Linton Kwesi Johnson

Tracks played

1. Want Fi Goh Rave played 4 times, last on 2026-08-25 by Chris Hawkins
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Richard Branson's Virgin Records. The story goes that Branson signed him after hearing him perform at a poetry reading. - Johnson was the second living poet to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. The first was Allen Ginsberg. - He holds an honorary doctorate from Warwick University, presented in 2023 for his contributions to poetry and music.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson, or LKJ, is the second living poet, and the only black poet, to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. The first was an English poet called John Betjeman. - The title of his 1980 album, *Bass Culture*, is sometimes used as a term to describe reggae music's emphasis on the bassline. Some musicologists even credit LKJ with popularising the term. - LKJ studied sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has maintained a keen interest in social and political issues throughout his career, often incorporating them into his poetry and music.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson, or LKJ, was the first black poet to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. That's quite a feat for someone whose early career involved being sacked from the Post Office for reading poetry on the job. - Beyond his musical career, LKJ has a degree in sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London. He also spent some time working for the Race Today Collective, a political organisation focused on black liberation.
2. Reality Poem played 3 times, last on 2026-05-25
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson is the second-ever living poet to have his work published in the influential Penguin Modern Classics series. The first was Allen Ginsberg. - The title of his 1979 album, *Forces of Victory*, was inspired by a book about the Cuban Revolution. Johnson is a committed political activist, and his work often reflects socialist and anti-racist themes. - Johnson has a degree in sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London. He also worked as the Poet in Residence for the London Borough of Lambeth for a year.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Virgin Records, but he later formed his own label, LKJ Records, largely to maintain control over his artistic output and publishing rights. He is one of the few poets, let alone reggae artists, to have their work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. - The poem "Reality Poem" itself, like much of Johnson's work, is a direct and unflinching commentary on social and political issues in Britain, particularly the experiences of the Black community. His delivery style, known as "dub poetry", is characterised by its rhythmic and often stark spoken-word approach over reggae backing. - Johnson has always been fiercely independent. He famously turned down an MBE in 2003, stating that it would have been "a betrayal" of his principles and the struggles his work represents.
3. Loraine played 2 times, last on 2026-08-23 by Afrodeutsche
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Richard Branson's Virgin Records, which, at the time, was better known for its roster of punk and new wave acts. This made LKJ one of the first reggae artists to be signed to a major label in the UK. - He is the first black poet to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. His inclusion in the prestigious collection solidified his place as a significant figure in British literature, not just music. - While touring, Johnson has reportedly insisted on having a chessboard in his dressing room, often challenging crew members or local promoters to a game before a show.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Richard Branson's Virgin Records, a label better known at the time for its progressive rock acts. Johnson reportedly only signed with them after a chance encounter with Branson in a lift. - The title track from Johnson's 1979 album, 'Forces of Victory', was used in a 2002 Nike advertising campaign. Johnson, a committed anti-capitalist, permitted its use on the condition that Nike also supported a number of his chosen charities. - Johnson holds an honorary doctorate from Warwick University, and his work is studied as part of the English Literature curriculum at several universities. He is one of only two poets published in the Penguin Modern Classics series while still alive. The other is Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Richard Branson's Virgin Records. Branson famously signed the Sex Pistols and other punk acts, but also had a significant reggae roster, including LKJ and Culture. - Johnson's 1980 album 'Bass Culture' includes a track titled 'Reggae fi Dada', a tribute to his late father. The album is widely considered a landmark in dub poetry. - In 2012, LKJ became the second living poet and first black poet to have his work published in Penguin Modern Classics. The collection, 'Mi Revalueshanary Fren', spans his career.
