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{{short description|Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2013}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|image= |
|Img=Replace this image male.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> |
| Name = Junior Reid
| name = Junior Reid
| Img_size =
| image_size =
| Landscape =
| background = solo_singer
| Background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Delroy Reid
| Birth_name = Delroy Reid
| alias =
| Alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1963|6|6}}
| Born = {{Birth date and age|1965|6|3|mf=y}}
| death_date =

| Died =
| Origin = [[Kingston, Jamaica]]
| origin = [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
| Instrument =
| instrument =
| Genre = [[Reggae]], [[Dancehall]]
| genre = [[Reggae]], [[dancehall]], [[reggae fusion]]
| Occupation = [[Singer]], [[Record producer|Producer]]
| occupation = Singer, producer
| Years_active = Early 1980s&ndash;Present
| years_active = 1978–present
| Label = JR, [[Big Life Records|Big Life]], [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], [[PolyGram Records|PolyGram]], [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]]
| label = JR Productions, [[Big Life Records|Big Life]], [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], [[PolyGram Records|PolyGram]], [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]], [[Ras Records|Ras]]
| Associated_acts = [[Black Uhuru]] & [[Fat Joe]]
| current_member_of = [[Black Uhuru]], Voice of Progress
| URL = [http://myspace.com/juniorreid Official MySpace Page]
| website = [http://myspace.com/juniorreid Official Myspace]
}}
}}
'''Delroy "Junior" Reid''' (born 6 June 1963) is a Jamaican [[reggae]] and [[dancehall]] deejay. From 1986 to 1988, he served as lead vocalist for the reggae band [[Black Uhuru]] on three albums: ''[[Brutal (Black Uhuru album)|Brutal]]'' (1986), ''[[Positive (Black Uhuru album)|Positive]]'' (1987), and ''Black Uhuru Live in New York'' (1988). His solo career is extensive, and is widely regarded as a great of Dancehall Reggae. He is also known for his guest performances on [[the Game (rapper)|the Game]]'s 2006 single "[[It's Okay (One Blood)]]", as well as the remix of [[Mims (rapper)|Mims]]' single, "[[This Is Why I'm Hot]]" alongside [[Baby Cham]] that same year.
'''Junior Reid''' (born '''Delroy Reid''' on [[June 3]], [[1965]] in [[Kingston, Jamaica]]) is a [[Jamaica]]n [[reggae]] and [[dancehall]] musician, best known for the songs "One Blood" and "Funny Man", as well as being the man that replaced [[Michael Rose]] as lead vocalist for [[Black Uhuru]].


== Music career ==
==Biography==
Reid had a tough upbringing in West Kingston's Waterhouse district, notorious for being one of the most dangerous places in Jamaica. It was there in the politically turbulent late '70s that he recorded his first-ever single "Know Myself" at the age of 14 for the late [[Hugh Mundell]], released in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] by [[Greensleeves Records]]. 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.
Reid was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica, and had a tough upbringing in the city's Waterhouse district, notorious for being one of the most dangerous places in Jamaica.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}</ref> It was there in the politically turbulent late '70s that he recorded his first-ever single "Speak the Truth" at the age of 13 for the late [[Hugh Mundell]], released in Jamaica on [[Augustus Pablo]]'s Rockers International label, and popular as an import single in the United Kingdom. He followed this with "Know Myself" in 1981.<ref name="Larkin" /> 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.


By the early 80's, commissioned by the great [[Sugar Minott]] to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion label, enjoying 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 which became an anthem to the ghetto youth whom Reid increasingly championed. Reid was involved in the 1983 shooting death of reggae singer Hugh Mundell; he was travelling in the same car as Mundell in Kingston. After the death of Mundell, Reid 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 - which included "Youthman", "Bank Clerk", "Sufferation", "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Higgler Move" - his chance of a wider audience came with the offer of replacing Michael Rose in Black Uhuru. Always a strong follower of Black Uhuru, and with a similar vocal style, Reid slipped into Rose's shoes with ease. The collaboration on his first Black Uhuru album ''Brutal'', in 1986, 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.
By the early '80s, commissioned by the great [[Sugar Minott]] to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion label, enjoying considerable popularity with tracks such as "Human Nature" (produced by Junior Reid), "A1 Lover" (produced by Sugar Minott), and the evergreen "Foreign Mind", an uplifting and proud statement which became an anthem to the [[ghetto]] youth whom Reid increasingly championed. Junior Reid 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 – which included "Youthman", "Bank Clerk", "Sufferation", "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Higgler Move". Reid then launched his label "Jr Productions" with his first single "Settle Down" by Barrington Levy.


