Yankee B “Be Like Christ”

Joseph “Yankee B” Hannam was born in Waterhouse of Kingston, Jamaica. He migrated to the US at the age of 12. He started his musical career singing at schools and day-jam parties in addition to displaying his talents on sound systems and dub plates all over New York. This big buzz, he created for himself, got him discovered by Hot 97 Hosts, Bobby Konders and Jabba.

After doing his first hit single “Shave Them” on the Massive B Label and getting lots of air play from all the top DJs in New York, other major labels came calling. He signed with G Street V2 Records where he completed one album “Mucho Dinero” with the hit song “That Feeling”. It featured on BET and is a sound track in the movie Senseless with the Wayans Brothers. Yankee B has also recorded songs with Big Pun, Kymani Marley , Sizzla and Shabba Ranks.

For a little while Yankee stepped out of the limelight and during this period he became a born again Christian. Two years after sharing a relationship with the Lord, Yankee B met Richie Righteous and teamed up to record songs and perform at concerts.

In 2005, Yankee B continued on the road to success by teaming up with some of his old reggae crew, Shelly Thunder and Sweet Roze. They collaborated and created the label Christlike Records. Their first project was a compilation album “SoulJahs for Christ” which was awarded Caribbean Gospel Rappers CD for the Year. The team went on tour performing live at shows in the Bahamas, Canada, and several hot spots in the US. He’s well known in places like Florida, Washington and NYC. Also, Yankee B performed at Madison Square Garden in NYC with Pastor Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Juanita Byrum, Pastor Donnie McClurklin, Papa San, LT Stitchie, Canton Jones, and J Moss. Yankee B’s records have been enjoyed in mainstream airplay on several radio stations including the Dhaved Levy show aired on WBLS.

Yankee B has won countless awards including The Tamika Reggae Awards’ national DJ of the year in 1999. In the same year, Yankee B traded it all to serve the Lord because he believes “Only what you do for Christ will last.”