From Judas to Chuckey Makabe: Reggae artiste reclaims his story with Empty Pocket
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Early in his career, Chuckey Makabe knew little about the business side of the music industry. Like many of his contemporaries, it took him some time to learn its intricacies.
He recalls those ignorant days in Empty Pocket, his latest song, which is produced by Errol “General Smiley” Bennett for RuffCompany Records.
“Before I start to learn about publishing an’ gain experience, certain things happen. Dis song is about can’t get any money, but yuh have music out dey,” said Chuckey Makabe. “It was an experience with a lotta people, an’ how wi get run over by di music business.”
In the early 1990s, when he kicked off his recording career, Chuckey Makabe was known as Judas, who recorded for several producers, including Shocking Vibes productions.
After moving to the United States over 20 years ago, he had a change in moniker, which came with his transformation as an artiste.
“Judas was di deejay inna Jamaica but after wi embark on a different journey wi recognise dat Chuckey Makabe is a full artiste. Wi do reggae, hip hop…a complete artiste,” Chuckey Makabe explained.
Much of his time in California has been spent working with producer DJ Quik, a leading player in the rise of West Coast hip hop. He produced Nothing Wrong, a song by Haitian rapper Won-G, featuring singer James DeBarge and Chuckey Makabe.
That track, which reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, opened doors for the Jamaican. Chuckey Makabe has since done several songs with DJ Quik, collaborated with rapper Beanie Sigel and singer/songwriter Leon Haywood.
From the district of Grants Pen in St Thomas, he did the studio rounds as an aspiring artiste, learning the ropes with the Arrows International sound system before moving on to Shocking Vibes, arguably the hottest dancehall label during the early 1990s.
Although ditching his undignified stage name over 20 years ago, Chuckey Makabe has not forgotten the Judas years.
“I jus’ put out di Best of Judas Vol 1, jus’ to mek di original Judas fans dat love him don’t feel left out in no form. Some of di songs dat never release in Jamaica, now dat I own di catalogue, I plan to drop di Vol 2 soon,” he disclosed.
