Minding My Own Jamaican Business.

It was 1987 the Sleng teng rhythm had Jamaican DJs in a chokehold. Gregory Isaac's song "rumors"was playing everywhere , Oliver at large was the number one show on Jamaican TV and I learned the true meaning of rukumbine.

It was 1987 Red Dragon's ,"Hol a fresh" was playing everywhere, Roy Rayon won the festival song contest with "love Fever" and a baby was born in Big 9.

It was 1987, Mannequin was at the Carib Theatre, Tiger's song "Mi name Tiger" was playing on every Sound system in Kingston and my sister was labelled an 'informa' in Big 9.

It was 1987, Bob Marley's drummer Carlton Barrett was shot outside his home, Jody Watley's song "Looking for a New Love" was everywhere, Eddie Murphy dominated the box office with Beverly Hills Cop 2, and there was an attempted murder in Big 9.

It was 1987 the first Starbucks outside the US opened in Vancouver, Lady saw began her rise in the Jamaican dancehall, Inner circle released the song Bad Boys and Big 9 exploded with news of Baby drama.

It was 1987 , Whitney Houston's "I wanna dance with somebody" was playing everywhere. The first installment of Lethal Weapon starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover was in theaters, The JLP retained another term in power , Peter Tosh was murdered in his home and my sister caused a big scandal in Big 9.

It was 1987 ,"Under mi sleng teng " rhythm dominates Kingston and Mr. Hopeton's mother moves into Big 9.

It was 1986, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister in England, the Chernobyl nuclear accident decimated three mile island, sci fi flick The Fly was in movie theaters in Jamaica , Boris Gardner had a hit with "I wanna wake up with you" and there was big trouble in Big nine.

It was 1986 'stand by me' was at the Carib Theatre, Barry G was playing Whitney Houston's 'How will I know' on RJR almost every day , torrential rains caused flooding in Kingston and another tragedy struck in Big 9.

It was 1986, Police Academy 3 was at the Carib Theatre, Janet Jackson's "what have you done for me lately" was everywhere, In Kingston Brigadier Jerry's "Jamaica, Jamaica" was playing on every dancehall sound system, and our cousin Rosie had turned Big 9 upside down.

It was 1986 Calabar had just won Boys Champs, Beres Hammond's 'Groovy little thing' was playing on every sound system, 'we are the world'won a Grammy , the Haley's comet made an appearance and my family changed forever.

It was 1986 , Sophia George's hit song Girlie, girlie was playing on all radio stations, Ray Charles was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame and I witnessed The Challenger disaster.

It was 1986, Pretty in Pink was in movie theaters, there was a flood that killed over 40 people in Jamaica, Aruba got its independence from Curacao and I found out what the word Lesbian means #Jamaica #Kingston #LGBTQ

It was 1985 The color Purple was in movie theaters, Sukiyaki was being played by all Jamaican DJs, Jamaica stopped observing daylight savings time and tragedy struck in the Big 9 community yet again.

It was 1985 and we were the only family in Big 9 who owned a fridge, a beat up old kelvinator. I learned the meaning of community through that old kelvinator.

It was 1985 Tina turner's " what's love got to do with it" was playing on very radio station, Ava had left the community and monkey lotion was the phrase on everyone's lips.

It was 1985 , Roy Rayon had won the song contest again, Big 9 was gurgling with the news Ava had her baby and Rock Hudson had died.

The cutlass has had a long history in Jamaica from the days of the Bucaneers to the days when sugar was king. There are 6 names for cutlass in Jamaica, and in the summer of 1985 in Big 9, I learned everything I needed to know about the cutlass.

It was 1985, The Last Dragon was in movie theatres, Big 9 had new tenants, and my best friend wasn't talking to me.

It was 1985, six months after Miss Monica left, and Mr Floral was looking for new tenants.

My estranged sister comes home.

Annette's boyfriend meets his demise.

745,000 Jamaicans migrated in the 1980s, and in 1985, a few months after the incident with Ava ,it was Miss Monica's turn.

It was a rainy Sunday evening in 1985. The men on the corner decided to play football in the rain, and fate decided to play a game of its own.

Spanish Fly is a liquid which is said to be an aphrodisiac. Some men pour the liquid into an unsuspecting female drink and take advantage ...