2024, August 2024, Respect
General Levy
Aug
General Levy is a true veteran of the UK urban music scene and still one of the most in-demand MCs in the country.
Born Paul Levy in Central Middlesex Hospital NW10 London, England, in 1971, Levy grew up in the vibrant Harlesden and Wembley area for most of his early years, surrounded by different West Indian, European, Asian, and African influences.
Levy grew up in a community heavily influenced by reggae music and black culture. From an early age, a certain militancy and a love and respect for rebel music were instilled in him. He was also inspired by his big brother Winston Irie, who had a vast record collection of music, from ska to rock steady, calypso to soul, hip hop, and reggae, that gave Levy a steady diet of music through his adolescent years.
In 1981, Levy started collecting sound system dancehall tapes from Jamaica and the UK. These tapes were a big inspiration to him as they captured the live atmosphere of the session on cassettes, which Levy soon became an avid collector of.
“The ‘Incredible’ General! Positive upliftment and real education.” – Gav Pauze
mension. It was the first of many sounds Levy would join. He went on to various sound systems in the northwest London area, such as Vigilante from Stonebridge and Java Nuclear Power, where he met Joe 90 and crew. TipperTone Sound really signified the arrival of General Levy to the UK MC circuit. Levy went on to build a reputation as a creative and talented MC in the area, and after a few years on the circuit, he was soon approached to do some studio recordings.
Lloydy Crucial and Robbo Ranx were the first producers to work with Levy on studio projects. They released underground tracks such as ‘Tell Me Why’ and ‘You Can’t Hurry Love,’ in which the vocal talents of longtime singer Bredrin Jnr Dan assisted Levy.
Levy then went on to work with one of the biggest independent reggae labels, Fashion Records, who, alongside their in-house producer Gussie P, unleashed a string of underground dancehall fillers such as ‘Original Length and Strength,’ ‘Heat,’ ‘Breeze,’ ‘The Wig’ and ‘Champagne Body.’ He released his first album for Gussie P, entitled Double Trouble, in 1992, which was a collaboration with Jamaican superstar Capleton which confirmed Levy’s arrival on the international reggae circuit.
He went on to work with various UK labels such as Justice Records, owned by hip-hop DJ Tim Westwood, and Fashion Records, where he released his second album ‘Wickeder General,’ voted the best reggae album for 1992. The album track ‘Heat’ was voted best single, and General himself was voted best reggae DJ/MC by the British reggae industry, in which Levy was presented with three gold awards in one night at the London Hippodrome by Frank Bruno amongst other celebs. Levy was also voted best UK singer the following year at The Black Music Awards, which confirmed Levy as the UK premiere MC.
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WEBSITE:
Pauzeradio.com/General-Levy
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