'Dutty Lion' connects with his roots

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

There was always a strong sense of Caribbean pride in Olu Codrington's childhood home in Washington DC. From early, he caught on to the grooves of his Jamaican father's reggae and calypso record collection.

Now 36, Codrington is a rapper who goes by the moniker Dutty Lion. He is trying to make inroads in the local scene with Nicey Nicey, his latest song, but is also keen to make a difference in the lives of youth from Waterhouse, where he has family.

"The song is hip-hop and dancehall, because crossover is my thing," Dutty Lion told The Gleaner recently. "But it's really about good vibes and having a good time."

Nicey Nicey also features local deejays Mr Banging and Shane O, two of the artistes Dutty Lion has been working with since 2005 when he started coming to Jamaica regularly. They are expected to feature on a live show he is promoting in the Windward Road area of east Kingston in March.

"We're really looking at getting the youths to unite and stop stabbing each other in the back," Dutty Lion explained. "My dad's Jamaican and doing something like this makes me feel even more Jamaican."

Nicey Nicey is the latest release by his Dutty Lion Entertainment which earlier productions include Remember The Days, another song with a hip-hop/dancehall flavour.

Most of the label's productions are co-produced by Jay Branson, a Washington DC native with Trinidadian roots. While the songs are hip-hop-driven, Dutty Lion says there is always room for the rhythm and blues, reggae and soca he and Branson were weaned on.

Olu Codrington is one of three children his African-American mother bore his father whom he said grew up in the Constant Spring area of Kingston.

He said the 'old man' made sure he got his fill of Jamaican culture, especially the music of Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Black Uhuru and Gregory Isaacs.

Despite his appreciation for things Jamaican, Dutty Lion recalls rap as his biggest musical influence. It was not until six years ago that he made his first trip to Jamaica in search of his roots.

A plumber by profession, he said he reaches out to marginalised youth in Waterhouse during his visits.

"I work a lot with a group of Romanians, and what I find fascinating is that they go back to their country, train young people as plumbers and bring them to America," Dutty Lion said.

"Coming to Jamaica for me it's not just about music," he added. "I tell these kids, 'You need to learn a skill and get a meaningful job'."

The east Kingston event, dubbed 'Owa Fest', takes place March 19.