Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae band probably best known for their hits "S… Read Full Bio ↴Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae band probably best known for their hits "Shine Eye Gal", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Sinsemilla," "Solidarity," and "What Is Life?". They were the first group to win a Grammy in the reggae category when it was introduced in 1985. They originally formed as 'Black Sounds Uhuru' (the Kiswahili word for freedom).

The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with The Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled Love Crisis, later rereleased as Black Sounds Of Freedom. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina, USA. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and the Grammy-winning Anthem¹, as well as others. During this period, Black Uhuru became one of the most popular reggae groups in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. Live 1984 (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany, but was actually recorded on October 18, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers.

After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees left the group.

In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.

== Discography ==

'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson'

*1977 - 'Love Crisis'
*1981 - 'Black Sounds of Freedom' ("Love Crisis" reedition)

'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones'

*1979 - 'Showcase'
*1980 - 'Black Uhuru'
*1980 - 'Sinsemilia'
*1981 - 'Red'
*1982 - 'Chill Out'
*1983 - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' ("Black Uhuru" reedition)
*1983 - 'Anthem'

'Group: Derrick Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones'

*1986 - 'Brutal'
*1987 - 'Positive' (Puma Jones replaced Olafunke)

'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos'

*1990 - 'Now'
*1991 - 'Iron Storm'
*1993 - 'Mystical truth'
*1994 - 'Strongg'

'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees'

*1998 - 'Unification'
*2001 - 'Dynasty'

'Live / Dub albums:'

*1982 - 'Uhuru in Dub'
*1982 - 'Tear It Up - Live' (album and video)
*1983 - 'The Dub Factor'
*1986 - 'Brutal Dub'
*1987 - 'The Positive Dub'
*1988 - 'Live'
*1988 - 'Live In New York City'
*1990 - 'Now Dub'
*1990 - 'Love Dub' ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
*1992 - 'Iron Storm Dub'
*1993 - 'Mystical Truth Dub'
*1994 - 'Strongg Dubb'
*2000 - 'Live 1984'
*2001 - 'In Dub'
*2001 – 'Dubbin'It Live' (summer 2001, at Paléo Festival)

Reggae Rock
Black Uhuru Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (hey)
NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (please) 2x
I can't seem to settle down
in this ah kinky part of town
where everybody seems to use cocane
You take the time to find it out

what this cocane is all about
have everybody free basin away
If you make consciousness the key
that's the way we will be free
instead of free basin your time away
JAH JAH MUSIC SOUND SO SWEET
it makes you move your dancing feet
we got to find a better way to play (hey)

NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (hey)
NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (please) 2x

What happened to the Good Lord's bread
where we used to rest our head
what happened to the good sinsea
it used to make u feel irie
and now you've gone and used cocane
yes it make you go insane
it make you lose your friends and family
If you make consciousness the key
that's the way we will be free
instead of free basin your time away
JAH JAH MUSIC SOUND SO SWEET
it makes you move your dancing feet
we got to find a better way today (hey)

NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (hey)
NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK
... (GUITAR SOLOS)...
NO DON'T YOU CRACK
COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK YAGAYAWW
NO DON'T YOU CRACK

COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (Please)
NO DON'T YOU CRACK (end)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Black Uhuru's song Reggae Rock call for listeners to resist the temptation of drugs, particularly cocaine, and join in the joyful celebration of reggae music. The singer laments the state of his community, where cocaine use is rampant, and urges people to find better ways to spend their time. He encourages listeners to make consciousness the key to their freedom, rather than indulging in drugs that lead to insanity and the loss of friends and family.

The chorus echoes this message with a call to action: "No don't you crack, come let's dance to the reggae rock." The reggae rock is presented as an alternative to the destructive temptations of drugs, a way to express oneself through music and dance while staying connected to one's roots and community. The song attributes a special power to reggae music - the "Jah Jah music" sounds sweet and moves one's dancing feet, offering a way to feel irie that is both healthy and enjoyable.

Overall, Black Uhuru's Reggae Rock is a testament to the power of music to resist the corrosive influence of drugs on individuals and communities. The song's message is one of hope and transformation, urging people to find a better way today.

Line by Line Meaning

NO DON'T YOU CRACK
Do not lose control to cocaine addiction

COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (hey)
Let's enjoy the sweet sounds of reggae music and dance

NO DON'T YOU CRACK (please) 2x
Please do not succumb to drug addiction

I can't seem to settle down in this ah kinky part of town where everybody seems to use cocane
I am uncomfortable living in this neighborhood where drugs are normative behavior

You take the time to find it out what this cocane is all about have everybody free basin away
It's easy to get caught up in the trend and indulge in drug abuse

If you make consciousness the key that's the way we will be free instead of free basin your time away
If you prioritize mindfulness over drug use, we can live a freer and healthier life

JAH JAH MUSIC SOUND SO SWEET it makes you move your dancing feet we got to find a better way to play (hey)
Reggae music is a beautiful art form that inspires movement, and we need to replace drug culture with healthier forms of fun

What happened to the Good Lord's bread where we used to rest our head what happened to the good sinsea it used to make u feel irie
We have strayed from peaceful and righteous living

and now you've gone and used cocane yes it make you go insane it make you lose your friends and family
Drug use leads to detrimental effects, such as mental illness and estrangement from loved ones

we got to find a better way today (hey)
We need to make positive changes to our way of living and do it soon

NO DON'T YOU CRACK COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK YAGAYAWW
Do not let drugs destroy your life, let's dance to the beat of reggae music

NO DON'T YOU CRACK COME LET'S DANCE TO THE REGGAE ROCK (Please) 2x NO DON'T YOU CRACK (end)
Do not give in to drug addiction, let's enjoy the positive vibes of reggae music and reject negative lifestyles.

Writer(s): Delroy Reid

Contributed by Cooper E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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