Linton Kwesi Johnson

Poetry legend Linton Kwesi Johnson's work has always been political, vital, and necessary, drawing attention to systemic racism, police abuse and National Front attacks, calling for government, institutions and society to be held to account.

The award-winning reggae poet and political activist was born in Jamaican 1952 before moving to London in 1963. He studied at Goldsmiths College, was a member of the Black Panthers and was poetry editor of Race Today, introducing new voices to the British public, including Michael Smith and Oku Onuora. In 1974, the Race Today Collective published Linton’s first poetry book, Voices of the Living and the Dead. In 2002 he became only the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classics series, under the title Mi Revalueshanary Fren.

Linton’s first album Dread Beat An Blood was released in 1978. Since then, he has released fourteen albums made with long-time collaborator and producer, Dennis Bovell, and has been running his own record label, LKJ Records, since 1981.

His new edition of a vital selection of poems covers over four decades of his work, including classic early poems such as 'Inglan is a Bitch', 'New Craas Massakah' and 'Sonny's Lettah', as well as compelling recent work.