Reggae and Dancehall legend Barrington Levy made a surprise appearance at a Brooklyn stop on Usher’s Past, Present & Future Tour. The September performance, which also featured Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz and Busta Rhymes, marked the final night of Usher’s four sold-out shows at the Barclays Center.
Levy, introduced by Swizz Beatz, entered the stage as Bad Boyz, his hit collaboration with former rapper Shyne, played over speakers at the venue. He went on to deliver crowd-pleasing renditions of his hit songs, Here I Come, Black Roses, and Tell Them a Ready (Murderer).
Reflecting on the night, the 60-year-old expressed his gratitude on Instagram: “It was a movie! Just want to say thanks to my brothers @usher @therealswizzz @bustarhymes @barringtonlevy411 @spliffstar_mrlewis @dangermental. I was so proud to take this to my city where I’m from, Brooklyn! So much #Love #Powerful #hit #bigstepper #Brooklyn #platinumcamprecords.”
Barrington Levy is known for several other hit songs, including Living Dangerously—a collab with Bounty Killer, Prison Oval Rock, Money Moves, She’s Mine, Too Experienced, Shine Eye Girl, Collie Weed, and Work.
Born in 1964 in Clarendon, he formed the Mighty Multitude with his cousin Everton Dacres in his teenage years. The duo officially entered the music industry by working on sound systems and recording their first single, My Black Girl, in 1977. Levy went on to record his debut solo single, A Long Time Since We Don’t Have No Love at age 14, and in 1984 teamed up with producer Jah Screw to record the hit Under Mi Sensi followed by Here I Come, the title track for the album of the same name.
The 12-track Here I Come album, which included songs such as Vibes Is Right, Real Thing, Moonlight Lover and A Ya We Deh, earned him the Best Vocalist Award at Britain’s Reggae Awards. His last album, Acousticalevy (2015), earned him his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Reggae Album.
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Levy at number 119 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Barrington Levy is the second Jamaican artist to appear on Usher’s latest tour. At a stop in Canada earlier this month, Dancehall artist Masicka was introduced on stage by Kardinal Offishall.
The Past Present & Future Tour adds to an already stellar year for Usher. The R&B icon headlined the Super Bowl, completed a 100-show Las Vegas residency, and released his ninth studio album, all within the past 12 months.
