Big Youth
Wikimp3 information about the music of Big Youth. On our website we have 53 albums and 50 collections of artist Big Youth. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Big Youth represents Reggae genres.
Biography
[Edit]A man with a message, Big Youth arrived on the music scene in the wake of U-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, and I-Roy, but quickly established his own style, threatening to eclipse them all. The consummate cultural toaster, the DJ ruled the dancehalls across the '70s, and although his career flagged in the next decade, he returned with a vengeance in the '90s, and continues to have an impact on both his own nation and beyond. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 19, 1949, Manley Augustus Buchanan had his moniker long before he had picked up a mic. He was named Big Youth by his co-workers at the Kingston Sheraton hotel, where the tall teen was employed as a mechanic. Initially, he toasted to himself (the DJing equivalent of air guitar), but eventually he took the chance of picking up the mic at a few parties. The enthusiastic response he received prodded him to perform at dances, and by the late '60s, he had a small, but avid following. This fan base swiftly grew and as the new decade arrived, Big Youth was now DJing regularly at Lord Tipperton's sound system, quickly becoming the top DJ for the outfit.
By this point, U-Roy, Alcapone, and I-Roy had already made their vinyl debuts, but Big Youth would wait another year, finally releasing his first single in January 1972. He cut "Movie Man" for African Museum, Errol Dunkley and Gregory Isaacs' label, and the song fittingly utilized the rhythm to Dunkley's own "Movie Star." Surprisingly, the single was barely noticed; other producers had no better luck. "The Best Big Youth" (also known as "Black Cindy"), cut with Jimmy Radway, sank without a trace. Lee Perry did no better with "Moving," a version of the Wailers' "Keep on Moving." Producer Phil Pratt thought for sure his two cuts were chartward bound, but both "Tell It Black," a version of Dennis Brown's cover of "Black Magic Woman," and "Phil Pratt Thing," a sublime version of Derrick Harriott's "Riding for a Fall," followed its predecessors into oblivion. Even "Fire Bunn," produced by Niney Holness over his own smash "Blood & Fire" rhythm, failed to ignite the Jamaican buying public. The drought was finally broken by a young (just out of his teens) up and coming producer, Gussie Clarke. For "The Killer" single, he had the DJ toast over the rootsy Augustus Pablo number, and the result was magnificent. The pair followed it up with "Tippertone Rocking, another major hit. Big Youth was now in demand.
The ever-innovative producer Keith Hudson dragged a motorcycle into the studio to capture its revving engine for "S.90 Skank," a tribute to the popular Honda motorcycle, and roared Big Youth to the top of the Jamaican chart. Their follow-up, "Can You Keep a Secret," a duet between the toaster and his singing producer, did almost as well. In between times, Big Youth cut a pair of songs for Glen Brown, "Come Into My Parlour" and "Opportunity Rocks," the latter employing the popular "Dirty Harry" rhythm. Both were actually recorded the same day as "S.90 Skank." That same week, the DJ also cut a quartet of songs for Prince Buster: "Leggo Beast," "Cain and Abel," "Leave Your Skeng" (a version of "Get Ready"), and "Chi Chi Run" (cut over the rhythm of John Holt's "Rain From the Skies"). That latter track titled a various artists compilation that featured the DJ, a young acolyte Little Youth, a trio of top vocalists (Alton Ellis, John Holt, and Dennis Brown), all produced by Prince Buster.
Big Youth's own debut album, Screaming Target, arrived in 1973. Produced by Gussie Clarke, the album was stuffed with classic rhythms from the likes of Gregory Isaacs and Lloyd Parks, and filled with hits as well, including the magnificent title-track. The DJ seemed to have now glued himself to the chart and during that year, four of his songs, including "Screaming Target" (a version of K.C. White's "No No No" and Buster's "Chi Chi Run"), the Derrick Harriott-produced "Cool Breeze," and the Joe Gibbs-produced "A So We Stay" (a version of Dennis Brown's "Money in My Pocket"), sat proudly on the Jamaican Top 20 for the entire year. Gibbs notched up a total of three hits with Big Youth in 1973, along with the aforementioned single, there was also "Chucky No Lucky" and the topical "Forman Versus Frazier."
