King yellowman biography

Born Winston Foster in 1956 in Kingston, Jamaica; married to second wife, Rose; six children. Addresses: Record company--Artists Only! Records, 580 Broadway, Suite 910, New York, NY 10012.

Although sometimes overshadowed by the work of such deejays as Shabba Ranks who rose to prominence after him, Yellowman is regarded the father of dancehall reggae, the musical precursor to American rap, in which the deejay, or "sing-jay," combines song and rap to express often sexual or "slack" themes.

With an astounding 40 Jamaican records by 1982, Yellowman reigned over 1980s dancehall with his slack lyrics, rapid-fire rhymes, and a humorous take on everyday life. His distinctive style helped popularize the dancehall craze in his native Jamaica and also set the stage for rap artists in the United States.

Such hits as "Mad over Me," "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng," and "Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt" helped solidify Yellowman's title as king of dancehall reggae.

Winston Foster was born in 1956 i