June 30 1960: Zaire (then Belgian Congo) gains independence from Belgium. 1979: Matisyahu is born in Pennsylvania, USA. 1988: Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers' album "Conscious Party" [Virgin] is certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). 1993: Inner Circle's single "Bad Boys" [Big Beat] is certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). 2005: Pioneering Jamaican singer and producer Clancy Eccles dies in Spanish Town Hospital from complications of a heart attack. Age 64. (b. December 9, 1940) 2023: Calypso, ska, and rocksteady artist Lord Creator (Kentrick Patrick) passes away at the age of 87.  July 1 1959: Ranking Joe a.k.a. Little Joe is born Joseph Jackson in Kingston, Jamaica 1960: Italian Somalia gains independence, unites with Somali Republic. 1962: Burundi and Rwanda gain independence from Belgium. (National Days) 1967: DJ Papa San (Tyrone Thompson) is born in Kingston, Jamaica. 1971: DJ Merciless (Leonard Bartley) is born in Turners Four Paths, Chapleton, Clarendon, Jamaica. 1975: Nebraska passes decrim. 1997: Britain returns control of Hong Kong, the spoil of the Opium War, to China after 156 years. 1999: Dennis Brown passes away at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston at about 7:00am. Age 42. (b. February 1, 1957) 2022: Nazamba passes away from a heart attack.  July 2 1914: 500 black Americans emigrate "Back to Africa". 1925: African nationalist leader Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is born in Onalua, Belgian Congo. 1945: Maurice Roberts [Gaylads] is born in Kingston, Jamaica. 1973: Tanya Stephens (Vivian Tanya Stephens) is born in Richmond, St. Mary, Jamaica. 1996: Desmond John Ballantine aka Ninjaman is arrested for illegal gun possession. Soon he was released and recorded "Settle All Score". 2001: Mikidozan's single "Lifetime Respect" peaks at #1 on the ORICON (Japan) weekly chart (announced on June 27).