From boxing bouts to the "Facts of Life," a hit cut for Sonia Pottinger, Big Youth was the tops on any topic. He'd matured swiftly, from a barely understandable mumbler who exhorted the crowds with typical U-Roy or Alcapone-sque exhortations, to a more relaxed, conversational style. And it was this very ease of delivery — relaxed, but so perfectly timed to the rhythms — that had entranced the nation. In 1974, Big Youth launched his own label, Negusa Nagast, it was later followed by a second, Augustus Buchanan. The former's name was particularly telling and is Amharic (the Ethiopian language) for King of Kings. It announced a further shift in the DJ's performance toward a full-on cultural chanter/toaster. Negusa Nagast debuted with a quartet of the DJ's singles, "Hot Cross Bun," "Mr. Bunny," "Children Children," and most spectacularly of all, "Streets in Africa." This latter was a cover of War's "The World Is a Ghetto," and features Dennis Brown backed by the equally sonorous tones of the Heptones. Big Youth released his second album this same year, Reggae Phenomenon, and it was as phenomenal as its title suggested. It featured new songs (all chart-bound), remakes of earlier cuts, and smash hits like the title cut (another version of Dennis Brown's "Money in My Pocket") "Dread Inna Babylon," and "Natty Dread No Jester") (a version of the Paragons' "Only a Smile"). And the DJ's phenomenal chart success continued with producer after producer. Glen Brown scored with "Dubbie Attack," Tony Robinson oversaw the mighty "House of Dreadlocks" and "Mammy Hot and Daddy Cold," Buddy Davidson produced "Johnny Dead," while Yabby You sat behind the desk for the most seminal of them all, "Yabby Youth," the first of several versions the DJ would cut over the "Conquering Lion" rhythm.
Big Youth would again pair up with Dennis Brown for the Harry J.-produced "Wild Goose Chase." Niney Holness liked what he heard and kept the duo together for his "Ride on Ride On." The two would go on to record a stunning version of Bob Marley's "Get up Stand Up." Marley's version wasn't alone; besides toasting over classic rocksteady rhythms, Big Youth was now increasingly utilizing heavier roots rhythms. Most notable was "I Pray Thee," a version of the Abyssinians' "Satta Amasa Gana," which was another seminal smash hit, and the DJ also cut a version of Burning Spear's classic "Marcus Garvey." Two more Wailers' versions also appeared around this time, Marley's "Craven Choke Puppy" and Bunny Wailer's "Bide Up" became, respectively, "Craven Version" and "Black on Black."
In 1975, the Dreadlocks Dread album appeared, a seminal album overseen by Prince Tony Robinson and split between Big Youth's toasts and instrumental dubs. Accompanied by Skin, Flesh & Bones Band, the album remains a masterpiece of dread roots and provocative cultural toasts.
Dreadlocks Dread had a massive impact on the U.K., where it was picked up by the Klik label and prompted Big Youth to tour there the following year. 1976 brought two albums in its wake, Natty Cultural Dread and Hit the Road Jack, both self-produced by a self-confident Big Youth at the peak of his powers. Again the albums featured a clutch of Jamaican smashes — "Ten Against One" and "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" amongst them — and new numbers equally biting at the chart bit. Interestingly enough, Natty Cultural Dread also boasts "Every N****r Is a Star," backed by the I-Threes making their recording debut. Also featured are some of Big Youth's surprising covers. In the past, he'd versioned Motown hits, Gene Pitney, Al Green, and Otis Redding, "Dock of the Bay" of course. Now along with the title-track, there was even "If I Had a Hammer." 1977 brought the masterful "Four Sevens," a clever version of Culture's "Two Sevens Clash." Produced by Niney Holness, the pair followed up with the provocative "Six Dead, 19 Gone to Jail."
Having now signed to the Frontline label in the U.K., Big Youth's debut album for the Virgin subsidiary was 1978's Isaiah First Prophet of Old, a fiercely roots record produced by D Russell. The DJ also had a cameo role in the movie Rockers. He's absolutely unmistakable, stepping out of a flash car and flashing a smile that shows off his front teeth embedded with red, yellow, and green jewels, as his long dreads whip around his face. But behind these eye-catching trappings was a thoughtful and thought-provoking DJ, as his records proved time and time again. 1978 also saw the release of the "Green Bay Killers" single, a fierce diatribe on the death of a group of rastafarians at the hands of the Jamaican army. Perhaps Big Youth was now seen as too radical for Virgin, and the label chose not to release the DJ's next two albums, Progress and Rock Holy. Nor did they pick up on the former's dub companion, the excellent Reggae Gi Dem Dub, remixed by the up and coming master Sylvan Morris. However, the toaster's grip on Jamaica was also beginning to loosen, and a new generation of chatterers were beginning to come to the fore.
