Walshy Fire.
For Grammy-nominated artiste and producer Walshy Fire, three decades in the music industry has nurtured a rich cultural legacy he believes is worth sharing.
Inspired by his collection of posters documenting historic moments in dancehall, the music enthusiast has penned a book dubbed Art of Dancehall.
The recently released publication serves as a time capsule, taking readers on a nostalgic stroll down memory lane, highlighting dancehall’s growth as an impactful global brand.
“This is my first book and so I need to add author to my biography now,” he laughed as he gushed about the project. “This is amazing. I have been in the music industry for 31 years and when I started I didn’t know where it would take me, I just knew that I loved it and this was my passion. Today, I have finished my first book and I’m just so pleased about my journey and the project as a whole.”
Speaking specifically on the impact of dancehall music on the global entertainment circuit, Walshy Fire told the Jamaica Observer that the need to document bits and pieces of the genre’s history became a necessity.
“Going through my archives I was just in awe of not just how much dancehall has grown but the influence it has had worldwide. The book is a collection of dancehall flyers, and that may seem basic, but it’s so much more than that when you dig deeper. Some of these posters are from events all around the world from the 80s and 90s,” he shared. “Looking back at some of those flyers made me appreciate how great Jamaica is and I was just happy I was now documenting it in a way I could share with others. When you flip through the pages of Art of Dancehall, you’ll feel like you’re time travelling. When you see some of the nightclubs, the artistes, and the sound systems dominating during that era, you will appreciate the genre that much more.”
“Some of these posters represent major moments from those times that have become a huge part of our musical history today,” he continued. “I have had persons who have already purchased the book reach out to me and say, ‘Walshy, this took me back. That venue was a hot spot back in the day.’ They then begin to share memories with me, and it has just been a joy to see the reaction.”
Speaking of reaction, the internationally renowned producer admits that he believed, based on the nature of the book, the work would have been a slow-seller. Now pleasantly surprised by the response, Walshy Fire says he might need to turn the book into a series.
“We’ve already sold over 2,000 copies and that was something I didn’t expect at all, but that shows the greatness of dancehall. I thought this book would be a slow burn, something people would have to hear about or be recommended. But this is a testament to how big our culture is. People love getting a slice of the past,” he said. “We definitely wanna do a part two and three. I encourage people when they see this flyer book to share any special moments, posters, or pictures they have from the past. Share it so we can reminisce on the moments that made this genre great. The world deserves to see those pictures; they shouldn’t just be stored under your mattress or in your cabinet. It’s very important that we document these moments.”
Art of Dancehall was published by Rizzoli Universe, making it the first Rizzoli release dedicated entirely to the genre. The book includes rare and little-seen flyers from the late Denzil “Sassafrass” Naar, Jamaica’s original celebrity poster artist, as well as contemporaries like New York’s Errol “Irie” Myrie. It is available for purchase directly from the publisher as well as through major US-based retailers such as Alibris, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and Powells. It is also available at Foyles, Amazon UK, Waterstones, and Hatchards in the United Kingdom.
Efforts are underway to bring the book to brick-and-mortar retailers in Jamaica.