Admiral T

Admiral T is Patrick Thomas, born in 1976. He came up in Kingston's dancehall scene, writing rhymes as a teenager and eventually forming the group Black Scorpio with other local musicians. Their sound mixed Jamaican dancehall with hip-hop and reggae touches.

In 1995, he put out his first solo album, 'Talk the Truth,' which included 'Dancehall X-Plosion.' That track's beat and lyrics got attention internationally. Other songs like 'Mozaik Kréyol' and 'Doum Doum' followed, keeping his voice in the mix.

His lyrics sometimes addressed social and political matters, which drew both support and criticism. In 2002, he was arrested for marijuana possession, but he kept recording and performing. The music from that period, including tracks like 'Debrouya,' shows him working through those years without much pause.