Dr William (Lez) Henry – What the Deejay Said: A Critique from the Street! (Nu-Beyond Ltd: Learning By Choice!, 2006) ISBN: 0955409403

Lez is the artist formerly known as Lesley Lyrics who chatted on Ghettotone soundsystem and released the classic “Blind Date / Pull Back Your Truncheon” 12″ on UK Bubblers. This book is the first about 80s UK reggae dancehall – an exciting prospect!

The book is in two parts. The “A-side” tells other people’s stories. It is an examination how soundsystem culture and that of black working class youth in the UK has been written about by others. Whilst this can be heavy going in places, it is very interesting for two reasons. Firstly Lez skillfully analyses previous commentaries and highlights the overt and covert racism which they contain. Secondly, as someone who was active in soundsystem culture himself, he is able to address inaccuracies and provide a wealth of anecdotes and recollections of those times.

This latter aspect is ramped up in the “B-side” of the book in which Lez tells his own story – and those of deejays such as Papa Levi, Asher Senator, Tippa Irie, Champion and many others who are all quoted liberally throughout the text. Lez doesn’t hold back from laying into radio DJs and labels who he feels restricted the scene by emphasising humorous lyrics at the expense of those attacking the system. Parts this book will probably make uncomfortable reading for white liberals (and quite possibly black ones).

As a massive fan of the music who was not a participant, and who is all too aware of the contradictions of writing about it and championing it, this book can only be welcomed. Indeed, I hope it is the first of many – it is clear from the quotes in the book that the deejays of that time remain committed to their vision of promoting unity and black consciousness, and attacking inequality. Oh, and making a crowd ah people bawl forward!

I ordered my copy direct from the publisher: Nubeyond. They take paypal and delivery was super quick.