In 1986, Reid's opportunity to reach a wider international audience came after he was offered a role as [[Black Uhuru]]'s lead singer, following the departure of [[Michael Rose (singer)|Michael Rose]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Junior Reid |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/junior-reid-mn0000836313#biography/ |website=www.allmusic.com |access-date=29 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Three of the singles he released with Black Uhuru, "Pain", "Nah Get Rich and Switch", and "Let us Pray" were published on Junior Reid's JR Productions label. His collaboration on the first album with Black Uhuru, the [[Grammy]]-nominated ''Brutal'', in 1986, was well received. During this time, he toured Europe, the UK, the USA, Canada and Bermuda with Black Uhuru.
=== Production work ===
As a producer, Reid has his own production company; JR Productions. He produced much of [[Snow (musician)|Snow]]'s second album, ''[[Murder Love]]'', released in 1995. Reid has collaborated and produced for [[Dancehall]] artist [[Ninjaman]], on many occasions since the early 90's.
He has also produced for reggae legends such as [[Dennis Brown]] and [[Gregory Issacs]].


Two years and three albums later, Reid departed Black Uhuru for a combination of reasons: Junior had been unable to establish his own identity in the band, having a style very close to Michael Rose’s (a long time contributor to Black Uhuru); the group compositionally suffering difficulties and personal crises.<ref>{{cite web |title=Junior Reid |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/junior-reid-mn0000836313#biography/ |website=www.allmusic.com |access-date=1 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, Reid was interest to produce his own material, with a desire to regain his domestic popularity, to go solo and into his own studio (One Blood Recording Studio), as well as focusing on his own JR Productions label.<ref name="Larkin" /> During this period, Reid had a 1988 [[UK Singles Chart|UK number 21]] hit with the single "Stop This Crazy Thing", a collaboration with [[Coldcut]].<ref name="Larkin" /> In 1990, he had even more success with "I'm Free", recorded with [[The Soup Dragons]]. The song reached [[UK Singles Chart|number 5 in the UK]].<ref name="Strong">Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, {{ISBN|1-84195-335-0}}, p.515-6</ref>
=== Recent work ===
His vocals have been used in the hip hop scene, which first debuted as a sample on the song "One Blood Under W" from ''[[The W]]'' album by the [[Wu-Tang Clan]], which was released on November 21, 2000. In 2006, he collaborated with [[West Coast hip hop]] artist [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]] on the song "[[It's Okay (One Blood)]]"; The song also samples Reid's 1990 single "One Blood".


Meanwhile, 1989's "One Blood" saw him re-established at the forefront of the reggae scene.<ref name="Larkin" /> "One Blood" became an anthem for unity in America and around the world. According to ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine (7 May 2013), the lyrics of "One Blood" were the source of the album title for [[Vampire Weekend]]'s third release, ''[[Modern Vampires of the City]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Modern Vampires of the City |url=https://rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/modern-vampires-of-the-city-188186/ |website=www.rollingstone.com |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=29 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
Reid appeared on the Blackout remix of [[Mims (rapper)|Mims]]' "[[This Is Why I'm Hot]]" from his debut album ''[[M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior)]]''. This was one of the more popular remixes made in 2007, mixing West Indian culture with the culture of New York City. He recently did a song with [[Jim Jones (rapper)|Jim Jones]], Max B and Mel Matrix called "What A Gwan", which features a sample from [[Barrington Levy]]'s "Black Roses". Reid is on [[Fabolous]]'s new album ''[[From Nothin' to Somethin']]'' on the track "Gangsta Don't Play" and he has colaborted with Fat Joe on the track "More Money". He recently appeared on the remix of [[Smitty]]'s song "Died In Your Arms" also featuring [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]] and [[T-Pain]]. In late 2007 he performed in the "Freedom Concert" in [[Port Harcourt]], [[Nigeria]] and also went on to record the remix version of "Free" with The Indispensibles, a Nigerian hip hop duo. Reid was also proudly featured on the track "Fire" from San Francisco-based DJ and deep house producer [[Miguel Migs]]' 2007 album "[[Those Things]]."


