Fans who frequent reggae venues in Cleveland have likely seen singer Ms. BBC in action. For the past 10 years, she has etched a name for herself in that city’s small, but vibrant reggae scene.

That continues on August 1 at Grog Shop where she and her backup group, Conscious Eye, are opening act for dancehall legend Yellowman.

According to Ms. BBC, “This is a really big deal for me.”

Ms. BBC (center) & Conscious Eye…L.A. Bailey (left) Carla Barclay (right)

The Cleveland native has opened for other high-profile acts passing through her hometown including Tanya Stephens and Etana. The Yellowman gig gives her an opportunity to showcase her new song titled Bump, Whine N Grind, the self-produced track was released on July 7.

“The song was released July 7, however it has been performed a few times. First, when me and my background singers opened up for Etana at the Grog Shop this past May 4,” said Ms. BBC, whose paternal grandparents are Jamaicans.

For the past 18 months, she has worked with Conscious Eye, which comprises L.A Bailey and Carla Barclay, who are Jamaicans.

Strongly influenced by dancehall artists like Stephens, Ms. BBC got involved in music 10 years ago as a deejay, recording bawdy songs such as Billion Dollar P…y and Big Body Chick.

Yellowman

All that changed three years ago when she went for a more sober, contemporary reggae approach. Her new sound was complete with the recruitment of Conscious Eye.

“Reggae is a great influence to my sound, because it is emotional, no matter what you are feeling or what you’re going through you can connect,” she said.

Born Chryst Duden, Ms. BBC re-connected with her Jamaican roots in April when she visited family in Kingston. It inspired her next project.

“I have so many family and friends who were born in Jamaica so I wrote a new song called I Wish I Was Born in Jamaica which is going to be my next single to be released this year,” she said. Reply  Reply All  Forward

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