The official opening took place January 21, with Beenie Man offering a chant and then the cake being cut along with Lee Jasper, Race Advisor to The Mayor of London. Also present were Junie Star of Tuff Gong Records, Michael Campbell from the Culture Team and a host of other DJs. Beenie Man showed off a range of new dances and had the crowd moving. Amid posing for photographs with exuberant fans, he later took the microphone and treated them to some true dancehall lyrics.

Blacka Dread Records was opened in 1993 to counter the anipulation of reggae artistes by the music industry. By travelling frequently to Jamaica and the U.S. in order to get the best market value stock for his shop, Blacker has been successful in decreasing the price of music - making reggae more accessible to the wider public. Steve Martin known as 'Blacker Dread' has a strong historical legacy with the Jamaican music industry. He was born in the hills of St. Thomas, Jamaica and became a highly influential fixture of the black community in London from an early age. He produced his first British record in 1984 and since then has produced an impressive list of acts, including Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor, Junior Reid, Don Carlos, Horace Andy, Frankie Paul, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton, Eek-a-Mouse and Pinchers

As the evening progressed, the crowd grew continuously and at its peak grew to approximately 2000 people . Beenie Man finally left the shop at 8pm, amidst screaming fans still trying to get a photo with him. There was a host of Jamaican and UK media present.

As an institution in South London, Blacker Dread's Muzik Store is respected and we look to going forward and keeping that tradition alive. Western Union is very happy and proud to consolidate this link with the Brixton and wider South London community. Opening

Blacker Dread's Muzik Store as a Western Union Agent gives us a sense of pride, as it reiterates Western Union's commitment and loyalty to the Caribbean community here in the UK. We respect the community and we want to continue to be a part of it by partnering with Black businesses as well as supporting community activities such as the Brixton Summer Football League and Brixton Base Youth Project, The National Black Boys Can Association, Diabetes UK among many others Western Union has over 3000 locations here in the UK and 120 locations in Jamaica (Grace Kennedy Remittance Services). We send money to Jamaica in minutes and on the Next Day service starting at £4.99 . Western Union is available in 195 countries throughout all continents.

Posted: January 24, 2006