These four young men, from Waterhouse (the Kingston neighbourhood that has given birth to many great names in reggae), are the rising stars of tomorrow's dancehall.
Andre "Suku" Gray, Kunley McCarthy, Ronaldo "Rumblood" Evans and Mark "Mean Dog" Henry are the members of this crew. An original style in their flow and lyrics puts them at the head of the dancehall new generation for the coming millennium. Despite a lack of media promotion, the Ward 21 crew has just been signed to Greensleeves on a five-album deal. While these youngsters are singers, they are also selectors and sound engineers who work tirelessly for the King Jammys label. Introduced by Paul Eliott at the King Jammys studio, Andre "Suku" Gray became the selecta of Jammy's sound system. They have had the opportunity to launch their own label: Mentally Disturbed. They are also the authors of "Haters" on the badda badda riddim. Ward 21 has unimaginable creative force, in the riddims as much as in the flows. A new style that is about to land in France.
Andre "Suku" Gray, Kunley McCarthy, Ronaldo "Rumblood" Evans and Mark "Mean Dog" Henry are the members of this crew. An original style in their flow and lyrics puts them at the head of the dancehall new generation for the coming millennium. Despite a lack of media promotion, the Ward 21 crew has just been signed to Greensleeves on a five-album deal. While these youngsters are singers, they are also selectors and sound engineers who work tirelessly for the King Jammys label. Introduced by Paul Eliott at the King Jammys studio, Andre "Suku" Gray became the selecta of Jammy's sound system. They have had the opportunity to launch their own label: Mentally Disturbed. They are also the authors of "Haters" on the badda badda riddim. Ward 21 has unimaginable creative force, in the riddims as much as in the flows. A new style that is about to land in France.
Tell us about your beginnings...
Ward 21 We started very early in the sound systems, then in the studios as sound engineers. We've been recording since 1998, because we had facilities to do the work in the studio. We would create the riddim, then record the song.
Can you tell us where the name Ward 21 comes from and what it means?
Ward 21 Ward 21 is a psychiatric ward at the University of the West Indies. It represents us because we have a different vibe from other singers. We're always doing funny things, to make people laugh. The name suited us, so we kept it.
Where did you get the inspiration for this linear flow?
Ward 21 Well, this inspiration doesn't come from one particular style but from different influences. Soul, R n B, Hip-Hop, Country...
Do you think you have created a style that will revolutionise things?
Ward 21 Everybody jumps when they hear our riddims. Beenie Man night and day, plus other youngsters who are coming up in Jamaica right now. So you could say things are going well. And we've been signed to Greensleeves.
What does "Bellyas" (your latest riddim) mean?
Ward 21 Bellyas has many meanings. Bellyas means that you are greedy, hungry for more. Bellyas means a man with a big belly, or women who want to have a baby. It's like Badda Badda, which has many meanings. Valum (their next riddim, editor's note) means you have to "Turn It Up".
One of your combinations with Lexxus is called "Divine Reasoning"... Can you tell us a bit more?
Ward 21 The main idea of this song is that sometimes you sit down to think, to meditate with yourself. In this song, we wanted to play with that by introducing God as the interlocutor and the master of Lexxus's reflection. The dialogues are comical, no offence to God, it's just to give a vibe. Because sometimes you ask yourself questions and it's God who gives you the answer.
Do you want to educate young people or just entertain them?
Ward 21 We want to tell young people that God is there, because he is the one who created us all. We don't know how we got onto the Earth, we know a tiny part of our history, but not all of it. Also, young people must not grow up with feelings of hatred and envy towards other young people they don't even know. You hate someone but you don't know them: it doesn't work like that. You have to love people because we are all the same. Skin, flesh, blood, bones... And they must know that they have to have faith. Yes, believing in God is the main thing, because if you live in suffering and you believe in God, sooner or later things will work out.
One of your big hits is "Judgment Day". What is the message of that song when you say you chase the fassy away?
Ward 21 The fassy are those who hate you without even knowing you. We tell them to go away. Many of them don't like us because we are nice. We have no pretension, we don't say we're better than anybody else, we walk among the people. But we let them know that many hate us.
On the Bellyas riddim, you set off a little controversy between Beenie Man and Capleton...
Ward 21 We didn't set off a controversy, we just put out two tunes. We're not responsible for what each of them says. We took care of the production: the guy comes, he sings and we release the track. In Beenie Man's tune "Heights of Great Man", where he offends Capleton, people won't hear that part of the track.
Which tune was recorded first? Beenie Man's or Capleton's?
Ward 21 Capleton's tune was recorded first.
So Beenie Man's tune is a response to Capleton's?
Ward 21 Well, Beenie Man recorded his tune without really worrying about anything. People don't hear what Beenie Man says on the tune. We didn't see anything either. (moment of hesitation) Well, yes, we were there, but we don't want to be held responsible for what goes on between the two artists.
What are your plans for the future?
Ward 21 Lots of projects. We have a new riddim, a new album that has come out, and a promotional tour being set up for England.