Roots Archives Forum

Head to head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGi0yGN2hXs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuC-ZgXGAQk

Tough call....

lester wrote:Head to head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGi0yGN2hXs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuC-ZgXGAQk

Tough call....

I-Roy takes it by a whisker IMO

Well I like them both a lot and both are my fav DJs. In my opinion nothing as good has come since.

U roy is more skippity melodic faster.

I roy often more relaxed and talkative.

I-roy for me just seem to often be on riddims that have this special vibe that fit his style so good. It deviates from the "normal" reggae sound more so then the riddims u-roy is on. These vibes often vibrate with me more so then the riddims u-roy is on. like "Sidewalk killer" and "Dont get weary Joe Frazier" also not to forget the version on "slave master - point blank observer style" is one of my favorite DJ tracks ever.

U-roy I think comes to his best on the lee perry stuff like "Stick together", "Double six" and "Dreamland" (which is my other all time DJ favorite) it fits his style really well. Also I think his versions on "on the beach" and "version galore" are so full off this authenticity and nostalgic sound that is simply untouchable.

And compare
I-roy - Knotty knots
U-roy - Natty rebel

Can you really say one is better?

I say thank God for them both. Cause they are different and each have their own unique flavor to toasting. Life would be less fun without either of them.

I never thought of comparing these two, something about the idea of it doesn't feel right.

I guess I always recognized U-Roy was the original, when I first discovered there was an I-Roy my first thought was "rip-off".

But when I listened to I-Roy, I immediately recognized that he was a talented artist who stood on his own. In my mind there exists no dichotomy between them.

I don't know what the relationship between U-Roy and I-Roy was. I just assumed I-Roy looked up to U-Roy and saw him as a source of inspiration.

I can't fault I-Roy for anything he's done, aside from the same complaints I might have for any other artist. I am grateful for his musical contribution.

chromium1 wrote: When I was young in the 70s I didn't go for I Roy - for one stupid reason - he didn't have locks. I know - dumb. I was young. To me though, heavy reggae = locks back then.

Sorry, but I just have to ask. What did you think of King Tubby or Lee Perry? As far as I know neither one of them wore locks.