4. Reality Poem (Radio 1 John Peel Session, 3 Oct 1981) played 2 times, last on 2026-08-06 by This Cultural Life
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson was the second poet, and first black poet, to have his work published in Penguin Modern Classics. The only other poet to have this honour was Spike Milligan. - The title "Reality Poem" might be a nod to Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work with the "Race Today" collective, a magazine and alliance of activists and artists. They aimed to document and analyse the black experience in Britain, often through poetry that reflected stark realities. - He once remarked in an interview that his poetry is "strictly for the aural apprehension", meaning it's meant to be heard, not just read silently. This makes his John Peel sessions particularly authentic to his artistic intent.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson was the second-ever dub poet to be published by Penguin Books. The first was his mentor, Michael Smith. - Johnson has a sociology degree from Goldsmiths, University of London. He used his academic background to write a dissertation on the Rastafari movement. - In 2002, Johnson became the second living poet, after John Betjeman, to have his work published in Penguin's Modern Classics series.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson is not just a musician, he is also a highly respected poet. In 2002, he became only the second living poet and the first Black poet to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. - He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of London, awarded for his contributions to poetry and music. Not bad for a man whose early ambition was to become an accountant. - The "LKJ" in his name is sometimes misidentified as "Leroy Kincaid Johnson". The K actually stands for Kwesi, a Ghanaian name meaning "born on a Sunday".
5. It Dread Inna Inglan - Paris Theatre 1979 played 1 time, last on 2026-08-06 by This Cultural Life
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Richard Branson's Virgin Records, a label better known at the time for its punk rock roster. The story goes that Branson was so keen to sign Johnson that he offered him a blank contract, allowing Johnson to fill in his own terms. - Johnson has a degree in sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London. He has often spoken about how his academic background informed his lyrical themes and his approach to dub poetry. - In 2002, Johnson became only the second living poet, and the first black poet, to have his work published in Penguin Modern Classics. The collection was titled *Mi Revalueshanary Fren: Selected Poems*.
6. Doun Di Road (Radio 1 John Peel Session, 1 May 1979) played 1 time, last on 2026-08-06 by This Cultural Life
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson was the first black poet to have his work published in the influential Penguin Modern Classics series. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Goldsmiths, University of London. - The track "Doun Di Road" is a powerful piece of protest poetry, written during a period of significant racial tension in Britain. Johnson's work often focused on the experiences of the black British community and police brutality. - Johnson's unique style, often referred to as "dub poetry," blends reggae rhythms with spoken word. He reportedly insisted on recording his poetry with a full band to achieve this distinctive sound.
7. Bass Culture played 1 time, last on 2026-08-31 by 6 Music Artist in Residence
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Virgin Records' Front Line label, which was also home to artists like The Slits and Public Image Ltd. He reputedly had quite a different experience to some of the label's more rock-oriented acts, enjoying a surprising amount of creative freedom. - The track "Bass Culture" itself is a masterclass in dub poetry, a style Johnson pioneered. It blends reggae rhythms with spoken-word verses, often focusing on political and social commentary. It's a sound that's been hugely influential, even if it's not always explicitly credited.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson is the second-only poet to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. The first was Fernando Pessoa. - The title track from the album, 'Bass Culture', was reportedly inspired by Johnson's observations of sound system dances in South London, where the bass frequencies were so powerful they would physically vibrate the buildings. - Johnson has consistently refused to perform in Israel, citing his support for the Palestinian cause.
8. Di Great Insohreckshan played 1 time, last on 2026-10-03 by Don Letts' Culture Clash Radio
   • - The track was inspired by the 1981 Brixton riots, with Johnson writing it in phonetic Jamaican patois to reframe the street clashes as a righteous uprising rather than mere hooliganism. - Johnson made publishing history in 2002 by becoming only the second living poet to be published in the prestigious Penguin Modern Classics series, much to the bemusement of traditional literary snobs. - While the lyrics chronicle urban insurrection, the musical bedrock was built by legendary producer Dennis Bovell, who reputedly used his technical wizardry to invent British dub by mixing the tracks in odd suburban South London studios.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's early work was released on Richard Branson's Virgin Records, reportedly after Branson heard him performing at a poetry reading and offered him a contract on the spot. - Johnson was the second living poet, and the only black poet, to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. The first was the American poet and activist, Robert Lowell. - The title "Di Great Insohreckshan" refers to the 1981 Brixton riot, which Johnson witnessed firsthand. His poetry often documented the social and political struggles of Black people in Britain.
   • - Linton Kwesi Johnson's album "Bass Culture" was recorded at the legendary Channel One Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, a place more commonly associated with dancehall and reggae acts like Yellowman and Sly and Robbie. It was an unusual choice for a poet known for his dub poetry. - Johnson has a degree in sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London. Perhaps that's why his lyrics are so incisive; he was literally trained to analyse society. - In 2002, Johnson became only the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. Not bad for someone whose early teachers told him he couldn't write poetry.