From 2002 to 2009, I freelanced as a music journalist for XLR8R, a San Francisco-based magazine focused on cutting-edge music in a variety of genres. I had a bi-monthly column on Jamaican music and published artist interviews and record reviews. (Side note: my pen name was Ross Hogg. which was also my DJ name Yes, there was a time when I stayed up past 10pm and played records for people). I wrote two cover stories: one on Bay Area legend E-40 and one on reggae star Sizzla Kalonji. But the story below is my favorite: a 2004 interview with dancehall icon Ninja Man.