born William Maragh in the kingston garrison known as Cockburn Pen ..of african and east indian heritage in 1963...
"I am a SOCIALIST...and Jesus Christ was the first SOCIALIST!" - Supercat
William Maragh's role within the PNP has been described as a freelance "enforcer" in the various PNP occupied garrisons (political territories) securing the polling booths and warding off "attacks" from the rival JLP backed Shower Posse
This eventually led to his incarceration following the 1980 general election in which the rival party which won the prime ministers office and a majority of the seats in the assembly detained all "gunmen"..."rudeboys" and "enforcers" from the opposing party.
After his brief incarceration Mr. Maragh hit the local soundsystem circuit to obtain money and noterity ...it has been stated that he was giving the nickname "WILD APACHE" by the late great Early B. in refrence to not only his "indian" heritage but his aggressive clashing (battle) skills which he applied for use in sparring sessions with Nicodemus, Uglyman aka Ninjaman and Tenor Saw.
Highly in demand he freelanced his way through many legendary soundsystems such as Soul Imperial , King Tubby's....before finally landing a home with the infamous STEROMARS SOUNDSYSTEM as one of their resident deejays...
Stereo Mars was not only infamous as being an all star team of jamaica's best deejays, singers and selectors but also served as a promotional vehicle for the PNP political party's propaganda...
These soundystem experiences made him well respected and prepared for the music business.. where he met the likes of many of the celebs and future stars of reggae such as Junior Reid whom served time with him in the General Penitentary...
Reid decided to give his long lost acquatinence the nickname "SUPERCAT" for the way he seemed to "bounce back" on in the midst of tragedy...
These associations and rep made him even more demand as illustrated by the most lucrative and biggest soundsystem on the island KILLAMANJARO..(KILL-A-MAN JARO) whose operator Mr. Harper decided to RECUIT Mr. Cat to his soundsystem following a vicious clash against Cat's STEREOMARS Soundsystem...
which gave birth to this classic anthem "RING THE ALARM" (another sound is dying) which was created that night (freestyled) by Supercat's good friend and sparring partner the late great TENOR SAW
this led to intrest by various local producers and music moguls....Cat being loyal to his PNP roots and brethren stayed close to home...
He First started his recording career on the Skeng Don label operated by Jamaican businessman and area leader Kenneth "Skeng Don" Black recording his first global hit Boops
Boops became his first international hit which also became infamous for it's catchy piano like riddem which became the basis for KRS ONE's classic tune "THE BRIDGE IS OVER"
(PART 1)
this was one of many "hip hop" inspirations and collaborations which would eventually take place througout his career....such as BIG N READY with HEAVY D.
But before these accomplisments would take place TRAGEDY would strike Supercat once again as he was charged with Murder in the shooting death of fellow reggae singer NITTY GRITTY during a dispute with Supercat's younger brother Junior Cat while they were all on an eastern seaboard tour of the USA from miami to nyc.....alledgedly during thier final stop in NYC ..Brooklyn to be exact just prior to a performance that evening ...an argument ensued at a Church Avenue record store and gunshots rang out and singer NITTY GRITTY was left bleeding near the door of the local record store.
Supercat & Nitty Gritty (RIP)
This "crime" could not have occured at a worst time, for Cat was at the height of his jamaican soundsystem career and considered one of the pioneers of GUN TALK (hardcore street dancehall music) ...along with Josey Wales, Dillinger, Cutty Ranks, Mad Cobra and Ninjaman ....
Fortunatly ...Cat lived up to his name and bounced back by being declared innocent due to self defense by the NYC law enforcement.....
Supercat was free from detainment and traveled to jamaica immediatly to participate in the SUPERBOWL OF CLASHES..the infamous STING STAGESHOW clash taking place on Boxing day holiday in 1990 ...
his opponent would be ironically ...the front teeth, gold teeth, mr. gun pon tooth, 42 gun badbwoi NINJAMAN THE DON GORGON ....
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Cat was back in jamaica to establish himself as the DON amongst many Dons in jamaica....whom were "shooting" for the title of champion dj of the dancehall.....
And this was validated in his "diss song" to the Front Teeth gold teeth badbwoi Ninjaman.where he threatened to beat Ninjaman in his face with his .45 pistol.
Well well well, yuh see some likkle bwoy a come talk bout
Gold teeth front teeth side teet colored teet a we pull all teeth!
And if yuh don't like it hold onto ya face
Mi forty five beat yuh see it, mi DOGHEART DO IT!!!!!!
Which resulted in what many say is one of the greatest if not greatest clashes to take place in dancehall history, despite the violent outcome....
Immedidatly following the clash , the Jamaican media pushed for the banning of Supercat from not only Sting but reggae events on the island for a year after it was revealed that it was a Gun that he dropped on the stage that night and threatned to use after bottles was flung at his direction from the audience who were booing him towards to the conclusion of the clash...
"when mi run outta bottles...all mi haff is mi cold steel , and dem nah hear..dem ago feel!"
Supercat Interview (2013) with OnstageTV.comneedless to say ....Supercat took advantage of the banning by moving to Brooklyn , New York to take up residency with his brethren King Bravel who kept Cat working by booking him for shows in the tristate area and linked him with the world renown soundsystem King Addies aka THE KILLING MACHINE of NEW YORK...
Supercat , Junior Demus, Nicodemus and Louie Ranking aka Ox from Belly
(LIVE IN BROOKLYN) pon KING ADDIES SOUND
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Jamaican version of rockstars.
