through my bones …" Lutan Fyah

Music proved to be an incredible influence on young Anthony, but sport, and football in particular, proved to be another, and he started playing as a midfielder, a position where he excelled, in teams in his local community. He graduated from his school team, St. Andrew Technical High School, and eventually made the grade as a professional in Jamaican Premier League clubs De la Vega and Constant Spring; but the call of music proved too strong to resist, and in 1999, he hung up his football boots and took the first steps towards a musical career.

Like so many others before and after, Anthony Martin trod that same dispiriting round of Kingston's studios and record producers, where he was met with indifference and at times ignorance. However, there was a different reception at Mark Myrie's Aksum Studios where the young chanter's promise was immediately recognised, and he passed his audition with flying colours. The man now known as Lutan Fyah spent what he terms his 'internship' at Gargamel, where he recorded over sixteen songs for Buju Banton while also freelancing for other producers. His debut release was actually for the Crazy Hate label, and 'Ambassador' signalled the arrival of a significant new talent in Kingston's musical maelstrom.

The resurgence of the Rastafarian influence and the Bobo Dread phenomenon in reggae music was an indicator of serious times in Jamaica as a new generation of singers and deejays came to the conclusion that the only credible solution to the current malaise was to "love the word of God and thy neighbour as thyself". Others, who shall remain nameless, were not slow to realise that this presented a heaven-sent opportunity to jump aboard the bandwagon for a handy ride on the fast track to fame and money. Many futile attempts were made to hitch a ride to stardom, and the words of God were readily mouthed by tongues that had previously been wrapped around the more worldly concerns of the dance hall. But artists such as Lutan Fyah were there for the long run for "the race is not to the swift", and his music was at all times driven by his deep beliefs. His devotion to the Rastafarian religion has meant that he has stayed the course while so many pretenders have fallen by the wayside.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 27

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

COMING NEXT: BUJU BANTON & BEENIE MAN, musical fury.
I found this video footage of a TEEN SPLASH stage show, which I filmed in the early 2000s (can't remember the exact year) for a TV magazine programme I produced during that decade.
Buju Banton and Beenie Man's performances were intense, with them reeling out hit after hit, sending the audience into a frenzy.
See for yourself and let me know what you think. They do not perform like this nowadays. Older, wiser, and less vigorous now, I guess.

The dancehall legend BEENIE MAN has been a global superstar since the 1990s, winning both a Grammy and a British Mobo award, but for more than a decade, he was unable to enter the United States.
So it was a particular triumph this week to find himself on US soil, as a guest of honour at the governor of the US Virgin Islands’ mansion, after finally securing a visa for people with extraordinary ability in the arts.
Beenie Man described the moment as a high point in his career, telling the Guardian that the 10-year ban – excluding him from one of the biggest markets for Caribbean music – had been disastrous for his career.
The US Virgin Islands governor, Albert Bryan Jr, said: “It was awesome to meet the man who livened plenty of dancehalls for me. Welcoming him to the Virgin Islands was a special pleasure, not only for the privilege of meeting him but for the joy I know his music brings to people.”
For Beenie Man, real name Moses Anthony Davis, the visa ban was just the latest hurdle among many he has encountered in his music career, which started when he was just seven years old.
As a child, he had a severe stutter, but he discovered that it disappeared when he sang.
“I never got into music. Music was born inside of me because when I was a kid, I used to stutter, and music allowed me to be able to have this conversation with you now,” Beenie Man said.
“I used to sing the reading book, I used to sing the shopping list on my way to the shop. Then I started putting two and two together and making some songs. So this music really gave me a voice so I can speak to people.”
At age seven, Beenie Man won his first music contest, by eight he had put out his debut single Too Fancy and at 10 he released his first album, The Invincible Beenie Man: The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder.
Beenie Man, who has a Jamaican Order of Distinction for his contributions to music, said that a return to performance in the US was a chance to be a cultural ambassador for Jamaica, a country whose music is central to its identity.
He said, “Without our culture, you have no country. Can you imagine if we stopped talking about the Maroons who freed themselves from slavery? Can you imagine if we erase our iconic musicians and poets like [the poet and activist] Miss Lou, Bob Marley and Desmond Dekker – all of these great people who made the music what it is today? Can you imagine if we stopped speaking about them and focused only on those promoting violence and ignorance?

