Yellowman

Island 98.5 Presents
Yellowman

Jamaica's first dancehall superstar, Yellowman ushered in a new era in reggae music following Bob Marley's death. His early-'80s success brought the popularity of toasting -- the reggae equivalent of rapping -- to a whole new level, and helped establish dancehall as the wave of the future. His rise to stardom was unlikely enough, but his transformation from untouchable outcast into sex symbol was staggering, partly due to his trademark lewdness, which affirmed him as a sexual being just like his listeners. Yellowman was one of the most verbally nimble toasters of his time, with a loose, easy flow, a talent for improvisation, and a definite wit in his wordplay.