AS an up-and-coming deejay in the 1980s, Ricky General took his cue from older artistes including Ninjaman and Super Cat. Now an elder of the dancehall, he believes it is important for him and his contemporaries to listen to dancehall’s young turks.

For his latest songs, 10 Million and Dolly Body, the artiste known for 1990s jams such as Sketell Bomb and Informer goes for a feel he hopes will appeal to the current generation of dancehall fans.

“Yuh have to move with di times ‘cause things change,” Ricky General stated.

He produced 10 Million for his Orange Diamond Records, while Dolly Body was done for Konsequence Muzik, one of dancehall music’s top labels.

Of the current deejays, Ricky General singles out N’Hance as one to watch.

“Him jus’ different from di rest a dem young yute ya. Him nuh really inna di shotta ting; him a talk some positive tings,” he said.

Born Richard Anderson, Ricky General spent his early years in Waterford, which had the most hardcore dancehall colony in Portmore. It was there where he cut his teeth on sound systems like King Larry during the mid and late 1980s.

His first song, Slam Bam, was produced by deejay Red Dragon and released in 1990.

In the mid-1990s Ricky General hit the charts with the self-produced Sketell Bomb, while Informer was recorded for Stone Love. Other well-received singles from that era include Just Another Day, Gun in A Barrow and Back A Yard.

– Howard Campbell