===Production work===
On [[November 18]], [[2007]], Reid performed alongside [[Alicia Keys]] at the [[American Music Awards of 2007|2007 American Music Awards]]. Reid is also featured on a remix version of Alicia Keys' single "[[No One (Alicia Keys song)|No One]]".
As a producer, Reid has his own production company; JR Productions. He produced two songs on [[Snow (musician)|Snow]]'s second album, ''[[Murder Love]]'', released in 1995. Reid has collaborated and produced for [[Dancehall]] artist [[Ninjaman]], on many occasions since the early 1990s. He has also produced for [[Mighty Diamonds]], [[Big Youth]], [[Dennis Brown]] and [[Gregory Isaacs]].<ref name="Larkin" /> He produced all of this work in his own recording studio, which he opened in 1988.<ref name="Larkin" />


==Partial discography==
===Recent work===
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2009}}
His vocals have been used in the [[hip hop]] scene, which debuted as a collaboration on the songs "One Blood Under W" and "[[Jah]] World" from ''[[The W]]'' album by the [[Wu-Tang Clan]], which was released on 21 November 2000. His next collaboration with Guru on the song "Mashing Up the World" on the album "Jaz Mattaz". In 2006, he collaborated with [[West Coast hip hop]] artist [[Game (rapper)|Game]] on the song "[[It's Okay (One Blood)]]"; The song also samples Reid's 1989 single "One Blood". The song hit the top of the billboards and it was also included in the video game ''[[Def Jam: Icon]]'' for the [[Xbox 360]] and the [[PlayStation 3]].<ref>[[Def Jam: Icon#Complete Soundtrack]]</ref> The song was then remixed again and the official remix was released on 7 November 2006. It features 25 hip-hop artists including The Game.

Reid appeared on the Blackout remix of [[Mims (rapper)|Mims]]' "[[This Is Why I'm Hot]]" from his debut album ''[[M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior)]]''. This was one of the more popular remixes made in 2007. He recently did a song with [[Jim Jones (rapper)|Jim Jones]], [[Max B]] and Mel Matrix called "What A Gwan", which features a sample from [[Barrington Levy]]'s "Black Roses". Reid is on [[Fabolous]]'s album ''[[From Nothin' to Somethin']]'' on the track "Gangsta Don't Play" and he has collaborated with Fat Joe on the track "More Money". He appeared on the remix of [[Smitty (rapper)|Smitty]]'s song "Died in Your Arms" also featuring [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]] and [[T-Pain]]. In late 2007 he performed in the "Freedom Concert" in [[Port Harcourt]], Nigeria and also went on to record the remix version of "Free" with De Indispensables, a Nigerian hip hop duo. Reid was also proudly featured on the track "Fire" from San Francisco-based DJ and deep house producer [[Miguel Migs]]' 2007 album "[[Those Things]]."

On 18 November 2007, Reid performed alongside [[Alicia Keys]] at the [[American Music Awards of 2007|2007 American Music Awards]]. Reid is also featured on a remix version of Alicia Keys' single "[[No One (Alicia Keys song)|No One]]". He also did a song with [[Lil Wayne]] called "Ghetto Youths Rock". In 2008, Reid was featured on [[Bun B]]'s song "If It Was Up II Me" off his album [[II Trill]].

