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| Tippa Irie | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tippa Irie |
| Birth name | Anthony Henry |
| Birth date | 1965 |
| Birth place | Hackney, London |
| Genres | Reggae, Dancehall music |
| Occupations | Singer, DJ, Actor |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
Tippa Irie
Anthony Henry, known professionally as Tippa Irie, is an English reggae and dancehall music performer and actor from London. Rising from the sound system culture of 1970s London, he achieved mainstream exposure in the 1980s and has maintained a career spanning recording, radio, and film into the 21st century. His work intersects with figures and institutions across British music and popular culture.
Born in Hackney, London, Tippa Irie grew up amid the multicultural milieu of East London. His formative years coincided with the migration waves tied to the Windrush generation and the presence of Jamaican sound system traditions imported from Kingston, Jamaica. Influences from Jamaican artists such as Dennis Brown, Larry Marshall, Toots and the Maytals, and UK contemporaries including Linton Kwesi Johnson, Steel Pulse, Aswad, and Black Uhuru shaped his approach to toasting and performance. Early associations included local systems and venues tied to Notting Hill Carnival and community hubs like Brixton Market and Stoke Newington.
Tippa Irie developed a reputation as a toasting DJ on London sound systems alongside peers like Fatman Scoop, Smiley Culture, Shabba Ranks, General Levy, and Chaka Demus. He released singles and albums during the 1980s and 1990s that engaged with labels and producers connected to Jamaica and the British reggae scene, including collaborations with producers associated with Island Records, Greensleeves Records, and Ariwa Records. His chart presence included crossover singles that facilitated appearances on Top of the Pops, BBC Radio 1, and at festivals such as Glastonbury Festival and Reading Festival. Tippa's style linked to movements that produced artists like Mad Professor, Leroy Smart, Garnett Silk, Buju Banton, and Gregory Isaacs.
Throughout his career he worked with a range of performers and producers across genres, connecting reggae and pop crossover moments. Notable collaborators and associated acts include Louchie Lou and Michie One, Leftfield, Gipsy Kings, The Beat, UB40, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Massive Attack, Sly and Robbie, Nitin Sawhney, Gorillaz, The Streets, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Sting, Madness, Squeeze, The Specials, Billy Bragg, Eurythmics, Tarrus Riley, Gyptian, Cutty Ranks, Snatcha and producers tied to Sugarhill Records-era sampling. His best-known singles included crossover tracks that received airplay on Capital FM and BBC Radio London, and remix treatments from figures linked to John Peel, Pete Tong, and Zane Lowe.
Tippa Irie transitioned into acting and media with roles and appearances spanning British film, television, and radio. He has been associated with productions and institutions such as BBC Television, Channel 4, HBO, and UK film festivals like the BFI London Film Festival. His screen work linked him with directors and actors from projects touching on Black British cinema, including collaborations in productions related to themes explored by filmmakers like Isaac Julien, Steve McQueen, and John Akomfrah. He also appeared on cultural and music documentary programming alongside presenters and commentators from Melvyn Bragg, Lenny Henry, June Sarpong, and presenters for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 1Xtra.
Tippa Irie's personal life reflects ongoing engagement with community projects, charity concerts, and mentorship within London's reggae and youth scenes. He has participated in initiatives connected to institutions such as The Prince's Trust, Barnardo's, Notting Hill Carnival organisations, and community hubs in Hackney, Brixton, and Tottenham. His legacy situates him among UK artists who bridged Jamaican sound system traditions and British popular music, influencing later generations including Skepta, Stormzy, JME, Dizzee Rascal, Lady Leshurr, Kano, Chip, Wiley, Skepta, and D Double E. He remains a referenced figure in studies of Black British music and the transatlantic reggae diaspora.
Category:English reggae musicians Category:People from Hackney, London