"The notorious "ghettos" form but a small part of Kingston's complex and vital presence, which extends far beyond the city's tenement yards. Proud of their city's renown as the birthplace of reggae and dancehall, Kingstonians have led the world in innovative music and performance art." "David Howard charts a course through Kingston's urban contradictions, from the stark divisions between uptown modernity and downtown deprivation, to the lively interweaving of local legends and international popular culture."--BOOK JACKET.