Anthony B
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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]]
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