Linton Kwesi Johnson

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Linton Kwesi Johnson, also known as LKJ, is a British-based dub poet and performer of reggae and dub poetry. He is born in 1952 and has origin in Chapelton, United Kingdom. His work uses the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Creole over dub reggae, and he often writes with the British reggae producer and artist Dennis Bovell.

Writing and themes

Johnson is known for politically engaged poetry, especially work about African-Caribbean experience in Britain. He also writes on subjects such as British foreign policy and the death of the anti-racist marcher Blair Peach. Some of his best-known poems are written during the period of Margaret Thatcher’s government and address racist police brutality.

His poetry is also notable for its use of unstandardised transcription of Jamaican Creole. He becomes only the second living poet to be published in the Penguin series.

Albums and performance

His best-known albums include Dread Beat An' Blood, Forces of Victory, Bass Culture and Making History. Among the best-known pieces associated with these records are “Dread Beat An' Blood”, “Sonny's Lettah”, “Inglan Is A Bitch” and “Independant Intavenshan”.

Johnson performs live only on an intermittent basis. He mostly records with The Dub Band, and his record label, LKJ Records, also includes other reggae artists and other dub poets such as Jean Binta Breeze.