Lappa Leng


Formerly known as Hippy Ranking; Lappa Leng who shook things up in Montego Bay in the 1980s, is back! Born in Montego Bay, St. James and christened Karl Wallace, Lappa Leng took his current stage name from his signature phase “chi lappa leng lappa lappa leng”. He made a major impression by winning the St. James Pop and Variety Competition at Cornwall Beach Complex on Gloucester Avenue Hip Strip in 1984. He had already been drawing crowds performing in the schoolyard at Montego Bay Secondary (now St. James High). Lappa Leng worked with Ticka Electroforce, Kangol and Ghetto International Sound Systems, and developed his performance skills and appearing on the world famous Reggae Sun Splash Beach Party in 1987. He won DJ for the year with the song ‘But Si Ya’ that same year for St. James. The song was in heavy demand. Lappa was in great demand, he performed at all Prism promoted shows held at Club Inferno, as well as Lollipop, the Great River, House of Leo and the Hague Showground, among others. He has shared stage with such notables as King Yellowman, Lieutenant Stitchie, Papa San, Wolf Man, Major Worries, Conroy Smith Super Cat and many more. Some of his earlier tracks were ‘Mini Mini Girls’ ‘Love Money Man’ and ‘Baton Up’ the latter was a song about hurricane Gilbert, all tracks were on the Rockers Master Label. Lappa went to Britain in 1990 and toured extensively across the country, with acts such as Capleton, Freddie McGregor, Tiger, Pan Head, Cobra and Ghost. While in London he also recorded ‘Hold Her’, ‘The Truth’, ‘Condom’ and ‘Whey Yu Body Gone’ on various popular labels. In 2003 Lappa returned to Jamaica with the intention of re-launching his career locally with ‘Million Bucks’ on the Modern time Label. A video was also done for this song and it was heavily rotated on Hype TV, CVM, TVJ and other cable stations across Jamaica. Lappa is now the latest addition to the Shocking Vibes Artiste roster. His latest works on that label includes; ‘Bibi Dip’, ‘Walk Out’ and ‘And So What’.