Veteran musician and singer-songwriter Boris Gardiner is pleased his music is resonating with a new generation of fans. He made the disclosure shortly after learning that American rapper Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album, To Pimp A Butterfly, had been certified platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The platinum certification comprises streaming and sales exceeding 300,000 units.

Gardiner co-wrote and sang Every Nigger Is A Star, which was sampled by Lamar on the track Wesley’s Theory which is featured on To Pimp A Butterfly.

“I always say whatever you’re doing, do it to the best of your ability because anything is possible. If it isn’t done properly, then nobody would listen to it. The song was co-written by my brother Barry and it’s a great feeling to know that somebody realised the song is a powerful song,” said Gardiner.

He first learned of Lamar’s sampling from an executive at Jazzman Records, a British company that has the song and album Every Nigger Is A Star on its books.

“A representative from Jazzman was contacted by Kendrick and he told me the rapper had heard the song and was interested in sampling it. So, I signed a release to have it cleared,” Gardiner said.

To Pimp A Butterfly has another Jamaican element with The Blacker The Berry which features dancehall artiste Agent Sasco on the chorus. Produced by Jamaican Matthew “Boi-1da” Samuels, that song was certified gold in the United States and Canada, peaking at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 32 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

To Pimp A Butterfly has been certified gold in Australia, double platinum in Canada and platinum in the United States and Denmark. It charted at number one on the Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Every Nigger Is A Star was the title song of a 1973 film starring Bahamian actor Calvin Lockhart, which was the brainchild of Eddie Knight and Teddy McCook (later president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association). They were co-owners of The Bronco, a Kingston nightclub where Gardiner’s Boris Gardiner Happening band was resident.

Later covered by Big Youth, Every Nigger Is A Star is also on the soundtrack to the 2016 American movie Moonlight, which earned eight nominations at the 89th Academy Awards. It won for Best Picture.

Boris Gardiner had a big hit in 1986 with I Want Wake up With You, which topped the British national chart. He was conferred with the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth-highest honour, in 2006.