Derrick Morgan

It is from her 'trods' with the Flames outfit that Queen Ifrica's deejaying developed, as she was required to do Just My Brethren, the reply to Tony Rebel and Swade's Just Friends.

"The first time I did it was in England and the place went seriously crazy. Even I was surprised. I used to have two deejay tunes, but not that aggressive," Ifrica said. She deejayed more and more on that tour across Europe and has been at it since. As for the rasping tone, she says "there is this side of me that is strong and aggressive. Them say me sound like man. I have a strong female background on both sides of my family."

That family background took her literally across Jamaica as a child. She was born in the Spanish Town Hospital and lived at 13 Red Street ("I don't even know if it exist again") then to St. Mary to be with her maternal grandmother. At 12 years old she went to live with her mother in Belmont, St. James, leading to her introduction into the order of the Nyabinghi.

Special

Her father is ska great Derrick Morgan, and as musical daughter weighing whether having a father who is a living icon helps or hinders, Queen Ifrica says "I have to say help. And not just any help regular help. He is strong where our music began. That is special."

The effect is felt on the road performing, where up to her latest tour at many stops persons would say her father had performed there or he was coming. "That gives me a good feeling. That was from the 50s and he still has a lot of fans. Some of the forwards me get is when I do his songs, especially in France. They love the vibes," Queen Ifrica said.

"He is a good one to have in your corner." He is not in her corner where one aspect of her life is concerned, though. "As most of our Jamaican people, they have a problem with Rasta," Ifrica said. Her mother was not a Rastafarian when she was with Derrick Morgan. "Yu gone an' turn dis Rasta," she says her father admonishes her, to which she asks "waapen to you Daddy? Yu no know Rasta govern the earth?"

"He is proud, I hold my head high. He is always calling me and saying people are congratulating him in the streets and him love that," Queen Ifrica said.