Big Youth continued to record, but no longer ruled the charts, and most of his singles were now self-produced and released through his own labels. The Heartbeat labels' Some Great Big Youth collects up many of these late-'70s, early-'80s material; the label's follow-up collection, The Chanting Dread Inna Fine Style, concentrates on earlier Negusa Negast singles.
The increasing violence in the dancehalls prompted him back into the studio in 1982 for "No War in the Dance," cut for producer Lloyd Parks. He proved his popularity wasn't totally gone, with a steaming, hits-filled set at Reggae Sunsplash before an adoring audience that summer, giving a repeat performance the following year, and again in 1987. In 1985, Big Youth released a surprising new album, A Luta Continua, where he transformed from toaster to singer and roots rasta to jazzman, accompanied by Jamaican jazz hero Herbie Miller. However, 1988's Manifestation found the DJ regaining his footing, for a roots-drenched set split between excellent toasting and sub-quality singing. Two years later, Niney Holness brought Big Youth back into the studio and cut the remarkable "Chanting." The DJ also contributed a fierce "Free South Africa" to the One Man One Vote artists' album. Big Youth later performed at the Japansplash festival in Osaka, with his powerful set caught on 1991's Jamming in the House of Dread album. He reappeared with a vengeance at Reggae Sunsplash the following summer.
With his profile now the highest it had been in years, Big Youth guest-starred on Capleton's I Testament album, Mutabaruka's Gathering of the Spirits, and Creation Rebel's Feat of a Green Planet. In 1995, the DJ released his own new album, Higher Grounds; overseen by Junior Reid, it was an intriguing mixture of R&B, reggae, and other styles. Another powerful set at Reggae Sunsplash was delivered the following year. The new millennium saw the release in the U.K. of the compilation Tell It Black, a two-CD set that rounds up 31 seminal songs from 1972-1975. But that pales next to Natty Universal Dread, released by the British Blood & Fire label that same year. Three albums and a total of 51 tracks brilliantly wrap up the best from 1973-1979 and include a clutch of Negusa Negast singles that have never been reissued.
Title: Early This Morning (Single)
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, Dancehall
Title: Ride Like Lightning: The Best of Big Youth 1972 - 1976
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Strictly The Best
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, Dancehall
Title: Three Blind Mice (Single)
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, Dancehall
Title: Natty Cultural Dread (Deluxe Version) [Remastered]
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Reggae, World Music
Title: Natty Universal Dread, 1973-1979 (CD2 - Reggae Phenomenon 1973-1976)
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Reggae
Title: Natty Universal Dread, 1973-1979 (CD3 - Hotter Fire 1975-1979)
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Reggae
Title: Early This Morning (feat. Conrad Crystal & Suga Roy) - Single
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Reggae
Title: Early This Morning (feat. Suga Roy & Conrad Crystal) - Single
Artist: Big Youth
Genre: Reggae, World Music
Title: Get Ready (Single)
Artist: Big Youth, George Dekker, Prince Fatty
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Lovers Rock
Title: Voice of the People (Nancy Reagan Remix 2011) - Single
Artist: Big Youth, Blue Riddim Band
Genre: Reggae
Collections
Title: The Reggae Years Reggae Classics (CD02)
Genre: Reggae
Title: The Reggae Years Reggae Classics (CD03)
Genre: Reggae
Title: Watch Action Reggae (CD2)
Title: Tribute To Bob Marley Vol. 1
Genre: World Music
Title: The Story Of Trojan Records
Genre: Reggae
Title: Foundation Come Again
Genre: Reggae
Title: Trojan Presents - The Producers - (CD2)
Genre: Reggae
Title: Trojan Presents: Djs (CD1)
Genre: Reggae
Title: Front Line - Sounds Of Reality (CD2)
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub
Title: Front Line - Sounds Of Reality (CD3)
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae
Title: Front Line Presents Dub (CD2)
Genre: Reggae
Title: Don Letts Presents The Mighty Trojan Sound
Genre: Reggae, Dub, World Music
Title: FabricLive 54: David Rodigan
Genre: Breakbeat , Electronica, House, Techno
Title: Muzik City. The Story Of Trojan (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub
Title: Naya Sound System Vol. 1 (Promo CD)
