Biography

U Roy, originally Ewart Beckford, is a groundbreaking figure in the evolution of reggae. He was among the first to introduce the phenomenon of toasting, whereby a DJ would rap over instrumental dub records. Toasting over the original dub plates of King Tubby and other pioneering dub producers in the late 1960s, he spawned a wave of disciples and made toasting a crucial part of reggae music. Throughout the '70s, U Roy was a hit machine, working with Bunny Lee and a host of other producers. Known as "the Originator," U Roy can lay claim to being a primary influence not only on the entire dancehall movement, but on hip-hop as well.

Top Tracks

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• African Herbsman

• Ain't That Loving You

• Babylon Burning

• Bellyfull

• Chalice In The Palace

• Chatty Chatty Mouth

• Chicka Bow Wow Wow

• Don't Stay Away

• Dynamic Fashion Way

• Eli Eli

• Everybody Bawling

• Evil Doers

• Happy Go Lucky Girl

• Hearsay

• Hello Carol

• I Need A Roof

• I'm A Rasta Man

• Jah Jah

• King Tubby's Skank

• Looks Is Deceiving

• Mix Up

• Money, Money

• My Girl

• Natty Don't Fear

• Natty Rebel

• New York City

• Night Nurse

• Nyabinghi Chant

• Ok Fred

• On The Beach

• Rightful Ruler

• Rock With I

• Rude Boy Ska

• Runaway Girl

• Same Vibe

• Say You

• Soul Rebel

• The Tide Is High

• Things You Love

• This Sound Rule The Nation

• Tide Is High

• Tom Drunk

• Version Galore

• Wake The Town

• Wake The Town And Tell The People

• Wanted

• Wear You To The Ball

Discography

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• U Roy Live

  1998

• With Words of Wisdom

  Frontline

  1979