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 power.

The Fire Pon Rome deejay hopes the song is a sobering reminder 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 only showing the devil-may-care attitude of some young Jamaicans who frolicked as the storm raged. Videos showed young carefree men ‘daggering’ skimpily-dressed women on the bonnet of police cars 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, nuffa dem no tek it serious, but certain time come, yu have to take things serious,” Anthony B mused.

Anthony B is just happy that ‘Bad 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 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 Fire Pon Rome artiste recorded the song at midnight via the Trainline Records imprint, a few hours after the storm skirted the island. The song will be available for release on all digital platforms in a few days. Anthony B, who is performing at this year’s Reggae Sumfest, is shooting a video for the project.

“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 Lovindeer song. It is a reminder that generations can come and be reminded of this experience of Beryl,” Anthony B said.

The storm, which became the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean on its way to Texas where it was expected to make landfall on Monday.