Artist

Yellowman

1978-present·Kingston

Winston Foster was born in Kingston in 1956 (some sources say 1959) with albinism, abandoned by his parents and raised through a string of institutions, first Maxfield Children's Home, then the famous Alpha Boys School. Jamaicans called albinos "dundus"—ghost person—and Foster grew up absorbing a kind of prejudice that followed him his whole life.

The full story is in Jamaican Dancehall.

At a glance

Active
1978–present
From
Kingston, Jamaica
Records in the issues
2 (1982–1983), 1 of them a Start here pick
Original label
Greensleeves Records
Listening guide track
“Zungguzungguguzungguzeng”

Listen

In the Jamaican Dancehall listening guide: “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng”

Spotify

In the issues

  • Jamaican Dancehall
    Principal · 1979-1995 · Members

    Jamaican Dancehall is a genre from Kingston, Jamaica, 1979–1995. Its principal artists include Yellowman, Shabba Ranks and King Jammy. This issue covers 8 essential albums and 14 dated events.

Records

Terms

Riddim
A Jamaican term for an instrumental backing track, especially one reused by multiple singers or deejays to create different vocal versions over the same rhythm.
Toasting
A Jamaican vocal style in which a deejay chants or raps rhythmically over an instrumental track or riddim, often improvising phrases to hype a crowd.