Anthony B 1251613 216124332 2008-05-31T04:57:10Z 96.240.142.252 /* Career */ {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = Anthony B | Img = Anthony B (Seattle 2005).jpg | Img_capt = Anthony B performing in 2005 | Img_size = | Landscape = | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Keith Blair | Alias = | Born = {{birth date and age|1976|3|31}} <br><small>[[Trelawny]], [[Jamaica]]</small> | Died = | Origin = | Instrument = | Genre = [[Reggae]] | Occupation = | Years_active = 1996–present | Label = [[VP Records|VP]], [[Greensleeves Records]] | Associated_acts = | URL = | Notable_instruments = }} {{Primarysources|date=October 2007}} '''Anthony B''' is the [[stage name]] of '''Keith Blair''' (born [[March 31]], [[1976]]), a [[Jamaica]]n [[musician]]. ==Biography== ===Early life=== Blair grew up in rural Clarks Town in the northwestern [[Parishes of Jamaica|parish]] of [[Trelawny]] in [[Jamaica]]. His deeply religious family life (his mother was a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] and his grandmother a [[Revivalism|Revivalist]]) imbued him with a profound spirituality. During his youth, his favorite singers were [[reggae]] legends [[Bob Marley]], [[Peter Tosh]], and [[Bunny Wailer]], musicians who strongly influenced his own style. Peter Tosh's influence can definitely be heard in Anthony B's vocal delivery and revolutionary stance. Anthony B adopted [[Rastafari movement|Rastafarian]] beliefs as a teenager, a decision which was not well-received by his family. The stubborn and determined Anthony B refused to give up his new religion and his [[dreadlocks]] and moved to the home of his aunt and uncle in the [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] suburb, Portmore. ===Career=== [[Image:Anthony B.jpg|thumb|Anthony B performing in 2005]] While attending high school, Anthony B debuted as a [[deejay]] for the local sound system, Shaggy Hi-Power. In 1988, he befriended reggae artists such as [[Determine]], [[Mega Banton]], [[Ricky General]] and [[Terror Fabulous]]. At this point in the reggae industry, singing "slack" songs about women was the popular thing to do. Anthony B did not believe in degrading women and chose to pen politically-slanted songs instead. He hooked up with [[Little Devon]] the Half Pint sound-a-like singer he made his debut single "[[The Living is Hard]]" on the Wizard label in [[1993 in music|1993]]. Anthony B tried many different [[record producer|producers]] but found that none of them fit his style of music. Finally, Anthony B teamed up with Richard "Bello" Bell, creating hits such as "Fire Pon Rome", "Raid Di Barn", "Rumour", and "Repentance Time." Anthony B's 1996 debut album entitled "[[Real Revolutionary]]" in the U.K. and "[[So Many Things]]" in the U.S. was highly acclaimed in the reggae community.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} In late 1997, Anthony B released ''[[Universal Struggle]]'' which showed that Anthony B had a consistent, high-caliber talent. Anthony B has released a large number of albums since including 1999's ''Seven Seals,'' 2003's ''Street Knowledge'', 2004's ''Untouchable'' which featured collaborations with artists including [[Wyclef Jean]], [[Snoop Dogg]] & [[Bone Crusher]], 2005's ''Black Star'' & ''My Hope,'' and most recently, ''Suffering Man.'' Anthony B tours extensively in Europe and North America and is known for his fiery, high-energy performances. Anthony B is a member of the [[Bobo Ashanti]] branch of the Rastafarian movement. "Bobo Dreads", as they are known, are recognizable by their long robes and turbans. The strong [[Afrocentrism|Afrocentric]] pride and the other Rastafarian beliefs (or "overstandings" as Rastafarians prefer to call them) which Anthony B holds are reflected in his songs. == Discography == ===Albums=== *''Predator & Prey'' (1996, Alpha Enterprises) *''Real Revolutionary'' / ''So Many Things'' (1996, Greensleeves) *''Universal Struggle'' (1997, VP Records) *''Seven Seals'' (1999, VP Records) *''That's Life'' (2001, VP Records) *''More Love'' (2001, AO ! Records) *''Live On The Battlefield'' (2002, Jahmin' Records) *''Reggae Max'' (2002, [[Jet Star]]) *''Street Knowledge'' (2003, VP Records) *''Judgment Time'' (2003, 2B1 Records) *''Smoke Free'' (2003, Bogalusa Records) *''Voice Of Jamaica'' vol. 2 (2003, Nocturne) *''Wise Man Chant'' (2004, Black Scorpio) *''Justice Fight'' (2004, Nocturne) *''Untouchable'' (2004, Togetherness Records) *''Powers Of Creation'' (2004, Nocturne) *''Black Star'' (2005, Greensleeves) *''My Hope'' (2005, AL.TA.FA.AN. / Minor 7 Flat 5) *''Confused Times'' (2005, Penitentiary) *''Gather and Come'' (2006 Penitentiary) *''Suffering Man'' (2006 Tad's Records) *''Higher Meditation'' (2007 Greensleeves) *''Life Over Death'' (2008 Trendsetter) ===Compilations=== *''Chanting Down Babylon'' (1997, Power Play); live, with [[Buju Banton]] *''2 Strong'' (1998, Star Trail/VP Records); with [[Sizzla]] *''Anthony B & Idren'' (1998, Jamaican Vibes) *''Anthony B & Friends'' (1998, Rhino Records) *''Nazarene Vow'' (1999, Records Factory); with [[Junior Timba]] *''3 Wise Men'' (1999, J&D); with Sizzla and Luciano *''One Mission'' (1999, J&D); with [[Capleton]] *''Saddle To The East'' (2001, Brick Wall); with [[Jah Mason]] and [[Steve Machete]] *''4 Rebels'' (2001, VP Records); with Sizzla, Luciano, and [[Yami Bolo]] *''The Five Disciples'' (2001, Penitentiary / Jet Star); with Sizzla, Luciano, [[Junior Kelly]], and Capleton *''We Three Kings'' (2001, AO ! Records); with Sizzla *''We Three Kings'' (2002, Navarre); with Capleton and Luciano *''Four The Hard Way'' (2002, City Hall); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Luciano *''Kings Of Zion'' (2002, Jet Star); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Junior Kelly *''5 Blazing Fires'' (2002, Fire Ball); with [[Admiral Tibbett]], Sizzla, Capleton, and [[Michael Fabulous]] *''Five Disciples Part II'' (2003, Jet Star); with Capleton, Luciano, Sizzla, and [[Jr. Kelly]] *''Kings Of Zion vol. 3'' (2005, Charm); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Turbulence *''Jah Warriors vol. III'' (2005, Penitentiary); with Luciano ==External links== * [http://www.anthonyb.com/ Official website] * [http://www.gravity-entertainment.com/index.php?page=music Music videos] {{DEFAULTSORT:B, Anthony}} [[Category:Jamaican musicians]] [[Category:Reggae musicians]] [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Jamaican Rastafarians]] [[Category:Performers of Rastafarian music]] [[da:Anthony B]] [[de:Anthony B.]] [[fr:Anthony B]] [[it:Anthony B]] [[hu:Anthony B]] [[sv:Anthony B]]