Words by Jesse Serwer—
A good friend of the LargeUp family and a behind-the-scenes contributor as well, Kingston-born Leighton Paul Walsh, A/K/A Walshy Fire, has been holding down South Florida for a decade as a selector and MC on the world famous Black Chiney Sound System. An avid sound system historian with an astounding knowledge of dancehall music, Walshy is also something of an ambassador for Caribbean culture in Miami, bringing a little Jamaican flavor to institutions like the Miami New World Symphony. It’s those qualities that made him the perfect choice for his latest role: as the new MC for Major Lazer, bringing some authentic soundman flavor to Diplo’s over-the-top dancehall project. Here, Walshy speaks for the first time on his new gig and his history in Miami’s dancehall scene.