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae Anthology Gussie Clarke From The Foundation
Genre: Reggae
Title: Scratchy Sounds ~ Ska, Dub, Roots & Reggae Nuggets (CD1)
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, Ska
Title: Amazing Dub Sounds
Genre: Downtempo, Electronica, Electro, Jazz, Dub
Title: Jam To The Bass
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Reggae
Title: 400 Years Roots Reggae Series 1
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Reggae
Title: Classic Reggae Lovers Rock Playlist Vol. 2
Genre: Electronica, Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Death Metal, Reggae
Title: Power House Presents Various Artists
Genre: Dancehall
Title: 100 Hits Reggae Rocksteady Ska 2017 (CD1)
Genre: Reggae
Title: A Ruff Guide To Ariwa Sounds
Title: Step Forward Youth
Title: Red Gold Green & Blue
Title: Red Gold Green & Blue RMXZ
Title: 100% Reggae Live (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Reggae
Title: Ultimate Reggae & Ska Legends (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Blues, Ska
Title: Ultimate Reggae & Ska Legends (CD5)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Blues, Ska
Title: Derrick Harriott Presents Cool Breeze
Genre: Reggae
Title: Samsara Heat Vol. 01 (CD3)
Title: Top Ranking DJ Session, Vol. 1 (Expanded Version)
Genre: Reggae
Title: After Di Party
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae
Title: See-Dem-A-Come
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae
Featuring albums
Title: African Herbsman (Deluxe Version)
Artist: Bob Marley, The Wailers
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Ska
Title: Lee Scratch Perry Presents Peter Tosh & Friends
Artist: Peter Tosh
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae
Title: Small Axe (The UK Upsetter Recordings, 1970 to 1972)
Artist: Bob Marley, The Wailers
Genre: Reggae
Title: 127 King Street Kingston (International Version)
Artist: Bob Marley, The Wailers
Genre: Reggae
Title: African Herbsman
Artist: Bob Marley
Genre: Dancefloor, Reggae, Roots Reggae, World Music, Latin, Dance Pop, Ska
Title: Can't Stop A Man
Artist: Beres Hammond
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Reggae, Dancehall, World Music, Latin
Title: Reggae Anthology - Joe Gibbs: Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Keep The Pressure Down - Essential Roots Reggae Rarities
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Riding the Musical Chariot
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Alternative Rock, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Ska
Title: DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style
Artist: Various
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: The Hudson Affair - Keith Hudson and Friends
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Reggae Anthology: Niney The Observer - Roots With Quality
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Trojan Ganja Box Set
Artist: Various
Genre: Electronica, Alternative Rock, Dancefloor, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Ska
Title: Glen Brown & Friends - Rhythm Master, Vol. 1
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music
Title: Glen Brown & Friends - Rhythm Master, Vol. 2
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music
Title: Super Reggae & Soul Hits
Artist: Dennis Brown
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Blood & Fire: Hit Sounds From the Observer Station 1970-1978
Artist: Niney
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: The Roots All Stars: Gathering of the Spirits
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: The Complete Upsetter Collection
Artist: Bob Marley, The Upsetters
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, Ska
Title: Aux armes et caetera (Nouveau mixage dub style)
Artist: Serge Gainsbourg
Genre: Rock, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, World Music, Pop
Title: A Little Bit More: Joe Gibbs 12" Selection 1978-83
Artist: Dennis Brown
Genre: Reggae, World Music
Title: Can'T Stop A Man: The Ultimate Collection (CD2)
Artist: Beres Hammond
Genre: Reggae, Lovers Rock
Title: Mixwork In Dub
Artist: Rob Smith
Genre: Downtempo, Electronica, Dancefloor, Reggae, Dub, Dance Pop
Title: Blood & Fire (Hit Sounds From The Observer Station 1970-1978) (CD1)
Artist: Niney
Genre: Reggae
Title: Unity Is Strength The Best Of King Dubbist
Artist: Roommate
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Reggae
Title: Dread Prophecy ~ The Strange And Wonderful Story Of Yabby You (CD1)
Artist: Yabby You
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub