Roots Archives Forum

Thanks for the comments everyone. I've spent some time over the last week listening to a lot of Big Youth pretty intently and I have to say I am impressed. It's easy to listen with half your brain and think it's fine, but when I really took the time and listened closely, I found a lot of appreciation for what he was doing.

It seems to me he was also perhaps the first to combine singing and dj in the same tune? Or am I off base with that? Lots of later DJs, even into the 90's did this. When I heard some of the tunes where Youth sings a chorus and then starts dj'ing it made me realize what a precursor he was, even to much later Djs like Capleton. I would never have said before that Capleton was inspired by Big Youth, but now the connection seems pretty clear.I also noticed where Prince Far I got some of his lyrics!!! (no dis to Far I intended).

*It seems to me he was also perhaps the first to combine singing and dj in the same tune?*

Hi Flash
This could be true, although some might say Scotty and a few others were doing both before him....however maybe not on the same tune though, as you are suggesting.

All of this Youth talk made me dig out some records this week, and it's been fun. "Miss Lou Ring Ding", "Jim Squeechy", "Dread In A Babylon"....all classics.

I have interviewed a lot of DJs who were of the generation that followed Youth, and almost to a man they cite Youth and Dennis Alcapone as huge inspirations. U-Roy is still the Godfather, so the respect will always be there. But it was Youth and Alcapone that directly inspired a lot of youth to pick up a microphone. The man is a living legend.

Check out this vintage clip if you haven't already, it's a must!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLrfXwASGoQ

Yeah, that clip is amazing! I wish there were more like it, or that it were longer. You can see he's got a ton of charisma. I like how he's so cool and laid back at first, and then flashes his locks and kind of erupts. Brilliant.

I pulled ride like lighting compilation out the other day and thought of this thread. I have to say I don't get the appeal of Big Youth at all he talks so much rubbish, and makes up words when he can't think of a rhyme.

I-roy is toally overated, I find him annoying, Prince Jazzbo should have finished him off when he had the chance 'I roy your a girly boy" is a wicked put down for Mr Pink Suit. Whenever I feel in the mood for I-roy, I put King Sighta on and enjoy.

For King of the Dee Jays though it's got to be Big Joe all the way

6anbatte wrote:blackarkrock wrote :......Try the following playlist from "Ride Like Lightning":
CD 1 - ...6.....

I just cannot get enough of "Cool Breeze" on the "Stop That Train" riddim.

he sure was a fan of the movies... "Cool Breeze", "Screaming Target", and "Hell Is For Heros" were typical of a zillion action & western B-movies that showed in the theaters during that era

in fact, in the opening of "Cool Breeze" he quotes the movie adverts directly: "he hit The Man for 3 million, right where it hurts"