Editing Anthony B (section)

==Biography==

===Early life===
Blair grew up in rural [[Clark's Town, Jamaica|Clark's Town]] in the northwestern [[Parishes of Jamaica|parish]] of [[Trelawny Parish|Trelawny]] in Jamaica.<ref name="Moskowitz" /> His deeply religious family life (his mother was a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] and his grandmother a [[Christian revival|Revivalist]]) imbued him with a profound spirituality. During his youth, his favourite singers were [[reggae]] legends [[Bob Marley]] and [[Peter Tosh]], musicians who strongly influenced his own style.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}, p.17</ref> Peter Tosh's influence can definitely be heard in Anthony B's vocal delivery and revolutionary stance.<ref name="Larkin" />

Anthony B adopted [[Rastafari movement]] beliefs as a teenager, a decision which was not well received by his family. The stubborn and determined Anthony B refused to give up his new religion and his [[dreadlocks]] and moved to the home of his aunt and uncle in Portmore, St. Catherine. He is a member of the [[Mansions of Rastafari|Bobo Ashanti]] branch of the movement. "Bobo Dreads", as they are known, are recognisable by their long robes and turbans.  The strong [[Afrocentrism|Afrocentric]] pride and the other Rastafarian beliefs (or "overstandings" as Rastafarians prefer to call them) are reflected in his songs.

===Career===
While attending high school, Anthony B debuted as a [[Deejay (Jamaican)|deejay]] for the local sound system, Shaggy Hi-Power.<ref name="Moskowitz" /> In 1988, he befriended reggae artists such as Determine, [[Mega Banton]], Ricky General and [[Terror Fabulous]].

At this point in the reggae industry, singing "slack" songs about women was the popular thing to do.  Anthony B did not believe in degrading women and chose to pen politically slanted songs instead.   He collaborated with Little Devon and made his debut single "The Living is Hard" on the Wizard label in 1993.  Anthony B tried many different producers before joining with [[Richard Bell (record producer)|Richard Bell]],<ref name="Larkin" /> creating hits such as "Fire Pon Rome", "Raid Di Barn", "Rumour", and "Repentance Time".<ref name="Ankeny">Ankeny, Jason "[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p201381/biography|pure_url=yes}} Anthony B Biography]", ''[[Allmusic]]'', Macrovision Corporation</ref> In late 1997, Anthony B released ''Universal Struggle'', followed by a large number of albums since including 1999's ''Seven Seals,'' 2003's ''Street Knowledge'', 2004's ''Untouchable'' which featured collaborations with artists including [[Wyclef Jean]], [[Snoop Dogg]] & [[Bone Crusher (rapper)|Bone Crusher]], 2005's ''Black Star'' plus ''My Hope,'' and more recently, ''Life Over Death'' (2008).

In January 2013, he was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after being stopped in [[Georgia, United States]] due to illegally tinted windows in the vehicle in which he was travelling; He subsequently had to cancel several shows in South America as he was not allowed to travel outside the US.<ref>"[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/ANTHONY-B-CANCELS-SOUTH-AMERICAN-SHOWS_14400911 Anthony B cancels South American shows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610155655/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/ANTHONY-B-CANCELS-SOUTH-AMERICAN-SHOWS_14400911 |date=10 June 2013 }}", ''[[Jamaica Observer]]'', 3 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013</ref> Charges were later dropped. {https://www.dancehallusa.com/anthony-b-weed-charge-dropped/}

In July 2013 he released ''Tribute to Legends'', an album of cover versions of songs by artists such as [[Bob Marley]], [[The Maytals]], [[John Lennon]], [[Ray Charles]], [[Elvis Presley]], and [[Ini Kamoze]]; Speaking of the album, he stated "I chose to make a tribute album to firstly show how much these legends influence my music and my life."<ref name="Jackson1307">Jackson, Kevin (2013) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Anthony-B-s-ode-to-legends_14745644 Anthony B's ode to legends] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731233538/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Anthony-B-s-ode-to-legends_14745644 |date=31 July 2013 }}", ''[[Jamaica Observer]]'', 26 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013</ref> In 2016, Anthony B released Tears Of Luv on his label Born Fire Music and collaborated with various producer around the world including Evidence Music on his track Life Good.

In May 2020, Anthony B released his 20th studio album titled, ''King In My Castle''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2020/05/18/music/anthony-b-launches-his-20th-studio-album-king-in-my-castle.html|title=Anthony B Launches His 20th Studio Album, 'King In My Castle'|website=DancehallMag|date=18 May 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925012128/https://www.dancehallmag.com/2020/05/18/music/anthony-b-launches-his-20th-studio-album-king-in-my-castle.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Anthony B tours extensively in Europe and North America. He has collaborated with many singer-songwriters and producers <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wontstop-records-presents-conscious-voices/id1193176112|title=Wontstop Records Presents Conscious Voices by Various Artists on Apple Music|website=iTunes|date=11 June 2002|language=en|access-date=2017-03-26|archive-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308223955/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wontstop-records-presents-conscious-voices/id1193176112|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Talking of his faith and music, Anthony B commented, "When we say 'burn fire' we don't mean take a match and light somebody, we are saying get rid of these things that are no good for humanity."<ref name="Music">{{cite book
| first= Paul
| last= Du Noyer
| year= 2003
| title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Jason Sese
| location= Fulham, London
| isbn= 1-904041-96-5
| page= 364}}</ref>