As one of dubs most recognized characters, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry influenced the world of hip-hop, dance music, and rock and roll alike. At his famous Black Ark studio in Kingston, Jamaica, Perry experimented with unconventional recording and mixing techniques (burying master tapes in the ground or blowing weed smoke on them), producing a much trippier, darker version of the reggae hits that were coming from his peers.
The studio eventually burned down, with rumors that Perry himself went nuts and set it on fire, but he has continued to produce and record since then, appearing on albums by Andrew W.K. and the Beastie Boys. This documentary, narrated by Benicio del Toro, provides a fascinating look at a one-of-a-kind musical legend. Check the trailer here.—Finn Cohen
The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee 'Scratch' Perry (2008)
Thursday, June 2
4:30, 6:50, and 9:15 p.m.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Tickets $8
