Dirtsman was destined for dancehall; his brother was Jamaican singer Papa San and his father helmed the Black Universe Sound System in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Born Patrick Johnson in Spanish Town, Jamaica on March 4, 1965, the late deejay began recording music in the mid-1980s and scored his first hit, "Thank You", in 1990, produced by Steely and Clevie. The following year Johnson bagged another hit with "Hot This Year", produced by the late Bobby Digital. His debut album, Acid, arrived in 1992. Having just signed a deal with BMG Records, Johnson was on the cusp of mainstream success when he was ambushed and tragically shot dead by four assailants on December 21, 1993 at the age of 27. 2020 saw the posthumous release of the "Bad Mind" single.
