Dennis Anthony Thomas (born 26 March 1962), better known as King Kong, is a Jamaican deejay/singer best known for his work in the 1980s.
Biography Born in Kingston, Thomas first recorded as a deejay at Tuff Gong studios in 1982, initially working under the name Junior Kong, named after his father.Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, , p. 154 His debut single was "Pink Eye". He worked with GT and then his own Love Bunch sound system and then recorded for King Tubby's Firehouse label, now singing in a similar style to Tenor Saw. The early King Kong recordings for Tubby were over early digital rhythms, and included songs such as "AIDS" and "Babylon", and established him as a popular artist. His first album release was split with another of Tubby's singers, Anthony Red Rose, with Two Big Bull Inna One Pen issued on Firehouse. During 1986 and 1987, Kong recorded for several of Jamaica's top producers, including Prince Jammy, with whom he enjoyed his biggest hits with "Trouble Again" (the title track from his Jammy-produced debut album proper) and "Legal We Legal",Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd ed., Rough Guides, , p. 300 Black Scorpio, Harry J, Errol Thompson, Ossie Hibbert, Bunny Lee, and Prince Jazzbo. While many of his songs were typical in content of the era, several of his songs had political and cultural themes.Foster, Chuck (1999) Roots Rock Reggae: an Oral History of Reggae Music from Ska to Dancehall, Billboard Books, , p. 158 He released several albums during this period before relocating first to New York, and then to Canada in the late 1980s, where he released material occasionally on his Conscious Music label. The death of Tenor Saw in 1988 prompted King Kong to release "He Was a Friend" as a tribute, and in 1989 he relocated to England and recorded with Mafia & Fluxy and Gussie P in the early 1990s. He began recording more regularly again in the 2000s.
Discography
Albums TitleYearLabelNotesTrouble Again1986Greensleeves / Jammy'sReleased 10 November 1986; reissued 2008 on Greensleeves with bonus tracks; issued in the UK as Trouble AgainTwo Big Bull Inna One Pen1986FirehouseSplit release with Anthony Red RoseLegal We Legal1986Jammy'sDancehall Session1986Striker LeeMusical Confrontation1986Jammy'sWith Nitty GrittyBig Heavy Load1987Striker LeeIdentify Me1987Black SolidarityMusical Terrorist1980sOur Land Sound ProductionsRumble Jumble Life2005Massive BEthiopian Dream2012King Shiloh
Singles TitleYearLabelNotes"Pink Eye"198256 Hope Road"Sensimania Is Walking"1985R:E:M"Ninja"1985Sunset"You Pack Up and Gone"1986Jammy's"Can't Ride Computer"1986Jammy'sRiddim: Tempo"AIDS"1986Firehouse"Babylon"1986Firehouse"Trouble Again"1986Greensleeves / Jammy's"Mix Up"1986"Legal We Legal"1986Greensleeves"Paro Them Paro"1986Greensleeves"Niceness"1986Black Scorpio"Rich & Switch"1986Java"Rip and Run Off"1986Big M"Don't Touch My Boops"1986Jammy's"Big Boy"1986Oneness"Rocky Road"1986Fresh Roses"Raggamuffin A Pass"1986Ujama"Have Some Approach"1980sBlack Solidarity"Identify Me"1980sBlack Scorpio"Nice Christmas"1980sFirehouse"Step on My Corn"1980sFirehouse"No Call Me No Boops"1980sFirehouse"Good Fi Nuttin"1980sFirehouse"Girls Dem A Come"1980sUjama"Can't Distress Me"1980sParish"Toots Boops"1987"Eden a Come"1987Black Scorpio"Can't Tan It"1987Sunset"Musical Terrorist"1987Sunset"Time Is the Master"1987Upsetter Music"No Touch De Gorilla"1987"Reggae Mylitis"1980sSunset"Over Cover Lover"1980sLive & Love"Dollars Strong"1980sMCM"Highest Grade"1980sBlack Scorpio"Ragamuffin A Pass"1980sNow Generation"Predominent"1980sNow Generation"Du No Get High"1980sOttey's"Song of Love"1980sPisces"Don't Trouble Trouble"1980sStriker Lee"Glamour Boy in Mi Life"1980sStriker Lee"Must Work on Sunday"1980sStriker Lee"Moving on African Border"1980sStriker Lee"Four Year Old"1980sApple Tree"Job"1980sApple Tree"Agony and Pain"1980sJah Life Time"Here I Am"1980s–1990sBugu B"He Was a Friend"1988Conscious Music"Magic Moment"1989Taurus"Identify Me"date unknownDigikal"Digital We Digital"date unknownDigikal"Once Upon a Time"1980sKing KongWith Leroy Mafia"Progress"1980sThunderbolt"Break Down the Walls"date unknownJammy's"Jah Jah Rule"date unknownThompson Sound"Who Say"date unknownThompson Sound"Dem A Fake"date unknownJammy's"Imagine"date unknownJammy's"Seize All Guns"date unknownJammy's"Try Not I"date unknown"Not a Bwoy Caan Test We"1991Gussie P"Trouble Again Pt. 2"1990sJammy's"Unity Medley"date unknownMassive SoundsWith Anthony B and Burro Banton"Unfortunate Children"date unknownFfrench"Have a Little Sound"date unknownSinbad"Bag Juice & Cheese Chips"1990sMassive B"Call Mr. Madden"1995Massive B"Earth Is the Lord"date unknownMassive B"Ethiopia"date unknownMassive B"Free Speech"date unknownMassive B"Legalize It"date unknownMassive B"Troubles"date unknownMassive B"Unity"date unknownMassive B"Seem Dem There"date unknownReggae Explorer"My Darling"1998Jammy's"Works of Jah"2001Roots Foundation"Jah Is My Best Friend"2002Massive B"Big Money Pay"2000sBadd"Big Bad Sound"2000sSweet Beat"Paradise Lost"2004Massive B"Higher High"2004Conscious Music"African Border"2005Flash"Rumble Jumble Life"2005Massive B"Free De Herb"2005Inkalink"1922"2005Rashanco"Who Say"2005Thompson Sound"I Feel a Joy"2005Massive B"Evolution"2006Jahspora"Dem Nah Do Nuttun"2006Run Things"This Train"2006Diop Side"Jah Is the Ruler"2000sKoogah Sound"Flirt"2008Phantom"Not a Bwoy Caan Test We"2008Sip a Cup"Mi Ave a Likkle Sound"2008Sip a Cup"Missin Africa"2009Massive B"Chosen One"2009UpliftB-side of Lutan Fyah's "Babylon a Fiss"
References