In 2011, Junior Reid teamed up with [[Ludacris]], [[T-Pain]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Mavado (singer)|Mavado]], [[Bun B]], [[Game (rapper)|Game]], [[Twista]], [[Jadakiss]], [[Waka Flocka Flame]], [[Fat Joe]], [[Ace Hood]] & [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] in the remix of [[DJ Khaled]]'s "[[Welcome to My Hood]]". "Welcome to My Hood" (featuring [[Rick Ross]], [[Lil Wayne]] & [[Plies (rapper)|Plies]]) is the lead single of [[DJ Khaled]]'s 5th studio album ''[[We the Best Forever]]''.

In May 2013 Reid performed as a headliner at the [[Reggae]] on the Hills festival in [[Barbados]]. The festival was well attended with over 60,000 people in attendance, the largest crowd in their history, and Junior Reid's appearance was in wide anticipation.

His most recent singles are "Sharing the Night Together", "Never Let you Go", "Same Boat" and are being played widely in Jamaica and across the world.

Junior Reid released a mixtape in May 2013 called ''Kingston Firehouse'' which is leading up to his album ''Junior Reid Living Legend''.

In an August 2014 interview with [[Midnight Raver]], record producer Delroy Wright revealed that he has unreleased Junior Reid material from the Firehouse Clash sessions that he is planning to release on his Live & Learn record label.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://midnightraverblog.com/2014/08/18/from-kingston-14-to-georgia-avenue-the-delroy-wright-interview-part-ii/|title=From Kingston 14 to Georgia Avenue: The Delroy Wright Interview|website=midnightraverblog.com|publisher=Midnight Raver|access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===
*''One Sufferation'' (10" vinyl) (1980)
*''One Sufferation'' (10" vinyl) (1980)
*''Boom-Shack-A-Lack'' (1985)
*''Boom-Shack-A-Lack'' (1985) [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]]
*''Original Foreign Mind'' (1985)
*''Original Foreign Mind'' (1985)
*''One Blood'' (1990, re-released in 1992)
*''One Blood'' (1990, re-released in 1992) Big Life/[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
*''Progress'' (1990)
*''Progress'' (1990)
*''Long Road'' (1991)
*''Long Road'' (1991) Cohiba
*''Visa'' (1994)
*''Big Timer'' (1993) [[VP Records|VP]]
*''Visa'' (1994) Greensleeves
*''Junior Reid & The Bloods'' (1995)
*''Showers Of Blessings'' (1995)
*''Junior Reid & The Bloods'' (1995) [[RAS Records|RAS]]
*''Showers of Blessings'' (1995)
*''Listen to the Voices'' (1996) RAS
*''RAS Portraits'' (1997) RAS
*''True World Order'' (1997)
*''Big Timer'' (2000)
*''Big Timer'' (2000)
*''[[Emmanuel]] Calling'' (2000) JR Productions and One Blood Music, Jamaica.
*''Rasta Government'' (2004)
*''Live In Berkeley'' (DVD, 2007)
*''Rasta Government'' (2003) Penitentiary
*''Double Top'' (2005) Tamoki Wambesi (with [[Cornell Campbell]])
*''Firehouse Clash'' (with [[Don Carlos (musician)|Don Carlos]])
*''Live in Berkeley'' (2007) 2B1
*''Junior Reid, the Living Legend'' (2015), ABB


===With Black Uhuru===
====With Voice of Progress====
*''Mini Bus Driver'' (1982)
*''I'm Free'' (1990)

====With Black Uhuru====
*''Brutal'' (1986)
*''Brutal'' (1986)
*''Positive'' (1987)
*''Positive'' (1987)
*''Black Uhuru Live in New York'' (1987)

