Born in 1952 in Jamaica, Linton Kwesi Johnson came to London in 1963, to study and got a diploma in Sociology at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. Whilst still at school he joined the Black Panthers, helped to organize a poetry workshop within the movement and developed his work with Rasta Love, a group of poets and drummers.

 

During the ‘70s he was the writer-in-residence for the London Borough of Lambeth, his poetry collections were first published and he released his first albums Dread Beat An' Blood (1978), Forces of Victory (1979), Bass Culture (1980), LKJ in Dub (1981) and Making History (1983). LKJ, Johnson's own record label, was launched in 1981 with two singles by the Jamaican poet Michael Smith, Mi Cyaan Believe It and Roots. During the 1980s he became immersed in journalism, working closely with the BBC Radio 1, Channel 4 ... He also toured regularly with the Dennis Bovell Dub Band and produced albums as LKJ Live in Concert with the Dub Band released in 1985 and nominated for a Grammy Award soon after.