Dread Beats

The dub poetry of Linton Kwesi Johnson

By Silja J.A. Talvi

When I first heard Linton Kwesi Johnson's words, they came flowing through a nearly blown-out sound system in a Los Angeles punk club in the early '80s. I could barely hear him, but something about the intensity of his delivery--urgent, streetwise and intellectual--over a [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

     Page 1 of 1 pages

    I Loved the Forces of Viktory album with Fite dem bok. and Sonny’s lettah. One of my friends labelled it one of the best anti-fascist albums ever made.  Made in the early 1980s during the race riots LKJ sang

    Some of dem say dem a nigga hatah/an some of dem say dem a block beetah/an some of dem say dem a pakki bashah/an some of dem say dem a black stabbah/

    Fascists on de attack don’ batha worry fo dat/fascists on de attack we will fite dem bok/fascists on de attack we will coooontah attack/fascists on de attack we will drive dem bok!!

    Smash dere brains in cuz dey ain’t got nothin’ in ‘em/We’re gonna smash dere brains in cuz dey ain’t got nothin’ in ‘em!!

    Sonny’s Lettah is a powerful statement as well!!

    United States Posted by cabdriverinchicago on Dec 22, 2006 at 3:59 PM

    Yeah….first time I heard that tune was maybe ‘90….still got that tape…...

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Dec 24, 2006 at 5:17 AM

    Omigod ! Endorsements from two of the tiniest minds on the ITT board !
    Redhorse’s Ass can’t speak english and Chicago Stalinist cabbie can’t
    even do decent ebonics….........................
    If this is “anti-fascism” then fascists have nothing to worry about.
    Scorp, pass this on to your bosses in FedGov.
    Never heard of this “poet” but it’s another pwogwessive puff piece
    of a nontalent because he’s black.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Dec 26, 2006 at 2:52 PM

    So, horse, where did you boost that tape ?

    United States Posted by blondemike on Dec 26, 2006 at 2:52 PM

    BM….indeed you are a consummate moron…...

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Dec 26, 2006 at 3:41 PM

    Consummate means perfect and extremely skilled, thank you.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Dec 26, 2006 at 6:05 PM

    Yes…for once yu are correct…...Yu are a perfectly skilled moron…

    United States Posted by Redhorse on Dec 27, 2006 at 2:45 AM

    That’s a contradiction, Horse.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Dec 27, 2006 at 10:32 AM

    Learn to spell YOU.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Dec 27, 2006 at 10:33 AM
     Page 1 of 1 pages
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