I-Roy

In order to get to the origins of contemporary rap and hip-hop, one must pay attention to the permutation of reggae known as toasting. Popularized in Jamaica in the late-60s by the deejays that ran mobile sound system parties, toasting was, conceptually speaking, very simple: an existing song (preferably a popular one) was remixed, the vocal track removed and the "deejay" (a word that eventually became the all-purpose description for toasters) would improvise spoken word segments over the backing tracks. If well executed the deejay version could become as popular (sometimes more popular) than the original vocal track. The deejay often credited with inventing toasting is the great U-Roy. However, the deejay seen as his equal is the remarkable Roy Reid, a.k.a. I-Roy.Born in St. Thomas, Jamaica in 1944, I-Roy's career began in his late-teens as a toaster for the sound system called Son's Junior. Under the spell of U-Roy, I-Roy (whose taken name was a tribute to the great originator of toasting) became a major figure in toasting in the early 70s along with such estimable deejays as Dennis Alcapone. It wasn't long before the success of his sound system parties convinced I-Roy to jack in his civil service job for full-time deejaying. It wasn't until 1972, after being encouraged by U-Roy, that I-Roy entered the studio to cut his own sides. The first few records weren't big hits, but over the next four years, I-Roy worked with every big name producer in Jamaica, and quickly became one of the hottest toasters to follow in the U-Roy's footsteps.In 1973 I-Roy made his first trip to England and had his first few records, Presenting I-Roy and Hell & Sorrow, released in Britain to enthusiastic response. Upon returning to Jamaica he spent the rest of the 70s as a house producer at the much revered studio Channel One, while continuing to release records and deejay at dancehalls. Only recently has I-Roy's seminal 70s work been made available on compact disc, offering proof of his formidable toasting skills. And although he records infrequently these days, and his records are harder to find, I-Roy remains a reggae legend.