BUJU BANTON (Mark Myrie) has evolved from a 1990s dancehall provocateur into a Grammy-winning, introspective reggae elder statesman.
In 2009, he was arrested in South Florida on drug conspiracy charges.
In 2011, while awaiting sentencing, his album Before the Dawn won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album.
Following his incarceration for drug charges, he emerged physically transformed through fitness, focusing on spiritual, positive music (e.g., Upside Down 2020). He served seven years of a ten-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison, during which time he earned a master’s degree in Music Business Management.
Known for his raspy voice, he broke records in Jamaica with a fast-paced dancehall style before shifting to deeper roots reggae with the acclaimed album 'Til Shiloh. He gained notoriety for early homophobic lyrics, most notably "Boom Bye Bye," which he later renounced.
Buju was arrested in 2009 for conspiracy to possess cocaine. He won a Grammy for Before the Dawn while awaiting trial in 2011.
Released in December 2018, Buju returned to Jamaica to a "hero’s welcome". His 2019 "Long Walk to Freedom" concert in Kingston drew over 32,000 fans.
He signed with Roc Nation in 2020 and released Upside Down 2020, which earned another Grammy nomination, and continues to produce music, including Born For Greatness, blending reggae with jazz and rock, while focusing on uplifting, conscious lyrics.
He is recognised as a "reggae elder statesman" and a resilient, wiser figure in music, maintaining strong roots while embracing artistic evolution.
Now, he is regarded as a "pillar of strength" in reggae. He continues to tour globally and was recently honoured with "Buju Banton Day" (February 10, 2026) in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, for his cultural influence.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 62

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

UP NEXT. Another of my restored music videos. This one is a classic, featuring dancehall king Gerald "Bogle" Levy and veteran dancehall dancer Labba Labba, vibing to a song by reggae-dancehall superstar Junior "One Blood" Reid's sons, Wada and Andrew Blood.

Andrew and Wada Blood (born Andrew and Juju Reid) are a Jamaican dancehall duo and the sons of legendary reggae artist Junior "One Blood" Reid. They were heavily influenced by their father, Junior Reid, but developed a unique style blending hip-hop, dancehall, and reggae ballads.
Both operated as a duo, working as artists, producers, and studio engineers.
In September 2015, it was confirmed that the duo decided to split to pursue individual solo careers.
Some of their notable tracks include "Hustler," "Every Farmer," "Irie," "Gal You Nah Easy," and "Kick It Off (Remix)".
Labels: They have worked with various labels and featured on riddims like the Self Defence and Orange Hill.

Gerald Levy (22 August 1964 – 20 January 2005), better known as BOGLE, Father Bogle and Mr Wacky, was a Jamaican dancehall dancer and choreographer. Beenie Man called Bogle "the greatest dancer of all time", and he is recognised as "part of the foundation and as an icon inside of dancehall culture." Bogle created more dancehall moves than any other figure; he is best known for creating the Bogle dance, which is named after him. His stage name, Bogle, is a reference to Paul Bogle, a National Hero of Jamaica.
Gerald Levy was born on 22 August 1964 in Trenchtown, West Kingston, in the capital of Jamaica. He was educated at Charlie Smith All Age and spent a brief period at St George's College. As a child in the 1970s, he appeared on Louise Bennett's television show Ring Ding, and in the 1980s he danced on the Saturday evening television programme Where It's At, both on the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation.
Bogle was called the "Dancehall Master" and was best known for his dancing. He had the ability to seemingly create dances without effort, and his dances would become extremely popular. Creator of the Willie Bounce (named after Bogle's friend and Black Roses Crew member Willie Haggart), Wacky Dip, Urkle Dance, Sesame Street, Bogle Dance, Pelper, LOY, Jerry Springer, Zip It Up, Hotti Hotti Bogle, World Dance,[4] Pop Yuh Collar, Row di Boat, Out and Bad, Sweeper, and many other popular dances.
In the 1990s, Levy created the Bogle dance, the scene's first crossover dance move. He was also a major influence on breakout artists such as Elephant Man and Beenie Man, who gave shout-outs to Levy in songs like "Row Like a Boat": "Seh Mr Bogle have di brand new style/Come get di style, come get di style."

