Frisco Kid “Weh Yu Up To”

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Stephen Wray aka Frisco Kid aka Ancient Monarchy, one of Portmore’s and Jamaica’s favourite artists, was born in 1971. Wray began to emulate leading DJs while still at school and was eventually given a chance on the microphone at smaller dances. While working in a garage in Kingston, a chance meeting with the owner of the Exodus Nuclear sound system led to his performing as the Paro Kid. He became the resident DJ for Exodus and subsequently went to King Jammy’s studio to record some specials, changing his name to Frisco Kid. As his career developed, he recorded ‘Dance Again’ at Donovan Germain’s Penthouse studio. Frisco Kid’s career prospects looked promising as a result of this release, but after the initial fervour died down, no further recordings surfaced. He returned to recording specials for the sound and it was at Black Scorpio in 1993 that his recording career took an upward turn. Confusion over studio time led Frisco Kid and DJ Terror Fabulous back to Penthouse, where he recorded ‘Big Speech’. His second break led to a number of hits, including ‘Wakey News’, ‘Yuh And Yuh Man’, ‘Tribulation’, ‘Yuh A Boom’, ‘Step Up In Life’, and ‘Gal A Di Clothes’. His notoriety led to an appearance at the 1995 Reggae Sunsplash festival where he captivated the crowds with an exceptional performance. His success led to an alliance with Patrick Roberts, who enrolled Frisco Kid as part of the Shocking Vibes crew. The crew embarked on an international tour featuring Little Kirk, Silver Cat, Tanto Metro, Snagga Puss, and Beenie Man; the tour represented the debut performances in Europe for Silver Cat and Frisco Kid. The shows received rave receptions from both the critics and audiences alike. In 1996 Frisco Kid joined Buju Banton’s label, the newly formed Cell Block 321. The enterprise was designed to promote new talent and Frisco Kid’s career advanced with the release of the phenomenal ‘Video Light’. His success continued with ‘If Looks’ and the multi-combination hit ‘Matey Anthem’, alongside Mega Banton, Spragga Benz, Mad Cobra, General Degree, Gringo and Johnny P. Many of his hits were featured on the excellent debut album, Finally.

“Tell dem fi pack up and lock shop because I’m back,” said Frisco Kid, as he declared that 2020 will be the year he makes his return to the dancehall scene. In an interview with THE WEEKEND STAR, the ‘90s deejay said fans have been begging for him to bring back music’s glory era and he is finally ready to oblige.

“Me take a likkle break fi do weh me a do. Me did still a perform and thing, but me nuh put out nuh new tune. But yuh see 2020, we come wid full force. It’s gonna be an overdose,” he said.

“Me did a deal wid an apartment thing, and a dat me a do fi di past couple years now. Dem time deh when me a do dem thing deh, me nah think bout nuh music thing because yuh affi a focus fully on music when yah do dat. Music come in like woman; yuh affi pay it nuff attention or it find another place go live.”

The deejay said that the persons who have been entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the music have not been treating it right, and the market has been complaining. He said he has a responsibility to make music nice again.

Frisco Kid, 48, said that in the last few months, he has released one track and based on the reaction, the people want more.

“Me put out a new tune, a Salaam Remi production, coming off a riddim name Thirsty. It play pan the radio and post pan Instagram, and the amount a people weh a comment and a say, ‘Frisco, yu need fi come out deh back’. It’s overwhelming,” he said.

“Right now, the people dem a say this is where dem need back the music to be. Dem ask for it and me a guh gi dem, so come 2020, I’m out in full force.”

Frisco Kid has delivered hits such as Little and Cute, Gal Pon De Side, Tink We Nice and Wackie News, all of which were released in the 1990s.

Well aware of the ‘dinosaur’ label that is attached to him and other artistes from his generation, the entertainer says the tag is one he takes no offence to. In fact, he says he embraces the title because to him, it’s a compliment.

“When me look pan it, dem (young artistes) can’t stand up beside me pan nuh show, nuh stage. First of all, dem nah no energy inna dem performance, dem nah no stage presence. A next thing, dem nuh sound the same as pan dem records, because a thing called auto tune a run the place now. Anything yuh say right now and put it through auto tune, it tun music. So nuff artiste out deh weh not even have a real sound, but dem come out and a say dem a lock the place and a disrespect we,” he said.

“A me a promote dinosaurs from wah day, innu. Anybody call me dinosaur me accept it because we a di real dinosaur, but we still a tour. When yuh don’t see we, we a trod the earth. Nothing beats the first.”