General Degree

General Degree, born Cardiff Butt in Manchester, Jamaica, worked as a tailor before entering the music business in the late 1980s. He took his stage name in reference to fellow deejay General Trees, and became known through the 1990s for a sharp vocal delivery, playful wordplay, and an easy command of a crowd.

He scored his defining hits of the decade with "Mother Rule Pickney" and "Granny," and built a broader catalogue that includes "Mr. Do It Nice," "When I Hold You Tonight," "Bodyguard," "Papa Lover," "Traffic Blocking," "Boom Boom," "Inna Body," and "Pianist." He was also featured on Richie Stephens's "Come Give Me Your Love" (1997), which reached number 61 on the UK Singles Chart. His album releases include Granny (1992), Degree (1997), Bush Baby (1998), The General (2004), Generally Speaking (2007), and Snapple Dapple Volume 1 (2012).

Since around 2000 he has increasingly focused on production work, recording under the name 'Snapple Dapple,' and founded the Size 8 Records label. He has hosted the annual 'Manchester Fiesta' stage show since 2005, launched a clothing line called 'Reh Geh' in 2006, judged the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall talent contest in 2008, and released the one-drop reggae EP Feeling Irie in January 2015.