Ewart “U-Roy” Beckford was a Jamaican deejay who elevated the art of toasting — talking over a record to the rhythm of the song — to an international phenomenon. He helped start the career of early toasters and artists like Shabba Ranks, and even early hip-hop can be traced to U-Roy’s vocal style.
U-Roy died last week at 78. Host Jane Clayson speaks with Patricia Meschino, writer for Billboard, about U-Roy’s legacy.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA5MTc0MDI0MDEzMzE4MjI4ODdlOTk4MA004))