==== Singles ====

===== As featured performer =====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="9" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Album
|-
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref name="AUS">{{cite web|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 870 (Week Commencing 6 November 2006)|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue870.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20061219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20061220-0000/issue870.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-12-19|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=27 January 2012}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name="AUT">{{cite web|title=Discographie Junior Reid |url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Junior+Reid |work=austriancharts.at |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=27 January 2012 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322054954/http://www.austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Junior%2BReid |archive-date=22 March 2016 }}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Media Control Charts|GER]]<br><ref name="GER">{{cite web|title=charts.de: Junior Reid (Single)|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=Junior%20Reid&x=13&y=9&cat=s&country=de|work=charts.de|publisher=[[Media Control Charts]]|access-date=27 January 2012|language=de}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRE]]<br><ref name="IRE">{{cite web|title=Discography Junior Reid|url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Junior+Reid|work=irish-charts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]<br><ref name="NZ">{{cite web|title=Discography Junior Reid |url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Junior+Reid |work=charts.nz |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=27 January 2012 }}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="UK">{{cite web|title=Game Featuring Junior Reid|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/game%20featuring%20junior%20reid/|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|access-date=27 January 2012|format=select "Singles" tab}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="US100">{{cite magazine|title=Game Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=game|chart=Hot 100}}|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="USR&B">{{cite magazine|title=Game Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=game|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}}|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Hot Rap Songs|US<br>Rap]]<br><ref name="USRap">{{cite magazine|title=Game Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=game|chart=Rap Airplay}}|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|"[[Si Wi Dem Nuh Know We]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">([[Snow (musician)|Snow]] featuring [[Ninjaman]] and Junior Reid)</span>
| 1994
| -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
| ''[[Murder Love]]''
|-
!scope="row"|"[[It's Okay (One Blood)]]"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">([[Game (rapper)|The Game]] featuring Junior Reid)</span>
| 2006
| 68 || 68 || 41 || 16 || 25 || 26 || 71 || 33 || 16
| ''[[Doctor's Advocate]]''
|-
!scope="row"|"Who Wan Test"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(Nino Brown featuring [[Mavado (singer)|Mavado]] and Junior Reid)</span>
| 2012
| -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
| ''We Don't See'em 3''
|}

===DVD===
*''Live in Berkeley'' (2007) Proper Music Distribution

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
* https://juniorreid.com/
*[http://myspace.com/juniorreid Official MySpace Page]
*[http://www.riddimguide.com/view/producer_Junior%20Reid/ Junior Reid's productions]
* http://www.facebook.com/junioronebloodreid

*[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Junior+Reid Discogs: Junior Reid]
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Junior}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Junior}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jamaican musicians]]
[[Category:Jamaican reggae singers]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Reggae musicians]]
[[Category:Jamaican dancehall musicians]]
[[Category:Dancehall musicians]]
[[Category:Jamaican Rastafarians]]
[[Category:Jamaican Rastafarians]]
[[Category:Jamaican male singers]]
[[Category:Jamaican male singers]]
[[Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Reggae fusion artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[de:Junior Reid]]
[[Category:Black Uhuru members]]
[[fr:Junior Reid]]
[[Category:Big Life artists]]
[[ht:Junior Reid]]
[[sv:Junior Reid]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 13 November 2024

Junior Reid
Birth nameDelroy Reid
Born (1963-06-06) 6 June 1963 (age 61)
OriginKingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae, dancehall, reggae fusion
Occupation(s)Singer, producer
Years active1978–present
LabelsJR Productions, Big Life, Mercury, PolyGram, Greensleeves, Ras
Member ofBlack Uhuru, Voice of Progress
WebsiteOfficial Myspace

Delroy "Junior" Reid (born 6 June 1963) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. From 1986 to 1988, he served as lead vocalist for the reggae band Black Uhuru on three albums: Brutal (1986), Positive (1987), and Black Uhuru Live in New York (1988). His solo career is extensive, and is widely regarded as a great of Dancehall Reggae. He is also known for his guest performances on the Game's 2006 single "It's Okay (One Blood)", as well as the remix of Mims' single, "This Is Why I'm Hot" alongside Baby Cham that same year.

Biography

[edit]

Reid was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and had a tough upbringing in the city's Waterhouse district, notorious for being one of the most dangerous places in Jamaica.[1] It was there in the politically turbulent late '70s that he recorded his first-ever single "Speak the Truth" at the age of 13 for the late Hugh Mundell, released in Jamaica on Augustus Pablo's Rockers International label, and popular as an import single in the United Kingdom. He followed this with "Know Myself" in 1981.[1] 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.

