Toyan

Toyan, also known as Ranking Toyan (Byron Everton Letts, d. 1991), was a pioneering Jamaican reggae deejay who rose from Kingston’s sound-system scene in the mid-1970s to become a defining voice of early dancehall. He began his career on systems such as Socialist Roots and Romantic HiFi before recording his debut single, “Disco Pants,” in the late 1970s, quickly gaining attention for his sharp lyrical style and commanding delivery. Toyan’s breakthrough came through collaborations with producers Joseph Hoo Kim and Jah Thomas, resulting in a run of influential tracks including “Girls Nowadays,” “Kill No Man,” “John Tom,” and “Talk of the Town.” He also scored popular combination hits with artists like The Mighty Diamonds, Freddie McGregor, and Badoo. In 1981, he joined Henry “Junjo” Lawes’ Volcano Sound system, touring internationally and recording the acclaimed album How the West Was Won, widely regarded as his strongest body of work. Beyond his own recordings, Toyan contributed to the development of other artists, producing music for Billy Boyo and Anthony Johnson, and touring the UK with the Jah Prophecy band. Known for his conscious yet streetwise lyrics, he remained a respected figure in reggae until his life was cut short when he was murdered in Jamaica in 1991, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the foundation era of dancehall music.