ARTIST BIO:: YANKEE B biography 2001
For most of us, life is a series of ups and downs. For some of us, those ups and downs are more akin to a roller coaster ride at Six Flags or the highs and lows of their Free Fall ride. For Joseph Hannam aka YANKEE B, his life has been a dramatic full circle of roller coaster rides. This is a man who determinately set out with Gee Street/V2 Records to "prove a point" about New York's Reggae artists, and was disappointed with a short run. Yet has he previously promised, "I'm just trying to make my mark" he has returned recharged with a new attitude, a dramatic self evaluation and commitment to God along with his original crafty lyrics and refreshing deejay style incomparable to those before him.

Joseph Hannam aka "Yankee B" was born in WaterHouse Jamaica to Veta Anchard and Ezra Hannam. As many know from first hand experience or have heard the tales, Waterhouse has been an ongoing battleground for Jamaica's tense political rivalries. Few are able to walk away from the harsh daily struggles or remain outside the forced sides of the fence. Yankee previously explained, "They had a wall in Waterhouse that separated JLP and PNP (Jamaica Labor Party and People's National Party supporters) and my house was against the wall; they used to come through my yard, bore holes and bust shots over to the next side like a real war". This was during the violent escalade of elections in Jamaica of the 80's. Yet, for many men born and bread in WaterHouse, they either snuck out by sports such as soccer or they capitalized on their natural talents to deejay. WaterHouse is famous for it's artists like; Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Bounty Killer and even Jammy's studios is recognized by the yutes who have been subject to conditions of this ghetto by birthright. WaterHouse is a place were one must keep the appearances of a 'bad man' or be virtually invisible to be able to live the next day.

Fortunately for Yankee, he came to the United States of America at the age of 12 in 1985 settling in Jamaica, Queens New York. At first he was heavy into church, one of the few ways to escape WaterHouse's ruthless realities, but as he got older and started hanging out with friends he drifted away from Church. Going to school, he met others who migrated from Jamaica. As many people know when Jamaicans settle in the states they keep a strong cultural and social identity to their home island. It is obvious in the way they speak, wither with their animated expressions or just patios (slang), the way the carry themselves and the styles that they flex with. It wasn't long before Yankee was emerged in the extended arm of Jamaica in New York. He soon because transfixed with the *sound systems. "My friends and I used to play with a set called Mega Tempo and during our lunch breaks we'd chat on the mic," explains Yankee. It didn't take long before they were attending basement parties, dominating the mic and cutting *dub plate specials.

It was during this time that the critical Dancehall community in New York enthusiastically received Yankee's specials and started his quest for recognition. He would miss school to compile with the demands of the Queens and Long Island based sound systems. Yankee recalls those times, "Sounds started looking for me and giving me money. Before I was doing it for free. The first time I got money from a sound, $40.00, I went and bought some pants. I was happy because I didn't think anything else was going to come from it and at least I got a new pair of pants!" At this point of his life he was frequenting all of the day jams and all the Saturday night parties in the neighborhood. This is also when Joseph got shot in his back at one of the Saturday Night parties.

Getting shot was a reality check to the lifestyle he was perusing. Joseph came to a crossroads in which he had to consciously think about what he wanted to do; go back to Church or continue in music. His insatiable appetite for deejaying caused him to pick music. With this lifestyle came late nights, more parties, studio work and the 'baby mama' pattern with three children out of wedlock.

This is all during a period when life got hard and his records were not being sold. Then one day Yankee met Bobby Konders (radio personality on HOT 97, Massive B sound owner and producer) after a performance at Brooklyn's Steeple Chase Park in 1995. His then manager gave Konders a copy of Yankee's single "Sexy For Sure" which was produced by Darrly Pittman aka DR Period. This song was played twice on Konder's popular Reggae show featured on New York's HOT 97. Yet initially, this didn't spark the working relationship of producer and artist. It wasn't until speaking one day and five different people pestered Bobby emphasizing that he "gots to record this kid!". A bit intrigued, Bobby asked what type of songs Yankee did. Rather than tell, he showed by launching into a dynamic vocal demonstration. By the forth line, Konders silenced Yankee and brought him into the studios to record "Shave Him". This song with it's blend of pulsating Dancehall Hip Hop riddims was a hit for Yankee B and pushed his name into the Dancehall stream. It reached places as far as Santa Barbara California (a piece of Southern California that is entrenched with Roots style Reggae) and saturated New York streets with his outstanding vocals and rapid-fire flow. Pleased with the results Bobby recorded more tracks with Yankee.

Based off this work and his abilities as demonstrated at a live performance at New York's Reggae Tamika Awards, Yankee met Neil Robertson, then Senior Director of A&R, who was already a fan impressed by his energy. Gee Street/V2 Records offered a recording deal for Yankee, which inevitably took him to the next level with videos, movie soundtracks, interviews, bigger stage shows and concerts. In those days Robertson was quoted as stating, "Yankee is one of the most flexible artists I've worked with; he can deliver pop reggae like Shaggy, hip hop reggae like the Fugees or straight-up Dancehall." Yankee also had the opportunity to record with many fellow artists like; the late Big Punisher, Trigga Tha Gambler, Shabba Ranks, Ky-Mani Marley, Rain and more. But it was more than that, he was "on a mission to make the dreads and reggae heads rock" all while offering substantial lyrics that could be related to and understood by hip hop heads.

This is hardly where the story concludes. After completing one full "Reggae" album with Gee Street Records producing less than satisfactory results mirrored with the fact that the label itself went threw a restructure, his life once again took a full 360 degree spin as Yankee got married and turned his life over to Jesus Christ. He took a year off of the 'music industry' and spent time on his relationship with God; studying the bible and in prayer. Sorting with the inner battle of still wanting to deejay but faced with a stronger pull on his life to live righteously he wasn't at peace. One day his pastor, A.G. Blackwood of the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ Apostolic had a long talk with him letting him know that he can still DJ but only for Christ.

That's when Yankee's path crossed Richey Righteous and Minister Barnes and the three formed the YESHUA Family. They have recently released their first two singles; "Don't Judge" and "No Weapons Shall Prosper". In fact "No Weapons Shall Prosper" will be featured on compilation being put out by Christifari's for their second Dancehall Gospel album. At this time, Yankee and Righteous are working in the studios completing the Yeshua Family first Gospel Reggae Album, which will include the new God Bless Rhythm to drop in Summer of 2001. In addition Yankee B has renewed a working relationship with Bobby Konders, hoping to soon lacing over Konder's master riddims with soul quenching lyrics.

He's still the one artist that has balanced the ability to redefine a Jamaican deejay's attempts at rapping and mash an American rapper's try at chatting. Yankee's ability to fling speeding lyrical punch lines is far from absent. Yankee has an ace in the hole with Richey Righteous who not only serves as a singing highlight to his material but also as a producer. To this day, Yankee B is a perfect demonstration of versatility and will be the one to change the perception of "Gospel Reggae" as he defines his own style of 'gospel' based lyrics over innovative challenging Dancehall riddim tracks! Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.