INTERVIEW

Interview by : Filip Flatau  Print        Reactions  (0)    During their visit to Paris with the Subionick Sound System, we were able to meet Niggah Mickey and Little Hero, both from the parish of St Ann (Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Marcus Garvey also come from this region). They remain too little known despite a not insignificant past on the dancehall scene for about ten years. These two personalities are very attached to their Jamaican origins and proud to claim their belonging to the parish of St Ann (which is truly sacred). Their style is close to deejays such as Yellowman and Capleton, yet one senses great originality in their work, which is not negligible when you consider that many singers merely copy other artists. To prove it to you, Reggaefrance is streaming two exclusive tracks made specially for the site by Niggah Mickey and Little Hero, and a 15-minute mix with three songs for each of these artists. Reggaefrance / Can you tell us more about your name? Niggah Mickey / At first I was called Mickey Irie, but there were far too many "Irie"s in Jamaica. One day, I went to a contest and the great producer Sassa Frass was there; he advised me to take another name, and he came up with the pseudonym Niggah Mickey. Can you tell us about your beginnings? Niggah Mickey: I started singing when I was at school. It was in the early 80s, I took part in community contests. Yellowman was my favourite artist, I wanted to be like him; the only thing we didn't have in common was our skin colour, but I had the same vibes and I acted like him. In 1985, I won a deejay contest in St Ann parish and went to the final in Kingston, which I didn't win, but I persevered and in 1987 I became the "resident deejay" of Jack Ruby's sound system with Prezident Brown. Afterwards, I had my first hit in 1989, "BadMind a Kill", in combination with Peter Metro on the Volcano label. My second hit was recorded on the "Penthouse" label, and I went on recording for labels such as "Pick Out" and "Shocking Vibes". I did my first show abroad in Canada in 1987, with Junior Demus, then in 1989 I did many tours of the US with Foxy Brown and Johny P. In 1992, I decided to have my own label, "Champagne Records", to produce myself and other artists. The first song released on that label is called "Bringin in The Weed", which came out in 1992 and was very well received by radio stations in Jamaica and Florida. Since then I've produced artists such as Little John, Malibu, Little Hero, Jigsy King, Prezident Brown. This is my first time in Paris, believe me, I love it and the vibes are good. Little Hero and I got together to mash it all up! I have a new song called "F115" on my own label which is doing well in Jamaica at the moment. We also work with the sound Subionick: selecta Lion High, based in London. I'd say I'm an old school artist since I started in the 80s with sounds like MetroMedia, Class One, Creation, Jack Ruby. How was your experience on sound with Jack Ruby? It's thanks to him that I became known. Because we toured with his sound system in lots of parishes and we got recorded on cassette; that's how I was able to go to Canada, because the promoter heard me on one of those copies and decided it was me he wanted to bring over. I have to thank him, because he taught me a lot, and I think what he taught me has allowed me to still be in music to this day. Which artists influenced you? Yellowman was the artist who truly inspired me. He was the king of dancehall. Right now, I like the new deejays, but Peter Metro and Yellowman had a big impact on me. Can you tell us which artists work on your "Champain Records" label? I work mainly with Little Hero, with Pinchers. A new artist too, called Fire Ball, who comes from Ocho Rios and is very good. I also work with Elephant Man and I'm trying to bring Jigsy King back into the business. You can hear my new riddim on Irie FM. And you, Little Hero, can you tell us how you started deejaying? Little Hero: I've been in music since I was very small, since my father was a musician and my mother sang in church. But my career really began at the age of 19; I was born in St Ann parish and grew up in a community called "Farm Town". I sang for sounds such as Bass Odyssey, Mellow Mood, Creation and many others. My first show was at the Roof Club, with a singer called Delly Melody. I have to say my fans helped me a lot, the people of St Ann said I was their favourite deejay. Where does the name Little Hero come from? At first I was called Little Lenny, but as there was already a Little Lenny, I had to find another pseudonym. One day, I went to a contest and won it, and people then called me Little Hero. You also worked with Merciless... Yes, I did the song God Alone, with Merciless and Action Fire, then I started touring in the United States, Antigua, Canada. Which labels have you worked for? I sang for Annex, Scorpio, Champagn, Jammys, Bobby Digital. Which artists influenced you? I have to say it's Capleton, I saw him in concert many times and in my opinion he's a great artist. (They sing both songs a cappella). I also did many songs with Mickey Melody. I have to say a big thank you to all the Jamaican artists and to Irie FM and GT Taylor, who helped me a lot in my career. What are your plans, both of you? Niggah Mickey / At the moment I'm preparing an album for the two of us because we come from the same parish and Little Hero has a really unique style, and he is very humble. If you have a hit in Jamaica and don't keep going, your name disappears, so I decided to produce him on each of my new riddims. And as for my name, it's just Niggah, but musically, "nigga" in Jamaican doesn't mean anything.  Print       Reactions (0)

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