Listen to Blessed up (Anthony B)
4th Album of Anthony B
Early Life:
Blair grew up in rural Clarks Town in the northwestern parish of Trelawny in Jamaica . His deeply religious family life (his mother was a Seventh-day Adventist and his grandmother a Revivalist) imbued him with a profound spirituality. During his youth, his favorite singers were reggae legends Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, musicians who strongly influenced his own style. Peter Tosh’s influence can definitely be heard in Anthony B’s vocal delivery and revolutionary stance.
Anthony B adopted Rastafarian beliefs as a teenager, a decision which was not well-received by his family. The stubborn and determined Anthony B refused to give up his new religion and his dreadlocks and moved to the home of his aunt and uncle in the Kingston suburb, Portmore.
Career
While attending high school, Anthony B debuted as a deejay for the local sound system, Shaggy Hi-Power. In 1988, he befriended reggae artists such asDetermine, Mega Banton, Ricky General and Terror Fabulous.
At this point in the reggae industry, singing “slack” songs about women was the popular thing to do. Anthony B did not believe in degrading women and chose to pen politically-slanted songs instead. He hooked up with Little Devon the Half Pint sound-a-like singer he made his debut single “The Living is Hard” on the Wizard label in 1993. Anthony B tried many different producers but found that none of them fit his style of music. Finally, Anthony B teamed up with Richard “Bello” Bell, creating hits such as “Fire Pon Rome”, “Raid Di Barn”, “Rumour”, and “Repentance Time.” Anthony B’s 1996 debut album entitled “Real Revolutionary” in the U.K. and “So Many Things” in the U.S. was highly acclaimed in the reggae community.[citation needed] In late 1997, Anthony B released Universal Struggle which showed that Anthony B had a consistent, high-caliber talent. Anthony B has released a large number of albums since including 1999’s Seven Seals, 2003’s Street Knowledge, 2004’s Untouchable which featured collaborations with artists including Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg & Bone Crusher, 2005’s Black Star & My Hope, and most recently,Life Over Death in 2008.
Anthony B tours extensively in Europe and North America and is known for his fiery, high-energy performances.
Anthony B is a member of the Bobo Ashanti branch of the Rastafarian movement. “Bobo Dreads”, as they are known, are recognizable by their long robes and turbans. The strong Afrocentric pride and the other Rastafarian beliefs (or “overstandings” as Rastafarians prefer to call them) which Anthony B holds are reflected in his songs.
Discography
Albums
- Predator & Prey (1996, Alpha Enterprises)
- Real Revolutionary / So Many Things (1996, Greensleeves)
- Universal Struggle (1997, VP Records)
- Seven Seals (1999, VP Records)
- That’s Life (2001, VP Records)
- More Love (2001, AO ! Records)
- Live On The Battlefield (2002, Jahmin’ Records)
- Reggae Max (2002, Jet Star)
- Street Knowledge (2003, VP Records)
- Judgment Time (2003, 2B1 Records)
- Smoke Free (2003, Bogalusa Records)
- Voice Of Jamaica vol. 2 (2003, Nocturne)
- Wise Man Chant (2004, Black Scorpio)
- Justice Fight (2004, Nocturne)
- Untouchable (2004, Togetherness Records)
- Powers Of Creation (2004, Nocturne)
- Black Star (2005, Greensleeves)
- My Hope (2005, AL.TA.FA.AN. / Minor 7 Flat 5)
- Confused Times (2005, Penitentiary)
- Gather and Come (2006 Penitentiary)
- Suffering Man (2006 Tad’s Records)
- Higher Meditation (2007 Greensleeves)
- True Rastaman (2008 Penitentiary Records)
- Life Over Death (2008 Trendsetter)
- Rise Up (2009)
Compilations
- Chanting Down Babylon (1997, Power Play); live, with Buju Banton
- 2 Strong (1998, Star Trail/VP Records); with Sizzla
- Anthony B & Idren (1998, Jamaican Vibes)
- Anthony B & Friends (1998, Rhino Records)
- Nazarene Vow (1999, Records Factory); with Junior Timba
- 3 Wise Men (1999, J&D); with Sizzla and Luciano
- One Mission (1999, J&D); with Capleton
- Saddle To The East (2001, Brick Wall); with Jah Mason and Steve Machete
- 4 Rebels (2001, VP Records); with Sizzla, Luciano, and Yami Bolo
- The Five Disciples (2001, Penitentiary / Jet Star); with Sizzla, Luciano, Junior Kelly, and Capleton
- We Three Kings (2001, AO ! Records); with Sizzla
- We Three Kings (2002, Navarre); with Capleton and Luciano
- Four The Hard Way (2002, City Hall); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Luciano
- Kings Of Zion (2002, Jet Star); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Junior Kelly
- 5 Blazing Fires (2002, Fire Ball); with Admiral Tibbett, Sizzla, Capleton, and Michael Fabulous
- Five Disciples Part II (2003, Jet Star); with Capleton, Luciano, Sizzla, and Jr. Kelly
- Kings Of Zion vol. 3 (2005, Charm); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Turbulence
- Jah Warriors vol. III (2005, Penitentiary); with Luciano
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