Born in Spanish Town in 1966, Thompson was the son of the owner of the Black Universal Sound System, and was the brother of deejay Papa San.

Although he launched his career with his father's company, he later switched to the Willowdene-based Creation Rock Tower System. Recording since the mid-1980s, Dirtsman's biggest hits were "Thank You", produced by Steely and Clevie and "Hot This Year", produced by New York producer Philip Smart. He signed a contract with BMG but his career was cut short when four gunmen took his life on 21 December 1993.