Admiral Jerry is back—and he’s bringing some massive history with him!
The pioneering Birmingham MC, legendary for his iconic 1980s collaborations with UB40, just dropped a powerful new music video for his anthem “Chant Down Babylon.” The release was perfectly timed for June 22 to honor Windrush Day, while also marking Black Music Appreciation Month.
Directed by the acclaimed Amsterdam-based production company Jah Mission, the video is a gorgeous, deeply moving tribute to the resilience, resistance, and cultural heritage of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.
The track is featured on The Empire Windrush EP, a compilation produced by Aldo Dice of Farda Dice Studios. It takes its name from the HMT Empire Windrush, which arrived in the UK on June 22, 1948, bringing hundreds of Caribbean migrants who helped rebuild post-war Britain.
“Growing up in Handsworth as a first-generation Black Briton, I experienced plenty of racist attitudes at grammar school and throughout my education,” Admiral Jerry shared about the song’s inspiration. “This song is for oppressed people everywhere who are hoping and striving for a better tomorrow.”
Filmed across various locations in Birmingham and London, the music video includes deeply symbolic scenes at the Handsworth Park mural of the late, great poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, who was honoured posthumously on Windrush Day.
Jerry, who hasn’t recorded since his 1985 tracks with UB40 (“Up and Coming MC” and “Demonstrate”), hasn’t lost a single step. He brings the exact same charismatic delivery and infectious energy that made him a sound system icon decades ago.
“This single brings together old-school delivery, Rastafari tradition and a message of hope for everyone who hears it,” Jerry added. “I want to inspire young people to persevere and achieve their goals, just as the Windrush Generation did.”
This is just the beginning of a major comeback for the reggae pioneer. Word is he is currently working on a wealth of brand-new material scheduled to drop in early 2027!
You can watch the official music video for “Chant Down Babylon” now on YouTube.
