Rastafarian firebrand Anthony B has released a single called Bad Beryl, a song dedicated to Hurricane Beryl, an explosive whopper of a storm that battered Jamaica with devastating 110 mph winds with life-threatening storm surges last Wednesday.

The system’s passage left at least two people dead, damaged buildings, ripped roofs, and left thousands of homes without electricity.

The Fire Pon Rome deejay hopes the song is a sobering lesson to the island’s youth. He dedicated an entire verse to the nonchalance of the young people who partied and frolicked in the face of the storm.

“We are grateful that the eye of the storm did not make landfall. I did this song as a reminder to the young people of Jamaica that everything in life is not a joke, everything in life is not a gimmick. We don’t want to see anyone lose their life because of stupidity,” he said.

He was referring to the videos that emerged showing the devil-may-care attitude of some young Jamaicans. Videos showed young carefree men ‘daggering’ skimpily dressed women on the bonnet of a police car while others indulged in “ackee war” play fights pelting each other with missiles in the streets of Arnett Gardens.

“When I saw the TikTok and YouTube videos and the IG videos and see how the people dem a dance inna the storm and nuff ah dem no tek it serious, and you know we a fun people… but certain time come yuh have to take things serious,” Anthony B mused.

Anthony B is just happy that Hurricane Beryl did not leave the island with a massive death toll.

“Watching the storm coming to Jamaica, a whole heap of prayers, a whole heap ah strength mi ah send out for the protection of my people. That’s why I started out by saying thank you Father, because the storm made a turn offa the island in the last few hours, and we didn’t get the full effect, because it even fall from Category 5 to Category 4 as well. We are blessed that the island is not so damaged and we don’t have a massive death toll,” Anthony B said.

The artiste recorded the song at midnight a few hours after the storm skirted the island.

It was produced via the Trainline Records imprint and will be available for release on all digital platforms in a few days.

“I made the song at 12 in the night just after the storm, so this song can keep in our memory so we can remember the significance and mark history. Remember Wild Gilbert in 1988? Nuff yutes remember Gilbert because of that [Lloyd] Lovindeer song. It is a reminder that generations can come and be reminded of this experience of Beryl,” Anthony B said.

Anthony B, who is performing at this year’s Reggae Sumfest, has plans to shoot a video for the project

Beryl became the earliest Category 5 system ever recorded in the Atlantic hurricane season.

Zinc wrapped around a utility pole in Flagaman, south-western St Elizabeth, after Hurricane Beryl ravaged the island on Wednesday. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)