YELLOWMAN
Name: Yellowman
Birth name: Winston Foster
Also known as King Yellowman
Born: 1959 Negril, Jamaica
Yellowman (born Winston Foster in Negril, Jamaica in 1959) is a Jamaican reggae
(raggamuffin) and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman. He was
popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, coming to prominence with a series of singles
that established his reputation.
Winston Foster grew up in a Catholic orphanage called Alpha Boys School in
Kingston, and was shunned due to having albinism, which was usually not socially
accepted in Jamaica. Alpha Boys School was known for its musical alumni. In
the late 1970s Yellowman first gained wide attention when he won a contest event
in Kingston, Jamaica called "Tastee Patties" where DJ's would perform toasting.
Like many Jamaican DJ's, he honed his talents by frequently performing at
outdoor sound-system dances. In 1981, after becoming significantly popular
throughout Jamaica, Yellowman became the first dancehall artist to be signed to
a major American label (CBS Records). One reviewer of Yellowman was quoted
as saying "Listening to Yellowman sing is like watching Michael Jordan play
basketball. He knows he's got it, you know he's got it, and it's a trip just
experiencing him perform"
Over time he became regarded by some as a sex symbol and even managed to gain
fortune and fame by directing attention to his physical skin complexion in
several of his songs. His
first album release was in 1982 entitled "Mister Yellowman" followed by "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng"
in 1983 earning instant success. Yellowman's sexually explicit lyrics in popular
songs such as "Them a Mad Over Me" boasted of his sexual prowess, like those of
other reggae singers/deejays, earned Yellowman criticism[attribution needed] in
the mid-1980s. Yellowman appeared in Jamaican Dancehall Volcano Hi-power 1983
which featured other major dancehall musicians such as Massive Dread, Josey
Wales, Burro Banton and Eek-A-Mouse.
Yellowman has had a substantial influence on the world of hip hop. He is widely
credited for leading the way for the succession of reggae artists that were
embraced by the growing hip-hop community in America during the 1980's. The
basic riddim of his hit Zungguzungguguzungguzeng can be traced throughout the
hip hop scene as it was reused by such hip hop giants as KRS-One, Notorious B.I.G.,
Tupac Shakur, and Blackstar, formed by Mos Def and Talib Kweli. This riddim
introduced by Yellowman in this song was referred to by him as "mad mad." There
has been a constant renaming of this signature beat, such as "disease," which
incorporates both hip-hop aspects as well as the apparent Jamaican influences.
Yellowman changed the melodic phrasing of this riddim from AA to AB, when he
began ending the second line in the chorus on a higher note. Many of the
previously mentioned artists composing songs based on Yellowman's original
riddim differed in their choice of using either the AA or AB pattern.
Yellowman is just one example of the influence that reggae stars had on America's
hip hop community. Though an incredibly successful and famous Dancehall deejay,
Yellowman is recognized by his opponents as being both a controversial and
sexist artist. Though this controversial pace has slowed over the years, he is
still known as one of the most rude Dancehall toasters of his time.
By the mid-1990s however, Yellowman released socially-conscious material, rising
to international fame along with singers such as Buju Banton. Yellowman became
the island's most popular deejay despite being albinistic. During the early 1980s,
Yellowman had over 40 singles and produced up to five albums per year. His
success is seen by some as a rags to riches story.
In 1986, Yellowman struggled with cancer of the jaw and it was suspected that he
had only 6 months to live, but surgery saved his life. This has gave him a more
serious approach to his music, but like the struggles of his early days, he has
not let these difficulties stand in the way of his aspirations. Yellowman had
taken an extended leave from recording but came back with Blueberry Hill. He re-invented
himself with his 1994 album Prayer, and since the mid-1990s he has devoted his
time to spiritual and social concerns. His latest albums are New York (2003) and
Round 1 (2005). Yellowman was also a guest singer on the Run-DMC track "Roots
Rap Reggae",[clarify] on which he did most of the vocals. Yellowman continues to
perform internationally with his Sagittarius Band, and has toured through places
such as Peru, Italy, Germany, England, France, and the United States. He is one
of the widest-touring artists in the reggae industry.
