b. Leonard Bartley, 1971, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Merciless learnt his craft on the sound systems and in 1994, his debut with singer and producer Rula Brown, "Lend Out Mi Mercy", was an international success. Sounding not dissimilar to Bounty Killer he warned, "The reason why they call mi Merciless - I len out no mercy - mi no get it back yet - you dis Merciless - well a dead". The chant led to numerous hits, assuring his status as one of the island's top DJs. Collaborations with Anthony Red Rose and Anthony Malvo ("You Are Mi Heart") and Little Hero with Action Fire ("Thief In The Night" and "God Alone") were dancehall favourites. The Big Yard label released Merciless's "Mavis", which made references to domestic violence, and became the top reggae single of 1995 (the rhythm was also used for Shaggy's chart-topping "Boombastic"). His follow-up at the end of 1995, "Gun From Paris", signalled a return to the Annex label, where the majority of his hits originated. The in-house producers at Annex, Harvel Hart and Delroy Schobourgh, recorded him in combination with Queen Yemisi for "Sexy Lover". Through the Taxi production team of Sly And Robbie, he entered the Jamaican Top 10, praising "Girls From Near And Far", and a version of the Melodians' "Rivers Of Baylon", retitled "Rivers Of Girls", ensured that his high profile was maintained. The conscientious revival found Merciless praising his mother over a Rastafarian burra-drumming version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song", entitled "Mama Cooking".

Listen to MERCILESS at Finetune.

• (2007)  Mr. Merciless

• It's Me
• Len Out Mi Mercy
• God Alone
• Greedy Fi More
• History Of Mi Gun

• Bounty Killer
• Sizzla
• Capleton
• Buju Banton
• Sean Paul
• Lady Saw
• Beenie Man
• Wayne Wonder
• Shabba Ranks
• Shaggy
• Spragga Benz
• Red Rat
• Beres Hammond
• Elephant Man
• Luciano
• Ninjaman
• Barrington Levy
• Cocoa Tea
• Jah Cure
• ASSASSIN