Macka B

Born in 1966 in Wolverhampton, England, to a family of Jamaican origin, Macka B developed in the early 1980s a reggae deejay practice shaped by British sound-system culture and the great Jamaican toasters. After working with the Exodus sound system and on the Birmingham scene with Jah Wasifa, Macka B recorded his first single, “Bible Reader,” in 1985, before beginning a long collaboration with Mad Professor on the Ariwa label. That partnership gave his music a distinctive tone—between roots reggae, dancehall and dub—with a measured delivery, lyrics often addressing social, political and spiritual themes, and a recurring touch of humour. Macka B subsequently released several albums that punctuate his career, including Sign of the Times (1986), We’ve Had Enough (1987), Buppie Culture (1989), Natural Suntan (1990), Here Comes Trouble (1994), Discrimination (1995), Global Messenger (2000), Health Is Wealth (2017) and Warrior Style (2020). A committed Rastafarian, Macka B also advances a militant message tied to the Ital diet and a vegan lifestyle, while continuing to perform on reggae stages, at festivals and on international tours.