Sad news broke over the weekend when legendary Jamaican DJ Prince Jazzbo died from lung cancer last Wednesday at the age of 62. The toaster began in the early 1970s with Studio One and later recorded for Lee “Scratch” Perry. Jazzbo was part of the highly-influential “first wave” of DJs that included U-Roy, I Roy, King Stitt, Jah Stitch, Prince Far I and Dillinger that would eventually help birth rap music.
In one of the more celebrated Jamaican music anecdotes, Prince Jazzbo engaged in a highly-celebrated sparring match with fellow Jamaican DJ I-Roy, all of which were issued on a series of 7-inches to the delight of the ghetto population.
I-Roy has explained that the entire feud started when both DJs were in a studio in 1974 and Jazzbo was trying to voice a tune but just couldn't get it right. I-Roy stepped in and voiced his track, “Straight to Prince Jazzbo's Head,” in one take. In the middle of the song, he disses Jazzbo:
“if you were a jukebox I wouldn't put a dime in you." Producer Bunny Lee then fetches Jazzbo and informs him about what I-Roy had said on the tune. Jazzbo responds with, "Straight to I-Roy Head," after which a number of “answer” tunes follow. I-Roy says the whole thing started as a joke but Jazzbo took it a bit too seriously!
The tracks involved in order of appearance are:
1 - I-ROY - Straight to Prince Jazzbo's Head
2 - PRINCE JAZZBO - Straight to I-Roy Head
3 - I-ROY - Jazzbo Have Fe Run
4 - PRINCE JAZZBO - Gal Boy I-Roy
5 - I-ROY - Padlock
6 - DERRICK MORGAN - I Roy the Chiney Commer Around
7 - I-ROY - Hard Man Fe Dead
The entire I Roy/Prince Jazzbo sequence can be found, in stunning sound, complete with dubs, on Pressure Sounds' extraordinary, Once Upon A Time At King Tubbys.
Other hits include "Croaking Lizard," ''Penny Reel" and "Crab Walking." My personal favorite LP is Ital Corner, due, in part, to the killer cover art, as well as to the top-notch tunes. Pressure Sounds’ set, Mr. Funny is definitely worth picking up, as is Blood and Fire’s compilation, If Deejay Were Your Trade: The Dreads at King Tubby's, which features several Jazzbo tracks.
There’s no proper bio of Jazzbo, but AllMusic.com has an excellent overview that can be found here.
Additional insight can be found in David Katz’ oral history of reggae Solid Foundation.
Norman C. Stolzoff’s Wake The Town And Tell The People is also an excellent overview of Jamaican dancehall culture. Both are essential reading.
There are many good appreciations popping up around the web. Some of the best I’ve read are:
www.jamminjasounds.blogspot.com
Respect due to Prince Jazzbo!
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