Name: Yellowman
Birth name: Winston Foster
Also known as King Yellowman
Born: 1959 Negril, Jamaica
Yellowman (born Winston Foster in Negril, Jamaica in 1959) is a Jamaican reggae
(raggamuffin) and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman. He was
popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, coming to prominence with a series of singles
that established his reputation.
Winston Foster grew up in a Catholic orphanage called Alpha Boys School in
Kingston, and was shunned due to having albinism, which was usually not socially
accepted in Jamaica. Alpha Boys School was known for its musical alumni. In
the late 1970s Yellowman first gained wide attention when he won a contest event
in Kingston, Jamaica called "Tastee Patties" where DJ's would perform toasting.
Like many Jamaican DJ's, he honed his talents by frequently performing at
outdoor sound-system dances. In 1981, after becoming significantly popular
throughout Jamaica, Yellowman became the first dancehall artist to be signed to
a major American label (CBS Records). One reviewer of Yellowman was quoted
as saying "Listening to Yellowman sing is like watching Michael Jordan play
basketball. He knows he's got it, you know he's got it, and it's a trip just
experiencing him perform"
Over time he became regarded by some as a sex symbol and even managed to gain
fortune and fame by directing attention to his physical skin complexion in
several of his songs. His
first album release was in 1982 entitled "Mister Yellowman" followed by "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng"
in 1983 earning instant success. Yellowman's sexually explicit lyrics in popular
songs such as "Them a Mad Over Me" boasted of his sexual prowess, like those of
other reggae singers/deejays, earned Yellowman criticism[attribution needed] in
the mid-1980s. Yellowman appeared in Jamaican Dancehall Volcano Hi-power 1983
which featured other major dancehall musicians such as Massive Dread, Josey
Wales, Burro Banton and Eek-A-Mouse.
Yellowman has had a substantial influence on the world of hip hop. He is widely
credited for leading the way for the succession of reggae artists that were
embraced by the growing hip-hop community in America during the 1980's. The
basic riddim of his hit Zungguzungguguzungguzeng can be traced throughout the
hip hop scene as it was reused by such hip hop giants as KRS-One, Notorious B.I.G.,
Tupac Shakur, and Blackstar, formed by Mos Def and Talib Kweli. This riddim
introduced by Yellowman in this song was referred to by him as "mad mad." There
has been a constant renaming of this signature beat, such as "disease," which
incorporates both hip-hop aspects as well as the apparent Jamaican influences.
Yellowman changed the melodic phrasing of this riddim from AA to AB, when he
began ending the second line in the chorus on a higher note. Many of the
previously mentioned artists composing songs based on Yellowman's original
riddim differed in their choice of using either the AA or AB pattern.
Yellowman is just one example of the influence that reggae stars had on America's
hip hop community. Though an incredibly successful and famous Dancehall deejay,
Yellowman is recognized by his opponents as being both a controversial and
sexist artist. Though this controversial pace has slowed over the years, he is
still known as one of the most rude Dancehall toasters of his time.
By the mid-1990s however, Yellowman released socially-conscious material, rising
to international fame along with singers such as Buju Banton. Yellowman became
the island's most popular deejay despite being albinistic. During the early 1980s,
Yellowman had over 40 singles and produced up to five albums per year. His
success is seen by some as a rags to riches story.
In 1986, Yellowman struggled with cancer of the jaw and it was suspected that he
had only 6 months to live, but surgery saved his life. This has gave him a more
serious approach to his music, but like the struggles of his early days, he has
not let these difficulties stand in the way of his aspirations. Yellowman had
taken an extended leave from recording but came back with Blueberry Hill. He re-invented
himself with his 1994 album Prayer, and since the mid-1990s he has devoted his
time to spiritual and social concerns. His latest albums are New York (2003) and
Round 1 (2005). Yellowman was also a guest singer on the Run-DMC track "Roots
Rap Reggae",[clarify] on which he did most of the vocals. Yellowman continues to
perform internationally with his Sagittarius Band, and has toured through places
such as Peru, Italy, Germany, England, France, and the United States. He is one
of the widest-touring artists in the reggae industry.