Tanya Stephens

Tanya Stephens, born Vivienne Stephenson in Kingston, Jamaica, started making reggae music in the 1990s. Her song "It's A Pity" became an international hit, known for its sharp social commentary and her direct vocal delivery. She also wrote tracks like "Yu Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" and "Draw Fi Mi Finger" that blended dancehall rhythms with personal storytelling.

Her debut album was called "Big Things a Gwaan," and she followed it with records like "Gangsta Blues" and "Rebelution." Stephens often wrote about inequality and relationships from a woman's perspective, avoiding the typical bravado of much dancehall at the time. She worked with other Jamaican artists including Beres Hammond and Damian Marley.

Stephens kept recording through the 2000s, putting out albums like "Guilty" and songs such as "Ninja Bike" and "A Little White Lie." Her music stayed grounded in reggae and dancehall but felt conversational, like she was talking straight to the listener rather than performing at them.