Dancing legend, LABBA LABBA, the 'elder statesman' in the dancing world, passed away at the age of 75 at his home in Trench Town, Kingston.
THE STAR understands that Labba Labba had been ailing from an undisclosed illness for some time and died at his home in Trench Town on Monday.
As the creator of the popular dances Signal Di Plane and Parachute, Labba Labba is best known for his work with Elephant Man. Not only was he featured prominently in many of the artist's music videos, but he was also a subject in many of the songs.
In an interview with THE STAR, Elephant Man could not help but sing a line from one of those songs as he paid tribute to a man he described as a 'great giant of dancehall dancing'.
" Labba Labba, say him a get old and caah badda," the deejay sang from his single Pon Di River as he recalled how, despite his age, the dancer always managed to keep going.
"Dat song create history across the world and dat is a line weh people a guh always remember, just like how dem a guh always remember him. Labba Labba a di only dancer weh buss when him a 50, and him never stop dancing. A di only elder weh entertain people a yaad and abroad and dweet wid style. Him never try be nobody but himself, and him did just love music and love dancing," Elephant Man said. "Is a man weh did love Bogle and always deh round him, and from him deh round Bogle, who is a great one, yuh gonna get great. Just like Bogle, him come and play him part and never make age stop him, and him name a go live on fi dat."
Elephant Man said he would have loved if more people had recognised Labba Labba's contributions to dancehall before his passing.
Orville Xpressionz said he felt that Labba Labba had been neglected for someone who contributed so much to the development of dancehall dance in Jamaica. "He would come to visit me at my studio regularly. I speak about him on my journey around the world. The elder statesman is one of the architects of our rich dancehall dance history. He is Labba Labba. R.I.P you are now an ancestor. We will celebrate your life."

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6 months ago | [YT] | 87

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

NEXT UP! Restored rare video footage of CHAM, aka BABY CHAM, storming the stage in a 1990s, Teen Splash concert.

Cham is often cited alongside Bounty Killer and Beenie Man as the "Big Three" who could consistently "mash up" a Teen Splash crowd. While the original stadium-sized Pepsi Teen Splash has since faded into a "treasured memory," Cham's sets at venues like Coney Park remain some of the most discussed in Jamaican dancehall history.
Baby Cham performed at Pepsi Teen Splash multiple times during its peak years, with his most iconic performances occurring in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Key Performance Years
1997 & 1998: These were his breakout years at the event. Following the massive success of his tracks on the Showtime Riddim (like "Gallang Yah Gal"), he became a primary attraction for the teenage audience.
2000: This was a hallmark year for the series at Coney Park. Cham performed as a headliner following the release of his double debut album, Wow... The Story, which was heavily promoted during that year's summer circuit.
2002-2003: He remained a top-billed artist during these years, often sharing the stage with his mentor Bounty Killer.

Cham is a Jamaican-born dancehall singer, mostly known for his 2006 single "Ghetto Story" from his major label debut album of the same name, a song which led to multiple "story" songs by other artists in a similar vein. He is currently signed to Atlantic Records and was known as Baby Cham until 2005.

Cham (born Damian Beckett, 24 February 1977) is a Jamaican-born dancehall singer, mostly known for his 2006 single "Ghetto Story" from his major label debut album of the same name, a song which led to multiple "story" songs by other artists in a similar vein. He is currently signed to Atlantic Records and was known as Baby Cham until 2005. He is still called Baby Cham by his fans from around the world despite the name change.

