Clappers: Believe it or not ...

... believe it or not ..., Michael ... ever since we met he has alway attached himself to me. This tune, one of his most militant and important songs in reggae music, was composed and written after an inspiring afternoon with Lister in his ridiculously small office on the 39th floor, at 444 Madison Avenue, at the top of what was at that time the Newsweek Building, in the heart of $$ money making Manhattan."

Michael Rose:, " ... One must remember that it was Augustus Pablo who first made a tune about Lister, but it had no lyrics!. Dat tune was call, 555 Crown Street. The point is that Lister is from the heart of Crown Heights. If you catch him on 90.1FM Boo York, on a Saturday, he has alway been Militant and true to the core, always a se sup-m unlike most Yard D.J.. Him nu skin up, his politics influenced mine inna dem times. It made me militantly concious and aware of how "i" got here and why "i" am here.

In this music business, Island Records, Sony Music, EMI, all a dem, the press love to bill' you up. "The Hype", dem boos' you, tourn you into their "Hero", and not the "Hero" of the most oppressed, not the "Hero" of the most downtrodden, the most exploited.

Yes! Michael Rose, a Hero. Next ting 2 BWOUY wann come get reputation, next ting DOE! DOI! you pick up 2 corn like Bob... Ahmm, ... it was aaaa .. Big Youth who se ..."HELL is for Heroes", and Bob se "... , you give U most, to receive U less.." , an mi done confirm dat reality ....of the day to day contradictions of the oppressed masses living under this shitstem ....( Michael smiles, drags on a spliff,...ease off , and with a sigh of relief, exhales disapearing into a ton of smoke. The fact is, he's been meaning to bun one all afternoon. A buuning lyrics bus' ina him head and Rose satta, starts sing, really singing...) ..... 9 to 12 ... han to mouth, harms house , ..... a bus "i" shut, ... a tu tu tweng...!!!! You know what I'm saying, yeah!. .. something like that. Now back to wey mi a se.

You see Lister, him is like the youths of Utica Avenue. Him inspire me fe write lyrics about and around him, and off a him seen...! You'll see more people leave Lister out of the conversation when dem a talk bout our History, mi a talk bout dem Gate Keepers. Me naw call no' names .. fi real, you a follow me? Mi a go mek a tune bout dem gate keepers. Bob never finish dem when him se " ..Chase those crazy Ballheads out a de young... Here comes the Con Man, ...! (Michael giggles)

Time dem stop fight 'gainst the Reggae artist, people like Lister who had the Vision, the spirit, and the passion that the music of the masses was unlimited, unstoppable, and was the last true original Sound, Reggae, Dub Music, Dancehall etc. All of it is good, all of it is political. That's another lie they like to fool the people with - that Reggae is not political. Check the lyrics of Carbine on the Red L.P. if you doubt mi. The Brixton part, tha vibe de off a mi hidrins and mi sitrins inna Brixton ghetto. Rap, mi breada open up the first Rap restauraunt and Lister joking with him se " ..why don't you start making rap ice-cream with Reggae Names .." Well dem have a place call Canada weh come in almost like Utica Avenue but not so wild, Eglington.

Now Canada the # 1 high jumper was Lister cousin. Whe im name? Yeah! Milton Ottey. Yeah like Merlene Ottey. De two a dem related. A Jamaica #1 sprinter world wide, #1 sprinter a Canada, a Jamaican, #1 in the world. From Ben Johnson to Donavan Bailey plus the lad from England a caun't remember the blokes name ..", Michael said in a dark cockney accent, then back into Jamaican Patois he continued. "when mi gwaan de the first day mi hear bout Jill (.... blatant interuption, who is Jill??...) Hold on nuh, mi soon tell you bout dat....