Reid's musical career began at age 14 in his native Jamaica, where he recorded his first album for producer Hugh Mundell. After Mundell's death he worked with Sugar Minott and Prince Jammy, who produced the hit "Boom Shack A Lack." Reid's reputation -- he had credibility in both the dancehall and roots reggae camps -- led the Grammy-winning Black Uhuru to seek him out in 1986 when Rose departed the group.

Reid's first album with Black Uhuru was the well-received Brutal, which contained the big hit "Great Train Robbery." He stayed with the band through 1990. However, the fact that he'd already started his own JR label and was experiencing visa problems--he was denied entry to the U.S., which he says was due to his outspoken political views-- helped persuade him to go solo. Reid had already appeared on a single by UK dance collective Coldcut in 1988 and two years later he guested on Brit alt-rockers The Soup Dragons' smash cover of The Rolling Stones' "I'm Free." In 1990, Reid also released the massive Jamaican hit "One Blood," which returned him to his dancehall roots, albeit with a much harder, digital edge.

He made a series of albums through the 90s, at one point declining an invitation to join Madonna's Maverick label in favor of staying free as an artist and producer in Jamaica. Reid's studio has remained a hit factory, producing plenty of successful outings for other artists, and now he proves his worth with a new hit all his own, the shining "What If". Acoustic and spare, with a simple but effective melody, it gives plenty of space to Reid's singular voice and vision for a more equitable, unified world.

-- Dan LeRoy

Dan LeRoy is the music and entertainment writer for the Charleston Daily Mail. He serves as an associate editor for Grafitti, a statewide entertainment newspaper, and has also written for several music-related publications including Launch.com, Boston Rock, and Lexicon.