Rastafarian firebrand Anthony B has released the single “Bad Beryl,” a tribute to Hurricane Beryl, the explosive storm that struck Jamaica last Wednesday with destructive winds of up to 110 mph and a life-threatening storm surge. At least two people were killed, buildings were damaged, roofs were ripped off, and thousands of homes lost power in its passage.
The Fire Pon Roma DJ hopes the song will be a solemn reminder to the island’s youth, as he dedicates an entire verse to the carelessness of young people who continue to party and frolic despite the storm.
“I’m thankful the eye of the storm didn’t make landfall. I wrote this song to remind the youth of Jamaica that nothing that happens in life is a joke, it’s not all pretense. I don’t want to see anyone lose their life because of stupidity,” he said.
He was referring to videos that showed nothing but the carefree attitude of Jamaican youths frolicking in a raging storm, including some seen “daggering” skimpily clad women with the bonnet of a police car and engaging in a mock “ackie war” – missile-hurling brawls in the streets of Arnett Gardens.
“I see TikTok and Youtube videos and Instagram videos and I see people dancing up a storm and not taking it seriously. We’re fun people and we don’t have to take it seriously, but at a certain point, you have to take things seriously,” Anthony B mused.
Anthony B. is just happy that “Bad Beryl” left the island without causing mass deaths.
“As I was watching the storm approach Jamaica, I said a lot of prayers and sent a lot of strength to protect my people. So I first gave thanks to Father God because the storm redirected away from the island in the last few hours and even downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 4 so we were not as affected by it. We are lucky that the island was not affected as much and there were no fatalities,” Anthony B. said.
The Fire Pon Roma artist recorded the song in the middle of the night, hours after the storm passed over the island, via Trainline Records. The song is set to be released on all digital platforms within the next few days. Anthony B, who will be performing at this year’s Reggae Sumfest, is filming a video for the project.
“We wrote this song at midnight just after the storm so that this song will stay in our memories and history will remember its importance. Remember The Wild Gilberts in 1988? A lot of young people remember Gilbert because of that Lavindia song. This song is a remembrance so that future generations can remember this experience of Beryl,” said Anthony B.
The storm, the fastest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, killed at least 11 people as it moved through the Caribbean and headed toward Texas, where it is expected to make landfall on Monday.
