Eight Gigs: Pato Banton

“I do not sniff the coke, I only smoke the sensimilla.” This is practically a mantra in reggae circles. This is, of course, a line from Pato Banton’s single from 1987. The song came out when reggae shifted from roots to hip-hop influenced dancehall. And while some people were criticizing dancehall for promoting violence and misogyny, Banton kept his lyrics positive. Born and raised in Birmingham, England, Banton brought a distinctive upbeat English flair to his sound. He even got his start working with the English Beat and UB40. Since his first solo record in ’85, he’s released more than a dozen albums. 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, http://patobanton.com.