Andre “Suku” Gray of Dancehall group Ward 21 checks in with me on this episode of #beingAfricaAllah. I remember the first time I heard his voice on a record I was mesmerized. He had a stand out voice that rocked very verse he touched. Interestingly enough, his goal was never to become an artist. Hit play to find out more about Suku Ward.
Ward 21
Ward 21 are a group of dancehall musicians and producers from Kingston, Jamaica, named after the psychiatric ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston.[1] Comprising Ward 21 are renowned producers and have created hit dancehall riddims like “Badda badda”, “Da Joint”, “Bellyas”, and “Volume” as well as hit singles like “Haters” and “Judgement Day”
The group formed in the late 1990s and originally had four members — Kunley McCarthy, Andre “Suku” Gray, Mark “Meandawg” Henry, and Ranaldo “Rumblood” Evans. They were mentored by King Jammy and acted as selectors for his sound system. After leaving Jammy they signed to New York label Natural Bridge. They had their first success with the “Bada Bada” riddim in 1998, which was the basis of tracks by Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Chuck Fenda. As well as success as producers, they had hits in their own right with tracks such as “Haters”, “Judgement Day”, and “Blood Stain”. The group’s first album, Mentally Disturbed, was released in 2001.
Tracklist
Instrumental- Camron - Orchestra 00:03:50
Only Man (Arab Attack Riddim) 00:04:31
Miss Bonifide-Arab Attack 00:02:18
Certain Gal 12 00:02:32
Spragga Benz - Body Good (Arab Attack Riddim) 00:02:30
Showtime - Frisco Kid - GAL PON THE SIDE 00:02:14
Showtime - Red Fox - BASHMENT PARTY 00:01:57
Showtime - Beenie Man - DEM NO LIKE ME 00:01:42
Showtime - Spragga - We Nuh Like 00:13:05
GAL SPLURT (SHOWTIME RIDDIM) 00:08:02
Lighter (Instrumental) 00:07:00
Worldwide Bad Boy 00:04:16
WARD-21-GANGSTA SCHOOL-RAW 00:04:27
Instrumentals - Beanie Sigel - Feel It In The Air 00:03:48
The Truth Riddim [Instrumental] 00:29:25
Angel of Mine 00:03:32
A Couldn't We 00:02:46
Go Weh 00:02:40
Get Wid It 00:02:10
Di Position 00:02:03
Faded 00:02:26
Haters 00:02:36
Me Nuh Walla Walla 00:02:02
Psycho Med 00:02:02
Batty Bwoy 00:02:34
Dat Nuh Mek It 00:02:12
Skettel Tune 00:02:01
Lexxus - Halla Halla (Bellyas Riddim) 00:01:55
Drunkin` whispy 00:02:08
Bellyas Riddim - Beenie Man - Fire Burn 00:02:07
Bellyas Riddim - Watch yuh Fri 00:01:57
Blood Stain (Bellyas Riddim) 00:02:32
Pussy Watch Man(Bellyas Riddim) 00:02:39
Who Dem 00:02:28
Gyal Dem Song 00:04:34
Punanny Riddim [Instrumental] 00:12:00
Jay-Z_-_Heart_of_the_City_(Aint_No_Love) 00:10:23
Grinding(Remix) 00:03:36
Special Delivery(clean)G Dep 00:02:19
Special Delivery Rmx(clean)G Dep,Ghostface,Keith Murry 00:03:57
TUNN UP (Clean) 00:05:08
Is That your chick-Missy,Jay Z,Memphis(clean) 00:03:57
Shabba REMIX { MP3WAXX } 00:04:49
Kill Dem (Remix)(Feat. Mavado & Bounty Killer) 00:08:29
Rishanna Riddim [Instrumental] 00:06:37
Printa Riddim [Instrumental] 00:02:56
Wine 'n Go Down 00:02:09
Mind Games - [Clean] 00:02:02
Miss Lu 00:01:55
Gyal Factory - [Clean] 00:01:38
Tun It Up 00:01:36
Tiny - [Clean] 00:02:23
Wine It Up 00:01:32
Touch a Button 00:01:54
Printa 00:01:45
Be Quiet 00:01:55
No Worry 00:02:04
Turn And Twist 00:01:44
Scarface 00:01:54
Original Trend 00:01:47
Trouble 00:01:45
Dem A Cry 00:01:33
SCARFACE - Ward 21 - Anti Spy 00:18:51
Scarface Rhythm Version 00:19:33
Do Summ 00:02:04
Do Summ 00:02:08
Krazy - Ward 21 - I GOT A RAYME 00:02:36
Mungrel Dawg 00:02:44
Space Ship (feat. Suku Ward) 00:02:28
rise up 00:02:22
X5 - Ward 21 - SOMEBODY STOP ME 00:02:11
Style (Radio) 00:02:12
More Girl (Radio) 00:02:04
Knock the Ball 00:01:44
Action 00:01:25
Drive Gone (Radio) 00:01:20
Damage (Radio) 00:01:48
(Sidewalk University Riddim) Get Cross 00:01:55
Tony Matterhorn - Man From Mars 00:01:33
Sidewalk University Riddim - Sizzla - Ghetto Youths 00:01:23
Assassin Nuttin Nah Gwaan 00:01:42
One More 00:01:54
Scream - [Clean] 00:01:52
Katty (Raw) 00:01:45
U Got It 00:01:06
Got My Sean John 00:01:08
What It's Not (Clean) 00:01:17
You A Fossy (You A Fassy) (Raw) 00:01:05
Let Me Through (Clean) 00:01:12
Million Dollar Richer 00:02:07
Wickedest Ride 00:01:57
A Nuh Say Dem Caan (Edit) 00:01:25
In The Garrison 00:01:18
The War Is Not Over 00:01:23
Bulletproof Skin 00:01:24
Bullett 00:01:23
Hot Fuck 00:01:22
Real Yutes - [Clean] 00:01:09
Wutless Gyal - [Clean] 00:00:59
Our Law 00:00:51
Run Di Place 00:01:02
Pillow Talk 00:01:02
Top Class - [Clean]
Hard Wuk