Jazzie B, OBE

Jazzie B – Soul II Soul head honcho and sound system selecta extraordinaire, has been awarded an OBE.

On 16th May, he was bestowed with the title of Officer of the British Empire from HM Queen Elizabeth, in acknowledgement of his tremendous contributions to black British culture, and his work supporting young people in music and sport.

The central figure of the pioneering Soul II Soul Sound System, which gained massive props and a cult following due their genre-fusing blend of boogie, rare groove and reggae, through the early '80s, Jazzie B led his collective to huge success when they morphed from party rocking DJ outfit to a mould breaking recording act.

Worldwide hits 'Keep on Movin'' and 'Back II Life' are forever ingrained as bonafide classics of pop mythology, and since that time Soul II Soul have tirelessly released hit albums and rocked venues and festivals alike. Garnering Soul Train and Grammy Awards, and regularly hosting the Back II Life festival in Antigua, the funki dred is smashing it – it's about time he got his props!