The African Ambassador 

By Issa Kelly – Chicago, IL 

“Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.”  It’s a saying that is as old as the human race.  In my head I hear the sweet, harmonizing, acappella voices of Sweet Honey In The Rock soothing my soul.  That adage also comes to my mind when I think of DJ SlackyJ, reggae DJ at WLUW 88.7.   When I first came to town he made me feel welcomed on the reggae scene and appreciated as a listener of his show.  You can catch his show Friday nights 6: 30 - 11 CST and is broadcast live on the net - www.reggaenice.com.

Whether intended or not SlackyJ has become one of the ambassadors of reggae music in Chicago.  It’s hard to get a minute with this ever moving personality so much of our ‘interview’ took place over e-mail.  SlackyJ writes about getting started, “doing college parties, like University of Chicago, Harold Washington, Loyola…..I use to DJ all kind of music, like old school, hip-hop, R&B and reggae.  But my heart was in reggae.”   

When the roots of reggae have been a part of your life since childhood, how could it not be at your heart?  Slacky’s reggae education started before he was out of diapers.  When asked to pin point when exactly he first heard reggae he can’t remember because his family always listened to reggae.  The neighborhood he grew up in, New Town-Accra, Ghana, West Africa, was know for reggae music more than any other place in the country.  He recalls when he was very young he thought,  “Bob [Marley] use to live in the country next to Ghana.”   

SlackyJ’s passion for reggae was evident when he was 13 and living in London.  He and his other underage friends would follow the Saxon sound system.  “At that time Saxon was the hottest sound in London.  Wherever they played we’d find a way to get in.  Artists like Maxi Priest, Tippa Irie, etc. came out of the Saxson sound system.”  

He names Rodigan from KissFM in London as one of the people that influenced him, “I admire him a lot.  Because, I feel, as a white man he has been able to dominate the reggae scene and has set the path for young DJs like myself.  I feel he has not been given the ultimate respect that is due to him.  A good DJ should have knowledge about the roots of the music, as well as the direction the music is going.  That is very true of Rodigan.” 

This outgoing, vivacious person has blessed WLUW for 6 years, but how he got his start is more subdued.  His friend Lionel, who does the hip-hop show on WLUW, was the one among many of his friends who encouraged him to work at the station.  Lionel had spoke to Slacky several times about becoming a DJ, but he was reluctant to take him up on the offer.  One day, during Slacky’s junior year, he and some of his classmates were talking and Lionel grabbed Slacky’s phone, called the station manager and got Slacky connected.  Back in the early days the hosting duties were shared with Haitian King, who occasionally appears on the show now.   

He showcases three of the many styles of reggae.  The show starts with Roots, at about 8:30 he switches to Lover’s Rock and at 10:00 he finishes out with Dancehall.  He says, “No matter what I put into my show, it’s always worth it.  He enjoys making people’s day” for him there is no better feeling then that.  “Money is not everything in the world, there are some things money can’t buy.”   

One of the things money can’t buy is the wonderful turn out of supporters, fans and musicians on January 13^th of this year, 2002, for the Reggae Vibes benefit show.  “I believe from day one that the reggae vibes show is the peoples show, since we are totally affiliated with all people regardless of  race, colour or origin. I try as much as I can, to work with all local artist and the artist in return show me the love and respect that they have for the show by coming out to play for my benefit show at The Wild Hare.”  The performers included:  Gizzae, Tony ‘Big Red’ Akins, Sam Ghansah, Andrea, Aswah Greggori, Ras Kalin Ray Selassie, Kwame, Errol T, Kofi (the lead singer of RSB), Michael Black, Danny Silk, Spiritual, Jukie, Skinny Boy, NuRas and Magic Rocker. 

One of the challenges that he sees in the reggae business is that ‘There is no unity among the reggae business itself, especially the people on the top and not enough good promoters around Chitown to bring big shows to the city.”   His point on this one is that we have a few good promoters but it we had more it would increase the people willing to make the investment to bring in big name groups.    “I think people in Chitown are hungry for really good shows…I feel many good reggae artists haven’t made it to Chicago yet [when you] compare it to places like NYC.” 

In the future Slacky wants to open up a great reggae club in Ghana.  He already has most of the equipment and he has had job offers from the top stations in Ghana.  “I’m really hoping that I can get as many of the reggae artist down to play in the motherland Africa, both local and foreign.”    

On Friday night whether chilling at home with your hug-me-tight or getting ready to go out on the town tune into SlackyJ’s show and see the sentry for the up and comer, as well as for our foundation sounds demonstrating the livication to his roots.