In the same way as picking up an old newspaper can teach you about a country's past, many of Jamaica's 7" singles reflect the island's history. Just as when a soundsystem deejay would chit-chat about current events through his microphone whilst flipping his record, politics, economics, and everyday stories have been a constant source of inspiration for Jamaican artists.
Jamaica's music has mostly come from the poor, with countless singers and producers emerging from Kingston's hottest ghettos. The words from these songs were coming from the mouths of those who were hit the hardest by the country's intense violence and poverty - the sufferahs, expressing their everyday tribulations through their biggest strength : their voice.
7"s by definition take less time to produce and release than albums, and with the introduction of versions, the 45rpm disc became Jamaica's favourite format - more on that later.
To briefly illustrate this here's what is probably Little Roy's biggest success to date, Tribal War. The song, recorded over a slow, bass-thumping rhythm at the legendary Black Ark, recalls a moment in 1973 where it was reported that two major gangs had signed a peace treaty, and, for that moment at least, "The war is over".
It was originally released on Roy's own Tafari label and has since been re-issued by UK's Pressure Sounds.
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