NOVEMBER | ME, MYSELF & I
General
Levy
I grew up in the 70s/80s in
Harlsden and was heavily
influenced by the West Indian
culture, particularly Jamaican
reggae –I was around the DJs and
selectors who eventually influenced
UK reggae and dancehall. We had UK
MCs such as Tippa Irie, Smiley Culture,
Papa Levi, Macka B, Daddy Freddy,
and the late great Tenor Fly, RIP. I
was blessed to grow up around Jesta
Records, and was influenced by local
soundsystems including Volcano and
Yardman and Tippatone name a few.
Access sat down with the English ragga
artist behind tracks including Incredible,
recorded with M-Beat. He talks festivals,
streaming, and authenticity...
In my mid-teens I joined Third
Dimension and was then elevated to
bigger sounds such as Tippatone and
Java who played all over the UK in
various venues from school gyms and
youth centres to small clubs. I caught the
end of the golden years with the help of Fashion Records and later
elevated to do classic underground tracks with artists who gave me
credibility on the dancehall/reggae circuit.
After becoming a recognised artist by 1993, I was approached by
independent UK label Renk Records to put some lyrics on a jungle
track, totally not expecting the impact it was going to have on the
scene and urban music. I did Incredible in a one take vocal in Vons
Studio, Holloway. My energy was the exact thing they wanted and
I perfomed the track like a dub plate: laid back, and not precious. I
will always remember Jamiroquai was next door in the studio at the
time, which I took as a blessing.
Reggae has been a influence on many genres of music. You have the
world in your palm now and can select many genres. Streaming
has made things more accessible but has changed the way an
anthem can be made because previously it was dictated by street
momentum. Now its the ‘word on the net’ not ‘word on the street’
that makes or breaks a track. There’s no more selling white labels
out of the boot of your car.
66
This new medium has given
record companies a chance
to manufacture artists, but I
personally think the quality went
down as they pushed more quantity.
It was pirate radio in the 80s that made
people pick up some authentic reggae
music where the DJs had no hidden
agenda. They played it for the love and it
was unscripted, giving a home to tracks
not eligible for the mainstream. With the
internet, you can now market yourself
completely as an artist, and that might be
a good way forward.
After having a top ten hit with Incredible,
what broadened my fan base was Ali G
using the track in the movie In Da House.
This took my fan base to another level,
reaching people who didn’t even know reggae or jungle but loved
the movie.
Incredible was a cornerstone track. The first fully formed jungle track
to hit the national charts so it’ll always be in the DNA of UK urban
culture.
The Ali G movie opened up the chance to do a lot of festival bookings
I love festivals – they’re an absolute pleasure. People can smoke
and drink in peace and enjoy nature and good music. I did festivals
including Summerjam, Rototom festival, also later Boomtown,
Bestival and Glastonbury and more recently Shambhala in Canada.
There’s some good music out there now, but where we used to get
soul food, now we’re getting McDonald’s 20 minute fast food.
America has always had so much great stuff coming out: rnb, rap
and soul. I always liked US and Jamaican music production, from
Dr Dre to Scott Scorth, Timbaland, Swiss Beatz, Mannie Fresh. Also
King Jammy, Penthouse and Sly and Robbie.