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Publishing ~ Artists & Writers

Culture – Joseph Hill

Photograph of Barrington Levy, Dancehall Musician, Jamaica

 

Culture has been a defining force in roots reggae in large part because of the group’s leader Joseph "Culture" Hill’s ability to compose well crafted lyrics with a solid reggae beat. Culture's works encompassed spiritual, social, and political messages, and Hill delivered them in a style that grouped him with other reggae giants Burning Spear and Black Uhuru.

Joseph Hill had been trying his hand at a solo career for some time before forming Culture. He first started out as a disc selector for various sound systems in his hometown of Linstead, in St. Catherine Parish, Jamaica. His cousin Albert Walker came to him with the idea of forming a vocal group, and the two quickly recruited another cousin, Roy "Kenneth" Dayes, to sing harmony vocals along with Walker. Culture developed a reputation as a performing group after a performance at the 'One Love Peace Concert' in 1978, and was soon regularly touring the United States, Europe and Africa.

Hill was a presence on stage - part deejay as he directed his band to reconfigure songs on stage and part teacher as he commented on Jamaican history and current political issues. In his lyrics, Hill often explored how the legacy of slavery continued to have an influence on Jamaican citizens. Joseph often used metaphors in his songwriting – casual simple expressions – to reveal a much deeper understanding of society. Often a critic of the inequality found in the world, Joseph knew how to cut right to the causes of the symptoms he so despised to which he offered remedies for these situations. Yet, what made Culture unique was that Hill always tempered his messages by having a smile on his lips and a dance in his step.

Culture's famed recording, "Two Sevens Clash" was a prophetic manifesto, predicting grave consequences as the year 1997 approached. It won a huge following not only in Jamaica, but also the U.K., where the growing punk rock movement was discovering a kinship with protest reggae, and connected immediately with the album's powerful disaffection. "Two Sevens Clash" is purported to be the inspiration for the name of the legendary punk rock band "The Clash".

Culture continued to record solid roots albums until he passed. At his funeral in September 2006, Hill was eulogized by many, amongst others, then Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson who recognized his contributions to Jamaican Culture and ambassadorship to the world. His spirit lives on.