By the early '80s, commissioned by the great Sugar Minott to record a number of tunes on Minott's Youth Promotion label, enjoying considerable popularity with tracks such as "Human Nature" (produced by Junior Reid), "A1 Lover" (produced by Sugar Minott), and the evergreen "Foreign Mind", an uplifting and proud statement which became an anthem to the ghetto youth whom Reid increasingly championed. Junior Reid 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 – which included "Youthman", "Bank Clerk", "Sufferation", "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Higgler Move". Reid then launched his label "Jr Productions" with his first single "Settle Down" by Barrington Levy.

In 1986, Reid's opportunity to reach a wider international audience came after he was offered a role as Black Uhuru's lead singer, following the departure of Michael Rose.[2] Three of the singles he released with Black Uhuru, "Pain", "Nah Get Rich and Switch", and "Let us Pray" were published on Junior Reid's JR Productions label. His collaboration on the first album with Black Uhuru, the Grammy-nominated Brutal, in 1986, was well received. During this time, he toured Europe, the UK, the USA, Canada and Bermuda with Black Uhuru.

Two years and three albums later, Reid departed Black Uhuru for a combination of reasons: Junior had been unable to establish his own identity in the band, having a style very close to Michael Rose’s (a long time contributor to Black Uhuru); the group compositionally suffering difficulties and personal crises.[3] Additionally, Reid was interest to produce his own material, with a desire to regain his domestic popularity, to go solo and into his own studio (One Blood Recording Studio), as well as focusing on his own JR Productions label.[1] During this period, Reid had a 1988 UK number 21 hit with the single "Stop This Crazy Thing", a collaboration with Coldcut.[1] In 1990, he had even more success with "I'm Free", recorded with The Soup Dragons. The song reached number 5 in the UK.[4]

Meanwhile, 1989's "One Blood" saw him re-established at the forefront of the reggae scene.[1] "One Blood" became an anthem for unity in America and around the world. According to Rolling Stone magazine (7 May 2013), the lyrics of "One Blood" were the source of the album title for Vampire Weekend's third release, Modern Vampires of the City.[5]

Production work

[edit]

As a producer, Reid has his own production company; JR Productions. He produced two songs on Snow's second album, Murder Love, released in 1995. Reid has collaborated and produced for Dancehall artist Ninjaman, on many occasions since the early 1990s. He has also produced for Mighty Diamonds, Big Youth, Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs.[1] He produced all of this work in his own recording studio, which he opened in 1988.[1]

Recent work

[edit]

His vocals have been used in the hip hop scene, which debuted as a collaboration on the songs "One Blood Under W" and "Jah World" from The W album by the Wu-Tang Clan, which was released on 21 November 2000. His next collaboration with Guru on the song "Mashing Up the World" on the album "Jaz Mattaz". In 2006, he collaborated with West Coast hip hop artist Game on the song "It's Okay (One Blood)"; The song also samples Reid's 1989 single "One Blood". The song hit the top of the billboards and it was also included in the video game Def Jam: Icon for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.[6] The song was then remixed again and the official remix was released on 7 November 2006. It features 25 hip-hop artists including The Game.

Reid appeared on the Blackout remix of Mims' "This Is Why I'm Hot" from his debut album M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior). This was one of the more popular remixes made in 2007. He recently did a song with Jim Jones, Max B and Mel Matrix called "What A Gwan", which features a sample from Barrington Levy's "Black Roses". Reid is on Fabolous's album From Nothin' to Somethin' on the track "Gangsta Don't Play" and he has collaborated with Fat Joe on the track "More Money". He appeared on the remix of Smitty's song "Died in Your Arms" also featuring Rick Ross and T-Pain. In late 2007 he performed in the "Freedom Concert" in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and also went on to record the remix version of "Free" with De Indispensables, a Nigerian hip hop duo. Reid was also proudly featured on the track "Fire" from San Francisco-based DJ and deep house producer Miguel Migs' 2007 album "Those Things."