Originally from Sherlock Crescent in Saint Andrew Parish, Cham's career began in the early 1990s. The Miami New Times referred to his debut album Wow... The Story, released in 2000, was "the most anticipated album in years from any reggae artist", and a Washington Post review of a live Cham concert in 2006 described him as "the man who may be the next Sean Paul – a dancehall artist who crosses over to the U.S. hip-hop market."

Throughout his career, Cham has collaborated with many hip hop and R&B artists such as Foxy Brown, Alicia Keys, Carl Thomas, Shawn Mims, Mis-Teeq, Rihanna, Che'Nelle, Jentina, Akon, T-Pain, Keke Palmer, and many others.

Cham has for a long time, worked with producer Dave Kelly. In 2012, he recorded with his wife, O, on the singles "Wine" and "Tun Up". In 2013, he released the Kelly-produced single "Fighter", featuring Damian "Junior Gong" Marley.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 34

Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

NEXT UP!
Another entertaining Tuesday night at the Kingston Night Market. This was recorded the same night Sampalue had his album launch, and featured here are other artists who performed - Karbon, Ragga Jahmari, Reggae Max, Boom Dawn, and Fire George. Live band on the stand, and the vibes were really nice.

Upcoming reggae star KARBON was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Raised with a humble background in Broadleaf in the parish of Manchester. From a youth, Karbon’s love for reggae and dancehall has never wavered.
He wrote his first song as a teenager. This encouraged him to start entering talent shows, musical competitions, and performing at different shows.
Rooted in the rich soil of Rastafari culture and reggae tradition, Karbon is an artist whose music radiates authenticity, soul, and deep respect for the culture he represents.
With a voice that carries warmth and conviction, Karbon has quickly become a standout figure among emerging talents, staying true to his roots while connecting powerfully with today’s audiences.
Karbon’s artistry reflects a deep spiritual connection and commitment to truth-telling through music. One of his latest releases, ‘Steaming’, produced by renowned artiste and producer The Grei Show, pays homage to the ritual of steaming – deeply tied to the Rastafari livity. With powerful lyrics and a meditative beat, the song invites listeners into a grounded, conscious space that uplifts and inspires.
Among crowd favorites is his well-known anthem, ‘High Grade Maka’ – a track that never fails to ignite energy wherever it’s played. This tune has become a staple in Karbon’s performances, celebrated for its homage to natural herbs and the conscious lifestyle of Rastafari.

Heather Harding, aka BOOM DAWN, singer, dub poetess, DJ, and songwriter,
Born in the parish of Hanover on the 28th of October. She attended Mt. Ward
Primary and later Herbert Morrison Technical High School. Boom Dawn hails
from a musical family, and it was destined that she would become a great
edutainer. As a child, she had a special gift for singing and entertaining those
who were around her. She started singing in the church junior choir
at the age of eight years old, and has performed at schools, churches, concerts, and festivals.
In high school, she was the lead singer of the African Star band based in
Montego Bay, but was forced to leave her dream by her mother, who thought
It was a distraction from schoolwork. On graduating from high school, she moved to Kingston, where she became a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel organization.
There, she got the opportunity to display her musical talents as she accompanied lots of great artists on stage. These artists include Billy Mystic, Sugar Minott, Daniel Ray, Informative Historyman, and Sizzla Kalonji, just to name a few.
Since 2009, she has been a part of the Voices for Climate Change
Education. This is a project sponsored by Panos Caribbean and the National Environmental Education Committee (NEEC) and promotes about twenty (20) artistes traveling to schools and communities edutaining students and community members about climate Change. a

