"Billy Boyo is the High School MC"

Continuing with the youth and school themes...


Billy Boyo ‎– School I Attend
Rhythm: Fever
Producer: Henry "Junjo" Lawes
Label: Volcano ‎– [no catalog number]
Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Jamaica, 1982(?)

Side A - School I Attend
Side B - Version

For a few years in the early 80s, a fad of child deejays took off in Jamaica. Preteen dancehall stars Little John and Little Harry each had their moments, but for me Billy Boyo was the standout in that class. Nine years old when he first started rocking mics at the dance, Billy's short career produced a surprising number of memorable cuts.

In this one, Billy raps about "the school I attend" over a version of the Fever rhythm cut for producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes. Musical Youth made it big in America claiming they were singing about food when they changed the Mighty Diamonds' "Pass The Kouchie" into "Pass The Dutchie." But Billy Boyo, probably 12 years old on this track, kept it real back in yard. He chats about he he "took my lunch money and buy sensi" after bragging about his fresh Wallabees, 15 years before Ghostface. (J: Think twice before sending this one on to your students.)

Like many Jamaican vinyls, my copy of the record was pressed with lots of little pits and defects that make some noise in the recording. I removed the worst of it, but I'm pretty sure this old 45 is still the only place to find this song (other than maybe someone's even crappier sounding youtube video).

(Music sound familiar? It's called Fever for a reason: Horace Andy's original cut for Studio One in 1970.)

Enjoy.

Comments

  1. FLAC: https://mega.nz/folder/IeRnzQZJ#S9y4EmMKHYDScF_NNzUQsg
    MP3: https://mega.nz/folder/FPYziYRQ#ox4i9H6tiwqYDJxgr7Cb6g

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