Eighteen years ago Baby Wayne, real name was Wayne Parkinson died at the Kingston Public Hospital in Jamaica.
Baby Wayne’s contributions to the dancehall genre were characterized by his conscientious lyrics that stood out in an era dominated by innovative flows styles of music.
The 90s deejay born in Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica, in 1968 enter the music industry at a time when dancehall music was primarily associated with explicit and lewd lyrics. However, Baby Wayne took a different path, choosing to use his music as a platform to warn listeners about the perils of a life of crime. This decision was unusual for the time, but it set him apart as a socially conscious artist in a genre that was often focused on other themes.
Producers Steely & Clevie voiced Parkinson on several of their riddims, most notably on the “Giggy” Riddim in 1991, on which Wayne recorded the radio hit “Mama,” about a gangster crying for his mother “to bring pants and shirt and nuh lef me dinner”, after meeting with the perils of the justice system. A common occurrence in Jamaica at the time but not a feature in dancehall lyrics until Baby Wayne found the song.
It was after “Mama” when Buju Banton found “Deportee” in 1993 which lamented the experience of a criminal who was sent back from the US to Jamaica.
Other successful tracks from this period which focused on his niche included “Road Mi Waan Come” and “Warder.”
“Mi Know Mi Fren” recorded in 1993 became one of Baby Wayne’s career-defining anthems renamed as “Money Friend” with Leroy Smart. The song Produced by Winston “Niney” Holness, this track became a top ten radio hit in Jamaica and was one of the stand out tracks from his debut album “Ram DJ”.
“Niney” Holness secured a record deal for Wayne with Heartbeat Records and in 1994, “Ram DJ,” was released with guest appearances from legendary artists like Sugar Minott and Dennis Brown.
Baby Wayne’s “Move With The Crowd” was featured on Reggae Gold 1993 by VP Records.
Dancehall artist Aidonia named Baby Wayne among his influences in a post on Instagram earlier this year with other names like Bounty Killer, Spragga Benz and Papa San.
On October 28, 2005, he tragically passed away at the Kingston Public Hospital due to complications from pneumonia.
In 2017 dancehall artist and convicted murderer Ninja Man, real name Desmond Balentine named Baby Wayne among the artist from his era who were addicted to cocaine in the Jamaica Star.
“Nuff artiste weh yuh hear seh dead from pneumonia, a cocaine kill dem. It is something that is addictive, and it was made to destroy the black man. If you sell cocaine, you are working for the devil, and if you are the customer, then it will lead you into the arms of the devil. Rum is also a serious thing that kills the brain cells,” he said.
