Michigan and Smiley - Diseases

1981, Channel One was the place to be and the Roots Radics were the band of the day.

Papa Michigan and General Smiley, both deejays, formed the duo Michigan & Smiley and together they first released crucial material for Coxsone.

When in 1981, full on rub-a-dub, they recorded Diseases for Junjo at Channel One.

The song is sung over the Mad Mad riddim, popularising this dancehall remake of it. The duo takes turns in denouncing slackness and materialism, which was growing at the time :

Cus everyday that I turn the Bible's pages,
From Proverbs forward to Genesis,
From Revelation to Ecclisiastes,
Let me tell you wisdom increases
And the looks of the world it decreases
Everyday man a build expolosives,
The corruption of the world it exposes.

(yes, the books of the Bible are purposefully inverted)

Together they explain that Jah will lick you with diseases before enumerating the numerous plagues that will reach those concerned.

Rub-a-dub style !