Macka Diamond
Macka Diamond’s first shot at fame came in the late 1980’s with ‘Don Girl’, her answer track to Major Mackerel’s ‘Don Man’. Also known as Lady Cham, Lady Mackerel, and the Money Goddess, this brash dancehall queen has continued to excel in her field as the face of ‘girl power’ alongside Lady Saw on the Jamaican Dancehall scene. Daughter of reggae producer Phillip Munroe, Born in Kingston, but raised near her father's studio in the town of Portmore; Macka was surrounded by music from an early age. Gregory Isaacs, King Jammys and Sly & Robbie were familiar faces to the teenaged Macka, but it was hearing the famed Sister Nancy that convinced her that she too could be a successful artist in her own right. It was this self motivation which saw Macka take it upon herself to create the relevant contacts to turn her dreams into a reality, rather than using her father’s extensive network. To this end, Macka sought out another powerful dancehall royal, Lady Junie. With Junie's help she would get the chance to record ‘Don Girl’, which proved to be the very window of opportunity Macka needed to kick-start her career. Since the producer wanted the connection to the Major to be obvious, he christened her ‘Lady Mackerel’. After a string of singles, including collaborations with Captain Barkey and Wickerman (as the Worm Dem Crew), she dropped the Lady Mackerel alias and was officially resurrected as Macka Diamond with her 2003 single ‘Tek Con’, a protest record to Vybz Kartel's chauvinistic track ‘Tek Buddy’. Macka was now ready to go it alone as the new face of feminism in Jamaican music. Macka Diamond has been through a number of name and stylistic changes, worked alone and with partners (such as Queen Paula) and in collectives such as Barkey & Wickerman's Worm Dem Crew. But at all times underneath these changes, lay an indestructible well of talent and motivation waiting to explode. A year later her sexually charged single ‘Done a Ready’ topped the Jamaican charts, but not without criticism from disgruntled dominant males on the scene at Diamond’s disparaging feminist lyrics. Nonetheless Greensleeves Records came calling, and in 2005 the label released her debut album under the pseudonym Macka Diamond; ‘Money-O’, (her catchphrase). The album featured an array of hit singles including the controversial ‘Bun Him’, alongside Black-Er. That same year she became the spokesperson for Wray & Nephew Rum Cream and recorded the soca-flavored single ‘What Girls Like’ with Denise Belfon. In 2007 her single ‘Hula Hoop’ topped the Jamaican charts, cementing her as a stalwart feature on Kingston's bubbling dancehall scene. Her measured delivery and unbridled humour vanquished any assertion that Macka may be the ‘stereotypical man basher’. Macka’s precise fusion of self assured lyrics, sizzling hot delivery, and attention grabbing wardrobe lead only to Macka’s own conclusion; "I'm a real entertainer”. With her uncompromising, bold and witty display, Macka Diamond is now known throughout the Reggae/Dancehall circles as the Money Goddess, and has rightfully earned the title of being ‘the woman's defender;’ "I'm saying what the women want to hear but are afraid to say". Jamaican music has long been synonymous with unashamedly sexiest lyrics and images, so when a woman enters this male dominated world and beats the prevailing force at their own game, you have little choice but to pay attention. 2007 was also the year that Macka added another string to her bow by turning the controversial ‘Bun Him’ into the first of two novels. Now constantly in demand for shows and collaborations, Macka Diamond calls the shots! The start of her own Entertainment Company; ‘Money-O production’, is testament to this. In 2013, her single 'Dye Dye' (produced by Adrian of LockeCity Music Group), pre-empted a slew of hits as it became a Dancehall cultural reference replete with Spanish version. Macka now has a bona fide string of hits under her belt and has even won one of Reggae/Dancehall Music's most coveted awards, Female DJ of the year, not once, not twice, but three times in a row. Few things can outshine a diamond when hit by light from the right angle at the right time!