Yami Bolo

Since the 1980s, international star Yami Bolo has been recording and performing “Jah-centered” cultural reggae. Bolo sees himself as called by divine purpose to transform both himself and his circle into revolutionary soldiers serving the Almighty, their mission being to carry messages of love, peace, and hope to listeners everywhere through live shows and recorded work. He focuses especially on creating uplifting tracks for young listeners that caution against violence, including the song “Gun War.” Born Rolando McLean, he drew his first musical inspiration from church music and took the stage at age eleven. Opportunity arrived when he connected with Sugar Minott and the Youth Promotion organization; Minott recognized Bolo’s sincerity and let him record special promotions aimed at traveling DJs, although none of those tracks ever reached release. During his time with Minott, the young artist frequented Jamaican studios, absorbing roots rhythms and gaining practical knowledge of the recording process. He later appeared alongside Stur-Mas and Third World. Operating independently, Bolo joined Techniques in the mid-’80s and issued three singles. He next recorded one album with Junior Delgado and another with Augustus Pablo, then delivered the solo release He Who Knows It Feels It on Heartbeat in 1991. In the early ’90s he signed to Taxi Records and also to Paisley Park Records in the role of songwriter. Across the remainder of the decade he worked with the RAS and VP labels while releasing 1992’s Up Life Street on Heartbeat.