Up-and-coming reggae artist, RAGGA JAHMARI, born Raheem Burrell, is launching his music career even further with his inclusion in last year’s staging of Rastafest in Canada.
The son of noted audio engineer and producer Nigel Burrell, who co-produced Toots and the Maytals’ Grammy Award-winning album Got to be Tough, among several other major projects, Ragga Jahmari credits his passion and talent to the influence of those who have nurtured him.
“I fell in love with music based on the influence and being around reggae music,” he told Observer Online.
Known for his songs such as Strong Melanin, Words of Garvey, and Irie and Mellow – a tribute cover to Beres Hammond, the instrumentalist, composer, producer, writer, and singer said if he had to describe himself with just one title, it would definitely be producer. He is, however, hoping that his singing and performance at Rastafest will lead to more collaborations as he pursues his goal of achieving acclaim on the world stage.
“I want to see myself touring. The goal is to even open for another [big] artiste and push into becoming a world-wide name as a reggae artiste,” Ragga Jahmari said.
For him, “reggae is a community” which grows even stronger when talents combine. “Reggae is a community and a way to bring unity,” he said.
The 22-year-old is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of the West Indies (Mona) in Music and Performance Studies while performing with the band Grvmnt.

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Llewellyn "BigDaddyLeo" O'Reggio - Video Library

Up next. A great album launch, on January 20, 2026, for Jamaican music producer/singer, Sampalue, at The Kingston Night Market.

Born Garfield Phillips in 1966, Sampalue is a visionary music producer and businessman who has embraced a new chapter in his career as a recording artist. A proud son of Hanna Town in West Kingston, Jamaica, and a former Wolmer’s High School student, Sampalue’s music industry journey began in 1989.

Sampalue first gained recognition in the early 1990s as the manager and producer behind the meteoric rise of Marion “Lady Saw” Hall, the former Queen of Dancehall. He produced several iconic hits for her, including “Find A Good Man,” “Stab Out the Meat,” and “Give Me the Reason.” His production credits extend far beyond Lady Saw, featuring collaborations with reggae and dancehall legends such as Marcia Griffiths, Luciano, Beenie Man, Sanchez, Ghost, and the late Dennis Brown.

The son of George “Phil Pratt” Phillips—a celebrated producer who crafted hits like Dennis Brown’s “What About the Half” and John Holt’s “Strange Things”—Sampalue’s love for music runs deep. Inspired by his father’s legacy, he has not only contributed to the evolution of Jamaican music but has also begun to leave a mark as an artist in his own right.

In recent years, Sampalue has turned to writing and performing songs with uplifting messages and social consciousness. Among his notable releases are “Let Go” featuring Don Diezel (formerly Pancho), “Ghetto Youths,” “In My Life,” and a heartfelt cover of Dennis Brown’s “Make It Easy on Yourself.”

His debut album, “Hanna Town,” released on April 6, 2019, pays homage to his roots and showcases his evolution as both a creative force and an artist. Since 2019, Sampalue has been busy in the studio writing, recording, and building a catalog of music as an artist, leading to his latest album, “Unmistakable.”

Having established himself as a producer before launching his career as a singer, Sampalue knows the importance of making a mark outside of Jamaica.

“Getting a number one song in the overseas market is crucial, given the fact that it allows promoters to recognize you as a force to be reckoned with. And as an extension, the possibility to be booked on shows overseas,” he said.

‘Left With A Broken Heart’ was originally done in 1964 by The Four Tops for Motown Records. John Holt, George Nooks, and Johnny Clarke had massive hits with reggae versions of the song.

The success of his take, Sampalue noted, is good news for ‘Unmistakeable’.

“It is of much benefit to my album, as it creates attention for the public to go and listen to the album in its entirety, and I'm positive that they will find several more tracks that they are drawn to,” he said.

As a producer, Sampalue produced songs for his Diamond Rush label by artists including Lady Saw, Dennis Brown, Frankie Pau,l and Ninjaman. Seven years ago, he officially started his recording career and has since released several songs, including ‘Democracy’ and ‘All Things Bright And Beautiful’.
With a career that bridges generations, Sampalue continues to inspire and redefine what it means to be an innovator in reggae and dancehall music.

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