Lybran delivers sobering message
The comical deejay has always had a place in dancehall music. Back in the 1980s when ‘gun talk’ and slackness ruled, rib-ticklers like Papa San, Stitchie and Professor Nuts kept things light.
Lybran, a toaster from St Thomas, specialises in drunken lyrics. He told the Jamaica Observer that most of his songs, such as Blame The Rum and One More Drink, are meant to be humorous and do not encourage intoxication.
“I am into the act of drunkenness to deliver a message in my performance, not literally. I promote that people must be at the legal age to drink, and do so responsibly,” he stressed.
The 33-year-old Lybran (born Lamon Cousins) is from Church Corner, a community in Morant Bay, St Thomas’ chief town. He has been recording music professionally for 10 years but recently stepped up his game by doing club and dance gigs.
He is not concerned his lyrics regarding alcohol will wear on ‘customers’.
“The dancehall industry need that comedy and laughter performance once more. I have my own style but it’s storytelling, like a Professor Nuts with a sound like Tiger,” he said.
Though Kiprich and Nesbeth have had massive hit songs in the last five years, storytellers are a dying breed in Jamaican dancehall. Papa San and Stitchie converted to Christianity over 20 years ago and are now committed gospel music artistes; Professor Nuts is not as prolific as he was in the 1990s.
Lybran is confident he can fill the breach.
“I know I am one of the missing pieces of the dancehall family and our music needs what I have. I always wanted to be on the big stage to entertain a wider audience,” he said.
— Howard Campbell