On 18 November 2007, Reid performed alongside Alicia Keys at the 2007 American Music Awards. Reid is also featured on a remix version of Alicia Keys' single "No One". He also did a song with Lil Wayne called "Ghetto Youths Rock". In 2008, Reid was featured on Bun B's song "If It Was Up II Me" off his album II Trill.

In 2011, Junior Reid teamed up with Ludacris, T-Pain, Busta Rhymes, Mavado, Bun B, Game, Twista, Jadakiss, Waka Flocka Flame, Fat Joe, Ace Hood & Birdman in the remix of DJ Khaled's "Welcome to My Hood". "Welcome to My Hood" (featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne & Plies) is the lead single of DJ Khaled's 5th studio album We the Best Forever.

In May 2013 Reid performed as a headliner at the Reggae on the Hills festival in Barbados. The festival was well attended with over 60,000 people in attendance, the largest crowd in their history, and Junior Reid's appearance was in wide anticipation.

His most recent singles are "Sharing the Night Together", "Never Let you Go", "Same Boat" and are being played widely in Jamaica and across the world.

Junior Reid released a mixtape in May 2013 called Kingston Firehouse which is leading up to his album Junior Reid Living Legend.

In an August 2014 interview with Midnight Raver, record producer Delroy Wright revealed that he has unreleased Junior Reid material from the Firehouse Clash sessions that he is planning to release on his Live & Learn record label.[7]

Discography

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Albums

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  • One Sufferation (10" vinyl) (1980)
  • Boom-Shack-A-Lack (1985) Greensleeves
  • Original Foreign Mind (1985)
  • One Blood (1990, re-released in 1992) Big Life/Mercury
  • Progress (1990)
  • Long Road (1991) Cohiba
  • Big Timer (1993) VP
  • Visa (1994) Greensleeves
  • Junior Reid & The Bloods (1995) RAS
  • Showers of Blessings (1995)
  • Listen to the Voices (1996) RAS
  • RAS Portraits (1997) RAS
  • True World Order (1997)
  • Big Timer (2000)
  • Emmanuel Calling (2000) JR Productions and One Blood Music, Jamaica.
  • Rasta Government (2003) Penitentiary
  • Double Top (2005) Tamoki Wambesi (with Cornell Campbell)
  • Firehouse Clash (with Don Carlos)
  • Live in Berkeley (2007) 2B1
  • Junior Reid, the Living Legend (2015), ABB

With Voice of Progress

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  • Mini Bus Driver (1982)
  • I'm Free (1990)

With Black Uhuru

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  • Brutal (1986)
  • Positive (1987)
  • Black Uhuru Live in New York (1987)

Singles

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[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[8] 		AUT
[9] 		GER
[10] 		IRE
[11] 		NZ
[12] 		UK
[13] 		US
[14] 		US
R&B
[15] 		US
Rap
[16]
"Si Wi Dem Nuh Know We"
(Snow featuring Ninjaman and Junior Reid) 		1994 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Murder Love
"It's Okay (One Blood)"
(The Game featuring Junior Reid) 		2006 68 68 41 16 25 26 71 33 16 Doctor's Advocate
"Who Wan Test"
(Nino Brown featuring Mavado and Junior Reid) 		2012 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- We Don't See'em 3

DVD

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  • Live in Berkeley (2007) Proper Music Distribution

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
  2. ^ "Junior Reid". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Junior Reid". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p.515-6
  5. ^ "Modern Vampires of the City". www.rollingstone.com. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  6. ^ Def Jam: Icon#Complete Soundtrack
  7. ^ "From Kingston 14 to Georgia Avenue: The Delroy Wright Interview". midnightraverblog.com. Midnight Raver. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  8. ^ "The ARIA Report: Issue 870 (Week Commencing 6 November 2006)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Discographie Junior Reid". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  10. ^ "charts.de: Junior Reid (Single)". charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 27 January 2012.[dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Discography Junior Reid". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Discography Junior Reid". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Game Featuring Junior Reid" (select "Singles" tab). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Game Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Game Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Game Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
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